1 Timothy pt 3 – The King of Ages
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. 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. 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. (1 Timothy 1:12-17, ESV)
As I lead the Threshingfloor Communities family I certainly feel the way Paul must have felt as he wrote these sentences. God let’s me lead his people?! That’s just ridiculous. It doesn’t make sense. There are people more qualified, more clean, more creative, and more “Christian.” Most of the time I don’t know what I’m doing other than praying like crazy and asking Jesus to make something happen that will glorify him.
When it comes to shepherding communities of believers or discipling individuals too many of God’s people count themselves out because they don’t think that they’re prepared enough to do the job that Jesus has called them to. We feel inadequate and simply step aside. If that’s you (and I hope it is!) then let these truths from 1 Timothy 1:12-17 be a reminder to you that it is in your inadequacy that Jesus will use you the most powerfully.
Jesus saves haters
Paul knew the feeling of inadequacy and awe well. He knew he was the least likely person to be preaching the gospel to the nations. He had been “a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” who had fought viciously against the very God he now proclaimed. He also knew equally well that God had chosen him for salvation in the midst of his sin. “The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” Out from the wellspring of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice grace had flowed, drowning Saul and baptizing him – christening him – as a new man, the Apostle to the Gentiles. God took a man who had been willfully pursuing sin and saved him.
Know this, my friends; there is nothing that can keep you out of the grasp of Jesus’ amazing grace. The worst of sinners will be perfectly cleansed in the overwhelming flood of his love that was poured out on the Cross and pours out still through his Spirit. Don’t let your sin keep you from living the life he has called you to. “Already you are clean” because of what he has done for you. You are a new creation, recreated in Christ Jesus to glorify his name bymaking disciples.
Jesus makes new
The second truth from Paul’s words to Timothy is simply another facet of the first. Paul begins the list of his past sins with the phrase “formerly I was”. We must understand this “formerly I was” paradigm if we are to walk as we have been re-created to walk in Christ. Many Christians fail to make the distinction between who they were before Jesus and who they are now in Jesus. Christ came to save sinners, but he does not leave them as sinners. Saul, who had been the foremost of sinners, becomes Paul, judged faithful in ministry and made powerful for glory. Formerly he was a sinner. Now he is a saint in Christ.
We need to make this distinction in our own lives if we are to function properly as followers of our savior. Know who you were formerly and do not hide it. Even more importantly, know who you are now in Christ and stand firm upon it. You are not who you were. You are made knew so that you might be a display of God’s power and grace.
Jesus shows off
Paul knows full well the reason that God has made him that new creation and given him salvation. In verse 17 he says, “I received mercy for this reason, that in me, the foremost of sinners, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” That’s a sentence that doesn’t need explaining. We don’t need to study the Greek text to get at the meaning. The reason God gave Paul mercy is so that he could display his glory in and through him.
As it was for the Apostle, so it is for us. We have been given grace not primarily for our own comfort and encouragement, but so that grace would be put on display before a watching world. Your life, Christian, is a picture for your brothers and sisters of Jesus’ “perfect patience.” Your life is the image and witness of Christ’s infinite power. Your poisonous past is used by God to display his power and patience. Your cleansed sins are the mirrors with which you reflect His glory. As Louie Giglio said at Passion this past year, “our witnesses to the world are our wounds that are being healed by Jesus.”
Jesus gets praise
Realizing these three amazing truths; that Jesus saves the worst of sinners, that Jesus makes us new creations, and that Jesus uses us to display himself, leads to worship. By the time he is finished writing these sentences and remembering the grace that had been given to him he can’t contain himself. Praise and exultation flows from his pen, “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Meditate on the truths of what you have been given in Christ and joy will fill you and inevitably overflow in worship. Have you been lost in frustration and felt as if life is draining you? Turn once again to this glorious gospel. Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17 and let Paul’s story remind you of your own. The King of the ages has worked in you and brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. The immortal, the invisible, the only God has given you strength and judged you faithful for the work before you. He is with you always. Though you stumble you shall not fall. Though the world give way around you he will hold you firm.
Oh, what precious words those are for a boy like me who is small and weak and overwhelmed! Praise the King of ages, for he has done it, and it is marvelous in our sight! To him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
No Comments