“Preach the Gospel”
Spiritual Leadership in the
Church Series
1 Tim 1:12-17
THEME: Faithfully fulfill the
ministry committed to your charge.
RELEVANCE: discouraging and
difficult tasks should not be permitted to force us to abandon the ministry
committed to us. We must be steadfast
and faithful to our charge to keep the faith by teaching sound doctrine,
proclaiming the Gospel, and defending the Faith.
INTRODUCTION:
If Jesus Christ had advertised for workers, the announcement might have
read something like this:
“Men and women wanted for
difficult task of helping to build My church. You will often be misunderstood,
even by those working with you. You will face constant attack from an invisible
enemy. You may not see the results of your labor, and your full reward will not
come till after all your work is completed. It may cost you your home, your
ambitions, even your life.”
In spite of the demands that He makes, Jesus Christ receives the 'applications' of many who gladly give their all for Him. He is
certainly the greatest Master for whom anyone could work, and the task of
building His church is certainly the greatest challenge to which a believer
could give his life.
MESSAGE:
Proclaim the Gospel (1 Tim. 1:12-17)
The mention of "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God"
(1 Tim 1:11) moved Paul to share his own
personal testimony. He was "Exhibit A" to prove that the
Gospel of the grace of God really works. When you read Paul's testimony (see
also Acts 9:1-22; 22:1-21; 26:9-18), you begin
to grasp the wonder of God's grace and His saving power.
A. WHAT PAUL USED TO BE
(V. 13 A).
1. He Was A Blasphemer.
·
He was a
blasphemer because he denied the deity of Jesus Christ and forced others to
deny it.
·
The reason this
was so striking to the apostle was that he knew so well the pit from which he
had been dug.
·
When he gave this
description of his past, he was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent
man, he was not exaggerating for the sake of effect. (See Acts 22:4-5, 19-20; 26:9-11 for the vivid truth.)
2. He Was A
Persecutor.
·
He was a persecutor who used physical power to try to
destroy the church. “Threatenings and slaughter”
were the very breath of his life (Acts 9:1).
·
He persecuted the
Christian church (1 Cor 15:9) and then
discovered that he was actually laying hands on Jesus Christ, the Messiah! (Acts 9:4)
·
During this
period of his life, Paul consented to the stoning of Stephen and made havoc of
the church (Acts 8:1-4).
3. He Was
Injurious.
·
Paul was injurious, a word that means “proud and
insolent.”
·
A modern
equivalent might be "bully,"
·
It conveys the
idea of a haughty man "throwing his weight around" in
violence.
4. He Was an
Ignorant Unbeliever.
·
But the basic
causes of his godless behavior were "ignorance"
and "unbelief."
1.
Even though Saul
of Tarsus was a brilliant man and well educated (Acts
22:3; Gal 1:13-14), his mind was blinded from the truth (1 Cor 2:14; 2 Cor 4:3-4).
2.
He was a
religious man, yet he was not headed for heaven!
3.
It was not until
he put faith in Jesus Christ that he was saved (Phil
3:1-11).
·
Yet Paul was
shown mercy because his actions were the product of ignorance.
1.
Willful
disobedience triggers God’s wrath (Num. 15:22-31; Heb.
10:26).
2.
But God deals
gently with the ignorant and misguided (Heb. 5:2).
3.
The German
philosopher Nietzsche said, “If you could prove God to me, I would believe
Him all the less.” No such willfulness characterized Paul’s unbelief.
B. HOW PAUL WAS SAVED (VV. 13B-15).
1.
How Could The Holy God Ever Save And Forgive Such A Self-Righteous Sinner
A) Through Mercy and Grace. (Vs.
13, 14)
·
The key words are
"mercy" and "grace." God in His mercy did not
give Paul what he did deserve; instead God in His grace gave Paul what he did
not deserve.
·
Grace is
God’s undeserved, unearned, freely given favor. Grace
is God’s loving forgiveness, by which He grants salvation apart from any
merit on the part of those He saves (see Rom. 3:24;
Gal. 1:6).
·
“but
I obtained mercy” If the apostle
Paul could find mercy after the terrible things he did against Christ, then God
surely offers salvation with “open arms” to all people (see 2:4).
B) With Faith.
·
faith
and love. Attitudes frequently
linked with salvation in the NT (cf. Eph. 1:15; 3:17;
Col. 1:4,23). They are gifts of God’s grace in Christ.
C) With Love.
·
Grace and mercy
are God's love in action, God's
love paying a price to save lost sinners. It is not God's love alone that saves
us, for God loves the whole world (John 3:16).
·
It is by grace
that we are saved (Eph 2:8-9) because God is
rich in mercy (Eph 2:4) and grace (Eph 2:7).
2.
What Did Paul's "Ignorance" Have To Do With His Salvation? (Vs. 1:13)
A) Is Ignorance An Excuse Before God?
·
Of course not!
The fact of his ignorance is related to a special Jewish law (Lev 5:15-19; Num 15:22-31).
·
If a person
sinned knowingly "with a high hand" in Israel, he was cut off
from the people. But if he sinned in ignorance, he was permitted to bring the
proper sacrifices to atone for his sins.
B)
Jesus Recognized This Principle When He Prayed On The Cross, "Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
C)
Their Ignorance Did Not Save Them, Nor Did Christ's Prayer Save Them; but the combination of the two postponed God's
judgment, giving them an opportunity to be saved.
3.
Paul Stated That It Took "Exceeding Abundant" Grace To Save Him!
A)
The grace given to Paul was “exceeding abundant,”
overflowing beyond all expectations.
1.
Therefore the
apostle received God’s mercy, not His wrath. God’s grace far outpaced
even Paul’s grievous sin.
2.
Where there
was once only unbelief, God poured out . . . “faith”
. . . “in Christ Jesus.”
3.
Where there had
been violent aggression against God and His people, now God poured out the love
of Christ. (See 2 Tim. 2:10.)
B) Everything Paul Lacked, God’s Grace Had More Than
Amply Supplied.
1.
The term “exceeding abundant”, means “to be present
in great or superabundance.”) Here may be seen the full measure of what
Paul meant when he spoke of the empowering ministry of Christ (1 Tim. 1:12).
2.
“Paul liked to
use the Greek prefix huper (meaning "an exceeding abundant amount"),
and he often attached it to words in his letters. You might translate some of
these as "superincrease of faith" (2 Thess 1:3); "superabounding
power" (Eph 1:19); "superconqueror" (Rom 8:37). This same prefix
has come into the English language as hyper. We speak of
"hyperactive" children and "hypersensitive" people.” ---W.W. Wiersbe
4.
Paul Makes It Clear That This Salvation Is Not For Him Only, But For All Who
Receive Jesus Christ (1 Tim 1:15).
A)
If Jesus Could Save Saul Of Tarsus, The Chief Of Sinners, Then He Can Save
Anybody!
· “This is a faithful saying.” A phrase unique to the Pastoral Epistles (cf. 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8), which announces a
statement summarizing key doctrines. The phrase “worthy
of all acceptation” gives the statement added emphasis.
Apparently, these sayings were well known in the churches, as concise
expressions of cardinal gospel truth.
· World refers
to all humanity.
· Save means
to deliver or rescue. Christ came to die for the sins of humanity.
· This faithful saying was based on the statements of
Jesus recorded in Matt. 9:13; Luke 19:10.
· “The central thrust of Paul’s personal digression,
begun in verse 12, now becomes clear. It is a testimony concerning the purpose
of the Incarnation of Christ. Jesus came not merely to set an example or
to show that He cared. He came to salvage sinners from their spiritual
destitution—and Paul said he was the worst of that lot. There must be no
misunderstanding of this most fundamental point. It is a truth that is
completely trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. (Four
other passages include this “trustworthy” phrase: 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus
3:8.)” ---John Walvoord
· “Here we come to the very heart of the difference
between true Christianity and all other teachings. False religions tell man
that there is something he can do or be in order to win favor with God. The
gospel tells man that he is a sinner, that he is lost, that he cannot save
himself, and that the only way he can get to heaven is through the
substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. The type of law teaching
which Paul described earlier in this chapter gives a place to the flesh. It
tells man exactly what he wants to hear, namely, that he can somehow contribute
to his own salvation. But the gospel insists that all the glory for the work of
salvation must go to Christ alone, that man does nothing but the sinning, and
that the Lord Jesus does all the saving.” ---William MacDonald
B)
We Admire Paul's Humility!
·
We note that he
considered himself to be the "least of the
apostles" (1 Cor 15:9).
·
And he referred to himself as the "least of all saints" (Eph 3:8).
·
Notice that Paul
did not write "of whom I was chief" but "of whom I am chief." He was
“first,” in rank.
·
Paul saw the
degradation of sin and understood the sinfulness of human beings. Because of
this, he placed himself first among sinners.
·
Few could be
considered a worse sinner than someone who blasphemed God and persecuted His
church (see 1 Cor. 15:9; Eph. 3:8).
Paul’s attitude toward himself dramatically changed (Phil.
3:7–9; Rom 7:7–12).
C. WHOM PAUL BECAME (VV. 12, 16).
1. A Minister. (Vs. 12)
A) The Grace Of God Turned The Persecutor Into A
Preacher, And The Murderer, Into A Minister And A Missionary!
1)
So dramatic was the change in Paul's life that the Jerusalem church suspected
that it was a trick, and they had a hard time accepting him (Acts 9:26-31).
2)
God gave Paul His ministry; he did not get it from Peter or the other Apostles
(Gal 1:11-24). He was called and commissioned by
the risen Christ in heaven.
3) “At
this point Paul’s inventory of sinners, of which he knew he was the
chief—combined with his remembrance of the gospel with which he had been
entrusted—triggered within him a powerful surge of gratitude. Literally, the
words “Thanks I have”—with “thanks” in the emphatic position—begins this
section. Paul’s gratitude stemmed from the fact that God in His grace had
provided Paul all necessary enablement (cf. Phil. 4:13) and, considering him
trustworthy, had pressed him into a privileged place of service.” ---John Walvoord
4) “Verses
12–17 seem to illustrate the lawful use of the law from Paul’s own experience.
The law was not to him a way of salvation, but rather a means of conviction of
sin.
First
of all he bursts out into thanksgiving to Christ Jesus for His enabling
grace. The emphasis is not on what Saul of Tarsus did for the Lord but what the
Lord did for him. The apostle could never get over the wonder that the Lord
Jesus not only saved him but counted him faithful, appointing him
to His service. The law could never have shown such grace. Rather, its
inflexible terms would have condemned the sinner Saul to death.” ---William MacDonald
B)
God Saw That Paul Was Faithful, And So He Entrusted The Gospel To Him. (Vs. 1:12)
1)
Even as an unbelieving and Gospel-ignorant Jewish leader, Paul had maintained a
good conscience and he lived up to the light that he had. So often those who
are intensely wrong as lost sinners become intensely right as Christians and
are greatly used of God to win souls.
2)
God not only entrusted the Gospel to Paul, but He enabled Paul to minister that Gospel (1 Cor 15:10; Phil 4:13). When someone obeys God's call
to serve, God always equips and enables that person.
·
1 Cor.
15:10, But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed
upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not
I, but the grace of God which was with me.
·
Philip.
4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
3) No person has the power
to do spiritual warfare; no person can penetrate the spirits of other people.
If a person is to minister to people, he must be empowered by Christ,
for only Christ can penetrate the spirits of people.
· Therefore, the minister must possess the power of
Christ.
· Thought 1. This is a critical fact. It means that a
person cannot make himself a minister nor can other persons choose him to be a
minister-not a true minister, not a minister who pleases Christ and can be
blessed by Christ.
· Why? Because no person can carry on a successful
ministry in his own strength, not a ministry that truly reaches people for
Christ and delivers them from sin, death, and the judgment to come. Only Christ
can do this. This is the reason the minister must be enabled by Christ; he must minister in the
strength and power of Christ.
·
The only way a
minister can be what he should be...
1. Is to be put in the ministry by Christ Jesus.
2. Is to be enabled (strengthened and empowered) by
Christ Jesus.
3.
"Ye
have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go
and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye
shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (Jn.l5:16).
2. An Example (vs. 16)
But
Paul not only became a minister; he also became an example (1 Tim 1:16).
A)
This Explains Why Paul Obtained Mercy.
·
It was so that he
might be an exhibit of the longsuffering
of Jesus Christ. Just as he had
been the chief of sinners, so now he would be the chief display of the untiring
grace of the Lord.
· He would be “Exhibit A,” a living example, as William
Kelly said, of “divine love rising above the most active hostility, of
divine longsuffering exhausting the most varied and persistent antagonism.”
·
Paul teaches us
an important lesson about lowering our guard as an evangelistic tool. Paul was
not nearly as interested in creating an image as he was in being an example. He
did not hesitate to share his past, because he knew his failures would allow
others to have hope.
o
There are times
when we hesitate to share our past struggles with others because we are afraid
it will tarnish our image. This, however, creates an immediate paradox. For
their knowledge of us is incomplete. They don't know us, and we are not sure
they would still accept us if they did know us. But these problems are image
problems; they are difficulties we encounter in trying to manage what others
know of us.
o
Paul demonstrated
that lowering our guard can be an important step in communicating the gospel.
People will not believe the gospel is important if they can't see that it is
crucial in our lives.
§
How has Christ
shown patience with you?
§
Did he stay with
you when you doubted and rebelled?
§
Did he remain
faithful when you ignored his prior claim on your life?
§
Did he love you
when you disregarded his help and his church?
§
Remember that his
patience is unlimited for those who love him.
B)
In What Sense Is Paul An Example To Lost Sinners Who Believe On Christ?
·
None of us has
had the same experience that Paul had on the Damascus road (Acts 9). We did not see a light, fall to the ground,
and hear Jesus speak from heaven.
·
But Paul is a pattern ("type") to all lost
sinners, for he was the chief of sinners!
o
He is proof that
the grace of God can change any sinner!
o
In the primary
sense the verse means that none need despair, no matter how wicked they might
be.
o
They can console
themselves that since the Lord has already saved the chief of sinners, they too
can find grace and mercy by coming to Him as penitents.
o
“All who
follow can look back at Paul as a prototype or pattern (“example,” 2 Tim.
1:13). 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.” ---Walvoord, J. F.
o
By believing on
Him, they too can find life everlasting.
o
“believe on
Him: Over 185 times in the New
Testament the sole condition given for salvation is belief, having faith or
trust in Jesus Christ. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried,
and rose on the third day. All those who place their trust in Jesus for
salvation will be saved from the coming judgment. To add any other condition to
faith for salvation is to make justification a matter of works (see Rom. 11:6;
Gal. 2:16).” ---Nelson Study Bible
C)
But There Is A Special Application Of This To Today's People Of Israel, Paul's countrymen, for whom he had a special burden (Rom 9:1-5; 10:1-3).
·
Paul’s case would
be a pattern.
o
In the printing
trade, pattern means a first proof. It signifies a specimen or a sample.
o
Paul’s conversion
would be a pattern of what God
would do with the nation of Israel when the Deliverer comes out of Zion (Rom. 11:26).
·
The people of
Israel, like unconverted Saul of Tarsus, are religious, self-righteous, blind
to their own Law and its message of the Messiah, and unwilling to believe.
o
One day, Israel
shall see Jesus Christ even as Paul saw Him; and the nation shall be saved. "They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced" (Zech 12:10).
o
This may be one
reason why Paul said he was "born out of due
time" (1 Cor 15:8), for his
experience of seeing the risen Christ came at the beginning of this Church Age
and not at its end (Matt 24:29).
D)
Reflecting On How Good God Has Been To Paul Stirred Him To Respond With Praise
To God!
·
He who was a
blasphemer and persecutor, is now a praise leader! This verse is a natural,
emotional response to these reflections about the mercy of God. When Paul
realized all that God had done for him, he was left with no other words than
praise.
·
God, our King, is
eternal and immortal -- that is, he can never cease to exist. He is invisible
-- we cannot see him or touch him; he is Spirit. He is the only God -- not one
of many, but "the only."
o
God is called King, this denote that he rules over the
universe. The meaning of this expression
is-"the King of ages" he is a king who rules throughout all
ages. The rule of earthly monarchs does
not extend into successive ages; his does. Their reign is temporary; his is
enduring, and continues as one generation after another passes on, and thus
embraces them all.
o
Immortal This refers to God himself, not to his reign. It
means that he does not die, and it is given to him to distinguish him from
other sovereigns. All other monarchs but God expire-and are just as liable to
die at any moment as any other people.
o
Invisible 1Tim 6:16; see John 1:18.
o
The
only wise God notes, Rom 16:27. It
is true that Yahweh is the only God; it is also true that he is the only wise
God. The gods of the pagan are "vanity and a lie," and they are
wholly destitute of wisdom; see Ps 115:3-8; 135:15-18;
Isa 40:18-20; 44:10-17.
o
Be
honour Let there be all the
respect and veneration shown to him which is his due.
o
And
glory Praise. Let him be praised
by all for ever.
o
Amen So be it; an expression of strong affirmation; John 3:3. The solemn assent of the heart! (Matt 6:13; 1 Cor 14:16)
· “As Paul thinks of God’s marvelous dealings with him
in grace, he bursts out into this lovely doxology. It is difficult to know
whether it is addressed to God the Father or to the Lord Jesus. The words the
King eternal seem to refer to the Lord Jesus because He is called the
“Kings of kings, and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16). However, the word invisible
seems to refer to the Father, since the Lord Jesus was obviously visible to
mortal eyes. The fact that we are not able to distinguish which Person of the
Godhead is intended might serve as an indication of Their absolute equality.
The
King eternal is spoken of,
first of all, as immortal. This means incorruptible or imperishable. God
in His essence is also invisible. Men have seen appearances of God in
the OT,
and the Lord Jesus fully revealed God to us in visible form, but the fact
remains that God Himself is invisible to human eyes. Next He is spoken of as God
who alone is wise. In the final analysis, all wisdom comes from God (Jas.
1:5).” --- MacDonald, W.
Paul gave a third
responsibility for the local church to fulfill besides teaching sound doctrine
and proclaiming the Gospel....
