Clinging To The Faith.
1 Timothy 1:15-20NLT
Church, I want you to repeat the Apostle Paul’s words—1 Timothy 1:15, This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.
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. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. 18 Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. 19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.
Let me mention from the start, that blaspheming God, is blatantly campaigning against God. Campaigning against Jesus Christ, Campaigning against the Holy Spirit, the word of God, and even campaigning against the Church.
From the get go, I’m not thinking anyone at CECC campaigns against God.
Again according to, 1 Timothy 1:15, The apostle Paul felt the gravity of his own hypocrisy more at the end of his journey then at the beginning.
Take special note of this: Early on as a Christian, Paul referred to himself as Paul, an apostle. Later, he became Paul, the least of the apostles, then later, Paul, the least of all the saints, then finally, 1 Timothy 1:15NKJV, This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Paul’s awareness of the gravity of Jesus’ holiness is just too much!
Paul’s maturity in knowing that the just, become just through, and in Jesus Christ alone!
Paul also wrote with great emotions about the inner conflict of living inconsistently with his in most, spirit-formed desires.
Romans 7:25-25NLT Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Aren’t you relieved that those you respect most in the faith also have shortcomings? Aren’t you relieved that so many of the men and women in the Bible, people like Isaiah and Paul, Rahab and Martha, are men and women with deep, body flaws.
Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones shares a similar perspective on our human condition; the first thing you must realize, as you look at that mountain which you are told you must ascend, is that you cannot do it, that you are utterly in capable in and of yourself, and that any attempt to do it in your own strength is proof positive that you have not understood it.
The writer of Hebrews 11:1-2, 6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
“Paul solidifies his resolve, by expressing that the just shall live by faith.” P.H
1 Timothy 1:16TPT Yet I was captured by grace, so that Jesus Christ could display through me the outpouring of his Spirit as a pattern to be seen for all those who would believe in him for eternal life.
Again verse 16, The Apostle Paul says, He was captured by Jesus’ grace, so he could become a pattern to be seen by all who would believe in Jesus for eternal life!
On that road leading to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus was blinded by the light of God, It was there when Saul asked the Lord who He was.
Paul cried out, “Who are you Lord?” The Lord answered, “Im Jesus who you persecute.”
Paul is saying in I Timothy 1:16, “If Jesus Christ can save me, He can save you also.”
Here’s the remedy to pridefully living a selfish life. Psalm 51:17, for a broken and contrite heart he will not despise.
God’s call on our lives, then, is first and foremost not a call to action, but a call to brokenness and contrition,
1 Timothy 1:17AMP Now to the King of the ages [eternal], immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
What a beautiful and comforting description of our God and Father – He is the eternal, immortal, invisible King of the ages, the Ruler of time, the Sovereign of eternity, the Governor of the earth and Creator of the universe. He neither sleeps, nor grows weary, upholding all with the might of His power.
1 Timothy 1:18AMP This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, so that [inspired and aided] by them you may fight the good fight [in contending with false teachers],
Prophecies—Words that are spoken over you should be treasured, you should keep these moments sacred.
Verse 18, Paul encourages Timothy to fight the battle well, this implies that it is possible to not fight well or not even fight at all.
Sadly, this is the reality for many Christians. Some get caught in sin and stop advancing. Some fall in love with the world and things of this world and become spiritually lethargic. Some, by encountering some difficulty, get discouraged. Some get trapped in false doctrines. Many, because of one or more of these factors, turn away from the faith, never to return.
Make no doubt, This is truly a war, a war over the faith. Here, Paul encourages Timothy to fight well, plus we must also drink deeply from his words.
Notice verse 18 again, Paul calls Timothy by name and calls him his son. These verses show the importance of a mentor, someone that cares for your spiritual soul.
1 Timothy 1:19AMP keeping your faith [leaning completely on God with absolute trust and confidence in His guidance] and having a good conscience; for some [people] have rejected [their moral compass] and have made a shipwreck of their faith.
Theres a good Biblical record of someone not keeping their faith intact, and conscience clear:
The Bible say’s that King Saul was handsome and very confident. That is to say, until King Saul begin doing his own thing, and leaving the sweetness of the Lord.
The Bible is clear that King Saul begin to see himself as small, insignificant, he became very jealous, and inferior to King David.
What happened? His conscience wasn’t clear, and although men didn’t see this in King Saul, a conscience filled with sin brought self-destruction to him.
Paul instructs Timothy to cling to his faith. It’s not time to back away, but go forward.
Faith is never about being okay. Faith is obtaining a belief system in the Perfect One, the Holy One, the One who declares you justified.
Jesus is the only thing that makes everything okay.
1 Timothy 1:20AMP Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be disciplined and taught not to blaspheme.
Paul tells Timothy that these two men were expelled from the church.
This kind of discipline was intended to save Hymenaeus and Alexander—Better satan now than satan later—in hell.
I can hear Paul speaking to the NT Church, Cling to your faith, let nothing move you, or throw you off course, your life depends on it.
How do we cling to the faith? Romans 10:9-10NKJV that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Benediction.
