In this exposition of 1 Timothy 1, we explore the Apostle Paul’s testimony of his transformation from a violent persecutor to a recipient of God’s super-abounding grace. This is a powerful contrast demonstrating unmerited mercy against the legalistic, merit-based teachings of Ephesian heretics. Jesus Christ came into the world not to reward the righteous, but to save even the worst of sinners.
Transcript
If you would turn with me once again to the letter of the Apostle Paul to Timothy. First Timothy. And we’re looking once again at chapter 1. As you’re turning, it’s easy a lot of times when you’re thinking about the pastoral epistles, First and Second Timothy and Titus, you are thinking about something like an operating manual for the church. But as we’ve been looking at this over the past few weeks, we have noticed that there’s quite a lot more going on in this first epistle.
The Attack on the Church at Ephesus
The church at Ephesus was a Roman metropolis, a city-state, and there was a lot going on there. It was the center for pagan worship; the Temple of Artemis was there, the goddess Artemis. There was a lot of paganism that attacked the church. According to church tradition, Timothy was martyred because of his opposition to Artemis some thirty or so years after this.
So there’s that outside attack. But the major concern in the opening of this book is with the attack that’s happening inside the church. People who are posing as Christians who have introduced false teaching into the church.
Over the past few weeks, the first week we looked at just those opening two verses, Paul’s salutation, and we recognized that this book begins with a lot of deep theological truth. Paul points out in the very first verse his authority as an apostle, and he tells us where that authority comes from. It comes not because it’s something that he sought, because he did not seek it. It came about because of the commandment of God. The commandment of God, our Savior, and of Jesus Christ, who is our hope. Paul establishes himself as an apostle. He singles out Timothy as his true disciple, his son in the faith. That’s because he has left Timothy there in Ephesus, entrusted him to deal with these heretics that are in the church.
Timothy’s Difficult Ministry
Timothy has a very difficult ministry. I am so grateful to be the pastor of Mayflower Hills Baptist Church, which is a very peaceful place. We have very few conflict problems to deal with here in my experience thus far. I am grateful for that. Timothy had the kind of church that causes a pastor to develop ulcers. That was that kind of ministry. In fact, Paul gives him some advice for dealing with his stomach a little later on. Because he was attacked on the outside and there was this attack on the inside destroying the health of this church.
The Defining Mark of a Healthy Church
The second week that we looked into this, we pointed out that Paul is asserting that the defining mark of a healthy church has to do with true teaching or sound doctrine, as Paul says. The word sound in this case meaning true or especially it means healthy. We get one of our words that describe healthy in our language from that very word. It’s the idea of a church being spiritually healthy.
What makes a church spiritually healthy? If the word of God is as important as the food we eat, and of course it is, what makes us physically healthy? You eat a poor diet and you’re going to have poor health. The food we eat, we pay more attention to that sometimes than the teaching that we’re receiving. We need to be very careful about the source and the purity of what we are learning about the Bible.
People had come into the church at Ephesus and they were teaching all sorts of myths. They were appealing to gain authority through genealogies. They had a system of leaning heavily on the Mosaic law for a system of merit which displaced the gospel. All of these things was making the people spiritually sick. Paul, when he came to Ephesus, dealt with some of these people who had made shipwreck of their own faith. And then he left Timothy in charge to deal with these other teachers who were teaching these false truths. The book of Timothy has to do with dealing with errors like this and establishing the church in a way that helps prevent such error.
The contrast that we pointed out to the kinds of speculative teaching that they were receiving, with Paul’s theology, Paul’s theology leads to a Christ-like love that comes from a heart that’s been purified by Christ, washed in his blood, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith. That was the marks of true teaching.
The True Purpose of the Law
Last week, as we looked at the last part of verses 3 to 11 dealing with the law, we talked about the true purpose of the law. The apostle says that the law is good, but he is saying that the way these teachers are using the law is not good at all. It’s a spiritual sickness.
We pointed out that the Old Testament law is kind of like an MRI machine. An MRI machine is a very good thing. It’s a wonderful instrument. You have your body scanned with one of those and it points out the defects. It can tell not just that this bone is broken but all the tendons and the neural damage that might have resulted from it. That’s a very good thing. But it’s not going to mend that bone or heal that flesh. It can’t do that. And the law can’t do that either.
The law points out and exposes the sinfulness of the human heart, and it teaches us what our sin is. But there’s nothing in the law that can bring about salvation. Every religion of the world, including some that go under the name of Christian, teach a morality or a merit-based system where you earn your right to receive this reward which is the glorious afterlife that you receive. Christianity never does that. And so that contrast is what comes up today.
Paul’s Triumphant Statement
It’s interesting, you’re reading through this, you recognize that Paul has placed Timothy there in order to correct these false teachers of the law. He explains the true purpose of the law for us, which we looked at last week. And then he goes into this interesting section where he is talking about his personal history. A lot of people when they’re reading this think this is a digression. Paul inserts this parenthetical section talking about his relationship with the Lord. But I want you to notice that this passage beginning in verse 12, Paul is continuing the argument. He is explaining the difference between true faith, true Christianity, and these heretical teachings.
This is the triumphant statement. What we’re getting here is the triumphal moment because this crushes the defense. Let me read verses 12 to 17. This is God’s holy inerrant word.
“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. 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.”
Amen. Let me ask the Lord to bless his holy word to our heart.
Father, we thank you for the precious truths that we find in this passage. Father, such a rich, blessed text. Father, I pray that you help us to memorize portions of this if we haven’t. And we ask, Lord, that you would teach this word to our hearts and, Father, teach us the supremacy of your grace today. We need this. Every one of us needs this. It’s so easy to be caught up and pulled away in our thinking, even those who know the truth. So we ask, Father, for this time of refreshment in the purity of your gospel. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Authority Received as a Gift
I want you to notice that Paul begins this by giving thanks to Christ Jesus. This begins with thanksgiving. It ends with this glorious doxology to God. He begins verse 12 thanking Christ Jesus, who considered him faithful, putting him into service and strengthening him. The Apostle Paul’s apostolic authority was received as a gift from Christ.
The contrast here is between himself and these men who had placed themselves into a position of striving for authority in the church. They had the desire to teach the word of God, to teach the law. But as Paul points out, they’re ignorant of what they’re trying to teach. They’re teaching with great confidence, but with very little understanding. Paul is contrasting the authority that they have with this God-given authority that he has received through Christ. That’s why he’s thanking Christ in verse 12. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has empowered me, strengthened me.” He has equipped him to do the work as an apostle. His strength as an apostle has come about because Christ has given it to him. He entrusted him with this work. Paul, I think, is amazed with that.
Man’s Credentials vs. Super-Abounding Grace
Let’s take a moment to think about what these heretics are pointing to when they appeal to the people in the church. They are looking to genealogies. The early church in Judaism, genealogies were crucially important. If you came from the right tribe, if you were a true Jew, you’re going to have more authority than someone who comes from a different tribe. If your genealogy went back pure and you could connect yourself with some patriarch of the Old Testament, you’re going to have more authority in those circles.
They’re pulling up interesting passages, apparently from Jewish myths. They’re able to teach things that sound new and novel and interesting to gain credence with the people. But they’re appealing most of all to the fact that they are the keepers of the law. “We’re the ones who are meriting salvation. Look to us because we’re your example, you need to be like us, live like us, and maybe you can work your way to heaven as well.” They’re trying to climb the ladder of the law to get to heaven.
Paul is going to point out his authority as an apostle. If you were going to apply for a job, how much of your past failings do you put in the resume? Can you imagine a business executive applying for a job with a major company as the CEO, and he lists the fact that for ten years he did everything he possibly could to destroy this particular company that he’s applying for now? That’s exactly what Paul does here. He could be calling attention to the fact that he used to play this game and he played it better than almost anybody else. In the book of Philippians, Paul lists his credentials in the flesh:
- He was circumcised the eighth day. From the time of infancy, he was brought up in the tiny details of the law.
- He was of the people of Israel. He was a true Israelite.
- He was of the tribe of Benjamin.
- He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. He was born in Tarsus, but he spoke Hebrew and was deep in Hebrew culture.
- He was of the strictest party in Israel as to keeping the law and respecting the Bible. None of his fellow Pharisees could look at him and point out his violations of the law.
Why does he not call attention to that to these people whom that would resonate with? Because he considers it worthless. Rubbish. He doesn’t play that game here. He’s got something wonderfully better.
The Depth of Paul’s Sin
He points out that Christ entrusted this to him even though he was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. You notice that that is progressive:
- He blasphemed the name of Jesus. He didn’t believe that Jesus was who he said he was.
- He persecuted. He went after the people who were Christians, he had them arrested. He approved of the murder of Stephen.
- A violent aggressor. This idea of violent aggression has to do with the inner attitudes, your focus, and what you’re taking pleasure in. As he began participating in the persecution of the church, the time comes when he starts delighting in what he’s doing. He is looking and taking delight when he causes suffering and pain. He hates them that much. It’s progressive.
And then he says something interesting. “Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.” He’s not saying he’s innocent because he didn’t understand. He recognizes that any one of these sins is enough to send him to hell. But when you understand the Old Testament, in Numbers chapter 15, there are categories of sin. There are sins that have systems of atonement and sacrifice. And then there are willful or high-handed sins. There’s no sacrifice for those sins. What Paul is pointing out is even though these sins are egregious, he wasn’t deliberately sinning against the God of Israel. He thought he was pleasing the God of Israel. The only reason I can think he might mention that here is because some of these heretics who are in the church might actually be sinning with a high-handed sin. Knowing the truth and not caring. Violating it because it’s what they want, it’s the acclaim that they’re seeking. In the Old Testament that brought about death.
Grace That Washes Everything Away
So he was the blasphemer, persecutor, and violent aggressor. Why is he pointing these things out? So that we can see that the gospel is the sound doctrine, the healthy, life-giving word from God that actually saves us. In verses 14 and 15: “And the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.”
As wonderful as that verse is in English, it still doesn’t capture it. In order to get this word, I suspect that Paul coined the word. It’s the only time it’s ever used. It means super-abounding, overflowing, super-abounding grace. Grace that’s not merely sufficient, but it’s super-abounding. When we think about grace sometimes, we think God has a little bit of grace, he’s got this little bucket, and he dips it out and that grace cleanses you from your sin. You get a person who has lots of sin, you’re going to be scraping the bottom of that bucket. It’s not the picture. This picture of God’s grace is like a gigantic flood of water that washes over everything, washes everything away, so there’s nothing at all left of it. Grace that is overflowing and vastly disproportionate. The terrible sins are washed away by God’s marvelous grace.
Religions that build a merit-based system, this washes that away too. John Bunyan, who in his early life was a terrible blasphemer and profligate, was terribly ashamed of his early life. When he wrote his spiritual autobiography, he named it Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. This passage was precious to him. God gives overwhelming mercy and faith and love in Jesus Christ. Paul’s blaspheming and persecutions are replaced by faith and love in Jesus Christ. He’s completely changed. He’s re-wired from the inside out. He’s a new creation in Christ Jesus.
A Trustworthy Statement
And then he gives us a trustworthy statement. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” That was apparently like a song or a creed that was quoted in the early church. Paul takes that statement and gives it apostolic authority here. Jesus isn’t just a moral teacher that shows us how to live right. He is the Savior who comes down from heaven, who descends to us. The heretics are pointing to speculative things. Paul is pointing to history and reality. The history of Jesus Christ entering into this world. God came into this world. The transcendent God comes down to us. He reveals himself to us. He descends to us. This is a trustworthy saying. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Paul points out and adds, “of whom I am the chief. I am the first. I am the foremost of sinners.”
An Example for All
Teachers are trying to climb up a ladder of legalistic knowledge. But Christ came down into the world and reached down to save the lowest and the worst. There is no room here for Paul working his way to heaven.
Thomas Bilney was a Cambridge scholar back in the 1500s. They called him Little Bilney because he was a very short man. He had a real problem because he was overwhelmed with his own sinfulness. He was in despair most of the time. His breakthrough came when Erasmus’s collection of the Greek text in one volume came out. He opened it up and read verse 15. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost of all.” That gave him relief. It gave him encouragement and blessed him. He knew that he had marvelous comfort and quietness. That sustained him for the rest of his life, even when he was burned for his faith. He was influential in the Reformation that took place in England. It’s an encouraging word to sinners.
Paul goes on to say that the reason that he received mercy is that in doing so he becomes an example to give hope to those who would believe in Christ for salvation. When they look at Paul, the foremost of sinners. If the gospel can save a man who is breathing threats and murder, it can save us. You feel too guilty to be saved by the Lord? Look to the Apostle Paul. Have you been burning down churches? Paul was a persecutor of the church. The argument is from the lesser to the greater. If God can save someone like this, then surely he can save me.
True Worship
He’s the only God. There is no other. We honor and praise God because he has shown us so overwhelming abundant mercy in Christ and saving us. If you don’t understand that mercy and grace then you won’t worship Christ. If we don’t worship and see the true glory of God then we’re not going to know how to live for him. This is foundational to a church who wants to know how we live before God. God came down and saved sinners. He doesn’t reward merit. He is our glorious Savior and he is the one who must receive all the glory. Let me pray for us in our closing time.
Father, I thank you for the richness of your grace. It’s more than we can comprehend or imagine. It is truly amazing grace that saves a wretch like us. I pray, Lord, that Paul’s testimony would encourage us today. Help us to marvel at the super-abounding grace given to us in Jesus Christ. Bless us now as we sing in Christ’s name. Amen.
