WEBVTT

1
00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:08.540
If you would turn with me once again to the letter of the Apostle Paul to Timothy.

2
00:00:08.540 --> 00:00:10.620
First Timothy.

3
00:00:10.620 --> 00:00:15.840
And we're looking once again at chapter 1.

4
00:00:15.840 --> 00:00:33.560
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.

5
00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:43.600
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.

6
00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:54.960
The church at Ephesus was a Roman metropolis, a city-state, and there was a lot going on there.

7
00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:02.780
It was the center for pagan worship; the Temple of Artemis was there, the goddess Artemis.

8
00:01:02.780 --> 00:01:09.640
There was a lot of paganism that attacked the church.

9
00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:19.440
According to church tradition, Timothy was martyred because of his opposition to Artemis some thirty or so years after this.

10
00:01:19.440 --> 00:01:23.520
So there's that outside attack.

11
00:01:23.520 --> 00:01:32.320
But the major concern in the opening of this book is with the attack that's happening inside the church.

12
00:01:32.320 --> 00:01:43.000
People who are posing as Christians who have introduced false teaching into the church.

13
00:01:43.000 --> 00:02:00.620
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.

14
00:02:00.620 --> 00:02:16.920
Paul points out in the very first verse his authority as an apostle, and he tells us where that authority comes from.

15
00:02:16.920 --> 00:02:21.320
It comes not because it's something that he sought, because he did not seek it.

16
00:02:21.320 --> 00:02:25.180
It came about because of the commandment of God.

17
00:02:25.180 --> 00:02:33.980
The commandment of God, our Savior, and of Jesus Christ, who is our hope.

18
00:02:33.980 --> 00:02:37.880
Paul establishes himself as an apostle.

19
00:02:37.880 --> 00:02:43.420
He singles out Timothy as his true disciple, his son in the faith.

20
00:02:43.420 --> 00:02:55.700
That's because he has left Timothy there in Ephesus, entrusted him to deal with these heretics that are in the church.

21
00:02:55.700 --> 00:03:01.480
Timothy has a very difficult ministry.

22
00:03:01.480 --> 00:03:10.320
I am so grateful to be the pastor of Mayflower Hills Baptist Church, which is a very peaceful place.

23
00:03:10.320 --> 00:03:17.660
We have very few conflict problems to deal with here in my experience thus far.

24
00:03:17.660 --> 00:03:20.740
I am grateful for that.

25
00:03:20.740 --> 00:03:26.640
Timothy had the kind of church that causes a pastor to develop ulcers.

26
00:03:26.640 --> 00:03:28.320
That was that kind of ministry.

27
00:03:28.320 --> 00:03:34.700
In fact, Paul gives him some advice for dealing with his stomach a little later on.

28
00:03:34.700 --> 00:03:43.290
Because he was attacked on the outside and there was this attack on the inside destroying the health of this church.

29
00:03:43.290 --> 00:04:08.300
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.

30
00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:15.540
The word sound in this case meaning true or especially it means healthy.

31
00:04:15.540 --> 00:04:24.980
We get one of our words that describe healthy in our language from that very word.

32
00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:28.540
It's the idea of a church being spiritually healthy.

33
00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:31.340
What makes a church spiritually healthy?

34
00:04:31.340 --> 00:04:43.560
If the word of God is as important as the food we eat, and of course it is, what makes us physically healthy?

35
00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:47.840
You eat a poor diet and you're going to have poor health.

36
00:04:47.840 --> 00:04:53.700
The food we eat, we pay more attention to that sometimes than the teaching that we're receiving.

37
00:04:53.700 --> 00:05:04.760
We need to be very careful about the source and the purity of what we are learning about the Bible.

38
00:05:04.760 --> 00:05:17.700
People had come into the church at Ephesus and they were teaching all sorts of myths.

39
00:05:17.700 --> 00:05:23.500
They were appealing to gain authority through genealogies.

40
00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:34.840
They had a system of leaning heavily on the Mosaic law for a system of merit which displaced the gospel.

41
00:05:34.840 --> 00:05:38.740
All of these things was making the people spiritually sick.

42
00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:50.950
Paul, when he came to Ephesus, dealt with some of these people who had made shipwreck of their own faith.

43
00:05:50.950 --> 00:05:58.780
And then he left Timothy in charge to deal with these other teachers who were teaching these false truths.

44
00:05:58.780 --> 00:06:15.620
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.

45
00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:45.380
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.

46
00:06:45.380 --> 00:06:50.640
That was the marks of true teaching.

47
00:06:50.640 --> 00:07:14.980
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.

48
00:07:14.980 --> 00:07:23.920
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.

49
00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:28.160
It's a spiritual sickness.

50
00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:35.340
We pointed out that the Old Testament law is kind of like an MRI machine.

51
00:07:35.340 --> 00:07:38.940
An MRI machine is a very good thing.

52
00:07:38.940 --> 00:07:41.540
It's a wonderful instrument.

53
00:07:41.540 --> 00:07:46.440
You have your body scanned with one of those and it points out the defects.

54
00:07:46.440 --> 00:07:54.200
It can tell not just that this bone is broken but all the tendons and the neural damage that might have resulted from it.

55
00:07:54.200 --> 00:07:56.240
That's a very good thing.

56
00:07:56.240 --> 00:08:00.120
But it's not going to mend that bone or heal that flesh.

57
00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:00.960
It can't do that.

58
00:08:00.960 --> 00:08:04.420
And the law can't do that either.

59
00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:12.000
The law points out and exposes the sinfulness of the human heart, and it teaches us what our sin is.

60
00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:16.800
But there's nothing in the law that can bring about salvation.

61
00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:40.840
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.

62
00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:44.060
Christianity never does that.

63
00:08:44.060 --> 00:08:48.840
And so that contrast is what comes up today.

64
00:08:48.840 --> 00:09:08.260
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.

65
00:09:08.260 --> 00:09:13.420
He explains the true purpose of the law for us, which we looked at last week.

66
00:09:13.420 --> 00:09:25.500
And then he goes into this interesting section where he is talking about his personal history.

67
00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:29.860
A lot of people when they're reading this think this is a digression.

68
00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:36.580
Paul inserts this parenthetical section talking about his relationship with the Lord.

69
00:09:36.580 --> 00:09:50.440
But I want you to notice that this passage beginning in verse 12, Paul is continuing the argument.

70
00:09:50.440 --> 00:10:00.640
He is explaining the difference between true faith, true Christianity, and these heretical teachings.

71
00:10:00.640 --> 00:10:05.020
This is the triumphant statement.

72
00:10:05.020 --> 00:10:21.120
What we're getting here is the triumphal moment because this crushes the defense.

73
00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:24.680
Let me read verses 12 to 17.

74
00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:30.640
This is God's holy inerrant word.

75
00:10:30.640 --> 00:10:38.480
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.

76
00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:50.900
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.

77
00:10:50.900 --> 00:10:58.850
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

78
00:10:58.850 --> 00:11:11.565
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

79
00:11:11.565 --> 00:11:26.460
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.

80
00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:34.000
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.

81
00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:35.760
Amen."

82
00:11:35.760 --> 00:11:36.900
Amen.

83
00:11:36.900 --> 00:11:41.780
Let me ask the Lord to bless his holy word to our heart.

84
00:11:41.780 --> 00:11:46.140
Father, we thank you for the precious truths that we find in this passage.

85
00:11:46.140 --> 00:11:49.740
Father, such a rich, blessed text.

86
00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:53.940
Father, I pray that you help us to memorize portions of this if we haven't.

87
00:11:53.940 --> 00:12:03.320
And we ask, Lord, that you would teach this word to our hearts and, Father, teach us the supremacy of your grace today.

88
00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:04.680
We need this.

89
00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:07.020
Every one of us needs this.

90
00:12:07.020 --> 00:12:14.620
It's so easy to be caught up and pulled away in our thinking, even those who know the truth.

91
00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:19.440
So we ask, Father, for this time of refreshment in the purity of your gospel.

92
00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:21.940
In Christ's name.

93
00:12:21.940 --> 00:12:26.480
Amen.

94
00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:36.720
I want you to notice that Paul begins this by giving thanks to Christ Jesus.

95
00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:38.180
This begins with thanksgiving.

96
00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:42.440
It ends with this glorious doxology to God.

97
00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:53.790
He begins verse 12 thanking Christ Jesus, who considered him faithful, putting him into service and strengthening him.

98
00:12:53.790 --> 00:13:03.480
The Apostle Paul's apostolic authority was received as a gift from Christ.

99
00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:16.180
The contrast here is between himself and these men who had placed themselves into a position of striving for authority in the church.

100
00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:23.760
They had the desire to teach the word of God, to teach the law.

101
00:13:23.760 --> 00:13:29.600
But as Paul points out, they're ignorant of what they're trying to teach.

102
00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:38.040
They're teaching with great confidence, but with very little understanding.

103
00:13:38.040 --> 00:13:48.320
Paul is contrasting the authority that they have with this God-given authority that he has received through Christ.

104
00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:50.820
That's why he's thanking Christ in verse 12.

105
00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:57.980
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has empowered me, strengthened me."

106
00:13:57.980 --> 00:14:05.480
He has equipped him to do the work as an apostle.

107
00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:11.960
His strength as an apostle has come about because Christ has given it to him.

108
00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:18.820
He entrusted him with this work.

109
00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:24.460
Paul, I think, is amazed with that.

110
00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:33.847
Let's take a moment to think about what these heretics are pointing to when they appeal to the people in the church.

111
00:14:33.847 --> 00:14:40.900
They are looking to genealogies.

112
00:14:40.900 --> 00:14:46.200
The early church in Judaism, genealogies were crucially important.

113
00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:57.280
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.

114
00:14:57.280 --> 00:15:16.000
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.

115
00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:25.060
They're pulling up interesting passages, apparently from Jewish myths.

116
00:15:25.060 --> 00:15:37.180
They're able to teach things that sound new and novel and interesting to gain credence with the people.

117
00:15:37.180 --> 00:15:44.640
But they're appealing most of all to the fact that they are the keepers of the law.

118
00:15:44.640 --> 00:15:47.880
"We're the ones who are meriting salvation.

119
00:15:47.880 --> 00:15:59.380
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."

120
00:15:59.380 --> 00:16:06.620
They're trying to climb the ladder of the law to get to heaven.

121
00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:22.380
Paul is going to point out his authority as an apostle.

122
00:16:22.380 --> 00:16:36.380
If you were going to apply for a job, how much of your past failings do you put in the resume?

123
00:16:36.380 --> 00:17:02.000
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?

124
00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:10.880
That's exactly what Paul does here.

125
00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:30.840
He could be calling attention to the fact that he used to play this game and he played it better than almost anybody else.

126
00:17:30.840 --> 00:17:48.740
In the book of Philippians, Paul lists his credentials in the flesh: He was circumcised the eighth day.

127
00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:55.420
From the time of infancy, he was brought up in the tiny details of the law.

128
00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:57.420
He was of the people of Israel.

129
00:17:57.420 --> 00:18:05.760
He was a true Israelite.

130
00:18:05.760 --> 00:18:57.540
He was of the tribe of Benjamin.

131
00:18:57.540 --> 00:18:59.700
He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews.

132
00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:12.520
He was born in Tarsus, but he spoke Hebrew and was deep in Hebrew culture.

133
00:19:12.520 --> 00:19:22.560
He was of the strictest party in Israel as to keeping the law and respecting the Bible.

134
00:19:22.560 --> 00:19:37.340
None of his fellow Pharisees could look at him and point out his violations of the law.

135
00:19:37.340 --> 00:19:43.260
Why does he not call attention to that to these people whom that would resonate with?

136
00:19:43.260 --> 00:19:47.700
Because he considers it worthless.

137
00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:52.800
Rubbish.

138
00:19:52.800 --> 00:19:55.460
He doesn't play that game here.

139
00:19:55.460 --> 00:20:08.600
He's got something wonderfully better.

140
00:20:08.600 --> 00:20:25.820
He points out that Christ entrusted this to him even though he was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.

141
00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:37.740
You notice that that is progressive: He blasphemed the name of Jesus.

142
00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:45.600
He didn't believe that Jesus was who he said he was.

143
00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:47.780
He persecuted.

144
00:20:47.780 --> 00:20:54.060
He went after the people who were Christians, he had them arrested.

145
00:20:54.060 --> 00:21:03.780
He approved of the murder of Stephen.

146
00:21:03.780 --> 00:21:18.340
A violent aggressor.

147
00:21:18.340 --> 00:21:44.420
This idea of violent aggression has to do with the inner attitudes, your focus, and what you're taking pleasure in.

148
00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:54.180
As he began participating in the persecution of the church, the time comes when he starts delighting in what he's doing.

149
00:21:54.180 --> 00:22:09.600
He is looking and taking delight when he causes suffering and pain.

150
00:22:09.600 --> 00:22:14.360
He hates them that much.

151
00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:20.020
It's progressive.

152
00:22:20.020 --> 00:22:40.600
And then he says something interesting.

153
00:22:40.600 --> 00:22:52.240
"Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief."

154
00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:55.620
He's not saying he's innocent because he didn't understand.

155
00:22:55.620 --> 00:23:09.000
He recognizes that any one of these sins is enough to send him to hell.

156
00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:34.680
But when you understand the Old Testament, in Numbers chapter 15, there are categories of sin.

157
00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:42.500
There are sins that have systems of atonement and sacrifice.

158
00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:50.820
And then there are willful or high-handed sins.

159
00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:53.860
There's no sacrifice for those sins.

160
00:23:53.860 --> 00:24:06.180
What Paul is pointing out is even though these sins are egregious, he wasn't deliberately sinning against the God of Israel.

161
00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:12.640
He thought he was pleasing the God of Israel.

162
00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:25.660
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.

163
00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:28.860
Knowing the truth and not caring.

164
00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:47.470
Violating it because it's what they want, it's the acclaim that they're seeking.

165
00:24:47.470 --> 00:25:07.800
In the Old Testament that brought about death.

166
00:25:07.800 --> 00:25:28.040
So he was the blasphemer, persecutor, and violent aggressor.

167
00:25:28.040 --> 00:25:33.160
Why is he pointing these things out?

168
00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:49.560
So that we can see that the gospel is the sound doctrine the healthy, life-giving word from God that actually saves us.

169
00:25:49.560 --> 00:26:08.040
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."

170
00:26:08.040 --> 00:26:28.480
As wonderful as that verse is in English, it still do esn't capture it.

171
00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:50.300
In order to get this word, I suspect that Paul coined the word.

172
00:26:50.300 --> 00:26:55.820
It's the only time it's ever used.

173
00:26:55.820 --> 00:27:24.460
It means super-abounding overflowing, super-abounding grace.

174
00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:29.413
Grace that's not merely sufficient, but it's super-abounding.

175
00:27:29.413 --> 00:27:48.420
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.

176
00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:55.720
You get a person who has lots of sin, you're goin g to be scraping the bottom of that bucket.

177
00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:58.600
It's not the picture.

178
00:27:58.600 --> 00:28:46.040
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.

179
00:28:46.040 --> 00:28:53.720
Grace that is overflowing and vastly disproportionate.

180
00:28:53.720 --> 00:29:14.500
The terrible sins are washed away by God's marvelous grace.

181
00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:28.820
Religions that build a merit-based system, this washes that away too.

182
00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:42.400
John Bunyan, who in his early life was a terrible blasphemer and profligate, was terribly ashamed of his early life.

183
00:29:42.400 --> 00:30:00.260
When he wrote his spiritual autobiography, he named it Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners This passage was precious to him.

184
00:30:00.260 --> 00:30:10.980
God gives overwhelming mercy and faith and love in Jesus Christ.

185
00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:29.440
Paul's blaspheming and persecutions are replaced by faith and love in Jesus Christ.

186
00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:33.200
He's completely changed.

187
00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:37.060
He's re-wired from the inside out.

188
00:30:37.060 --> 00:30:47.180
He's a new creation in Christ Jesus And then he gives us a trustworthy statement.

189
00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:51.320
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

190
00:30:51.320 --> 00:30:58.280
That was apparently like a song or a creed that was quoted in the early church.

191
00:30:58.280 --> 00:31:21.540
Paul takes that statement and gives it apostolic authority here.

192
00:31:21.540 --> 00:31:28.280
Jesus isn't just a moral teacher that shows us how to live right.

193
00:31:28.280 --> 00:31:43.440
He is the Savior who comes down from heaven, who descends to us.

194
00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:49.560
The heretics are pointing to speculative things.

195
00:31:49.560 --> 00:31:55.620
Paul is pointing to history and reality.

196
00:31:55.620 --> 00:32:05.580
The history of Jesus Christ entering into this world.

197
00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:14.560
God came into this world.

198
00:32:14.560 --> 00:32:20.280
The transcendent God comes down to us.

199
00:32:20.280 --> 00:32:22.860
He reveals himself to us.

200
00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:29.780
He descends to us.

201
00:32:29.780 --> 00:32:31.540
This is a trustworthy saying.

202
00:32:31.540 --> 00:32:40.400
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

203
00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:46.300
Paul points out and adds, "of whom I am the chief.

204
00:32:46.300 --> 00:32:47.980
I am the first.

205
00:32:47.980 --> 00:33:00.320
I am the foremost of sinners."

206
00:33:00.320 --> 00:33:03.980
Teachers are trying to climb up a ladder of legalistic knowledge.

207
00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:13.467
But Christ came down into the world and reached down to save the lowest and the worst.

208
00:33:13.467 --> 00:33:22.140
There is no room here for Paul working his way to heaven.

209
00:33:22.140 --> 00:33:29.720
Thomas Bilney was a Cambridge scholar back in the 1500s.

210
00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:35.400
They called him Little Bilney because he was a very short man.

211
00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:44.720
He had a real problem because he was overwhelmed with his own sinfulness.

212
00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:53.720
He was in despair most of the time.

213
00:33:53.720 --> 00:34:05.380
His breakthrough came when Erasmus's collection of the Greek text in one volume came out.

214
00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:12.500
He opened it up and read verse 15.

215
00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:17.960
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost of all."

216
00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:20.680
That gave him relief.

217
00:34:20.680 --> 00:34:23.880
It gave him encouragement and blessed him.

218
00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:36.740
He knew that he had marvelous comfort and quietness.

219
00:34:36.740 --> 00:34:43.600
That sustained him for the rest of his life, even when he was burned for his faith.

220
00:34:43.600 --> 00:34:52.220
He was influential in the Reformation that took place in England.

221
00:34:52.220 --> 00:34:56.280
It's an encouraging word to sinners.

222
00:34:56.280 --> 00:35:19.260
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.

223
00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:26.280
When they look at Paul, the foremost of sinners.

224
00:35:26.280 --> 00:35:37.640
If the gospel can save a man who is breathing threats and murder, it can save us.

225
00:35:37.640 --> 00:35:42.560
You feel too guilty to be saved by the Lord?

226
00:35:42.560 --> 00:35:45.280
Look to the Apostle Paul.

227
00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:51.260
Have you been burning down churches?

228
00:35:51.260 --> 00:35:57.120
Paul was a persecutor of the church.

229
00:35:57.120 --> 00:36:01.300
The argument is from the lesser to the greater.

230
00:36:01.300 --> 00:40:27.000
If God can save someone like this, then surely he can save me.

231
00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:28.033
He's the only God.

232
00:40:28.033 --> 00:40:33.660
There is no other.

233
00:40:33.660 --> 00:40:47.920
We honor and praise God because he has shown us so overwhelming abundant mercy in Christ and saving us.

234
00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:54.000
If you don't understand that mercy and grace then you won't worship Christ.

235
00:40:54.000 --> 00:41:02.100
If we don't worship and see the true glory of God then we're not going to know how to live for him.

236
00:41:02.100 --> 00:41:10.720
This is foundational to a church who wants to know how we live before God.

237
00:41:10.720 --> 00:41:17.940
God came down and saved sinners.

238
00:41:17.940 --> 00:41:23.820
He doesn't reward merit.

239
00:41:23.820 --> 00:41:32.100
He is our glorious Savior and he is the one who must receive all the glory.

240
00:41:32.100 --> 00:41:35.480
Let me pray for us in our closing time.

241
00:41:35.480 --> 00:41:40.820
Father, I thank you for the richness of your grace.

242
00:41:40.820 --> 00:41:45.420
It’s more than we can comprehend or imagine.

243
00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:53.740
It is truly amazing grace that saves a wretch like us.

244
00:41:53.740 --> 00:42:22.160
I pray, Lord, that Paul’s testimony would encourage us today.

245
00:42:22.160 --> 00:42:48.680
Help us to marvel at the super-abounding grace given to us in Jesus Christ.

246
00:42:48.680 --> 00:42:52.460
Bless us now as we sing in Christ's name.

247
00:42:52.460 --> 00:42:54.460
Amen.