I Timothy 1:12-20 (ESV)

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (v.12-14)

– Notice the repeated “Christ Jesus”, unlike the other apostles who knew Him as Jesus first then came to know Him as Lord. Paul met Him after His resurrection, and came to know Him as Jesus. That’s when he understood that he was a guilty, lawbreaker. He violated all of God’s laws against heaven and earth. He did claim ignorance, but he did not claim that ignorance made him innocent of the guilt.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (v.15)

– This is one of the five “trustworthy” statements in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus. It was a likely a creed or key doctrinal confession of the first century church. The Lord Himself said that He “came to seek and save the lost” and that He “did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (v.16-17)

– Paul was saved so that God could display His grace and mercy to others. He saved the worst, so that no one can claim that some people are just too far gone or too bad to be saved. Paul became a living testimony to light the way for others to go from death to life. His testimony is recorded 6 other times in the New Testament. God be praised!

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (v.18-20)

– Timothy was called by God to ministry and gifted to continue the gospel in the next generation when the apostles would be gone. His “good conscience” would be a rudder to steer him around the rocks of sin and lies. But some rejected the faith (the content and doctrine of the truth, perhaps this very creed) and destroyed themselves. H & A were spiritual catastrophes. They turned away to lies and Paul put them out of the church with redemptive intent. Paul was a blasphemer and was taught by God not to blaspheme. And God would do the same for them, while the work of God would continue and the church’s well-being safeguarded.

This statement is completely reliable and should be universally accepted – Christ Jesus entered the world to rescue sinners. I realize that I was the worst of them all. (v. 15, JB Phillips)

– Paul formerly regarded the Nazarenes as a dangerous cult. He met the Nazarene and was never the same again. He had been the Sanhedrin’s chief tormentor. Blood had covered his hands. This verse describes a sure reality. How sure is it? Think about the lives of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. How the knew Him? The effects He had on them. How reliable is the record/testimony of those four men? Without them, we would know almost nothing about Jesus of Nazareth. The father of apologetics, Simon Greenleaf, Harvard law professor, put these men on trial and applied all the laws of evidence. His conclusion: “by all the laws of evidence, these four men are absolutely credible witnesses.” Have you accepted this truth? The pardon is available to you, but will never be compelled upon you. You must repent and believe for yourself.

Summary Points:

– No one is too bad to be saved; but perhaps too good?

– We face controversies because we hold on to this creed. The strife distracts us and tempts us to ignore the next world.

– Have you fully accepted this truth? Have you committed your life to follow Christ?