Object Lesson of Mercy

Context

Written in the mid 60s, while Paul was on missionary journeys spreading the gospel.

He had founded a community in Ephesus and left his younger co-worker Timothy there to shape and guide the young church.

One of the problems it was facing was the introduction of false teachings about the Scriptures — which is to say the Law and the Prophets — and this had the result of also corrupting the gospel message of Jesus Christ and the new ethical lifestyle the gospel demanded. In the opening of his letter, he writes passionately:

1 Timothy 1:6–7 “Some people have deviated from [a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith] and turned to meaningless talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.”

and the result was “lawlessness and disobedience” that is contrary to the gospel (1 Timothy 1:11)

Paul begins his letter urgently, strongly denouncing the corruption which was emerging in the Ephesian church.

It seems too that a contributing factor to the problem was that the false teachers were detracting from Paul’s character and authority. They would have rightly pointed out: Paul was not one of the original 12 apostles — such as Peter or John — who had walked with Jesus during his earthly ministry. Paul had been a persecutor of the church before becoming a missionary for the gospel. So, really, who was Paul to dictate the terms of the gospel?

Paul was aware of this common set of criticisms that could be directed at him, and having experienced that Ephesus could be a particularly combative setting for ministry, he takes a hard turn right at the beginning of his letter. After castigating the false teachers, he immediately puts the spotlight upon himself to address the question: Who does Paul think he is to direct us into gospel living?

Text

1 Timothy 1:12–17 “I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Introduction

Today we have an object lesson.

A kind of lesson. The lesson — a principle — is made clearer by comparing it with a physical object.

I have with me two eggs. One is normal. The other is soaking in this glass of vinegar.

Object lesson for us about Paul…and by extension about each of us.

Exegesis

Who is Paul to be recognized to teach the gospel authoritatively.

We might take his authority for granted, he wrote most of our new testament. But that was not yet the case in the first century. They did not have a new testament Bible. They had only the gospel stories.

The gospel stories did not include Paul. They included the 12 apostles — especially Peter, James, and John. Matthew and Luke were also prominent. But, Paul was not one of the 12.

Paul came later. After Jesus had risen from the dead, gone into heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit — or so the original apostles claimed. Saul — as Paul was originally known among the Jews — was hostile to the new sect which he deemed dangerous. As a Pharisee, religious expert of the establishment, he could do something about it. He served as an official witness at the stoning of the Deacon Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Then he went on a persecution spree to eradicate the gospel community. He threw people into prison, and worse. Christians fled before him. He pursued them with a hard and merciless heart.

While journeying to Damascus, the resurrected Jesus miraculously appeared to him in great light and glory. Paul was blinded for three days during which he completely rethought his understanding of God, recognized Jesus as the Christ, and surrendered himself to Jesus service and to the love and encouragement of other Christians.

The apostles of Jerusalem welcomed Paul into their apostolic ministry.

But Paul was always mindful of his history. He had persecuted the church, destroyed families, forced people to deny Jesus. Sometimes he had a heavy conscience.

The early churches also knew this about Paul. Some people used it as a detraction against him: Paul is not a real apostle because — he was not with Christ in the earthly ministry, he was a persecutor of the church, he was a violent and merciless and hard man.

Paul knows he has to deal with this issue head on. Who is he to preach the gospel, to teach other Christians, to guide the congregation.

Paul’s answer: I am an object lesson.

OBJECT LESSON: Back to the two eggs I have here.

first egg. Represents Saul before he met Christ. Hard shell. Resistant to Jesus and the gospel

He had an encounter with Christ.

This second egg represents that experience. Submerged in vinegar, like Paul was submerged in grace and repentance. This egg is getting softer.

After his conversion, Paul was soft to God and the mercy God offers through Christ.

Saul egg, and a transformed Paul egg.

Paul says, who am I to preach the gospel? I am an object lesson that Christ has chosen to use.

I was formerly one thing, but now I am something else: 1 Timothy 1:13–14 “even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy …and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me ….”

Paul offers his lesson: Christ Jesus came to save sinners…trustworthy saying.

Paul offers his object: I am the foremost of all sinners, and I have been changed.

Paul says: I am not just a proclaimer of the gospel, I am an example of the gospel.

Since I am the worst sinner, Jesus had mercy on me to show that he can have mercy on anyone.

Since I was the so hard hearted, Jesus was patient with me to show that he can be patient with anyone.

I am an object lesson of mercy. The gospel is more than teaching and words — it is a transformed life.

1 Timothy 1:16 “…I received mercy, so that in me — looking at me — , as the foremost [sinner], Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.”

Others will be encouraged: If God can do that with Paul…he can certainly save me too!

Careful here.

Paul’s credentials were not his sin, nor his hardness of heart, or his own wisdom to turn his life around.

His credentials were what Christ had had mercy on him and chosen him in grace.

Wrote the same thing to other churches:

1 Corinthians 15:9–10 “For I am the least of the apostles, unfit 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 has not been in vain. ….”

Paul was clear that his gospel message was backed up by gospel experience. Because of Jesus Christ, Paul had a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith…one who could share the gospel with others.

So instead of shame for his past, Paul rejoices that Christ gave him a future. At the beginning: “I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord” (1 Timothy 1:12) and at the end of the reading 1 Timothy 1:17, “all honor and glory to God!”

Interpretation

Paul’s self-disclosure is an example to all of us.

He uses himself as an example that God can and does call into ministry people who have done horrible things — such as violence and hatred — or failed profoundly to live up to their ideals — as Paul, when he was Saul, found himself blaspheming and fighting against the very God he professed to serve.

The gospel or good news — is that Christ came to save sinners.

Christ saves sinners not to place them on a shelf, like a trophy, but to give them new life and to make them useful in the Kingdom of God.

Every Christian who has ever served the Lord was first a sinner. Many of them adopted Paul’s own moniker, “I am the Chief of Sinners”

But Christians have recognized that as great as our sin may be, God’s mercy in Christ is greater.

For Christ calls sinners and bestows upon them the honor of serving him.

Christ reaches out to sinners…through sinners.

What better way to connect with a sinner who needs forgiveness and healing, than to reach out to them through a sinner who has been forgiven and healed.

AA — To maintain our own sobriety, we help others find it too.

An AA mentor is a voice of compassion and guidance. Yes: even more: he/she an object lesson.

The mentor can say to the one struggling: As you are now, I once was. I am now, you can soon be.

So in the kingdom of God, Christ does not call perfect people to serve him. There are no perfect people. And wants to reach out to imperfect people.

So he calls sinners….and puts them on the path to spiritual recovery.

He knows his servants have a history. Maybe everyone knows the history.

Christ wants his servants to put their sinful past in proper perspective.

The sin was theirs — and it was real — and the grace was Christ’s — and it is stronger, the outcome is a gospel message that can be trusted because it is embodied in the messenger.

Application

Many of us carry guilt and shame about the past. Many of us would say, I am the foremost sinner.

Yet, we must not let our past sins make us think we are anything less than full fledged Christians today.

We want to contrast the way of the world with the way of the Kingdom of Christ.

the world will want to drag up your past to tear you down.

Christ confronted your past to free you from it and give you a new life.

Instead of being controlled by shame and fear, we focus on giving thanks to Christ for his call.

Our first tendency: to run ourselves down: here is a reason why I should not be an elder or a deacon or a team leader…or even tell someone I am a Christian. I messed up my life or relationship or I went to jail or I got fired or I got sued or ____ (Imagine there were times when Paul would be focused on the mistakes of the past) but then we switch:

Yes: look at all these reasons I am tempted to not accept myself…yet Christ has called me…What does it say about Christ?

It says that he is of great mercy, patience and love.

We become object lessons of the gospel.

If I can be forgiven of my sins…then so can you…

If God has called me…and this reason and that reason not to….and yet he has…then he can call you….

What an honor to serve Christ that way.

Lorraine: inviting to serve. Combined service. Education. Fellowship.

Conclusion

Two eggs.

One egg is your past. The other is your future.

You are an object lesson of the gospel.