Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

1 Timothy 1:15-17 “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. ” NASB95

 

1 Timothy 6:15-16 “which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and

eternal dominion! Amen. ” NASB95

 

Adam had problems in his marriage

Noah got drunk

Moses stuttered, had a problem with anger and murdered someone

Abraham’s father was a pagan who worshipped idols

            Abraham tried to lie his way out of trouble in Egypt

David might have been a great song writer and worship leader but he committed adultery and committed murder to cover it up.

Solomon had all the benefits of being raised in a believer’s home and in the lap of luxury.  He was very wise but failed to practice what he preached.  He started off great but his lust for women led him to spiritual compromise.

Elijah folded under pressure.

John Mark also folded under pressure.

Peter was impulsive and had a bad temper

James and John were called “sons of thunder”

Rahab was a harlot.

The woman at the well had been married and divorce 5 Xs.

 

Is there any hope for people like them?

1 Cor 6:9-10 “Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers—none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.” NLT

I.          Truth You Can Trust: Christ Came Into the World to Save Sinners
The Son has appeared.

            He has revealed the Father.

                        He has atoned for sins.

                                    He has risen from the dead.

                                                He has authority as universal Judge and He

vindicates those who repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Save them from what?

The condemnation of our Creator.

God is bound by His own righteous character to pour out eternal wrath

on our sin.

But the fantastic news is that God Himself decreed a way to satisfy His just demands without condemning us to hell.

The love of God displayed in the person of Christ

 

“to save sinners”

Save us from separation from God….From damnation for eternity.

From their sin…From the world…From themselves.

 

Romans 3:23-26 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” ESV

 

1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” ESV

 

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” ESV

 

1 Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. ” ESV

 

No matter what color, what ethnic origin, what physical traits, what cultural distinctives God does not write off anyone and neither should we.

 

Story

In  1517, there was an English reformer called Thomas Bilney.  He went to Cambridge University.  In the year before Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to the castle church door in Wittenberg, he read Erasmus’ Greek New Testament, just hot off the press.  And he came to this text: “This is a trustworthy statement and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

 

And he was converted.  And he began to preach the doctrine of justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.  In 1528, he was arrested, put in prison, tortured for two days.  He reneged on his confession.  And then, a few years afterwards, was so ashamed of what he had done, he began to preach with even more earnestness the doctrine of justification by faith, and was again arrested, and burnt at the stake in 1531.  This text, 1 Timothy 1:15 was the text that brought him into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. 

 

II.         A Real-Life Example: Paul

If He Saved Paul, He Can Save Anyone

The gospel is for all sorts and conditions of people

 

1:13  Blasphemer because he denied the deity of Christ.

Persecutor who used physical power to try and destroy the church.

Violent man = proud bully who throw his weight around.

 

How could God save Saul?  Theological triad

2 Xs Paul says, “I was shown mercy”

            God’s goodness toward those in misery and distress

            “Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” 2 Cor 1:3

            In time of need we are to draw near to God to receive mercy

                        and grace to help in time of need.

“the grace of God was lavishly poured out on me”

            God’s goodness toward those who deserve only punishment

            God’s favor and enablement toward those who deserve none.

“his unlimited patience” Christ displayed as an example for others to see.                      

God’s goodness in withholding punishment toward those who sin

     Over a period of time.

Exodus 34:6 “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,” ESV

Psalm 103:8 “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” ESV

 

No one can say, “I’m just too bad!”

No matter who you are,

no matter what your background may be;

no matter what your nationality;

no matter what age you are;

no matter what educational distinctions may

differentiate you from someone else, here are words deserving of full acceptance.  There is no reason…there is no valid reason… why you shouldn’t accept these words–these words that Paul is about to tell you.   You can and must believe this!

 

And how did the church respond when Paul was saved?

They wanted nothing to do with him.  They were afraid it wasn’t true.

It took the son of encouragement to bring him to the church.

 

Acts 9:26-31 “And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. ” ESV

 

What did God do?

He entrusted Paul with the gospel.  He gave him a ministry and enabled him in that ministry.

And over time God made Paul an example for all of us.

 

All of us are broken by sin. Murder, rape, theft, lies, hatred, jealousy, gossip, lust, and selfishness.   We compare ourselves to other sinners when we say, “I would never do that!” or “At least, I’m not like him”. We have lived a lie. Did you ever justify an unkind word and say, “They deserved it.”? Are you chained in bitterness toward someone who hurt you? Did you ever say, “I don’t get mad, I get even.”? All of us are guilty.

There’s a price to pay for sin and the curse of sin is in us. Jesus paid the price. Don’t despair. Jesus can free you from evil.

 

Application
The gospel is all about God’s work of grace.
You notice that Paul calls himself “the chief of sinners.”  The chief of sinners.  Paul seems to have gone through somewhat of a revolution.  When he writes to the Corinthians—in, roughly speaking, about 55 A.D.—he calls himself “the least of the apostles.”  When he writes to the Ephesians about five years later, he calls himself “the least of the saints.” But when he writes to Timothy, about another five years again, he calls himself  “the chief of sinners.”  Do you understand?  Paul, as he grew in grace, also simultaneously grew down in his estimation of himself. 

 

Story: John Newton!

 

III.        Oh What Joy!

Story:  Father / daughter at the park on spring tetter tauter.

                        Father in total control.  Daughter squealing with delight.

Reflection on the gospel results in praise.

In grateful response to God’s grace.

Luke 15:7 ““I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” NASB95

 

Here is the song in the heart as well as the singing in heaven.

Paul’s experience of God’s grace leads on to his exuberance.

This is the song of a person who delights in Christ with all his heart.

He is totally satisfied in Christ.

            He is totally exuberant and filled with joy in Christ.

A.        The Person

Unto the King

Acts 17:6-8 “When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. ” NASB95

He is above all.

He is the only One to whom we owe primary and ultimate loyalty.

 

King = 3 X in Paul;  but “servant” or “bond-servant” 10 X

The issue is surrender and service

 

“Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to His feet thy tribute bring.

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven; who, like me, His praise should sing?   Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him! Praise the everlasting King!”

 

B.        The Personality – what He is like

Eternal – King of the ages past.

God has no beginning, end, or succession of moments in his own being, and he sees all time equally vividly, yet God sees events in time and acts in time.

 

Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

Job 36:26 “Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.” ESV

Isaiah 46:9-10 “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” ESV

 

Immortal – King of the ages future

            I AM

            He has life in Himself and is not dependant on anyone or

                        Anything to sustain his life.

            He is Life!

 

Invisible – for all His reality He is himself invisible.

God’s total essence, all of his spiritual being, will never be able to be seen by us, yet God still shows himself to us through Christ and His creation.

John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. ” ESV

1 Timothy 1:17 “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” ESV

 

1 John 4:11-12 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. ” NASB95

Christ is the visible manifestation of the Godhead.

            “dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can

see.”  1 Tim 6:16

We can’t approach the sun but we can walk in the sunshine.

We are to walk in the light as He is in the light and have close friendship with each other.

 

Exodus 33:18-20 “Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” ” NASB95

 

John 14:8-9 “Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ” NASB95

 

Matthew 5:8 ““Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

 

Revelation 22:3-4 “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” ESV

 

God is the perfection of all that we long for or desire.

He is the summation of everything  beautiful or desirable.

Knowing Him is the greatest joy of life.

Growing in our knowledge of God is the key to being changed.

 

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we will be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

 

We can’t see Him directly but we can indirectly through the love…

How is this lost world to see the invisible God?

How is the face of God to become visible for lost sinners?

 

What a wonderful privilege!  What a solemn responsibility is ours.

Only – Unique

            There is none like Him.  He is incomparable. He alone is God.

 

He is our Savior…He is our Friend.

But is He truly your king?

 

C.        The Praise

“Be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Paul’s prayer here is for God to be recognized for His true value and worth.

Man by nature does not have a heart to glorify God.

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

And the glory that God seeks to magnify is supremely the glory of his mercy.

 

Romans 15:8-9 “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”” ESV

 

Mercy is the apex of God’s glory!

 

Worship here for Paul is a “radical valuing, cherishing, esteeming, treasuring of God in Christ and a passion for more of him.” That is the impulse for singing this hymn to Christ.

 

Every conversion is to and for His glory.

It is not the person or persons whose thumb print is on your life.

All the glory belongs to God.

The martyrdom of Steven had a deep impact on Paul and was one

            element that led to his conversion.  But no where do you ever

            read of Stephen’s impact in the NT. 

 

And what of Timothy?

Paul had an impact, “Timothy my son in the faith”

Lois, his mother.

Eunice his grandmother.

 

Many links in the chain of our conversion.  But only One is the chainmaker who draws us to Christ.  And it is only He who is worthy of praise and glory!

 

What a  privilege of being a link.

What joy to be the last link.

What a tragedy of being a missing link.

 

But the only One who brings us to Christ is God Himself through the Holy Spirit.