I Timothy Part 4

I'm back to writing. I'm so far behind on the sermon series. Last Sunday's message is available in an audio form at http://bethelbaptisthc.com/sermons/

And now, on to Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

God grants salvation totally based upon His grace. We do not earn it at all. Paul presents himself as an example of the kind of sinner which God can save. Salvation does not come from the wrong use of the Law which the false teachers were twisting to their own benefit.

Paul ended his last paragraph by referencing that God had entrusted the gospel to him. This leads Paul to thank Christ. It was Christ Who strengthened him for his task. This was probably speaking about Paul's experience on the Damascus road when Christ appeared to Paul and change him from the persecutor of the church to one of her greatest missionaries. Christ judged him faithful and then appointed him to service. Of course, Paul was not faithful right at that moment. Christ knew what He would make out of Paul. Augustine wrote, "God does not choose anyone who is worthy, but in choosing him renders him worthy." All of our good is a gift from God; it does not come naturally to us. (Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:12-13) Paul was given a job to do in which he would suffer much, but would also preach the gospel to many people (Acts 9:15-16).

Paul's past was not one which someone would think would lead to missionary service. Paul was amazed himself that God would use him. First of all, he was a blasphemer. Someone who blasphemed would insult God. The word is not just using God's name in vain; as a pious Jew, Paul would have avoided that at all costs. It was that Paul insulted Christ. Since Jesus Christ is God, then Paul was blaspheming God. He thought he was doing service to God, but in reality, he was slapping God in the face. Secondly, he was a persecutor. He tried to jail Christians and even stood by and held coats when men stoned Stephen to death. He was no friend to the church. Third, Paul was an insolent person. The root here is hubris which some link to violence. Paul, as noted earlier, resorted to violence in order to stamp out the church.

Paul was not a nice man, to say the least. But, Paul received mercy. He did not deserve it for that would violate the definition of mercy. Paul claims that he was in a position to receive mercy because he acted in ignorance. He thought he was doing good by God's account. In the Old Testament, a distinction was made between sins which a person committed willingly in full knowledge, and those done in ignorance (Numbers 15:30). Paul did not deserve God's mercy because of his ignorance, for that would not be mercy, but it put him within the realm of mercy, so to speak. Paul describes the grace of Jesus Christ as overflowing to him. This grace resulted in faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. Paul was not just granted mercy, he was changed by God from the inside. What used to characterize Paul, blasphemy, persecution, and hubris, was now changed to faith and love. Praise God for his ability to change us!

Paul uses a formula here which he uses several times in the Pastorals. He introduces the next phrase with the "this is a faithful saying" motif. It was probably something which was a doctrinal affirmation that the church would be familiar with. Paul declares that Jesus Christ came into the world with the express purpose of saving sinners. Not only that, Paul is the foremost. This probably means that Paul was the forefront sinner. His sin was well known so that God's grace in his life would also be well known. Christ saved him in order to show his great mercy to the world. Paul was the example for those who would come after him in belief.

Paul ends this paragraph with a doxology. He addresses the King of the Ages who is immortal and invisible. This King is the only God. To Him belong all honor and glory for eternity. Here Paul lifts up the transcendent qualities of God, those that show that God is wholly other than us. In his life story, which was just related by Paul, God's immanence was shown. Paul found it marvelous that this transcendent King of the Ages would show mercy upon such a sinner as himself.

How does this apply to us? God can use anyone. No one is beyond the pale of His service. God can also forgive anyone. Our sin does not get in the way of God's election. God's saving work cost Him dearly, but in love He provided the sacrifice of His Son in order to pay for our sin. While Paul is lifted up as the foremost sinner, we all have sinned and all deserve God's wrath. It is only by putting our faith in Christ that we can be forgiven (John 3:16; Romans 10:9, 10, 13). The fact is that you can serve God. If He has elected you to salvation, then He has gifted you for His service (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).

Until next time. . .