you ever notice?

Have you ever noticed Paul's use of the present tense in 1 Timothy 1:15?

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

I am the worst. He does not say he was the worst, simply referring to his days as a hunter of Christians.

I had not really noticed that until this morning. I'm not sure it makes a dramatic change to how I interpret that. But it emphasize all the more the attitude we ought to have about ourselves, especially those of us in church leadership.

Tozer and Accepting Christ

I've been listening through the audio version A. W. Tozer's "Pursuit of God." In it he mentions that the phrase "Accepting Jesus", which is such popular term in modern Christianity, is nowhere found in Scripture.

However, Colossians 2:6 speaks of receiving Christ.

Do you think Tozer is simply mincing words, or is there a significant difference between accepting Christ and receiving Christ?

Btw, Tozer's larger point, that there is so much more to the gospel than the simple, momentary act of accepting (or receiving) Christ, is well-supported by Colossians 2.