GOD'S MERCY

Last week we really dug into what Sound Biblical Teaching was and was not. Sound Biblical teachers engage in self-denial and selflessness – not centering on them in any aspect.

The ultimate goal of S B T is Agape love and that love comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith

S B T focus on the Gospel message and not on how qualified or specially trained they are – no special revelation just the GOSPEL

Paul reminded us that the Law was given to show God’s Moral Standards and anything that contradicts Scripture is a false teaching – done by a false teacher

Remember that Sound Biblical Teaching comes from Apostolic Teaching, Apostolic Proclamation, and Apostolic Authority.

Besides Paul writing 2/3 of what we call the NT – why should Paul be listened to – why did the church include his letters in Scripture – Paul reminds us here

Let Us Pray!

1 Timothy 1:12–17

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 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. 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. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

I. GOD’S MERCY IS GIVEN REGARDLESS OF OUR IGNORANCE—vv. 12–14

1. Preacher—v. 12. Thanks to God for His call.

Paul normally in his intro starts with a thanksgiving section but the seriousness of the situation in Ephesus Paul dove in head first.

Now in verse 12 he offers a prayer of thanksgiving – I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,

I thank Him, I have gratitude to God – only one time does Paul use this verbiage and it is in another letter to Timothy

2 Timothy 1:3 – I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

Paul reminds Timothy and Us

Following Christ will be hard – get your strength from Him

Doing Ministry will be hard – get your strength from Him

Don’t try to do it yourself – rely on Him

Don’t return to bad habits – rely on Him

2. Persecutor—v. 13 – though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

Who is disqualified from service – from ministry – no one!

Paul should have been –

I blasphemed the name of Christ – denied his Godhood

I persecuted believers – arresting some – condoning death from some (Paul gave permission for Stephen to be stoned).

I was opposed to – in direct defiance of God’s Way

I reacted to what I did not know – I was ignorant because I did not know – but because of that God showed mercy on me!

Jesus said in Matthew 9:13 – Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Paul saw himself as righteous – and God did not use him – when Paul realized he was a sinner and what he thought he knew about God was wrong – he was ignorant about God – he saw how much of a sinner he was – Paul was baptized in Damascus and became a believer – and that mercy extended to him – he wanted to share with the world

How long ago were you baptized – do you still have zeal and passion to share what God has done and is doing in your life? Are you like Ruthie or have you started to rely on self for strength? Has God dropped down on your priority list?

Paul stayed on fire until he was beheaded in Rome – like those who encountered the living God – they were never the same – they never went back to “normal” never went back to their “old selves” but lived in their new identity in Christ!

How on fire for God are you right now? Where is serving God on your priority list?

In his unbelief he acted ignorantly – he thought he knew but he didn’t but God showed him mercy – those that do not know Jesus or think they know Jesus but act ignorantly – do we judge them or give them mercy?

And remember that ignorance does not change the definition of sin – does not change God’s standards –

Numbers 15:27-29 – “If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the people of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them.

It is still sin – but what does God say about the opposite – intentionally sinning

Numbers 15:30-31 – But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.”

God’s forgiveness does not give us permission to sin – His grace is not permission to sin – God’s mercy in not permission to keep on sinning.

3. Perseverance—v. 14 – and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Faith and love – not components of false doctrine or false teachers – faith and love as mentioned last week – tend to always go hand in hand.

Mature Christians will bear the marks and you will see the fruit of faith and love in their lives, their decisions, the way they treat others, you cannot be IN Jesus and not bear the fruit of Faith and the fruit of Love

II. GOD’S MERCY IS NOT DIFFERENT FROM HIS SOVEREIGNTY

1. Pardon—vv. 15–16 – 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. 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.

Neither theology nor salvation happen in a vacuum – in isolation

Paul the chief of sinners – but everyone can and should accept it.

This saying is trustworthy – Paul repeats this exact phrase 5 times in his pastoral epistles – 3 of them in 1 Timothy alone

v15a – The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance – everyone should accept this

pistos – trusting God’s promises

pas – whole – everything – all things

apodoche – literally the Greek word for acceptance

What is it that is trustworthy and deserving full acceptance – the Gospel

That Jesus came to save sinners –

Who is a sinner?

Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1 John 1:8 – If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

v15b - that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost

Paul says “I am the poster boy for sinners – I was the worst of all sinners.” Why?

ACTS 26:10-11 – And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul does not live in the past but utilizes his past to show the mercy and grace of God – he does not hold onto his old identity but lives in his new identity in Christ – uses his old self to show the transformational power of a living God.

Every hear someone say they were too bad – too far gone to be saved – how does their list of sins compare to Paul’s – not that we compare to say I am not as bad as ____, but Paul proves no one is ever too far gone.

Do you have an unsaved family member or friend that you have given up praying for because they are too far gone – get back to praying – while they have breath in their lungs there is still hope!

Paul believes this too – look at v16 – 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.

God’s perfect patience – I am so thankful for God’s perfect patience – He will always be patience with us.

John 5:24 – Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Believe in Him – personal choice – not tradition – not dogma – who were to believe in Him for eternal life – parents cannot make the choice for their kids – spouses cannot make the choice for their spouse –

2. Praise—v. 17 – To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul’s testimony leads to a spontaneous outburst of praise and worship

Knowing what God saved him from – calling him for – leads to worship

King – ruler

Of ages – outside of time

Immortal – Infinite – never ending

Invisible – unseen – His Holiness cannot be viewed by a sinful person –

Exodus 33:20 – But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

The only God – monos theos – only, single, sole – there is only 1 God

2 Kings 19:15 – And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: “O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 44:6 – Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

1 Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Jude 1:25a – To the only God..

Honor and glory forever and ever – never ending –

In your life, what have you set in a place of honor over God? Job? Traditions? Family?

In other words – what has a higher priority in your life than God – if you are gut wrenching honest with yourself, with the Holy Spirit – is it your will, your way – or is it His Will – His Way – His Word?

How often do you erupt into unplanned worship? Sporadic worship outside of church?