Who I Once Was
Pastoral Epistles: Blue Print for the Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 4 viewsIn light of the Gospel (1 Ti 1:11), Paul shares his testimony in brief to young Timothy as a means of encouragement and example.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction |
Within the previous eleven verses of 1 Timothy 1, Paul unloaded some heavy truths to young Timothy:
Paul put Timothy on notice of his mission at the church at Ephesus: to correct and rebuke false teachers (vv. 1-7)
Paul revealed to Timothy that the Law was good so long as it was kept in proper context and used properly
Paul encouraged Timothy to focus on the true, pure, and redemptive work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was this gospel that Paul had received and continued to teach.
Within our text before us, following the encouragement of the gospel spoken of in (v. 11):
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Paul shares his own testimony in a clear picture of the stages of a salvific experience:
Paul declares who he once was
Paul declares how he was saved
Paul declares who he became
Focus Passage |
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Outline |
Who Paul was (v. 13a)
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
We have all got a past. For every Christian this is where our testimony begins: Who we were. The word “were” implies past tense. This is why Paul writes to the church at Ephesus:
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Paul was no different. He had a past. He was not proud of his past, but he knew who he was before his life changing, soul altering encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).
Paul explains to young Timothy who he was before Christ. He states three truths about who he was…
Paul was a denier of the deity of Jesus Christ - ‘…blasphemer…’
Paul was a well educated man. He was a genius. New the whole law and was innocent of the Law.
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
He was religious. He was educated within the Scriptures. However, he was blinded by pride, ego, and to his lostness.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Paul was a destroyer of the church - ‘…persecutor…’
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
Paul was domineering of those who were of the way (i.e. Christians) - ‘…injurious…’
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Praise God, this is who Paul once was. God would not leave him there. I ask, can you honestly say, “I once was.” Have you left your old man in the past? Have found the new man in Christ? Have you been saved. This is why Christ came.
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
How Paul was saved (vv. 13b-15)
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Was Paul a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious? Yes, he was all of those things at one time. However, that was not who he was when writing to young Timothy. He had moved from religion to relationship. He had been saved, sanctified, and made a new. How? How had Paul been saved? He was saved then, as we are saved today. Salvation has not changed. The way of salvation has not changed.
Paul was saved by the compassion of God - ‘…I obtained mercy…’
Paul was shown God’s great love. He was a sinner. He was a blasphemer, a persecutor, a bully, but in ignorance. Paul wrote, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
This is a perfect description of the condition of the lost. They have been blinded to their lostness, their sin.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Each of us found ourselves in this state without before we were saved. However, when the glorious light shined into the darkness and we were redeemed, our eyes were opened to sin and we sin not in ignorance any, longer but intentionally and knowingly. When the Lord shined into our heart and revealed our lostness, as we did then, we must continue to do today, repent of that sin.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It is through God’s great love that we find and are afforded salvation.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Paul was saved by the unmerited favor of God - ‘…And the grace of our Lord…’
Paul was saved by grace through faith just as we.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
God’s is sufficient to cover your sin as it was Paul’s. When one thinks that they have ran out of grace, may we realize that God gives us grace for grace.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
The same salvation that was afforded to Paul through Christ, is available to all who call upon the name of Jesus (v.15)
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Paul declared who he once was. He declared that he was saved and how. Paul continued with more truth in his testimony.
Who Paul became (vv. 12, 16)
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Paul became a new creation in Christ Jesus
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Paul found a new identity in Christ Jesus - ‘…who hath enabled me…counted me faithful…’
Paul found a new position in Christ Jesus - ‘…putting me into the ministry…’
Paul was thankful to the Lord for his becoming a new creation, finding his new identity in Christ, and his new position in Christ, I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me. He understood, as every other believer should, his salvation was brought forth through mercy, grace, and the patience of our Lord, might shew forth all longsuffering. This pattern of testimony of who Paul once was, how he was changed and by whom he was changed, and finally, who he became, is for every born again believer. This is the standard of sharing one’s testimony, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. The change in our life brought through Christ is available to all who will believe. Our testimony of salvation, if genuine, should lead others to the only one that can save them.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Conclusion |
When you look at your life and your salvific experience, do you find the needs for a genuine salvation experience:
Can you state, I once was…
Can you state, Jesus saved me…
Can you state, I am a new creation, who I became in Christ
