THE GRACE OF OUR LORD
I TIMOTHY 1:12-17
Introduction:
The Grace of our Lord has done so much for us. In these verses addressed to the young preacher Timothy, the Apostle Paul shows the exceedingly abundant grace of God in his own life. He writes to admonish Timothy to trust and rely on God’s grace.
The life of the Apostle Paul is a demonstration of how he depended completely on God’s grace. He suffered many things in his missionary journeys at the hands of unbelievers while trusting God’s grace to get him through.
I. WAS EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT WITH MERCY IN CHRIST JESUS
A. The Apostle Paul looks at his past, v. 13.
1. He was a blasphemer, Acts 26:9-11, “Verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10- Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11-And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”
2. He was a persecutor of God’s people, Galatians 1:13, “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:”
3. Paul was injurious to the Lord’s church, Acts 22:4, “And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.”
4. Paul did all of this in ignorant unbelief.
a. Ignorance is not an excuse, Numbers 15:30, “But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.”
b. Unbelief was the problem, Hebrews 3:17-19, “But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
B. Paul had trusted Christ as his Savior and secured his future, 2 Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
II. WAS EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT WITH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS
A. By Faith Paul had the forgiveness of sins, Ephesians 1:7-8, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8- Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;”
B. Paul considered himself the chief of sinners, v. 15.
1. He needed an abundance of grace, Romans 5:19-20, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20-Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”
2. Christ came into the world to save sinners, Matthew 9:13, “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
III. WAS EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANT WITH LOVE IN CHRIST JESUS
A. The Love that God had for Paul changed his life, 1 John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
B. God’s love changed Paul’s heart as well as his attitude, Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
1. God’s love makes a dedicated servant, Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood,”
2. God’s love makes it easy to love one another, 1 John 4:11, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
C. It takes the Grace of God to save a soul that God might have the glory of it, Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast,”
CONCLUSION
Now the Lord offers that same Grace to you for your spiritual needs today. Trust in His grace right now.