1 Tim 1:12-20 - Encouragement for Faithful Ministry

Introduction

When were you last required to do something difficult? Perhaps it was academic, like comprehensive exams; Perhaps it was physical, like rounding up strays; Perhaps it was emotional, like saying “good bye” to your baby.

Where did you find the strength for that task?

In this first chapter of Paul’s first letter to Timothy, the young preacher is being challenged to stand up against false teachers who had already made a name for themselves in the church.

Every first-year teacher knows the trepidation of standing in front of the class on that first day. Some of us are stepping into new roles in VBS in a month. All of us are being challenged by your pastor to show 5 acts of kindness to our neighbors.

Where do we find the strength to take on these assignments? The Holy Spirit is using the words of the Apostle Paul to show us the source that will empower you to finish the task that God has assigned.text

Christ Jesus Prepares Strength (1:12)

Begins with humility (compare vv.9-10 with 1:12)

It is sometime unfortunate that I only get to preach 30-40 minutes. Amen? When preaching on a selection of verses, the flow of the bigger text can get lost.

Too many who read the list that concluded last week’s sermon of those who are and do wickedness, read that list with a pride that “at least I’m not one of these.”

This is NOT Paul’s mindset! He is acutely aware of his own past. He knows his own tendencies. He admits that there is nothing natural in him that provides the credibility to challenge younger Timothy.

Graced by Christ Jesus (thank)

V.12 in English misses some of the nuance in the language that Paul wrote to Timothy.

In the language the Holy Spirit chose for Paul to write there is a concept that is known as emphatic position. It is the idea that the first and last words of a sentence are most important.

The first word of this verse in Paul’s letter is not I, it is not even the normal word for thankfulness. It is literally Grace I have. Not to throw shade on the translation of grace as thank, because EVERY English translation I consulted uses this word. But, in our minds we must never remove thanks from the reception of Grace.

From the very outset Paul is saying that the strength to do hard things is a gift of grace that comes from Christ Jesus.

Determining that any of us are within faith and appointed to service provides strength from the one who judges and appoints.

TRANSITION: Paul goes on a little mental journey into the connection between God’s strength and Paul’s (and ours) need for God’s supernatural kindness.

Christ Jesus Provides Mercy and Grace (1:13-14)

Honest about His past (13a)

formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent - ESV

I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. - NASB

I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man - CSB

I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man. – NIV11

While Paul doesn’t admit to any sexual immorality from the previous list, his admitted blasphemy was deserving of the death penalty under Jewish law. He was as guilty as sin.

Overwhelmed by His present (13b-14)

Just as Jesus cried out from the cross “Father forgive them because they do not know what they are doing”, Paul connects his own gift of mercy to his previous ignorance.

His ignorance did not excuse his behavior, it underlines and emboldens the 3 words in the center of v.13 – but I received.

What Paul testifies about himself is the same thing he preached to the believers in Ephesus:

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV:2016

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

—

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV:2016

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

4. Paul is so overwhelmed by mercy, that he wants his sense of awe to encourage Timothy to stand in that strength. So overwhelmed that he uses a word that appears nowhere else in the entire Bible.

Paul uses a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious type of word to catch Timothy’s attention.

5. Paul uses a 7 syllable word that means “to experience extraordinary abundance,” [i]

6. Paul has been accused by Bible commentators and translators as getting so excited that he just rolls with it. To Timothy he uses 7 syllables, to the Corinthians he uses 8 superlatives.

2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV:2016

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

7. When we are honest about our past and our sin, God doesn’t give us “just enough” mercy to bring us back to level. He provides enough for us to abound in His calling.

Transformation is available to you!

God’s mercy and grace are never limited by sin or time. There is NOTHING you could have ever done that is beyond God’s grace!

The same mercy that extended to a murder like Paul and worldly sinners like the Ephesians is available to you today!

TRANSITION: Whatever God is calling you to do, He has prepared the strength you will need, and His mercy is sufficient to provide it for you in abundance! Lastly…

Christ Jesus Presents Purpose (1:15-20)

What do we do with the strength He prepares and the mercy He has provided? We leverage them for God-given purposes.

Generally (vv.15-17)

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (v.15) You will NEVER go wrong living out this purpose. It is always trustworthy and fully acceptable to remind people of this truth.

Jesus’ mercy is on display. [I received mercy for this reason] (v.16) – not for us only!

God’s patience with me is an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. Nobody is saying that you are perfect or holier than anybody else. We simply believe that if Jesus’ mercy could reach me, it surely can reach any who would believe in Him.

Specifically (vv.18-20)

1. Paul returns to the charge he started to Timothy back in v.3. In Timothy’s case his purpose was to stand for good doctrine to engage in the war against false teachers who were leading the church astray.

2. If we go awol, if we abandon our post, if we become traitors to our Great Commander, there are dire consequences for others.

If people go off course through ignorance, they can shipwreck their belief system (v.19)

If people stubbornly refuseto listen to sound truth, the example of Paul is that he allowed them to pursue the prince of this air, the ruler of an earthly kingdom (v.20) SO THAT they would turn to the only true Savior blessed in v.17.

1 Timothy 1:17 ESV:2016

17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

c. The people you love need to make a choice. They can choose the ruler of THIS age (Satan), or they can receive mercy from the King of THE AGES…forever and ever.

CONCLUSION

I pray that you avoid the terrible decision made by Hymenaeus and Alexander, receive mercy! I pray that you accept the charge issued to Timothy, proclaim the Gospel!

The struggle is worth it. The hard conversations are worth it. The pain from being misunderstood is worth it.

God has changed lives in the past. Christ came to change lives, God calls us to partner with Him in changing lives!

His grace, mercy & patience provide the strength necessary for us to proclaim truth that may not always be received well.

If we do not fight the good fight, others’ ignorance may lead to shipwreck, or worse Satan’s destruction.

Song of Response #293.............”Rise Up, O Church of God”

Benediction:

Psalm 121:7–8 ESV:2016

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

[i] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., 1034. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.