1 Timothy 1:12-20

1 Tim 1:12-17 33 min Verse 12 Well, my wife told my father-in-law that I preached for 1 hour and 19 minutes last Sunday. He said that was 3 sermons and was wondering if the people would come back. I see you all are here ...congratulations and thank you for your grace! I bought a timer. PRAY!! * Paul is writing to Timothy, his disciple, his beloved and true son in the faith, his fellow missionary companion who is in Ephesus, a most difficult city to minister. The city is steeped in worldly ways and idolatry, and Timothy is in charge of numerous house churches that could number into the thousands. * Timothy seems to be hedging, and Paul tells him REMAIN... "I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God..." Paul begins his letter straightaway addressing one reason Timothy should remain. * You need to address the false teachers who are not teaching sound doctrine and charge or command them to teach only sound or healthy doctrine. Interesting Transition: Outline III Paul's Personal Experience of the Gospel and Personal Experience of Grace 1 Tim 1:12-17 * Paul now speaks on his own experience, and his thanks towards God for God's grace. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord... * I thank... "I have (that is, feel) gratitude." -JFB * the word thank is the Greek word charis...same word translated into "grace" * Christ- Mission...Messiah...The Annointed One...Savior * Jesus- name; * Greek Iēsous (Yay-sous), in English Jesus * Hebrew Yehoshua, in English Joshua "The LORD is salvation" * Lord- title...Master or Authority Why does Paul thank God? * Because Paul knows he is no better than the men he just described as false teachers. Paul was no better nor superior to the false teacher he described in the previous segment. * God enabled Him and counted Paul faithful and put him into ministry. * A matter of Grace. * God's calling and God's grace is surprising. Think of who Paul was when he was called. Think of who you were when you were called. When I think of who I was and how I was living and God called me anyhow, it causes me to praise God. And, it caused Paul to praise God. * Paul was thankful to God for God's grace. There is not a shred of what Paul did for God, but what God did for Paul. And, this causes Paul to exude thanks. * Enabled: empowered or strengthened Paul. * "It is not in my own strength that I bring this doctrine to men, but as strengthened and nerved by Him who saved me" [Theodoret- 5th Century Theologian/ Bishop of Cyrrhus]. * Counted faithful: Judged Paul faithful (ESV); considered me faithful (NASB) * Paul was considered faithful not on account of Paul, but despite Paul. God has all knowledge and could see far into the future to judge that Paul would be a faithful steward of the gospel. * God knows everything about us as well. He knows how to test us and stretch our faith, and draw out the dross or impurities in our lives. God knows when to open the doors to calling in our lives, just as he knew the precise time to call Paul. * Grace...again grace because Paul was on the road to Damascus when called. * Putting me into the ministry: putting me into service (NASB) or appointing me to His service (ESV) * Paul did not volunteer; he was drafted. * Colossians 1:25 "Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God..." * Tying it all together... * Paul thanks God because it was God who called him to serve in ministry/appointed Him to God's service. * And God who considered Paul faithful, when Paul was living just like false teachers, and worse. * And God who gave Paul the strength to share the gospel throughout the known world. * With all of these things considered, this is why Paul would write, * "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." 1 Co 15:9-10. Verse 13 Reflection * Paul now reflects on who he was in the past. * He formerly was Saul... * Same name as the 1st King of Israel. Steeped in pride. Holy Spirit departed him and he was rejected by God. Who would name their child Saul? * Just like king Saul was a terror on David's life, Saul of Tarsus persecuted the early church... * Acts 8:3 "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison." * Acts 9:1-2: "Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." * Before king Agrippa, Paul testified, Acts 26:9-11 "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities." * In just a few verses, vs 15 of 1 Tim 1, Paul will tell Timothy he was the "chief of sinners." * "Formerly"...not now, but the old man, not the person who has been born again spiritually. * Some people hold onto the old person and continue to condemn themselves. * Some people run from God thinking there is no way they can be forgiven. * Ps 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." * Rom 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." * A saved believer in Christ has no divine condemnation regarding sin. If the divine does not condemn you, who are you, being the creation of the divine, to condemn yourself? * Spurgeon "After Paul was saved, he became a foremost saint. The Lord did not allot him a second-class place in the church. He had been the leading sinner, but his Lord did not, therefore, say, 'I save you, but I shall always remember your wickedness to your disadvantage.' Not so: he counted him faithful, putting him into the ministry and into the apostleship, so that he was not a whit behind the very chief of the apostles. Brother, there is no reason why, if you have gone very far in sin, you should not go equally far in usefulness." * Formerly... * Blasphemer- Against God- slandered or spoke evil about Jesus and Christians. * Persecutor-Against Holy people... he put Christians to death because he thought they were a threat to Judaism. * Insolent Man- violent aggressor...with arrogant contempt of others... * That's who Paul was... * Notice Despite Paul being a murderer, and slandering the name of Jesus...he Obtained Mercy because... * because he did it ignorantly in unbelief... * Paul's blasphemy, persecution, and violence were the fruits of unbelief. * Because Paul did not believe in Jesus evil fruit resulted in his life. * Same fruit today with people who come against Jesus and Christians * Yet, despite his unbelief, God still bestowed mercy on Paul. * God had pity on Paul. Paul was guilty and deserved punishment, but God showed mercy and withheld judgment... * ...because Paul committed these crimes against God and against Christians ignorantly or without knowledge and without belief... * I don't want you to think that ignorance means one is forgiven, because it does not. * Rom 1:18-21 clearly teach man is without excuse because creation itself testifies that God exists, but people are wicked and deny the truth of God's existence. * Simplified NLT: "18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." * So, why did Paul receive mercy for his sins that he committed in ignorance? * It was Grace...Paul deserved judgment, but instead received reward...salvation. * Lange, "His ignorance did not at all merit forgiveness, but it left the possibility of it, without impairing the holiness and righteousness of the Lord. The positive ground of this act of mercy lay, at last, altogether in the Divine grace..." * JFB, "The "because,"... does not imply that ignorance was a sufficient reason for mercy being bestowed; but shows how it was possible that such a sinner could obtain mercy. The positive ground of mercy being shown to him, lies solely in the compassion of God." * Heb 5:2-3: "He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself [referring to an ordinary High Priest or ministry leader] is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins." * Different scenario: What about the person who has knowledge, and willfully disobeys God? * It would seem that God has a stricter judgment on such a person. * Heb 10:26-27 "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries." * Apostasy or denouncing ones faith is in view here, and one can expect serious spiritual consequences for such an act. Wrapping this verse up, think about Paul, and how bad he was in his unbelief and ignorance, and God extended mercy and grace. * How can we be less gracious than God when it comes to dealing with people? * Thinking about how God dealt with Paul, makes me more sympathetic to people acting terrible towards Christians in unbelief. * Have you ever met someone that just rubs you the wrong way and you just don't like them, maybe even think ill thoughts towards them? * Maybe someone who falls into a different social circle or intellectual circle not of our own? * Or someone who has a past of crime or violence...how can they be trusted? * Or, even worse, someone who targets the church to disgrace Jesus' name. * God forgive us for when we are less then you in your character of mercy and grace. * Yet also help us to be discerning, wise, and "judge with righteous judgment." Jn 7:24 * Lord help us!! Verse 14 Grace- unmerited favor. It was not Paul's ignorance that saved him, but it was God's exceedingly abundant grace. In the Greek, God's grace "super abounded." And, God putting Paul into ministry was also an act of Grace. Grace was not only exceedingly abundant, but was also accompanied by -faith (opposite of unbelief) - and love (agape- unconditional self-sacrificing love as opposed to the "blasphemer, persecutor, and injurious person) - in (found their origin) in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the source from where faith and love flows to us. By God's abundant Grace, accompanied by faith and love, Jesus called called Paul into ministry... -Saying "God doesn't called the qualified, He qualifies the called." When He called me in ministry in 2012, I was an alcoholic and an idolater of career. There was very little good I was doing to qualify me for ministry. It was all grace. 1 Cor 1:26-29 "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence." Hudson Taylor, the missionary to China said, "All God's giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them." As we plant this church, we must recognize the frailty of our flesh, but also recognize the power of His spirit and have confidence that God is with us. He extends to us grace accompanied by faith and love. When Paul was called into ministry, things were not easy for him. Christians did not immediately accept him, he went out in the wilderness alone, his first proclamation of Jesus to the Jews led to them plotting to kill him, and he waited over 8 years in Tarsus until God's timing for him to be a missionary. When he went on his missionary journies, he faced a number of trials...imprisonments, death threats and attempts, shipwreck, beatings, cold, hunger, etc. I don't anticipate all of these trials, but know we may be tested in waiting on the Lord to open the right location, or have other Christians challenge us, slow growth, or who knows what else. But, I hope not. In a few verses, Paul would instruct Timothy, "wage the good warfare." And, I believe those are instructions for us today. Verse 15 "This is a faithful saying"- First of five faithful sayings in pastoral epistles. 1. 1 Tim 1:15 "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." 2. 1 Tim 3:1 "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work." 3. 1 Tim 4:8-9 "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance." 4. 2 Tim 2:11-13 "This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." 5. Tit 3:8 "This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men." What is this first "faithful saying" mean? * This saying is not only "faithful" or "trustworthy," but it is also "worthy of all acceptance" meaning it is deserves to be accepted by all people... * What is that saying...it is the gospel...the good news... * Christ came into the world...Jesus' divine origin was heaven and came down from heaven to the world... * Purpose: to save sinners... * Paul has reflected on his personal testimony that he was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and violent, and by God's grace which was covered in faith and love, Paul was saved from that lifestyle. Paul with this "faithful saying" comes to the point of why it all happened, because this was Jesus' purpose in coming to the earth. to save sinners. * That's why He came for Paul, and that's why He came for you and I. And, He is not finished yet. Paul continues here to say he is the "chief of sinners." * I don't think this is some false humility or Paul is just really down on himself... * Paul recognized that the sins he committed against the church causing Christians to blaspheme the name of Jesus, hunting and arresting them, causing violence towards them and having them put to death...this was a sinful list most people could not claim. * Modern equivalent: Isis, Terrorist groups. * But, if Paul could be saved, who can't be saved? * Spurgeon: "Despair's head is cut off and stuck on a pole by the salvation of 'the chief of sinners.' No man can now say that he is too great a sinner to be saved, because the chief of sinners was saved eighteen hundred years ago. If the ringleader, the chief of the gang, has been washed in the precious blood, and is now in heaven, why not I? Why not you?" Verse 16 Paul obtained mercy as a pattern of God's patience towards sinners... * If Paul can be saved, anyone can be saved... * When Paul said, "I am chief," and in this verse "that in me first", the word chief and the word first are the same Greek word...prōtos meaning "first." Paul said he "is" not "was" the first of all sinners, and Paul said Jesus extended mercy as a pattern of salvation for all. Paul was the prototype for what Jesus would do for all and the worst of sinners. * Paul was not a Pagan steeped in idolatry. He was a deeply religious Pharisee...a "Hebrew of Hebrew's." Yet, he was still ignorant to the truth of who messiah was. He didn't connect the prophecies of the coming messiah to the messiah who came, and he erred in his zeal of religion by persecuting the church. * "The ultimate sinner became the ultimate saint; God's greatest enemy became His finest servant. Somewhere between these extremes fall all the rest. In studying Paul's pattern, Christians can therefore learn about themselves." -BKC * In light of Paul's letter to Timothy. If Paul can be saved then there is hope for all the people of Ephesus, and there is hope for these false teacher who have strayed from sound doctrine. * These are reasons why Timothy should remain in Ephesus. These are reasons why we should remain steadfast in the work God has called us to do. Verse 17 Paul burst out in doxology or Praise. * When you come from depths so low, and reflect on heights you have achieved, not because of yourself, you cannot help but to praise God. * I don't know if Paul is praising the Father or the Son, or both. They are distinct, but they are also unified, and maybe this is why there is a blend of descriptors in this doxology. * Our King eternal- (lit., "King of the Ages"). God is sovereign over all human history. Paul who was granted everlasting life, now praises the King of everlasting life. In Revelation Jesus is titled the "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (Rev 19:16). * Immortal- Incorruptible or imperishable. * Invisible- A central attribute of the Father, He is spirit in essence and man cannot look upon the Father and live. * God who alone is wise- Several bible versions say "the only God" emphasizing moreso the monotheistic nature of God versus His wisdom, though He is also alone wise Rom 16:27, for the wisdom of man is vanity and foolishness. * Be honor and glory forever and ever- And, for all eternity, we will be extending honor or precious value and glory or praise to God. * Amen! "truly" or "so be it" or simply I am in agreement and I am taking what you say and internalizing and accepting it as my own. VSS 18-20 11 min Vs 18 IV. Paul's Charge to Timothy: Fight the Good Fight This charge... * Some scholars say this charge refers back to the "charge" in vs 3 to "charge some that they teach no other doctrine..." * Or, is this a new charge to "fight the good fight?" * Regardless, they are related. Timothy will be in a battle as he engages these Judiazers and false teachers when he commands them to teach no other doctrine. Son Timothy... * I do want to note that once again Paul addresses Timothy tenderly. * Timothy his true and beloved son in the faith. The Prophecies... * We don't know what specific prophecies were spoken over Timothy... * We can assume it was some prophetic word of encouragement about Timothy's ministry for Paul reminds Timothy of these prophecies and says they will help him to fight well in the Lord's battles. * 1 Tim 4:13-14 "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership." * Whatever these prophecies were, they likely would serve as an encouragement or a reminder to help Timothy press on when times got tough. * 1 Cor 14- Good guidance on prophecies... * vs 3 Prophecies should edify, exhort, and comfort...that is they should build up and encourage others in the church. * v29 Prophecies were to be judged by others in the church. Does this prophecy stand in accord with the Word of God and do the people have peace about this prophecy as the Holy Spirit testifies to each person? * I would also add, time is a great measure of the truth of prophecy. * 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." * False prophets and false teachers will be found out, in time, if they are not in accord with Jesus. * Reminds me of a conversation I had with a mormon...he kept repeating "Jesus is my savior." I kept challenging, "You're preaching another Jesus." We were going round and round for an hour until I finally said, "My Jesus is a monotheistic, trinitarian God." He said, "that's not my Jesus." * And, Timothy would be waging a similar warfare, as he would have these difficult conversations, find out who was off in their teachings. It would get ugly and people would get angry with him. * When the going would get tough, Paul reminds Timothy not to forget the true prophecies spoken over him that would encourage and build him up and help him to stay in the fight. * I don't know if it was a prophecy, but a man overheard my excited conversation with my Pastor about starting this church, paid for our lunch anonymously, and left the message, "Keep doing what you are doing." * That is a message that was encouraging, and one I will mentally reference when times are difficult. Lastly, on this verse... * NKJV states "wage the good warfare." * Other versions state "fight the good fight." * One scholar said, we are not merely in a fight, it is warfare. It's semantics to a degree, but I get the scholars point. Verse 19 Weapons of spiritual warfare... * Faith- one's belief is Jesus Christ must be true. * Good conscience- to wage a good warfare, one must have a clear conscience before God and before fellow man. * One scholar said, "Faith is the vessel in which they had professedly embarked, of which "good conscience" is the anchor. The ancient Church often used this image, comparing the course of faith to navigation."- JFB * More exhaustive list is found in Ephesians 6:10-20 where Paul addresses the Ephesian church, where Timothy is serving, and teaches them about the The Whole Armor of God. Some rejected faith and a good conscience, and suffered shipwreck as a result... * A believer that rejects faith and a good conscience becomes compromised. They look to other things... * public approval/tickling ears with fancy speeches that lack doctrinal depth and truth; * they compromise their walk and engage in ways of the world to satisfy the desires of their flesh. * "Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life..." * RESULT: shipwreck. They become broken and no longer a seaworthy vessel for the Lord's voyage or work. * Being that Ephesus was a town that shipped many goods by sea, a shipwreck would resonate with them. It was a total loss, a disaster. This is not what you want with your spiritual life and fellowship with other believers. 2 Great Quotes and Illustrations about shipwreck: * "Some of those living in Paul's day had thrust a good conscience from them and thus had suffered shipwreck as far as the faith was concerned. They have been likened to a foolish sailor who throws his compass overboard." -William MacDonald * "Those who had made shipwreck of the faith were true believers, but they simply had not maintained tender consciences. Their Christian life had started out like a gallant ship putting out to sea, but instead of returning to port with banners waving and a full cargo, they had foundered on the rocks and brought shame on themselves and their testimony." -William MacDonald Verse 20 2 Examples of Men who suffered shipwreck and blasphemed are... * Hymenaeus and Alexander * We cannot say with absolute certainty, but these may be the same men mentioned in... * 2 Tim 2:17-18 "And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some." * 2 Tim 4:14 "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works." * We do know they blasphemed and their life was shipwrecked or suffered great loss as a result. * We can say for certain that Paul calls these men out publically... * Some would teach not to call people out publically, but there are biblical examples to the contrary. * Finally, they were delivered to Satan... * Further insight to the meaning behind this statement is in 1 Cor 5:4-5 in reference to dealing with addressing sexual immorality in the church. * 1 Cor 5:4-5 "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." * Idea is excommunication...being banished from the church. * Latin root is excommunicare meaning "put out of the community." * Purpose is restoration. It's a wake up call. The hope is this person will repent and come back to the church ready to seek Jesus in faith and a good conscience. * Paul said to "deliver them to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme." * Paul intended for this sin in their lives to be remedied. * There is a consequence for walking away from faith and not having a good conscience with God and with fellow people. You make a mess of your life, and enter into a dark season where your companion becomes the world that is influenced by Satan. Hopefully, you make it back, but some never do. * Let us not be like Hymenaeus and Alexander. Let us learn from their mistakes.