God’s Real Hope

Turn to 1 Timothy 1:12-16

This morning we are going to take a look at a very important passage of scripture here in first timothy

and for a little bit of context to be able to understand where we are in the word of God here in first timothy chapter one we find Paul writing to Timothy here

Also note Paul looked highly towards timothy he considered him to be his own son.

Timothy wasn't Pauls Biological son but Paul considered himself to be a fatherly figure to timothy within the ministry

and as you read 1 and 2 timothy you will begin to see that Paul almost out pours his wisdom in these letters to timothy in order for him to learn and grow within the ministry

But within Paul’s first epistle we are going to come to a section of scripture where Paul is going to stop and reflect on a couple things and truly this is vitally important for everyone here this morning

And this morning Id like to get a little bit of engagement here how many of you by raising of your hand would say that this world is broken?

Alright and most of us can agree that this world is broken it doesn't have to be because of politics or of because of a certain parties views or gas/grocery prices or the terrible housing market were in today

whatever it may be we all know it that this world that we live in is just simply best way to put it is messed up.

and people all over this world strive in many different directions to try to find some semblance of normalcy in a crazy world

whether that may be family, friends, relationships

some may even try some crazy things in order to try to break away from this crazy world

such as alcohol, drugs to hopefully to take the edge off and remove us from the mess

whereas some people may try to do some good to counter act the negative in this world

Give to charities, help with the homeless, go to church

but really all of these things simply do not remove the fact that this world is broken

But there is a real hope that this world needs

look at verse number 1

It says that the Lord Jesus Christ is out Hope

This world needs to see Christ and this is really a stepping off point we are going to find our main passage a few verses down but this real hope that this world needs before anything else is Jesus

As Acts 4:12 says:

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”

Christ is our hope so today Because of Christ being our real hope I want us to see God’s real hope that he gives us because of Jesus Christ.

Pray

1: God’s Redemption (VS 12-13)

Read verses 12-13

Paul here in this part of his epistle to Timothy is like he stops and reflects upon his life and will give us a truth that we can all hold on to here this morning

And I say it all the time but im a big proponent of phrasing and there is some interesting wording here in these two verses we see that Paul states that it is only through Christ who has enabled him and put him into the ministry

See Paul here simply cant get over the fact that Christ would enable him and find him faithful and equipped him for his service and you will see why here in just a moment

but Paul makes sure to stop and give proper acknowledgment that there was nothing he did that brought him as far as he was it was all because of Jesus Christ.

look at verse 13

And here is the real underlying reason as to why Paul cant get over this

Paul here reflects on his past that he was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a murderer of Christians before he came to Christ

but despite all of these things look what the scripture says But I obtained mercy

my friends this morning we all have a past of things we did foolishly in the past but for those of us who have accepted Christ as our personal Lord and savior we can look back on what Christ has saved us or redeemed us from

and maybe if there is someone here this morning who hasn't accepted Christ no matter what it is or what sin you are living with Christ can redeem you and through his precious blood which was shed on a cross can wash you and allow you to stand and be redeemed

and you may be saying well im to far gone ive done to much well hold on a for just a moment and ill show you that you have not

see God’s real hope is that not only can he redeem us but if we confess with our mouth and believe on Jesus Christ we might or we maybe saved? NO we will be saved its not a potentially going to happend its a promise in which you can take to the bank

My friends I dont know where you have come from today or what mess you may be in but I promise you here today you can obtain mercy and grace from a loving God who desires to have a personal relationship with you

2: God’s Reach (VS 14-15)

Reread verse 14-15

Heres the beauty of almighty God

Paul here in verse 14 pens this that the Grace of our Lord is exceeding and abundant

Its an overflowing well of which can never be untapped

Flowing with love which stems from Jesus Christ

the God man which spanned heaven and earth and came down to dwell among us to die for us so that we might be saved

reread verse 15

We find Paul here say an interesting phrase he states this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation

and now this unusual phrase is interesting but its meant to draw extreme important to what is said

matter of fact this phrasing would only be used 5 times in all of the pastoral epistles

but the extremly important message that Paul was trying to get across is that simply in his abundant grace and mercy Christ would come to this earth live a perfect sinless life and bleed and die on a cross and do so willingly because he love you and I so much and he wouldn't remain dead but on that third day would rise again proving who he said he was

Paul puts it more simply in verse 15 but he says that Christ came to save sinners

Christ came to redeem us out of our brokenness and give us a hope that is truly only found within him

and here is the beauty of this passage Paul would state here that Christ would come into this world to save sinners which i am chief

Paul here simply is claiming that he was the worst sinner of them all

According to a commentary this was once said that

“Paul felt – rightly so – that his sins were worse because he was responsible for the death, imprisonment, and suffering of Christians, whom he persecuted before his life was changed by Jesus”

See for those of you this morning that might be here and say you dont know what ive done you dont know how deep ive went

and you would be right to an extent that I do not know how deep you have went but Christ does

Psalm 40:1-3 says

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord”.

see you may say you dont know how far ive gone how much sin ive done and your absolutely right I don’t but Christ knows each and every single one but he is willing to get down in your mess and pull you from the lowest depth that you could ever imagine

See God’s reach is far vaster than you can imagine and he would love you so much he would come to this earth to bleed and die for you

truly God’s reach is a hope to those who have accepted christ because like psalm 40 says we can should and praise God becasue he pulled us out of our mess and established our goings and put a new song in our mouths

and for those who have never accepted Christ today can be the day of salvation where you can get out of your mess

3: Gods Real Witnesses (VS 16)

Reread verse 16

in this verse Paul states again that he has obtained mercy found solely in the Lord Jesus Christ

but now because of the mercy that was shown to Paul he now can be the pattern or a testimony to those who will come here after

simply not only with Paul but each of us here this morning who have accepted Chirst as our savior and have obtained mercy through Jesus Christ we can now be a pattern or a witness for him

We have a story and we need to be telling others

Truly you never know how much time we have left on this earth and know when Christ will say our time is up so we need to be witnesses to others in this world

because we are the pattern

my friends this world is looking for a source of hope truly the only hope this world has is the saving grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ.

so whats stopping you today?

Whether you need to share with someone or maybe you need to come to accept Christ I pray you get that settled today

Pray