Download 1 Timothy 1:12-20 - Bethany Community Church

Shaun Lewis
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(309) 682-1536
www.bethanycentral.org
All of Grace
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His
service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I
acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love
that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners –
of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus
might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. Now to
the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by
following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and
so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be
taught not to blaspheme. – 1 Timothy 1:12-20
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The True Gospel (1:12-17)
- The Characteristics of Grace
- Given by God – I thank Christ Jesus our Lord
- The first words written in beginning Paul’s testimony were of praise to God for giving him a testimony.
- If it were not for grace, there would be no power to serve, no faithful servants, and no outlet to serve.
- Enables us to Serve – Given me strength
- Grace does not only yield salvation, but yields strength throughout salvation (Phil 4:13).
- Grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 9:8, 2 Cor. 12:7-9, 2 Pet. 1:3). We lack nothing.
- Imprisoned/Awaiting execution many left Paul, but God gave him strength (2 Tim 4:16-17).
- Grace is sufficient to enable us to serve, overcoming struggles. Our failures do not testify to
the insufficiency of grace and the need for other solutions, but only of our lack of reliance on it.
- Entrusted to the Servant – Considered me faithful
- We are considered faithful servants as a result of grace not of our own doing. Worthless before God,
being faithful certainly would not be one of our natural qualities. (Rom 3:12b).
- Entrusted and made faithful stewards with the Gospel (2 Tim. 1:14).
- Employs All Who are Saved – Appointing me to His service
- Diakonia (humble service). Paul uses this term not of boasting of his faithfulness or strength.
- In serving Paul writes that he bears on his body, “...the brand-marks of Jesus.” (Gal. 6:17). His body
bore testimony to the zeal of his service. He understood that the King’s servants are not spectators.
- The Recipients of Grace
- Formerly Lost in Sin – I was once a...
- Paul forced Christians to blaspheme (Acts 26:11), and persecuted them often to death (Acts 8:1).
- To describe his desire to persecute he says he was a “violent man.” That is, he was driven by
violence and even found pleasure in torturing Christians. He was a zealous sadist.
- Formerly Ignorant of Sin – [but] I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
- Paul was one of many that sin without understanding what they are doing.
Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Lk. 23:34).
- This is why Christ had compassion for some and anger towards others.
- Paul was no apostate, hardened and fully rejecting the light of the Gospel (Heb. 6:4-6, 10:26-31). He
was saved because he saw the light and repented rather than rejected it (Acts 26:19)
- The Extent of Grace
- Poured out abundantly
- But where sin increased, grace increased all the more... (Rom. 5:20)
- Though our capacity to sin is infinite, it is no match for God’s capacity to save.
- When sin trickled into our lives to destroy us, grace came in like a flood to save us.
- He who did not spare His own Son... how will He not also... give us all things? (Rom. 8:32)
- If the Father so willingly gave up the Son, is there any bit of grace He would withhold?
- Poured out with faith and love
- Grace, faith, and love were poured by God on us abundantly.
- Not only were grace and love given to us, but faith as well (Acts 3:16, Phil. 1:29, 2 Pet. 1:1).
- While utterly evil, what would cause us to suddenly choose holiness if it were not for God?
- A persevering faith is characteristic of the believer (Col. 1:23, Heb. 10:32-39).
- A continuing love is characteristic of the believer (Eph. 1:15, 1 Jn. 3:14, 4:8).
“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
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Shaun Lewis
[email protected]
(309) 682-1536
www.bethanycentral.org
- The Purpose of Grace – A Display unto God’s Glory
- Once Objects of Wrath
- Christ Jesus came... to save sinners.
- Christ Jesus was God (Jn. 1:1, Col. 1:19, Heb. 1:8).
- Sinners – The natural defiant condition of the human heart towards God.
- The means to atone was blood (Heb. 9:22). Exchange one life for the other.
- Animal’s blood covered over sin, Christ’s blood removed it (Heb. 9:13-14, 10:4).
- Christ’s blood was not a ransom paid to Satan, but to the Father to satisfy His wrath.
- As a result, by grace we are saved from the power and the penalty of sin.
- ...of whom I am the worst.
- From God’s perspective all are sinners.
- The world is spiritually dead in sin, capable only of sin (Eph. 2:1, Isa. 64:6).
- Not dying over a period of time, but dead at birth incapable of any goodness.
- Not possessing degrees of being a sinner (Rom. 3:23, 5:8, James 2:10).
- And so, there is no difference between the best of us and the worst of us.
- Though we tend to think our hearts were rather decent prior to Christ, being above
certain sins. We flatter ourselves that there was some measure of goodness in us.
- The “best” heart is just as capable of the most vile acts as the “worst” heart that
actually goes forth in them.
- From Paul’s perspective, however, no heart was as sinful as his own
- Emperor Nero danced on his rooftop as Rome burned at his command(AD 64).
He blamed it all on Christians as his scapegoat, and persecuted them fiercely.
- Though Paul was imprisoned under this tyrant, he still regarded his own heart to be
even worse than the current Emperor’s or anyone else’s in human history.
- Paul believed this because he knew his heart in the past and in the present as well.
Paul does not say he believes he WAS the worst sinner, but that he IS the worst.
- Paul understood the depth of his past sinfulness as well as his present struggle with
sin. Is it any wonder how Paul understood the abundance of God’s grace?
- Now Trophies of Grace
- The reason for the cross was to magnify God’s glory through man’s redemption. Man’s redemption
was secondary to God’s glory in salvation. Without glory to God, salvation would not be.
- It is the contrast between the former man and the new man that God is glorified by.
- When God created the angels He created something from nothing to receive glory.
- When God created man, He created something from nothing to receive glory.
- When man fell, he became less than nothing. Man did not simply become worthless to God,
he became offensive to God and worthy of wrath which is worse than never being created.
- When God redeemed man, He took what was worth less than nothing to Him and will make it
greater than all the “somethings” in creation (Heb. 2:5-9). We will reign with Christ (Rom. 8:17).
- And it all was not for the mere benefit of man, but for the utmost praise of our Creator.
- This contrast demonstrates God’s patience (1:16), kindness (Rom. 2:4), love (Rom. 5:8),...
- The thief on the cross(Lk. 23:39-43): ...an example for those who would believe...
- The Proper Response to Grace
- After beginning with thanksgiving, Paul finishes his testimony with praise.
- What could be more fitting than to give God the glory for Salvation?
- Immortal, Invisible. Walter Chalmers Smith
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Combating False Doctrine (1:18-20)
- Fight the Good Fight
- Instruction – A mandate, not a suggestion, for Timothy to be obedient to his calling.
- Paul’s words aligned with the Prophets. Paul’s purpose is so Timothy will fight the good fight.
- ...holding on to faith. Refers to the Truth. Guard it (6:20) and preach it (2 Tim. 4:2)
- ... and a good conscience. Right beliefs determine right behavior.
- Fight for Purity
- The setting: A rejection of the Truth and as well as a good conscience
- The conscience is simply a reaction to a person’s behavior based on their idea of truth.
- Basically, those mentioned perverted the Truth so as to avoid their conscience and justify sin.
- The result: A shipwrecked faith. Truth is the rudder of faith.
- The action taken: Removal from the Church with the hope of restoration.
“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
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