Title: Unworthy

Text: I Timothy 1:12-17

FCF: We often struggle looking to Christ alone for grace with faith and love.

Prop: Because Christ died for even the greatest sinners, we must look to Christ.

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to I Timothy chapter 1. Well it is good to be back with you and to be back in the pulpit. I both look forward to and dread taking time away. My flesh is weak and I get tired – even of doing what God has given me passion to do. And yet at the end of the vacation, it never fails, I cannot wait to get back to the intense study and preaching of the Word of God – and to you – my friends.

The task before me this morning is great. I must attempt to remind you of all we have seen so far in I Timothy. Especially the two previous sermons. We are in the midst of a section of scripture that is difficult to parse. If I could have – I much would have rather preached a 3 hour sermon on this passage. It would have maintained the integrity of the threads of this passage. However, I think your stomachs may have mutinied.

So what have we seen from verses 3-11 so far? Let’s hit the highlights.

First, In verses 3-7, we saw that Paul’s primary purpose in writing the letter to Timothy was to encourage him to rebuke certain false teachers who were attempting to teach the law in obscure ways. Specifically, they were mythicizing and allegorizing – lacing new or alien information into the law of God. Paul reveals that their motivation for doing this was because they wanted to be teachers of the law. They wanted everyone looking to them for guidance. However, their teaching did not actually accomplish the purposes of God in advancing His Kingdom and righteousness. Instead, their teaching only brought endless and empty discussion. Paul states that proper instruction produces love, from a pure heart, a clean conscience and a sincere faith. In short – the gospel message and its power to change people from the inside out.

But in verses 8-11, Paul doesn’t want Timothy or anyone else to assume that preaching the law is opposed to preaching the gospel. In fact, Paul says that preaching the law has a distinct purpose. It is not, however, a purpose that is primarily toward those who have been redeemed and are walking with Christ. Instead the law is for the lawless. The law is to reveal the sinfulness of sinners. When used in this way – the law is actually an integral component of the gospel of God that Paul was entrusted with – and that Timothy was entrusted with.

But having said this, Paul may have inadvertently indicated that as a receiver of the gospel, he was WORTHY to receive it. Perhaps that he did not actually need the gospel personally. Perhaps an accusation of the false teachers – that Paul didn’t think that he needed the gospel or the law.

Paul confronts this aberrant thought head on. He does so, by talking about the day his life change forever… on the road to Damascus.

I am in I Timothy 1. We will again start reading in verse 3 and read through verse 20. I am reading from the NET today which you can follow along with in the pew bible on page 1337 or in whatever version you have. If you don’t have a bible of your own, please take a pew bible home. That is what they are for.

Transition:

Several years after his conversion… how does Paul speak of that day on the road to persecute Christians?

I.) The beginning of the gospel is to understand that all are unworthy of it, so we must look to Christ (12-14)

a. [Slide 2] 12 – I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord

i. Paul presents his testimony. And friends… if you know nothing of Paul – perhaps there is little remarkable here.

ii. But knowing who Paul was before Christ and to hear him describe himself in these words is truly astounding.

iii. If anyone was a teacher of the law it was Paul. If anyone was righteous it was Paul. There was no equal – he was a pharisee of pharisees and sure to become the foremost Rabbi on the Sanhedrin council. My friends he was a Jewish prodigy.

iv. But on that road to Damascus and perhaps even before – Paul saw something of himself. What did he see?

v. Weakness.

vi. These false teachers want to be known as teachers of the law. They want to be respected and elevated. They want to be sought after for all the answers. They are always the teachers and NEVER the student. But if anyone had the right to be always the teacher it would have been Paul…

vii. But what does PAUL say?

viii. I am grateful… to the one who has strengthened me…

ix. He was weak. All the clout, all the knowledge, all the self-discipline – it was NOTHING!

x. When he met Jesus Christ on the road that day – he discovered… he was nothing.

xi. And yet… even though he is weak… Christ has made Him what?

xii. Strong.

xiii. In fact, in another context God spoke this to him – “My grace is sufficient for you, My strength is made perfect” in what? “Your Weakness.”

xiv. Paul has learned and continues to learn that the only path to strength is in Christ. An alien strength. In a word…

xv. Grace. Favor from God. Power and Passion to accomplish the purpose of God.

xvi. As if this was not enough to be grateful for – Paul says…

b. [Slide 3] Because He considered me faithful in putting me into ministry,

i. He chose to use me. Paul says.

ii. Don’t get it wrong – Paul is grateful for Christ’s strength but specifically that Christ regarded him as trustworthy to be put into service.

iii. Why would Paul be so grateful for this? Certainly he deserved it yes?

iv. He elaborates…

c. [Slide 4] 13 – even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man.

i. We read this and think – yep that’s Paul.

ii. But wait!

iii. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees

iv. He had no doubt memorized the Torah. The first five books of the bible, he had, memorized.

v. He was a keeper of the law

vi. He was zealous for righteousness.

vii. [Slide 5] He describes himself from a human perspective in Philippians 3:3-6. Let’s read that.

viii. He was exactly what everyone thought a worshipper of Yahweh should have been. But what did he realize on that road! As he was lying on his back – what truth was he granted new eyes to see?

ix. That he was in fact – a blasphemer. The god he served was not Yahweh. Worse still – he was a persecutor of Yahweh’s true people! Worse even than that- he thought he was perfect and he zealously fought against those who said otherwise!

x. [Slide 6] Read with me more of Philippians 3:7-11

xi. My friends. He realized – that it was all nothing. In fact, worse than nothing. It was liabilities. It was weights… DRAGGING HIM TO HELL!

xii. [Slide 7] Read his admission in Acts 26:9-11

xiii. Paul realized that the only thing he brought to salvation of his soul was his putrid sin. The best he could be was what? Blasphemer, persecutor, and zealously arrogant man.

xiv. Paul is not exempt from the message of the law. Rather… he needed it too.

xv. But how was he shaken from this and why?

d. [Slide 8] But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,

i. How was he shaken? Mercy. God’s enduring mercy. He was stopped on that road – not because he chose to be. But because God chose to stop Him. Mercy.

ii. Why was he worthy of mercy? Well he wasn’t.

iii. But to be in the realm of mercy one must act ignorantly in unbelief. Indeed, mercy is denied to those who act knowingly while claiming to be believing.

iv. This goes along with what we have been saying about apostates and false teachers from Matthew and I John. The unforgiveable, unpardonable sin, is to believe, and act knowledgably against God and to do so willingly until death. To reject what you know to be true and to fight against it.

v. Paul is comparing himself to the wanna be teachers of the law who are waxing eloquent on myths and endless genealogies – all of which have claimed to be Christians and have abandoned the teaching that actually promotes the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

vi. They have proclaimed that they are believers and followers of Christ and yet have misused and abused the law of God.

vii. Paul too misused and abused the law of God – but not while claiming to be of Christ.

viii. But it wasn’t just God’s mercy that stopped him that day on that road to Damascus.

e. [Slide 9] 14 – and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.

i. God’s free gift of power, spiritual life, and passion is what grace is. And His grace was abundant!

ii. And what did that grace bring?

iii. Faith and love in Christ Jesus.

iv. [Slide 10] You know many misread or misunderstand Ephesians 2:8. They think that the path to God’s grace is through faith. But looking at the text – what it is actually saying is that the path to ultimate salvation (glorification) is through faith. God’s grace makes it possible to receive and continue to receive faith that will ultimately save.

v. Afterall, if personal faith was a means to grace than neither grace, salvation, nor faith are gifts of God. But in Ephesians 2, all is a gift of God so none can boast.

vi. Here Paul puts it exactly how he meant it in Ephesians 2.

vii. In his personal conversion – God’s grace was abundant and brought to him faith and love in Christ.

viii. Paul didn’t choose to believe – it was in the midst of unbelief and ignorance when He was thrown to his back. And then and there – God’s grace, while closing his physical eyes, opened his spiritual eyes to see who he was – and who Christ was. And grace gave him faith in Christ. And grace gave him love in Christ.

ix. What does it mean that God’s grace gave him faith in Christ and love in Christ?

x. It could mean that God made it possible for Paul to believe and love God in Christ. However, I think there is a fuller explanation that includes and expands on this one.

xi. When we read faith in Christ or love in Christ we think faith on Christ or love for Christ. Instead, we should leave the preposition what it is. “In”

xii. Grace gives a faith and a love that is contained in Christ. It is Christ’s Faith and Christ’s love that grace gives. So that just as Christ is faithful to and loves the Father, we are inheritors of this.

xiii. This of course expresses itself in our personal belief in and love of God – but only after it is grafted to the faith and love of Christ.

xiv. God commands all men everywhere to repent, believe the gospel, and love God with everything they are… and here, grace is so abounding as it brings to us Christ’s faith and love which is the only kind of faith and love that can fulfill what God has commanded.

f. [Slide 11] Passage Truth: In this greater section encompassing verses 3 through 20, Paul is exhorting Timothy to rise to the challenge of snuffing out these wanna be teachers of the law, since they are not accomplishing the purpose of the law, which is to reveal the sinfulness of sinners. Paul now takes Timothy back to his conversion and shows Timothy vividly – that he, the great Paul – the apostle of Jesus Christ – writer of 13 and possibly 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament – was a sinful sinner too. Unworthy of mercy, undeserving of grace. Yet God the Triune counted him trustworthy and gave him grace.

g. Passage Application: The application runs deep from Paul to Timothy. Not only does the application expand on the nature of the gospel and its effectiveness to continue to transform people… but it is also for him. For Timothy specifically. That he too is unworthy of the calling he has been given. But to look to Christ – the source and perfecter of faith – to continue to rise to his responsibilities.

h. [Slide 12] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out of I Timothy and looking at the whole counsel of God – it is easy for us to find example after example of sinners being shown grace. From Adam and Eve all the way to John on Patmos and everywhere in between we see the unworthiness of sinners to receive anything from God save judgment. And yet – the unworthy are given abundant grace with faith and love in Christ.

i. Broader Biblical Application: The path that all true believers follow, the progression of all true followers of Christ and Kingdom citizens, is at the first – the dire understanding of how undeserving and broken we truly are. That God is holy – and we are not- and yet the scriptures say that without holiness there is no hope for seeing God. That is the very first thing that all true believers realize. It is paramount. It is the message of the law. And it leaves us empty and broken with our hands on our mouths like Job – refusing to speak any further for fear of only more foolish words pouring out. And then… grace… faith… love… in Christ. This is the formula, not simply for conversion… but for sanctification too. Grace faith love. This triad begun by God’s grace, appropriated by faith and applied in love is true of all who are united to Christ. Why? Because it is His faith and His love. We must look to Him – why – for He is the source of all of these. Solus Christus. Christ alone.

Transition:

[Slide 13(blank)] Paul in exhaling Christ, makes himself of low repute. He illustrates the beginning of the gospel is to point to the reality of our unworthiness – our unholiness… But now Paul goes on to explain why it is absolutely necessary for a person to recognize their unworthiness and unholiness. Why must it be this way?

II.) Christ came to die for those who are unworthy, so we must look to Christ. (15a)

a. [Slide 14] 15a – This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance:

i. What Paul is about to communicate is something that ought to be relied upon.

ii. It is trustworthy.

iii. Furthermore, it deserves full acceptance. No hesitation or questioning will do.

iv. In essence what Paul is saying is this… “What I am about to say is indisputable and a core doctrine that cannot be dismissed. And there are no exceptions – it cannot be equivocated.”

v. We made mention in the introduction of the Pastoral Epistles and I Timothy that this was one item we would need to keep a look out for.

vi. There are three trustworthy sayings deserving of full acceptance in this book.

vii. Here is the first.

b. [Slide 15] “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”

i. And just like that, Paul demonstrates why the proper and primary use of the law is to rebuke sinners.

ii. Because Christ came to save sinners.

iii. These men – these men were mystifying the law. They were waxing eloquently about genealogies. They were calling things that were sin not sin and were calling things that weren’t sin, sin.

iv. These false teachers… what were they doing? They were removing hope!

v. What is the hope at preaching the law to homosexuals, to murderers, to adulterers, to liars, to blasphemers, to persecutors, to arrogant men? What is the hope to preaching the law to the fearful, the cowards, the lawless? What is the hope in preaching the law to wife beaters, child abusers, rapists and thieves? What is the hope in preaching the law to racists and those who show prejudice?

vi. When we call sin, sin – and we call sinners, sinners – WE HAVE A GOSPEL FOR THEM! WHY?

vii. Because Christ came to save sinners. //

viii. But no, since the garden the ploy has always been the same.

ix. “Oh God said you can’t eat of it lest you die? You won’t die. You can eat it. It is not sin. He just doesn’t want you to be like him.”

x. In our society we have new labels for sin. Those who are arrogant and proud are called Narcissists. Those overcome by worry and fear have Anxiety. Those overcome by hopeless despair have Depression. Those who are fornicators are called compulsives with a disorder. Those who are thieves are now called kleptomaniacs. Those who are hateful of others for self-serving purposes are called sociopaths. Our governor recently described racism as a health crisis. Child sacrifices = family planning. Homosexuality = sexual orientation. Adultery = an affair or fling.

xi. My friends… do you see what we’ve done?

xii. Did Christ come to save those with disorders, or to solve our health problems?

xiii. You say – well maybe he did…NO!

xiv. Look at Paul’s words. This is a trustworthy saying! It deserves full and unequivocal acceptance.

xv. Christ came to save sinners! Not those who think they are righteous, not those who think they are good, not those who think they are merely sick.

xvi. And that message is still true – even after you receive grace and the faith and love of Christ.

xvii. We are STILL sinners being saved!

xviii. That is why the proper use of the law is SOOOOO necessary!

xix. It denounces sin. And the gospel gives us hope for it.

c. [Slide 16] Passage Truth: Paul explains to Timothy that Christ’s mission was to come and save those who were lost. Those who were sinners. To think you are perfect – or know exactly where you are going – is to reveal that the soil of your heart has not yet been prepared for the coming of the Word. Christ came to die for sinners.

d. Passage Application: Again – Paul implores his spiritual son to look to Christ. Why? Timothy too, was a sinner. He still needed Christ. And if he was going to have success in fighting off these false teachers – he will need Christ. If he is going to be the example he needs to be as an elder – he will need Christ.

e. [Slide 17] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out from I Timothy we see in Luke the Pharisee who thanks God that he is not like other sinners and a sinner that beats his chest and begs for mercy. The beginning of the gospel is to understand your continued and ongoing need of it. Because Christ came to save sinners.

f. Broader Biblical Application: Of course we do not revel in our sin – we do not sin so grace may abound – but what we do, is we do not trust ourselves, our performance, our strength. Rather we, as we experienced at conversion, we do reach out in faith along with His faith and in love along with His love depending on the grace of God to continue to be and do all He has called us to. We look to Christ to run this race. To endure. Why? Because He didn’t die for the righteous, for the godly, for the put together, for the self-sufficient – because there are none of those in this world my friend. Christ died for sinners. And you are one. I am one.

Transition:

[Slide 18(blank)] There is hope in being called a sinner, in being known as a sinner, in recognizing that we are a sinner… why? Because Christ came to die for sinners. But lest we think, lest we conclude that perhaps there are some who have sinned too much. Perhaps we think that there are some that have gone too far. God cannot save them…. Oh really…

III.) There is no sinner that Christ is unable to save, so we must look to Christ. (15b-17)

a. [Slide 19] 15b – and I am the worst of them!

i. This is how far God’s mercy and grace changed Paul.

ii. This is how far the law of God drove Paul once he could see it through the grace of God!

iii. He went from thinking he was the best of the best…. To KNOWING he was the WORST of the WORST! From a teacher of the law to one who was under the judgment of the law.

iv. What led him to that?

v. We don’t have to guess. We know.

vi. Christ met him on the road to Damascus.

vii. And his perception of himself and Christ was NEVER the same.

viii. The most grace filled and God pleasing thing someone can come to spiritually understand is that they are a GREAT sinner – and Christ a GREAT Savior.

b. [Slide 20] 16 – But here is why I was treated with mercy:

i. Paul already told us why he was treated with mercy.

ii. But that was more of a why was he permitted or allowed to be given mercy. That was because he wasn’t willfully opposing Christ knowing and believing who He was. He acted in ignorance and unbelief.

iii. However, this why points to purpose. What was the purpose of God giving mercy to Paul?

iv. Interestingly enough, his answer is not… so he could go to heaven or because God loved Paul.

v. Why was Paul shown mercy?

c. [Slide 21] So that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate His utmost patience,

i. God took the worst, the vilest, the most corrupted, the servant of Satan, the fully duped, the fully deceived, the hateful, the murderous, the self-righteous Paul…

ii. And he changed him in a moment. God brought him to life without exertion or effort.

iii. Paul met the glorified Christ and it wrecked him! Forever.

iv. Why did God do this?

v. To prove – once and for all – that there are no lost causes to God. There are no people who are too far gone for God. There is no soul too lost, no heart too hard, no spirit too dead that God cannot find, break, and bring to life!

vi. Because if God could, without effort, without exertion, without difficulty, break Paul… and make him new… in a moment.

vii. Then God can save anyone from the pit of darkness no matter how deep they’ve fallen in.

d. [Slide 22] As an example, for those who are going to believe in Him for eternal life.

i. Paul became an example for ALL who are going to believe

ii. ALL of the elect of God that will believe on Him for eternal life, can forever, look to Paul when they are tempted to believe that their sin is too great to be saved from.

iii. My friends.

iv. Christ came to save sinners! And if He saved the worst – he can save you too.

v. Oh the overwhelming, never-ending, sovereign love of God. He chases His sheep down, knows where they are found, So He leaves the 99 found to find the one lost. And we couldn’t earn His love, and we certainly don’t deserve His Love, but Christ still came to ransom them – the worthy one died for the unworthy.

vi. Is it any wonder… that Paul stops what he is writing… leaves his entire thought behind and steps into praise…

vii. Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.

e. [Slide 23] 17 – Now to the eternal king

i. One other item we are tracking in these Pastoral epistles is when Paul breaks out into praise. It happens once more in this book and once in II Timothy.

ii. This is the first – and it is right after reflecting on his own unworthiness and the grace and mercy of God to save him and make him an example of God’s greatness.

iii. The King from age to age

iv. The sovereign that all others serve

v. The one who has supreme control

f. [Slide 24] Immortal

i. He has no end and never began

ii. None can destroy Him

iii. None can thwart Him

iv. And he never changes

g. [Slide 25] Invisible

i. He is Spirit

ii. It is not that he is not visible – but simply that he is not visible to us

iii. He is unable to be approached. He is unable to be seen.

h. [Slide 26] The only God

i. There is none other.

ii. Not simply that there is none like Him – but there is none other.

iii. All other would be gods are posers and wannabes. They are the created thing and not the creator.

iv. He alone is God.

i. [Slide 27] Be honor and glory forever and ever!

i. This God – this mighty and unapproachable God

ii. This God – author of mercy and grace

iii. This God – who sent His Son for Sinners

iv. This God – and to this God alone – belongs all honor, all glory, for all time.

v. Do you agree?

vi. Then say it with Paul…

j. [Slide 28] Amen!

k. [Slide 29] Passage Truth: Paul to Timothy confesses that he is one of the most renowned and vilest sinners there could be. Truly, perhaps, there are others worse than he that have come since… but Paul is not being hyperbolic. He is not self degrading here. He honestly sees his blasphemy, persecution, and insolence as abominable. And yet… Christ, without effort, without exertion, in a moment…. Changed it all. And if Christ could do that for Paul… He could do it for all God’s elect.

l. Passage Application: Paul’s application to Timothy…. Look to Christ Timothy! Look to Christ! In Him all things consists. He is our all in all. He gives strength. He gives grace. He gives faith. He gives love. He can change the vilest sinner, to a saint.

m. [Slider 30] Broader Biblical Truth: From the rest of scripture we see tax collectors, prostitutes, Roman centurions, vagabonds, fishermen, adulterers, murderers, hateful and spiteful people – all being transformed. In a blink. Without effort from God. He simply brings them to life.

n. Broader Biblical Application: My friends… there is no sinner that God is unable to awaken to life. You can’t be too dead. God is a greater savior than your sin and death. The only question is – will He awaken you. My friends I can’t answer that question for you. All I can do is point you to the source of that great salvation. It is Christ… and Christ alone.

Conclusion:

[Slide 31(end)] Here at CBC we believe that salvation is not of works. Therefore, no decision you make today can force God to give you spiritual life. However, from scripture we can surmise that when someone is truly awoken by God and given spiritual eyes to see, one of the first things they see is their absolute desperate and despicable situation as they stand condemned before a holy God.

Pastor Ken who subbed for me last week pointed this out vividly. When God reveals Himself… we see our own wickedness. We see that we are not simply good people who sin occasionally. No. We are sinners enslaved to sin. We sin because we must. We sin because that is our nature. As a bird has hollow bones, a fish has gills, and a mosquito drinks blood, so we sin.

When was the last time you saw a bird filling its bones with marrow? Can you tell me the last fish you saw zip up its gills and grow lungs to breathe? And if you live in Michigan you know there is no such thing as a mosquito that doesn’t drink blood.