Canterbury Inn Message

Introduction

I have often asked myself, “How would my life have been different if Christ Jesus hadn’t come into my life when He did?”

Of course, this is ridiculous question because there’s no way for me to know and I believe that Christ came into my life at the exact moment that God ordained.

However, I’m not immune from pondering the ridiculous, so I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if Jesus hadn’t come into my life.

I imagine I would be doing what I was doing back then: groping for meaning; seeking happiness and contentment in relationships that couldn’t provide what I wanted; living for momentary comfort, leisure, and pleasure instead of a life of substance; spending most of my time with my head in the clouds, dreaming of glory but doing very little to achieve much of anything.

Basically, the worst parts of me would likely be the main parts of me.

But praise God, He had a different plan! The Gospel of Jesus Christ made all the difference!

I’ve been blessed throughout my twenty-six years of ministry to serve at four different churches, all of whom were filled with people for many different generations.

There has been a movement within the church where the focus has been heavily churches predominately focused on reaching young people (instead of multiple age groups).

I have resisted this movement, because I think it misses a vitally important calling of the church: for the older generation to model Christian living to the younger generation.

I personally can’t imagine where I would be as a Christian if it wasn’t for the older men in my life who have modeled Christian living and ministry for me!

But, our modern world often today discounts the older generation.

So, you might ask, how can I make a positive impact with people who largely ignore the wisdom of those who came before them?

That’s what we will look at this afternoon.

Body: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Verses 12-14 - God’s Grace to Paul

In the preceeding verses Paul warns Timothy about false teachers.

One of Timothy’s main responsibilities in Ephesus was to ground the people in sound doctrine so they would not be pulled away from the faith.

This begins with a clear understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In these verses Paul uses his own story to tell of the power of the Gospel to extend forgiveness and mercy.

Look at the words Paul uses about himself here: blasphemer, persecutor, insolent opponent, and acting ignorantly in unbelief.

An insolent opponent means a person with a high level of hubris or arrogance that treats others with offensive disrespect.

Look at what Paul’s biographer, Luke has to say about Paul, then known as Saul:

Acts 8:1–3 ESV

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Acts 9:1–2 ESV

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Saul made it his purpose in life to destroy the church of Jesus Christ in it’s earliest days.

But, a funny thing happened on the road to Damascus!

Look at how much different Paul was after meeting Jesus and being confronted by the Gospel:

Judged faithful by God (He was not judged faithful because he had shown faithfulness, but because God knew he would be faithful…man, it’s good to have a God who knows what we can be, not necessarily what we are right now!);

Appointed for His service (Given a mission to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles!);

Recipient of mercy (He did not earn mercy, he was shown mercy!);

Recipient of overflowing grace (Watering the chickens…dripping water on my sock! The picture here isn’t of a little grace dripping on our socks. This is grace pouring out on us that makes Niagara Falls look like a small trickle!);

That’s exactly what the Gospel does for all who believe!

So, understanding what the Gospel is and it’s implications for life is by far the primary importance in life!

And, praise be to God, it is not hidden from us!

Verses 15-16 - The Gospel of Grace

Here we find the Gospel in it’s simplest form: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

We are all sinners.

The punishment for sin is eternal separation from God.

Christ Jesus (or Jesus, the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners from the eternal consequences of our sin.

We are called to repent of our sins and believe in Christ Jesus alone to save us from our sins, bringing us new life and eternal life.

Of this, Paul says that it is both trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.

That’s the nature of the Gospel. We either agree with Paul that the Gospel is trustworthy and to be fully accepted, or we don’t. There are no partial measures here.

Looking back on his old life, Paul sees himself as the foremost of all sinners.

Of course, that is hyperbole. All of us, who truly understand the gift that is grace, believe we are the foremost of all sinners!

And just like Paul, we are an example to everyone of the power of grace!

If God could save a sinner like me, then He can save any sinner.

God’s grace found in the Gospel of Christ Jesus leads Paul to praise God.

Verse 17 - Paul’s Praise

Paul recognizes and acknowledges that it is only God who could do something as great as this!

And honor and glory should be given to Him constantly for what He has done to save sinners.

So What?

How can I make a positive impact with people who largely ignore the wisdom of those who came before them?

We must develop Gospel-centeredness in all areas of our lives .

How?

Know the Gospel

It will never be enough for the pastor alone to know the Gospel. Or, for just a handful of leaders to know the Gospel.

We all must know it, share it, celebrate it, and find our life and hope in the Gospel.

Be Bereans

Acts 17:11–12 ESV

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

The preaching and teaching of the Word can no longer be a passive activity we sit back and appreciate. We need to always examine the Scriptures daily!

This isn’t simply to make sure the preacher or teacher isn’t a heretic. It’s more so in order to see lives changed by the preaching and teaching of the Gospel; ours and others!