1 Timothy 1:12-17

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1 Timothy Part 6

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False Teachers, wrong message – The Law as a way to be saved – Law as the force that drives you to the cross, to the true message that Paul is about to state as clearly as ever

Our last section ended with this

… and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine...

Paul has been entrusted with the TRUE Message, SOUND Doctrine, the TRUE use of the law, the TRUE Gospel

What is that true message, what is sound doctrine? 2 Focus Points of that Sound Doctrine, and 1 Reminder with the way Paul closes.

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‌1:12-17

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God Requires Faithfulness – “He judged me faithful”

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NOT PERFECTION

This is in part in opposition to lawfulness, The false teachers were using the law incorrectly, saying things like following the law was the pathway to salvation. Paul goes on here to lay out how unlawful he was, he was, in short, a SINNER. The key to Paul’s salvation was not his perfect obedience, it was his faith.

Wayne “The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart.”

The difference in the Christian and the non-Christian is not primarily in the amount of sins committed, but in the faithfulness of the heart.

2 People may commit the same exact sin, one be saved and the other not, because one hates that sin and desires to kill it, while the other is joyfully letting that sin reign.

Martin Luther – 95 theses – 1st one – The Christian life is to be a life of repentance (which means a life of failing, a life of not doing enough, but a life of faithfulness, which ends up being a life of repentance . . .)

Paul even calls himself here the “Chief of Sinners” – Chief of Law Breakers

Paul calls to us across the centuries: ‘Don’t despair! Christ had mercy even on me, the worst of sinners; he can also have mercy on you!’

You can’t obey perfectly, but you can repent faithfully

If you asked my wife if she has a perfect husband, she’d laugh (harder than I would like), but if you asked her if she had…

So its not perfection but it is also NOT MENTAL ASCENT

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Biblical Faith is more than just mental ascent, it is not “God judged that I believed certain facts” – faithfulness to the things believed – commitment - loyalty

‌Whole point of James 2 – Even the demons give mental ascent – the difference is faithfulness - Biblical faith

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 Matthew 25:21

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God’s Mercy and Grace Overflow – “The grace of our Lord overflowed…”

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​The Bible seems very concerned that you realize how incredibly abundant is God’s love and grace for you. If you come from a legalistic background, you have trouble reconciling what all this sort of language means.

Paul preaches grace so strongly that he repetitively has to say, “Now this doesn’t mean you don’t have to obey”

Hapax Legomenon

That is, grace ‘overflowed’ like a river that has received a lot of extra water and now which cannot be contained, but bursts its banks and carries everything before it, sweeping irresistibly on. What the river of grace brought with it, however, was not devastation but blessing, in particular the ‘faith’ and the ‘love’ Paul mentions. ‘The Nile overflows; the crops abound. Grace overflowed, and faith and love sprang up.’ Grace flooded with faith a heart previously filled with unbelief, and flooded with love a heart previously polluted with hatred.

It is not that you come to God thirsty and he hands you a spoonful of water, he puts you at the mouth of the river of life so that you couldn’t drink it all if you tried, and the water will keep coming endlessly forever. You can’t outsin God’s grace.

You saying “God couldn’t or wouldn’t save someone like me” is like taking a cup, walking out into a rushing river, having to lean forward so the water doesn’t rush you away, and saying “This river could never fill this cup.”

OF COURSE IT CAN! YOU AREN’T STRONG ENOUGH TO OVERPOWER THE GRACE OF GOD!

You are a leaf in a tornado, a kite in a hurricane, a speck of dirt in a mudslide.

The call of the Gospel is not, DUST YOURSELF OFF so you’ll be appealing to God, it is JUMP IN THE RIVER

Romans 5:20 2 Cor 9:8 Eph 1:7 2:6-7 1:3 Jn 1:16-17

‌Thesis: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

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Jesus wanted to give an illustration of his patience and mercy – WHY??? not of his wrath and judgment which he could have, but he wants YOU to see that he is merciful, patient

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2 Peter 3:9 Jonah 4:2 Ex 34:6-7‌

God is not a “Tame Lion” “The King of Ages. . .

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A typical Pauline doxology results from these moving reflections on the mercies of God.

The Lord’s gift of mercy and Paul’s experience of need caused his heart to swell with praise.

Additionally we are constantly reminded that yes God is merciful and patient and loving and graceful, but not to make the mistake of thinking he is tame.

This line is one of my favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis’s the Chronicles of Narnia, when confronted by the idea of Aslan, the lion, who is a picture of God, Lucy asks, "Is He safe?"

‌"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

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Mr. Tumnus also says, "He's wild, you know. Not a tame lion."

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Mercy and Grace overflow, well that’s nice – he spoils his children. No. No reason to fear? No. You should fear him rightly, reverence, awe, the proper respect owed.

Doesn’t make him the sheep petting rosy cheeked tame Jesus, gentle and certainly not wrathful certainly not sending people to hell

No, this is the King of the ages! Immortal. Invisible. The Only God. Honor. Glory. Forever.‌

Isaiah 45:5–6 Rev 4:11

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Romans 2:4

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Closing –

Paul - Law shows you to be a sinner, lists all these great sins, then says but I am the chief sinner, and he saved even me!

As undeserving as Paul was, God upheld him. Timothy should be no less confident of God’s support. Neither should you.

Dabbling with “myths and endless genealogies” (v. 4) or relying on the law could not transform a life as divine grace had changed Paul – The Gospel does that – Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!

Not only did he save even me, he strengthens me. I thank God who has strengthened me