1 Timothy 1:12-20

introduction

In my first year of college I had a massive problem. God had called me very clearly to go to Millar College of the Bible and so I knew that was where I needed to go. I had struggled with not getting in on my first year but I knew that the wait would be worth it. So the next year rolls around, a new campus is opening and I realize why God had told me to wait. I was amazed at his grace as I applied and was the first applicant for the new campus. It was God working through the situation to place me right where I needed to be. But there was a big problem. God had called me and I was listening, but only half as well as I should have been. I went to each class but only wanted the head knowledge. I didn’t care if my heart was changed. In fact, I sat down with the Dean of Men frustrated one day and said, “why am I so afraid of who I will be if I let God change me. What if I don’t like the person that I become?” My heart was so hard that I actively resisted change and I found out in my fourth year that there were discussions about whether I should return for a second year as so little was happening in my heart. But I had an incredible moment before God during the summer and someone on staff was listening to God because he was doing an overhaul of my life. I was at summer camp and we were doing a time of praise and worship and I opened myself to whatever God wanted for me for I think the first true time in my life. God flooded me with his Holy Spirit and I was overwhelmed with joy! And I wept, a friend and mentor came over and asked me what was wrong. I said, “I have been so hard hearted before God, I have nade it all about myself and now I feel like I have put a wall up between God and myself. I don’t know how to break it down.” And so we prayed together, and in a desperate state I asked God to reveal my sin to me (a dangerous prayer if you haven’t asked it before) so God spoke, clearly, loudly, and concise. He revealed thirteen things in my life that I needed to change. So I asked God to help me with it. In this way, I sometimes relate to Paul as he opens his letter to Timothy. But first let us pray.

1 Timothy 1:12 CSB

I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—

Paul wanted to remind Timothy that it was God who put Paul into the position that he was in. In Acts 9:1–15 Luke tells us, “Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he replied. “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.”

God had specifically called Paul into ministry and he became the 13th Apostle. Now this is incredibly interesting for a few reasons. 1st, this mirrors the nations of Israel. There were technically twelve nations of Israel but the 12th was split into two Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim means “Fruitful or productive” while Manassah means “to Forget” Likewise, after Judas killed himself, the disciples took it upon themselves to fill the position and brought in Matthias. But this was like many times before where the first was overlooked for the second and Paul was called to be the thirteenth apostle, separated from the other disciples because his conversion came later and he was deep in sin until God called him. In this way, Matthias is an image of Manassah as he was forgotten, only mentioned once or twice in the Bible after he was “chosen” and Paul was Ephraim, as God said, “This man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, Kings, and Israelites.” and Paul was fruitful in his ministry. He founded many churches, converted many Gentiles, and brought Christianity to the masses wherever he went. and so, we know that God called Paul into ministry which is where Paul continues in 1 Timothy 1:13-14

1 Timothy 1:13–14 CSB

even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Paul understood that he was a sinner. In Romans 7:15–17 he says, “For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me.” and in 1 Corinthians 15:9–10 he says, “For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” Paul knew that God’s grace had saved him and pulled him out of his sinful state. It was a miracle that God brought Paul to the place where he could proclaim the gospel to others, but he was the perfect choice. He knew the law, he had a passion for God (that was misplaced a bit when he was only a Jew), he was social-able and had many gifts that others didn’t as a Roman citizen. He was a man who God could use to further His ministry, so God saved him. and in 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul says,

1 Timothy 1:15 CSB

This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.

The translation here is difficult because it is often translated as worst, or chief, or foremost. However, the word used is Protos. It is where we get the English word Prototype. Paul wasn’t saying that he committed more sin than anyone else, but rather he was saying, I am the Archtype of a sinner. I am the best example of what God can do. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.” Paul starts his letter to Timothy by warning him against false teachers, pointing the Ephesians towards their first love in Christ, and now he is explaining why he has the authority to speak on the topic of Church Leadership. Paul was a sinner, but God called him, and saved him, and if Paul could be saved, anyone could. So Paul continues and finishes his thought, 1 Timothy 1:16-17

1 Timothy 1:16–17 CSB

But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul reiterates and finishes his point by saying that Jesus was patient enough to save Paul, so anyone could be saved. That way as John 3:16–17 says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” and then again in Romans 10:13 “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” and then again in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” and again in Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,” and again in the old testament in Ezekiel 18:32 “For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live!” and again in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” and as we will hear next week in 1 Timothy 2:4 “who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God has a desire that everyone will be saved, and he has given each of us incredible opportunities to go out and proclaim the gospel to those around us. Paul had been a sinner, but God used him. Paul fought against Christianity, but thousands came to believe because of him. and now, as Paul begins his letter to Timothy, he wants to remind Timothy of what God can do through sinners. Which brings us to the close of the Introduction 1 Timothy 1:18-20

1 Timothy 1:18–20 CSB

Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

Timothy had also been chosen. in 1 Timothy 4:14 we hear, “Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.” This means that Timothy was chosen, this was not future telling Prophecy but heart prophecy where they look inward and see what is at the heart of man. 1 Corinthians 14:3 makes this clear, “On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.” On the other hand, Hymenaeus and Alexander were fighting against God and actively speaking falsehoods about God. This is used in order to teach Timothy, Paul tells him to fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience, and earlier, as we talked about last week he warned about false teachers. Here Paul hammers home the point by calling out two men by name who were actively hurting the church, and using them a foil against Timothy’s heart for God. Paul wants Timothy to proclaim the gospel and to draw more sinners, but Paul needs to make sure that Timothy, who is still young at this point, will do it with a correct heart. That is what the first chapter of 1 Timothy is all about, a warning for Timothy to remain humble, and to keep an eye on false teachers, and Paul uses himself as an example to nail home the point, because God could use even him, a man who ordered the murder of Stephen, who actively worked against God. How much more could God use Timothy!