1 Timothy Message 5

A. Introduction of the Epistle 1:1-2

1. Identification. Paul and Timothy
2. Intercession: “…our hope…” Our expected end

1 Timothy 1:2b “…Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” God has prepared us by providing for us

B. Charges to Timothy 1 Timothy 1:3 – 6:21a

Now that he knows he has the presence of God providing him with grace, mercy, and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ, Timothy was to make a –

1. Commitment to right Doctrine 1:3-10

a. The Purpose (What)
b. The Priority (How) Confront sin with truth and love!
c. The Perversion of truth (Why)

Paul revealed the false teachings by comparing them with the Ten Commandments –

1). The Commandments in relation of man to God.
2). The Commandments in relation of man to man. 1

Today we look at –

d. The results of pure motives illustrated 1 Timothy 1:11-17

The testimony of a holy life.

1). Paul was convinced of his sin.

1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

He did not understand God’s purpose, like his family before him and he refused to accept the truth when it was told to him –

Acts 7:52-8:3 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 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. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

When Paul finally understood the purpose of the Law, he learned that –

a). The law revealed his sin.
b). The law revealed the holiness of God.

The prophet Isaiah was of the same mindset –

(1). In the presence of people – woe, woe, woe…

Isaiah 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

(2). In the presence of God –

Isaiah 6:1-8 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

c). The Law Giver revealed his hope and accomplished its purpose –

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The testimony of Stephen revealed the grace of God.

2). Paul was saved. He learned His need and the Lord’s will!

1 Timothy 1:14-16 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 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. 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.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

We see the Lord’s purpose proved through the –

a). Examples of those that turned to the Lord for salvation.

(1). Seekers were saved Andrew, James, John
(2). Confused were saved Nicodemus
(3). Enemies were saved Paul

Paul thanked God that even though he had been the enemy of Jesus, God loved him and saved him. The mercy of God is seen in the words of Jesus –

Matthew 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

The frightening realization of his position, standing on the very edge of Hell, must have made him even more thankful to God when he heard the words of Jesus declared at this same time –

Matthew 12:35-36 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

How thankful we are that we are forgiven and we find wonderful –

b). Encouragement to look to the Lord: If Paul is saved, I can be saved also!

Paul learned that he was not only saved to escape the terrors of being in Hell forever. He was not only saved to spend eternity in the presence of God in Heaven. He learned that he was saved to serve the Lord in his life that he might tell others what God had done that they might also turn to the Lord for salvation!

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

3). Paul was sent

1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

4). God was glorified

1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

What about you? Are you saved? Jesus died that you can be saved.
Are you thankful that you are saved?
Are you telling others?
Is God being glorified by your life?