whom, not having seen you love, because now you do not see Him, but while believing you rejoice with an inexpressible joy, and you, being in a state of having been glorified, received the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:8–9).

When a person believes that Christ died on behalf of our sins and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit washes and regenerates him (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, Titus 3:4–5). By taking God at His Word, this person now has a promise of salvation. Initially, this salvation begins in the spirit, which is where a believer is born again. When Christ returns to take His Church home, the believer will receive a resurrected body, and the salvation of his soul.

When the Holy Spirit washes and regenerates a believer, a new birth occurs. This is the birth Jesus spoke about in John 3:3 that is from above. It is a birth related to water, even the Spirit (John 3:5). This is not that one must be born of both water and Spirit; rather, this birth is by water, even the Spirit, for out from his belly will flow rivers of living water (John 7:38–39). This birth involves God’s seed being placed into the believer, giving him new life in his spirit (1 John 3:9), which also connects his spirit with God (1 Corinthians 6:17).

The spirit of a human is the rational center (1 Corinthians 2:11). One who is connected to God in spirit is now able to understand Spiritual things, and thus worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:24). Along with God’s seed being placed in the believer, the Holy Spirit is given as an anointing, seal, and guarantee of complete salvation (Ephesians 1:13–14; 1 John 2:20). The Holy Spirit then places the believer into the body of the Christ, removing the condemnation he was under in Adam (1 Corinthians 12:12–13).

Initial salvation involves the human spirit. The body and the soul are not yet saved. The body is the tent in which the soul and spirit reside (2 Peter 1:14). The soul is the center of emotions and interprets the five senses (Lamentations 3:51; Psalm 94:19; Proverbs 27:7; Job 6:7). Since the soul is not initially saved, Christians are to protect their soul because it is how their three enemies attack them, especially the flesh (1 Peter 2:11).

Peter writes concerning the end of our faith. It directly relates to when our souls are saved. Thus, we will be in a permanent state of full glorification: body, soul, and spirit.

And I have thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord, who enabled me, that I should be counted faithful, having been placed into ministry (1 Timothy 1:12).

Paul recognizes that it was Jesus Christ who enabled him, not by his own strength, effort, work, or desire, that he was placed into ministry. Paul formally was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent man (1 Timothy 1:13). He persecuted the Church, had men and women imprisoned, and even had some put to death (Galatians 1:13; Acts 22:19–20). He considers himself to be the least of the apostles, one born out of time (1 Corinthians 15:9–10). However, because he did these things in unbelief, God showed him mercy (1 Timothy 1:13). Mercy is relief from the effect of sin. The sins that Paul committed against the Church were sent away from him.

In addition to mercy, Paul also received grace (1 Timothy 1:14). Grace is God’s attitude of giving a benefit without regard to merit. Paul was appointed an apostle and steward of the Dispensation of Grace by the will of God, not because of who he was (Ephesians 3:2; 1 Corinthians 1:1).

It is a faithful saying and worthy of acceptance that Christ came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus Himself, reading from Isaiah, declared He came to heal the brokenhearted, give liberty to the captives, and sight to the blind (Luke 4:17–18). He stops short of the day of vengeance, which Isaiah revealed as coming, for He had not come to destroy His enemy, but to seek the lost (Luke 4:19; Isaiah 61:2).

Paul received mercy so that all long-suffering may be shown in him, as a pattern for those who believe on Christ unto eternal life (1 Timothy 1:16). Long-suffering is the long holding out of one’s anger against unreasonable people. God is long-suffering toward man, having not determined that certain ones would perish, but giving all an opportunity to change the mind unto salvation (2 Peter 3:9). Even Peter recognizes the long-suffering of the Lord in salvation regarding Paul (2 Peter 3:15). It is the kindness, forbearance, and long-suffering of the Lord that brings us to a change of mind unto salvation (Romans 2:4).

Although Paul acknowledges who he was before the Lord corrected his path, he does not let it hold him back. He was a sinner, but now because of Christ he is a saint. When Paul says he is the greatest of all sinners, he is not trying to display his humility; rather, he focuses on the mercy he received from God. In Philippians 3:8, Paul writes that he considers all things dung compared to the knowledge of Christ Jesus, and he desires to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness out from the law, but the righteousness that comes out from faith (Philippians 3:9).

Let us strive in the same manner, for Paul is our pattern to follow as we live out the salvation God so graciously and mercifully gave us. Let us put off the old man, who we were in Adam, who grows corrupt according to deceitful strong desires, and let us put on the new man, who was created in righteousness and piety of the truth (Ephesians 4:22–24).

And it came to be after Abraham’s death, and the LORD blessed Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer-Lahai-Roi (Genesis 25:11).

After Sarah’s death, Abraham married Keturah (Genesis 25:1), who bore him six sons (Genesis 25:2). Zimran is identified as the progenitor of tribal groups in the Arabian borderlands. Jokshan, who fathered Sheba and Dedan, is associated with key figures in the caravan trade of southern and northern Arabia (Genesis 25:3). Medan’s descendants, including Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah, established groups in northwest and central Arabia (Genesis 25:4). Midian is recognized as the ancestor of the Midianites. Ishbak is linked to nomadic groups in the Transjordan and northern desert regions. And Shuah, from whom the northern tribes descended.

Abraham gave everything that he had to Isaac, though he provided gifts for his other sons, who he sent off to the country of the east (Genesis 25:5–6).

Abraham died at the age of 175. He breathed his last in a good old age, a man full of years (Genesis 25:7–8); his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, buried him alongside Sarah in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 25:9–10).