Paul's Epistles – I Timothy – Part 3:
The Lord’s Grace and Timothy’s Charge
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files
SERMON INTRODUCTION
This letter from Paul to Timothy will be the next
“epistle” examine.
Immediately on his release from his first imprisonment
before he visited Spain (Romans 15:24; Philemon 22), Paul
more than likely visited Macedonia, Ephesus, etc. Not being able to stay long
at Ephesus, he left Timothy to take charge of the work.
This parting was a tough trial to Timothy (I
Timothy 1:3; II Timothy 1:4).
To encourage and instruct Timothy (who was sensitive
and timid, and not strong (II Timothy 5:23 frequently upset
stomach because of nerves), Paul wrote and forwarded this letter from Corinth.
PREVIOUSLY
Introduction of I Timothy
False Doctrine and the Law
TODAY’S SERMON
The Lord’s Grace and Timothy’s Charge
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Timothy 1:12-20
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,
who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing
me to his service. 13 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. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me
abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that
deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of
whom I am the worst. 16 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. 17 Now to the King eternal,
immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever
and ever. Amen.
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this
command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by
recalling them you may fight the battle well,19 holding on to faith and a good
conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with
regard to the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and
Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
The overall message of this
epistle to the church is;
“We are designed to accomplish” - I Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down
on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in
speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
The
purpose of this letter is given in I Timothy 3:15 “if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct
themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living
God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
I. YOU TOO, ARE WORTHY
OF HIM
a. I was found trustworthy and
appointed
i. Shows
that it is God who calls and blesses
1. He gave me strength
2. He considered me trustworthy
3. He appointed me to His service
ii. Was it because Paul was such a great guy? No...
b. Even though “I WAS”
i. I
was once a blasphemer
ii. I was once a persecutor
iii. I was once a violent man
iv. (LIT) However, I was shown mercy BECAUSE being ignorant I acted in
unbelief
c. The Grace of our Lord was
poured out on me
i. The
Lord knew Paul would be faithful
ii. The Lord knew Paul would not compromise the Gospel
iii. God will pour out His Grace on any honest, earnest seeker!
iv. The “faith and love in Christ Jesus” that was also poured out on Paul
abundantly, was a result of the Grace of God
II.
CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS
a. ...of whom I am the worst
i. The
trustworthy saying is the Gospel of Christ dying for sinners
ii. Deserving full acceptance, means it is worthy of the world hearing and
accepting Christ
iii. Paul, once his eyes were open to his sin, felt as if he was the worst
of all sinners because of his transgressions against the Lord.
iv. When our eyes are opened to our true sin, we should recognize how we
fall short of God and His Glory, before accepting His forgiveness for our sin.
1. If we do not recognize what it is God is forgiving, we cannot fully
appreciate what He has done!
b. I am an example for those
who believe in Him
i. Paul
stating, what the Lord has done for Paul, He will do for others
ii. This was the purpose of Christ’s coming and dying, to save sinners
c. Call on His name
i. Now to the King eternal,
immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever
and ever. Amen.
ii. Jesus Christ,
eternal (from this point into eternity without end Jesus is King)
iii. Immortal
(Jesus not just forever more, but with no beginning, i.e. always existed, NOT a
creation)
iv. invisible
(through the person of the Holy Spirit to dwell within you)
v. Give all honor and glory
the only God forever and ever!
1. And all
you have to do is call on His name
2. vs 16 “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.”
3. Believe
= put trust in
III.
TIMOTHY MY SON, I GIVE YOU THIS COMMAND
a. Fight the battle well
i. The prophecies spoke of Timothy probably referred to Acts 16:1-3 “Paul came to
Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose
mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The
believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to
take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who
lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
ii. We are not told exactly what the prophecies were, but they
spoke to an assignment of leadership in the army of King Jesus
iii. Paul tells Timothy, vs 18 “I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies
once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle
well”
b. Hold on to faith and good
conscience
i. Holding
on to faith means faith in Christ and the work of the cross
ii. and good conscience means following the Word of the Lord exactly as it
is given
1. There is no guilt where there is obedience
2. Convictions come from the Holy Spirit to guide us
3. Guilt comes from the devil to stop us or change our direction
4. There will always be a good conscience when following the Word of the
Lord exactly
iii. “...which some have
rejected (either rejecting Faith in
Christ and the Work of the Cross, or rejected following the Word of the Lord
exactly)
1. Remember Paul’s opening of this letter to Timothy warning him about
putting a stop to false doctrines being taught
2. Perhaps this too refers to false teachings that may be “close” to what
the Word of the Lord says, but not “exactly”?
iv. Those who rejected (either faith in Christ, work of the cross, or following
the Word of the Lord exactly as it is given) have suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith
1. Their faith had been “destroyed” (shipwrecked) BECAUSE of their
rejection
c. Among them (there were
more than these listed) Hymenaeus and Alexander rejected the faith (after
knowing the truth) and have suffered
CONCLUSION
– i HAVE HANDED THEM OVER TO SATAN
To be taught not to
blaspheme.
This verse tells us
that ALL who depart from “the faith,” which is Jesus Christ and Him crucified
(work of the cross), are “blasphemers”
Paul handed them
over to satan...what does this mean?
1 Corinthians 5:5 “hand this man over to Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the
Lord.”
Paul instructs the church (body of
believers) to hand the man committing incest over to satan, meaning for the
believer’s to stop praying for him, stop helping him, stop communing with him,
basically to shun him, in hopes that the actions or consequences of his sin
(which is a decision and a choice) would devastate him emotionally, or
physically or spiritually enough to cause him to repent.
In I Timothy, Paul “handing them over
to satan to be taught not to blaspheme” is the same notion.
When one chooses to sin (such as these
men “rejecting” sound doctrine and becoming blasphemers) we (brothers and
sisters in Christ) confront them in hopes of correcting their path.
When they refuse to change, we need to
stop being “enablers”, excusing their choice to sin, and “hand them over” if
you will, to their sins and the consequences thereof, in hopes they open their
eyes, repent and return to the fold.
Paul
tells Timothy, simply “hold on to your
faith in Christ Jesus and the work of the cross”, and keep a good
conscience by “following the Word of the
Lord exactly how it is given”
Remember
what the Word says to us; in Matthew 10:14; Luke 9:5; Mark 6:11 “If anyone will not welcome you or listen
to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.’
And
also; James 5:20 “...remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error
of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
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