1 Timothy Series - Oh, I Thank God

                     

Oh I, Thank God

1 Tim. 1:12-17

“In everything give praise to Christ Jesus” was Paul’s soul and spirit’s cry. He had much to be thankful for, as the woman forgiven by Jesus, “… her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Lk.7:47) Paul’s remembrance of Jesus’ grace, mercy, and forgiveness were never far from his mind and heart.

 Let’s look at the first portion of the text. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 

Paul knew the mercy and grace of God. In this form of a prayer in the letter to Timothy, he lives in constant memory of his sins forgiven by Jesus. Paul knew where his strength came from in order to do the will of God. It was in Christ. Jesus had chosen Paul for this service and burdened him for the souls of the gentile world. Jesus’ seal of trustworthiness was the evidence of Paul’s appointment to Christ’s service. The evidence was in a changed life, a new creation, a dedication to commitment with the authority of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

In remembrance, Paul knew how far God had brought him out of a sinful life. He had been a blasphemer. He had made it his personal mission to destroy the name of Jesus and all who followed the Way. Paul’s persecution started before Stephen’s death (Acts 7:42-60), but it was in his prideful pursuit of the Way that brought him face to face with the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9:1-19) He had been changed from the inside out.

Paul stated all his blaspheming, persecuting, and violence was in ignorance and unbelief of who Jesus really was as well as who the infant church that was now dispersed out of Jerusalem, Galilee, Samaria, and towards the Asia minor countries. But instead of the judgment of death for Paul’s actions, Jesus forgave and His grace was poured out on Paul’s life abundantly, for he believed with an unshakeable faith. Paul knew the agape love of Jesus.

Application - I stand like Paul, in thanksgiving for the grace, mercy, and love of Christ Jesus in abundance, for there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Rom.8:1-4)

I didn’t stand at the stoning of a saint, but I blasphemed the Lord repeatedly in my life, I condemned those who believed in Jesus Christ, and I was changed in a like manner as Paul. I told my wife and family I would never go back to church one Sunday morning, only to have Jesus meet me in the pew, and revealed himself and his salvation plan in a way that went to my heart. I became a new creation, Jesus took away two-thirds of my words without me asking, he poured his peace into me and cleansed my heart and mind of all past sins as I confessed them with frank openness, humility, and in full trust of his grace, love, and forgiveness. This is the Good News of the gospel. Jesus came to give us eternal life by believing in him (justified by faith) and sanctifying us  (by work of the Holy Spirit). Every believer goes through the two works of grace (justification and sanctification). Paul speaks about these throughout the letter to the Romans. 

This is why we should have patience with those who are ignorant of Jesus Christ and live in unbelief. For our God sends forth his Word and it always achieves His purpose for sending it. “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:11) So let’s give thanks to our Lord and Savior for his grace, mercy,  love and His immutable Word. Amen

Paul now uses his own life of sinfulness as an example of God’s compassion, mercy, and patience. Let’s look at the last portion of the text, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Paul is given a nugget of purest gold from Jesus, and he passes it on to Timothy. Trustworthiness only comes from the truth, in its most absolute form, from God’s word. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”  This is the reason for Paul’s greatest joy, the salvation from the Lord and the Father who sent him. Paul considered himself the chief of sinners, I’m sure there were others that would have given him a run for this title. But Paul knew the mercy of God, and the patience of God on one who didn't deserve forgiveness. It was by His grace and mercy that Paul was forgiven. Paul now believed in the One in whom he had been persecuting. It was in this immense patience that Paul had experienced Jesus in each step in this new life and calling. He could never say thank you enough for this gift of grace, eternal life. For Jesus deserved all the praise, glory, and honor. For he is the King eternal, he is immortal. He is sitting at the right hand of God the Father’s throne in Heaven. He is invisible to the human eye, but to the eyes of the heart of those who believe, Jesus is approachable in prayer. Jesus is God the Son, and all glory is his forever and forever.

Application -  I like to walk in the mornings, and I like to pray during these walks. My wife has called this my HobNobbing with Jesus. I like that. I can talk to the King of kings and Lord of lords. And He talks back, not with audible words but through the Holy Spirit and His Word, the Bible. I am thankful that I may approach my Lord and Savior through the precious blood he shed for my sins. “For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” (Heb. 9:14-22)

So give thanks with a sincere heart, full of faith, fully trusting, and yielded to the will of God in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. As Paul said again, “Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thes. 5:16-18)

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis