A Testimony and a Charge

If you have a bible today turn with me to 1 Timothy. I have titled the message this morning A Testimony and a Charge.

Pray with me…

Last week we started our series in the pastoral epistles Gods playbook for the church, and the message today ties into last weeks main idea which was Christians love and guard the gospel because they have been changed by Jesus Christ.

Lets gets dig into the text as we see this testimony and charge from Paul.

1 Timothy 1:12–20 ESV

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

So Paul in this text really pauses for a moment to remind Timothy of his own conversion and his charge again.

Last week we saw Paul lay out his credentials when writing this letter, and also a warning against those false teachers whom Timothy would be dealing with.

These false teachers who devoted themselves to use doctrine that did not save, and using the law unlawfully failing to show others that the law is meant to show them the need for the grace of Jesus Christ.

And so today what we will see as our main idea is…

Paul uses his testimony to charge Timothy and us to have a life of faithfulness.

Here we have Paul really laying out the pattern of what it looks like to be saved.

And I believe today I have a pattern for you to understand when it comes to having a testimony of one who is changed by Jesus Christ. And Paul shows us that very thing.

1st point this morning is this…

Every Testimony involves grace.

So Paul thanks God for this strength that he has been given. Paul has this strength from the one who saved him and that is where we as Christians have to draw our own strength from. Paul wants timothy and us to know that very thing. Really none of us can truly accomplish anything in our on strength only by the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ. And Paul reminds Timothy of that.

Its the strength only given by grace which Paul said the Lord judged him faithful. Faithfulness is a requirement from God, to faithfully do anything for the kingdom of God, and to do anything for his kingdom you much have his Grace.

Why do you need that grace? Well Paul says why he needed it, because the life he lived prior to being saved.... remember through accomplished as we saw in our study of Philippians if you remember this man was circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

This guy was more than qualified according to the law than anyone so according to Paul and his own righteousness prior to meeting Christ this man did not need grace, but when he met Jesus he found himself as one who was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a insolent opponent desperate for grace.

These are serious words Paul uses here he does not just say as he does in verse 15 that he is the Chief of Sinners.

He defines how bad he really is, and only you know the severity of your own sin against God, and Paul understood that very well, and that is why he did not neglect this great grace he was given, but going back to those three words he says that he is a blasphemer.

Now to be a blasphemer means you are one who speaks evil, and slanders God. This was a serious crime in the Old Testament day because in Lev 24:16 it says if you do such a thing you were to be put to death by stoning

Interesting enough though it was Paul himself who has Stephen stoned for preaching the truth claiming he was a blasphemer. And if you know Paul’s history after that the book of Acts it says he was ravaging the church, going house to house dragging people who were followers of Christ to prison.

and that did not satisfy himself enough. he continued to breath threats and murders against believers in Christ so much so that he wanted to leave his current spot to go find more people to put in prison and to death because he had no respect for the people of God.

But something happened along the way on the Damascus road he received mercy. He recieved grace.

Paul, Saul did not come to God looking for mercy mercy found him.

One man said, Don’t forget the guy who is writing this letter to the church and Timothy used to be the churches single greatest threat.

Paul says that he had acted ignorantly in unbelief. What does this mean? I believe Paul really did not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was not like the other Pharisees who were taught by Jesus and rejected him, he was a man who kept his own faith until Jesus came and changed his heart.

It was not until he met Jesus face to face on the road to Damascus where he understood that all those things he held on to where worth dung as we saw in Philippians compared to knowing Jesus Christ, and where he would come to the place where he needed a savior

See Paul says the grace of the Lord overflowed for him. He experienced something he needed something he could not earn and that was grace. From a God who loved him, and gave him this great faith.

I remember when the Lord came and changed my life when I was 16 years old I knew about God, but did not grow up going to church consistently but when the Lord showed me himself and showed me I needed him I could not help but turn to him, and Paul did the same thing, each and everyone one of you no matter what your story is has same problem, and that is sin, and a great need for grace and the cure for that problem is Christ and the gospel, which brings me to my next point this morning..

Every testimony involves the gospel.

I told you last week that verse 15 is the climax of all the bible. That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

There is no grace without the gospel..

What is the gospel? It is good news.. But before i explain the gospel more..

I want you to notice what Paul said before this.. He said the saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.

Paul wants Timothy, wants us to bank on this statement, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Paul uses this phase four other times in the Pastoral Epistles each of them have their own weight and will be discussed more later, but Paul never wants you or I or Timothy or anyone else to take lightly that Christ came to save sinners.

Its the basic biblical truth that everyone should know, and Paul wants us to know this is something we can take to the bank, and we should believe it.

Those 9 words hold a special place in all of the Scripture, and to fully understand those words it would take up the 66 books of the bible.

You can start by unpacking this statement with 2 Words. Christ Jesus. Who is Jesus Christ. He is the second person of the Trinity. He is God, he is eternal, he is the one who stepped out of heaven, who had all the glories of his own creation at his fingertips yet he came into the world four more words. Came into the world..

Paul in his letter to the Galatians says it perfectly in chapter 4:4-5

Galatians 4:4–7 (ESV)

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

At the perfect time, God sent his son. Born just like you and I. A head 2 eyes, 2 ears a nose a human body for the sole purpose to glorify God, and to save sinners.

Listen to a few more glorious verses from each of the gospels.

Luke 19:10 ESV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Mark 2:17 ESV

17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9:13 ESV

13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

John 18:37 ESV

37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Hopefully by now you know something you are a sinner and you need saving.

That is why Paul called out all those things we discussed last week all those sins so everyone would have this understanding that we are all guilty of sin before a Holy God, but we have God who came to save us away from that sin.

In fact Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If you go a few verses in Romans 5:19

Romans 5:19 ESV

19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Have the faith knowing that Jesus came to live a perfect life dying on the cross rising from the dead so you could be saved.

The gospel is good news Christian because he came to save you. That saying is trustworthy it is worthy of full acceptance.

And Paul knew it was good news because it came to save him. Paul says he is the foremost I like the translation Chief of sinners. And Paul had that mindset not because he wanted to appear more humble than these false teachers or anyone else, but because he believed he was the worst of sinners, whom God poured out so much grace to save.

For the believers in here and for me I can say Paul didn’t know me I am far worse than this guy as a law breaker, and I believe we should all feel that way, because if you realize that you need a savior it changes everything when it comes to how you look at your life. You need a savior, and you can not save your self. And if you are saved you will have real change.

Third point this morning is this…

Every testimony shows God’s patience.

We don’t know the exact time Paul was saved, but we know his former life away from the Christ and this need he had for God to come and rescue him, and its a need that we all have.

For some of us God was kind and saved us early in life. For some it was latter, but when Paul was saved it was so God could display this merciful patience.

Romans 2:4 teaches us this…

Romans 2:4 ESV

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?

Many of us in the room have so many people that we wish God would save, and show his patience towards like Paul. And one man would say that this verse is a really good news to anyone who has ever thought, “God would not save me. I have hated him have I have turned against him. I have fought God at every point in my life.

If you think you are beyond the mercy of God, hear this: God chose to take the chief persecutor of the church and make him the chief missionary in the church to show He is patient, He loves, and He beckons sinners to believe in Him for eternal life. No matter who you are or what you've done, these words are worthy of full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (v. 15).

What good news for those who are far from him today, did you know that God can save people like Hitler, Stallin, Castro, Osoma bin laden, your brother, your sister, your cousin, your co-worker even your spouse who hates Jesus or is indifferent to him. Be the example Paul became after the Lord changed him in hopes that God can change anyone, and maybe just maybe today is the day where his grace and patience shows you of the great mercy only he can offer.

So Paul full of grace, full of the gospel, full of God’s patience, could not help but praise.

4th point this morning is this…

Every testimony leads to praise

I love how in such a serious letter to Timothy that Paul just breaks out in praise for the glory of God. Imagine Paul being carried along by the Holy Spirit pinning these very words to Timothy just pausing for a moment and letting out this joyful praise back to God.

Why wouldn’t he he just got through pouring out his heart talking about the grace he was shown by God and this charge he was shown by God, and the good news of the gospel whom he was shown by God. and the patience he was shown by God.

And so he does not just say thank you God. He goes into adoration for God. And describes God in this beautiful way.

He calls him the King of Ages. Remember during this time they had kings, but none who was ever the King of Ages. Who the scripture says everything is under his control.

He is immortal. No-one has the immortality of God. All things are mortal compared to him. He unlike you and I does not change does die.

He has the uniqueness of being invisible.

Latter on we will see this but Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:16 this..

1 Timothy 6:16 ESV

16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

God is the only God. Know this is true, because during that time Jesus was competing with all these other Gods, thought they did not exist and Paul is teaching the truths that we find in scripture going back to Dt 6:4

Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

There is no other Gods, but God himself, and Paul wants to praise his true savior.

He is the one to be praised.

I love these doxologies in Scripture I have mentioned how Jude has my favorite doxology at the end.

But One particular doxology I love and I picture those saints of God saying these words.... It says..

I will offer a sacrifice of praise, I know it's gonna cost me The cost is not greater than the cross where you bought me I was lost and you sought me, I was ignorant, you taught me I was impotent against my enemies, you fought for me I exist for your glory, never for mine I know I never would shine if it wasn't for your spirit inside You made me alive when I was dead in trespasses The passion of Christ left my sin in the past tense Every good and perfect gift comes from your hand You set me back on course when I run from your plan No excuse to refuse to lift my voice Because the gospel is true, there's always reason to rejoice And that don't mean that my sorrow is inconspicuous But when I grieve, I got a greater joy in the midst of it The joy of knowing I will see you face to face And it's all to the praise of your glorious grace

Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise him all creatures here below Praise him above ye heavenly hosts Praise father, son, and holy ghost

Oh God full of glory and grace Open in me a fountain of faithful praise Let it flow from the depths of my heart like great lakes Let my soul be the sweetness that spreads its fragrance Save me from the love of the world that you created More than the God whose beautiful hands made it Bring me from pride and consecrate me Make me feel the weight of my sin, sorrow and safety Let me sing with the saints of your great salvation And join in the songs of all creation Let the winds obey, the oceans wave, the mountains cave Let every star you placed display grace Let my speech do the same as the skies proclaim Let everything that has life and breath bless your name Let the earth be the stage where all creation aims To heaven in endless praises and adoration.

Every testimony leads to praise. And that praise should never end because you are holding on the truth of the gospel.

Finally last point today is this…

Every testimony holds on to the truth of the gospel.

For Timothy this meant taking what Paul has given him, what he has entrusted to him, and holding on to it.

Paul was called out to be a minster of the gospel. And he was called out for many reasons but in this text he is called to wage war. Spiritual warfare is real. Paul in the book of Ephesians talks about this and the armor you must have to fight this war. This is the church that Timothy is in. The place where timothy must hold on the truth of the gospel.

One of the most important things about a solider is its readiness to go to battle, Paul in the book of Ephesians says you need this armour you need The Belt of Truth the Breastplate of Righteousness the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace the Shield of Faith the Helmet of Salvation and Sword of the Spirit: Word of God this is going to help you with the warfare.

And he says to do so in two ways in addition to what I just said said.. To have faith, and a good conscience.

In the text we were in last week Paul spoke of a good conscience when it came to love, and a good conscience is also important when it comes to holding on to what you believe.

But Paul stresses like he does in all of his writings the importance of faith. And a saving faith is one who believes the right things. Last week I talked about how important doctrine is, and I have told you the higher the theology the greater doxology in the past. And I tell you those things because you have to have the right faith, and the right conscience because if you don’t you will end up like Hymenaeus, and Alexander.

People shipwreck their faith because they don’t hold on to what they believe, or they totally deny the grace and the gospel as a whole. There is speculation that these men were elders pastors in the church there and they led people astray, and Paul had to remove them and the truth is these men did not have a good conscience or a faith that saves. And so Paul hands these false teaches over to Satan. Seems intense, but Paul did that not to condemn, but rather so they learn to not blaspheme.

Paul here says that holding on to the gospel means sometimes you are going to have to remove those who dont. You all know this...

Matthew 18 1 Cor 5 speak to those ways to handle people who need to removed from the church, and know this.. I as your pastor am to look out for wolves, but so are you. And holding on to the gospel is going to cause some waves even in the church sometimes, but if you are faithful, and do it with a good conscience according to the word of God then you are guarding what was given to you.

as a final warning today I want to stress these two men and their lack of faith as warning to those who do not believe. The good news of verse 15. That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners only saves you in you believe in him. The gospel is not universal in the fact that is saves everyone, the gospel only saves those who repent of their sin, and trust in Christ as their Lord and savior.

So today have you experienced the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, have you believed the gospel, have you seen his patience for you, and have you broke out in praise, holding on to what you believe?

Dont leave here today with out saying Yes to all those things Let us pray!!!