Exceedingly Abundant

v.12

Paul is thankful for being called to the ministry. Indeed it is a blessing worthy of thanks.

It’s not always easy, and Paul had a particularly tough road, yet he was still thankful.

Speaking for myself, I couldn’t imagine life any other way.

We should all be thankful for whatever God has called us to do. Because whatever that job is, He has entrusted you to do it on His behalf and in His name.

That is no small responsibility, no matter the job. But when it has been done well and faithfully, it brings Glory to Him… which brings blessing and true fulfillment.

vv. 13-15

As Paul points out, he was not worthy of God’s calling. In fact, none of us are.

He tells us just how bad he was, in order to highlight the magnitude of God’s mercy and grace.

In fact, he calls God’s grace “exceedingly abundant”.

God’s grace is grater than any sin.

Romans 6:14

Romans 6:14 NKJV

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

The proof that God’s grace is greater is this:

Romans 10:13

Romans 10:13 NKJV

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The word “whoever” is a huge word.

It includes anyone who has ever existed, and anyone who ever will exist in the history of the world.

All are elegible for God’s salvation… if they just call upon Him.

Think about what that means. It means that even the most evil deed that the mind of man could ever conceive, can be forgiven.

There is no sin that is greater than God’s exceedingly abundant grace.

Just like Paul, we can receive God’s grace.

2 Corinthians 9:8

2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Paul makes the point that while he was committing these sins, that it was being done in ignorance. He was doing it as an unbeliever.

He wasn’t someone who had professed his faith in Christ, and then proceeded to live a life of sin.

He did not yet know Christ.

This is the very definition of an unbeliever.

The unbeliever is precisely who Christ came to save.

Romans 5:6-8

Romans 5:6–8 NKJV

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Peter 3:18

1 Peter 3:18 NKJV

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

2 Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

This salvation is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s amazing grace.

v.16

Paul says the the purpose of his salvation is that it might be an example to others

Paul became a picture of God’s grace and transforming power.

The Lord transformed him from one who delighted in the persecution of Christians, to one of the greatest evangelists who ever lived.

God most definitely used Paul as an example for other believers.

God’s grace can and will transform a person.

2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

v.17

God is eternal, He is immortal, and is wise above all, of course He is able to impart grace.

And He deserves all the honor and glory.

v.18

In the early church, a call to ministry sometimes came by means of prophecy.

In Acts, the Holy Spirit speaks through prophecy to set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work.

Acts 13:1-3

Acts 13:1–3 NKJV

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Likewise, Timothy has been set apart for pastoral ministry, and Paul is reminding him that confronting false teachers is a part of that calling.

Failure to confront false teaching is failure to be a faithful pastor.

Our Lord who is gracious, faithful, eternal and immortal deserves nothing less.

v.19

Simply put, rejecting God’s grace is disastrous, it’s nothing short of a shipwreck.

The end result is separation from God and death in hell, and that is the only place a false teacher can lead you.

This why it is so important to confront and refute these teachings.

For far to long, the modern church has looked the other way, and the result has been disastrous. It has been a modern day shipwreck.

However, through God’s grace of salvation, your ship may take on water from time to time, but you’ll always stay afloat, and you’ll always reach your destination.

We must never fail to show how the false teachings are wrong when they arise, and to emphasize that Christ is the only way.

v.20

Lastly, Paul isn’t afraid to call out the perpetrators by name, and neither should we be.

When Paul says he handed them over to satan, it means that they have been barred from fellowship with believers.

1 Corinthians 5:11

1 Corinthians 5:11 NKJV

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

Such people would have already been subjected to church discipline, and still refuse to repent.

However, false teachers and church discipline are not the focus of this message. The focus of this message is God’s Grace.

People can feel so guilt-ridden by their past that they think God could never forgive and accept them.

But consider Paul’s past. He had scoffed at the teachings of Jesus and had hunted down and murdered God’s people before coming to faith in Christ (Acts 9:1-9).

God forgave Paul and used him mightily for his Kingdom. No matter how shameful your past, God also can forgive and use you.

It is as easy as placing your faith in Him and calling upon His name.