Paul’s Gratitude for God’s Mercy

Introduction:

This evening the members of our church who are present will observe the Lord’s Supper.

This will be a time of remembrance of the Lord’s death and reflection on God’s graciousness and lovingkindness.

During our Bible study this morning, we can reflect on God’s graciousness with Paul as he frames his salvation and ministry for Timothy.

Paul often gives the reader insight into his thinking. Passages that come to mind are:

Romans 7.

Philippians 3.

Titus 3.

1 Timothy 1:12.

Neither God’s salvation nor the service of the gospel are to be taken lightly.

A reminder of the context of 1 Timothy and the transitional statement made by Paul in 1 Tim. 1:11.

Paul’s Gratitude

Paul characterizes himself to Timothy as someone in a state of possessing God’s grace.

His purpose is to express his gratitude to the one who entrusted His gospel to him.

Christ is the one who enabled him.

Paul did not see his apostolic role as his personal possession.

He bore God’s message empowered by Jesus Christ.

His gratitude is because Jesus considered him faithful having placed him into this role of responsibility.

Paul’s Past

His high responsibility contrasts with his past state.

Paul is very open and honest with Timothy in his assessment of his past. He never whitewashes his past.

He describes himself as formerly a:

Blasphemer

Persecutor

Man of violence.

He interjects, although he explains this further below (see 1 Tim. 1:16), that he was shown mercy.

Paul frames his own former state as one caused by a state of misunderstanding that caused him to “act in faithlessness.”

Paul seems to have more in mind with “faithlessness” than just that he was not a believer in Jesus. That is only part of the story.

Romans 3 seems to be very relevant to understanding “apistia.”

He is referring to his own misunderstanding of God and how God had revealed how He would provide salvation for all humanity (Jews and non- Jews).

Thus, outside of a correct understanding of the scriptures, Paul’s knowledge and behavior were inconsistent with faithfulness to the scriptures.

Contrast this with what he thought at the time, no doubt.

God’s Grace

It abounded, superceded with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Here is where God’s own faithfulness and love were shown.

It also produced these things in Paul (although the above seems to be more consistent with his meaning).

God did not give the law for salvation (see the error by the false preachers above), instead the Messiah entered the world to save sinners.

Note that a Pharisee, Paul, claims to be the “first in rank” of all “sinners” a category of people the Pharisees routinely grumbled about Jesus associating with.

Paul returns to the reason for God’s mercy toward him, or at least an additional one (see 1 Tim. 1:16).

Paul saw himself as an example, a pattern.

Others can see God’s longsuffering in his graciousness toward Paul.

God didn’t immediately kill him. He showed mercy to him, saved him, and gave him responsibility.

This causes Paul end by praising God’s person.