"Paul's Wonderful Testimony About the Gospel"

Begin with Prayer:

Have someone read verses 12-17.

Introduction: Two weeks ago we addressed the issue of how important it is to guard the gospel. Paul was warning Timothy of some of the false ideas and teaching that had crept into the church. Paul concluded our time in verse 11 by stating, “the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.” Paul was entrusted with this gospel message and more than anything he wanted the church to know the right and true message from that which was false. As we come to verses 12-17 we see this wonderful display of the gospel being presented. In fact, this is a very bold expression of God’s grace toward sinners even though it is Paul’s personal testimony about the gospel.

As we guard the gospel, we can also celebrate the gospel and what the Lord has done. This is exactly what Paul is doing. As Paul shares his testimony we see that he is also praising God and thanking the Lord for all that He has done. Here in these verses that we are going to look at this evening Paul does a wonderful job in laying out one of the clearest and most compelling descriptions of what the gospel is all about. Verser 15 tells us “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”, and so as we learn about the gospel we also learn about the grace of God and the glory of God.

(Verse 12) Notice here in verse 12 that Paul directs his thanks to the Lord, to Christ who has given him strength. Paul is not referring here to an inward strength like some big body builder, but rather a strength of God’s entrusting. This phrase or word might be better understood as God enabled Paul or empowered him to serve. The expression here that Paul uses that God has found him faithful or judged me faithful is extremely important because it helps us to see that Christ has found Paul to be trustworthy. Even though we know that Paul acted in unbelief, God’s grace came to him with faith as we will see down in verse 14.

I am sure that it was all the more amazing for Paul that God would ever entrust him with the gospel as he looked back at his past life. So, Paul’s outlook on how Christ came to him and stoped him cold in his tracks and saved him is totally a beautiful story of God’s grace. I am sure that there were many times that Paul had some very vivid memories of his past and so Paul is reminded of that, but also how God wonderfully and truly changed him and called him to ministry. This of course was in contrast to the heretics of the time who wanted to be teachers in the church, but had never been called by the Lord to teach and yet were still trying to do so. The point here is that God specifically called Paul and appointed him to service. The reason why this is so important is because it is only by Christ and His calling that men are put into ministry. God warned and even condemned false prophets and false teachers that He had not called.

Jeremiah 23:21 ESV

21 “I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.

It is Christ’s appointing and calling like Paul here, that God used for His work.

(Verse 13) As we come to verse 13 we now begin to see Paul’s testimony and his past life. There are 3 major things that Paul addresses here about his former life.

First of all, Paul tells us that he was a blasphemer. What does that word mean? It means that Paul denied that Jesus was the true Messiah, and thus Paul rejected the salvation of God. However, Paul not only denied Christ, but by persecution and violence he tried to force others to deny Christ as well. He continued to do this until Christ came to him on the Damascus road and showed him grace.

Paul was also a persecutor of the church and of Christ. Paul was known as a violent man. Paul mercilessly tracked down Christians and threw them into prison, had them beaten, and even had them stoned to death. In Acts chapter 7 and 8 we read about how Saul/Paul ravaged the church and had Stephen stoned to death. This is why Paul considered himself the least of the Apostles, not even deserving to be called an apostle.

1 Corinthians 15:9 ESV

9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

3. Finally, Paul calls himself an insolent opponent. As Paul looks back to the past he is reminded that he was found to be against Christ and therefore was found to be opposing God. Anyone who is not found to be for God is against him. But there was good news and Paul gets right to the good news, even though he needed to explain the former sinful life.

The good news is that Paul was shown mercy because he acted ignorantly in his unbelief. Paul is explaining here or drawing on the fact that there are sins that are deliberate, but there are also unintentional sins that are un-deliberate. The false teachers by contrast were characterized by deliberately sinning because they rejected trusting Christ. Paul was found to be in a different category than these other teachers and was found not to be beyond the reach of the Lord’s forgiveness.

(Verse 14) As we come to verse 14 we learn about the grace that the Lord showed to Paul. Here we learn that the grace of God is unconditional. What I mean by that is that there was nothing that Paul did to draw God to Him. Paul’s salvation began in God and in God alone. And the same is true for you and I. We are not saved based on any condition in us, we are saved on account of God’s sovereign grace. From before time God choose us. Ephesians 1:4 tells us this.

Ephesians 1:4 ESV

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

In fact, this is the Doctrines of God’s Grace.

Beginning in verse 13 and running through verse 16 I want you to notice the words Grace and Mercy. They are not the same words of course, nor do they have the same meaning, and yet they are the same as a coin. On one side of the coin is mercy and on the other side is grace.

When God shows us Grace, He is giving us something we don’t deserve. He is pouring out His love and forgiveness to repentant sinners who have turned from their sin and turned in faith toward Christ.

When God shows us Mercy, He is not giving us what we deserve. Namely His wrath and sending us as sinners straight to hell.

So, what Paul has again shown us is that the law in and of itself is helpless, which was said to help sinners. In fact, the law can only keep sinners in check because only God’s grace which brings with it faith and love offers us eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul was shown mercy and grace and love. The Lord had forgiven Paul and given him the strength to go and serve and Paul is proclaiming his thanks to the Lord.

(Verse 15) The phrase here, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”, should stand out to every believer because it shows us two major things about Christ.

1. First of all, is shows us the Incarnation of Christ. Have you ever wondered what that word incarnation means? It means that Jesus Christ did not come into being when he was born in Bethlehem. Christ, who is the second person of the Trinity already existed before the foundation of the world. However Christ humbly came to this world and put on a flesh suit born of a virgin and came to us and this is called the Incarnation of Christ. But, why did Christ have to come to this earth? Jesus came to live the life we never could. Jesus came to die the death we all deserved, and rise over death and sin. Paul says, “This is a trustworthy statement deserving of full acceptance.”

2. Second of all it shows us the Redemption of Christ. The reason why Christ came into the world was because after the first Adam sinned down through history we as mankind have been born with a sin nature. We are totally depraved and we are in need of a Savior to save us or redeem us from sin and death. So, Jesus came to save sinners. What is more, here is that Paul calls himself the foremost of sinners. Notice the present tense, “I am.” Paul was deeply aware of his past but also his present sinful condition. And this is why Paul was so thankful for the Lord’s mercy in his own life.

(Verse 16) As we come to verse 16 we now understand because of the Lord’s mercy on Paul, Paul is so thankful for how God was patient in his life. Paul views himself as an example to others. He wanted to be an example to Timothy as well as others in the church, but even more so to unbelievers. If God could save and change a blasphemer, a persecutor and even an opponent of God, than God can truly save anyone He wishes to save. God can take the worse sinner and turn his or her life around and use it for good. God is patient and forgiving waiting on people to repent of their sin.

(Verse 17) One of the things that we now see as we come to verse 17 is that Paul understands how gracious the Lord is, and because of God’s gracious dealings in his own life, that should fill us all with admiration of God’s wonderful attributes. So, this final verse is a rich verse that deals with Doxology = This is a term that comes from the Greek word (doxa) or glory. It helps us to see praise that should be given towards the Holy Trinity. Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

In the 1550”s the Reformers transferred the hymns of doxology to the end of their service, which was no doubt because of doing Communion at the end of the service as well. By doing this we see that it fittingly concludes the Christian sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving that we see all throughout the Psalms.

There are 4 major attributes that stand out to us here in this final verse about God. Let’s take a look at these attributes.

First of all, God is the King of the ages. The NIV version tells us that God is the King Eternal. In other words, God is without beginning of days, or end of life, or change of time. He has always existed and will always exist. That is often hard for us as humans to wrap our minds around. All we have known and seen are a certain amount of days and time. So, too think about something that has always existed can be difficult. The important thing for us to know today is that God is the eternal King now and forevermore. Just because there are earthy rulers who think that are ruling and reigning doesn’t mean that behind the scenes God still continues His rule and is even now is sitting on His throne. So, let us keep this in mind. (Jeremiah 10:10; Psalm 10:16)

The second attribute of God here is that He is immortal. What does this mean? The word immortal here means that God never grows tired or weary. He never changes. Death and decay cannot and will not ever touch him. He is royal and He is eternal. God is not like man in the fact that we have a number of days. God is mighty and powerful and immortal and that is why He is God and we are not.

The third attribute of God is that He is invisible. Again this attribute is unlike any human, since all are visible to the human eye. God and His Glory are invisible and incomparable.

And finally God is the only God. This attribute reflects the monotheism characteristic of both Judaism and Christianity. We don’t believe in many gods but only one. This would have contrasted sharply with the polytheism of the Greco-Roman world of many gods. There is only one wise God. There is only one infinitely superior God. And Paul says to Him be the honor and glory forever and ever Amen.

Conclusion: As Paul brings all of this to a close tonight I want you to see that through this doxology we come to some important things. Paul desires for Timothy to remain in Ephesus to deal with the false teachers. But even though there is false teaching and speculations, the gospel stands above everything else. This is so important for us to know today. Why? Because we as individual believers and even the local church of Christ will continue to deal with difficult days and stressful times. However, because Christ is the head of our lives and the head of His church and is our Savior and King we can get through the difficult times. Though opposition and challenges will come, God is the King of the ages, and He will continue to lead us, and guide us and protect us and sanctify and preserve His bride the church. So, as we await His return let us as men faithfully follow Him and like Paul proclaim the good news of the gospel to those who are lost.

Closing Questions if we have time:

Have you ever taken time to stop and think about how God showed you His grace? Are you overwhelmed by this fact?

Have you ever stopped to think about what role God plays in our salvation and what role we play?

What is the biggest hindrance that causes you from sharing the gospel with others?

(Close in Prayer)