The Wonderful News Of Amazing Grace
1 Timothy 1:12-17
INTRODUCTION:
A. Two weeks ago we looked at the Good Use of the Law
1. Can you remember the three things the law does when it is used lawfully?
a. Reveals condemnation of the sinner
b. Brings conviction of sin to the sinner
c. Points the sinner to the Christ
2. Folks the law is harsh:
a. James wrote, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Jam 2:10
b. And Paul to the Galatians: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Gal 3:10
c. And Paul to the Romans: Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Rom 3:19
3. All of this so we might see our need for a Savior, who according to scripture is Christ the Lord
4. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17
B. So we have learned about the law, but this morning I want to turn our eyes to GRACE
1. Outside of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the best person to turn to for knowledge about grace is the apostle Paul.
2. Our passage this morning is found in 1 Tim 1:12-17 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 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. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
3. This morning I want us to look at three things
a. Grace: The Means to Salvation
b. Grace: The Activity After Salvation
c. Grace: The Goal Of Salvation
4. Lets pray and ask God to open up the wonders of grace to us this morning.
PRAYER
This morning I want to start in the middle of our passage, for everything else revolves around
I. GRACE: THE MEANS OF SALVATION, 1 Tim. 1:15 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.
A. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;
1. Paul made a bold statement – one in which he believed should be taken whole heartedly and universally
2. Note the phrases:
a) “Faithful saying” – other versions might state it as “trustworthy statement” – it is not fictitious but truth and trustworthy
b) And “worthy of all acceptance” – it is creditable and we should accept it in its entirety – not just the words but the assertion behind them
3. Question: What is the statement he makes that carries so much weight in his eyes?
B. Answer: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1. Paul, the Pharisee, had finally come face to face with the Lord and acknowledged his sinfulness
2. Note his confession found in 1 Tim. 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:
- Paul found himself guilty of 1) blaspheme (oh the dread that brought upon the Jew); 2) being a persecutor of God’s own elect and; 3) then as a violent man (one who was consenting to beating, hauling off to prison and accenting to their death).
3. As Paul looked back on his sin, he acknowledges that he was indeed a sinner, the worst of sinners, in fact.
4. Yet Jesus came to save sinners – all kinds of sinners – sinners like him!
C. This is a grace that transcends all time and manner of sin!
1. This morning this grace is extended to sinners of all races and nationalities
2. It is grace that allows you to acknowledge you are a sinner!
a. Do you know that all peoples sin? Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
b. That is because all have broken God’s law, and it was John who wrote, Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4
3. It is God’s grace that brings godly sorrow of your sin, which in turn brings repentance
a. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Cor. 7:10
b. This means you are convicted of your sinfulness, find your sin repulsive and desire to be set free from its influence – that is repentance!
4. With this work of God accomplished in your heart it moves you to the Savior, where if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:9-10
5. Oh, that you might do that today, for the apostle John wrote, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36
6. By the grace of God would you be saved today?
It is this saving power that makes grace so amazing to begin with, but there is much more – there is
II. GRACE: WORKING BEYOND SALVATION – Bracketing this portion of scripture concerning God’s saving grace are two other aspects of God’s grace
A. One aspect of God’s Grace Working Beyond Salvation Concerns Ministry, listen as I read 1 Tim. 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1. Another way of saying it can be found in the New Living Translation: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him.
2. This is a hard verse to explain but maybe the words of John Kitchen will help, he writes, This faithfulness was not something that had already arisen out of Paul’s character, thus influencing God’s selection of him. Rather it was based upon the strengthening God had already extended to him in calling him to salvation and service and upon the strength He would continue to extend unceasingly to him in service. ( The Pastoral Epistles for Pastors, (Kress Christian Publications, The Woodlands, TX, 2009) p. 61
3. In other words, Paul rejoiced in God’s willingness to take a sinner such as himself and place him in the ministry!
4. It is only by God’s grace that I, a former drunk, am a pastor
5. And it is only by God’s grace that you have the ability and opportunity to minister as well, whether it be a ministry leader, Sunday school teacher, choir member, committee member, janitor, nursery worker, youth worker, or any other such ministry!
B. A Second Aspect of God’s Grace Working Beyond Salvation Concerns Its Witness To The Lost, listen as I read 1 Tim. 1:16 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.
1. Paul believed the way God worked in him, bringing him to salvation, would be a witness of God’s faithfulness to those who were to follow
a. The word “howbeit” refers back to the “chief of all sinners.”
b. Paul sees and emphasizes the longsuffering of God, who did not send forth His righteous wrath upon him immediately but rather showed mercy and brought grace to bare!
2. For us this morning this is important because it is a testimony to God’s love for the sinner.
a. We are a show case of that “longsuffering”
b. God worked on me for years before I finally came to grips with the gospel and was made a child of God.
c. Oh, another good thing – no sin or sinner is beyond His saving grace!
3. Another application might be that we are to make sure we do not judge and give up on some sinner in our realm of influence: keep praying, keep loving, keep witnessing waiting on God’s grace to prevail.
As we see the amazing character of grace in salvation and after salvation we are brought to its primary purpose in our lives
III. GRACE: ULTIMATE GOAL, GOD’S GLORY, 1 Tim. 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
A. When Paul considered who he was and where he was headed before his encounter with God’s amazing grace he had to break forth: Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1. I was not there the day it was penned, but I can see one of two, maybe both, things happening:
a. As Paul writes, tears fill his eyes, maybe even roll down his cheeks, as he considers all that God had done for him, chief of sinners – uttering a heart felt prayer of thanksgiving: Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
b. Or maybe he jumps up for joy, raising his hands to the heavens proclaiming: Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2. I believe either response to God’s amazing grace is fitting!
B. How do we respond?
1. If it is with indifference, apathy, or self-righteous glory, we have missed the mark!
a. We are sinners, incapable of honoring or choosing God
b. He did all the work: Christ died upon the cross for our sin, He convicted us of our sin, He brought us to repent of our sin, and he saved us all from sin’s curse by His amazing grace!
c. How can our response to being saved from sin, death and hell be so – I don’t know – flat, dull, contrite, pitiful.
2. Our response ought to be to glorify God with praise and thanksgiving!
a. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
b. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor 10:31
CONCLUSION:
A. The wonderful News Of Amazing Grace is that you can be saved today and live a life that is glorifying to God!
B. Would you by the grace of God come to Him today – be saved
1. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 6:23
2. If you are saved give God praise and thanksgiving right now!
