1 Timothy 1:7-17

Indescribable Grace

I Recently ran across a list entitled, "Politically Correct Ways to Say Someone is off ". Here's a sampling,

1) "He's a few fries short of a happy meal.

2) The wheel's spinning, but the hamster is dead.

3) His elevator doesn't go to the top floor.

4) He's a few clowns short of a circus.

5) If he had another brain, it would be lonely.

6) In the pinball game of life, his flippers are a little too far apart."

Well when it comes to dealing with false teachers – Paul has no desire to be politically correct. Describing the Legalist in v.7 Paul says

7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

A) Basically Paul says – they don’t have a clue – They don’t know what they are talking about

B) In every church age & in every Church setting there have always been those who had the tendency to focus on the law !

Two types of Legalist – Unsaved and the Saved

A) Unsaved legalist are trying to OBTAIN their salvation thru their works

1) They are working to GET right w/ God

B) That is the Basis of every false religion in the world today:

1) Places an emphasis on what Man has to do to earn God’s Favor !!!

C) Flip side the Saved legalist is trying to MAINTAIN their salvation thru good works.

1) they are working to STAY right w/ God

D) They emphasize things like: Not wearing Make up Is that wrong? Magee “ Barn needs painting paint it !

D) Bible only says: Don’t make the outward adornment your main focus – but make the inner person your main focus.

Other list : South women don’t wear Pants:

A) Caffeine – Others think it is Essential to Spirituality

B) Long hair for men:

C) Rock Music – Never Secular – Some have problems with anything that is Rock oriented – Deut 32:31 Our Rock is not like their Rock – I say Rock on!!!

Well there in Ephesus there were false teachers who were putting an emphasis on the law!

A) Paul deals with them in this next section:

Consider 4 things

1) The Purpose of the law

2) Paul’s personal battle with the law.

3) Paul’s personal witness to grace.

4) Paul’s public praise.

B) #1The Purpose of the Law! Rd v.8-11

C) The Law reveals the will of God—it is morally excellent. RIGHTEOUS

1) Defined for them right and wrong – Speed limit sign – Law that is necessary

D) Reveals what it means to be holy.

1) It is good for moral conduct but not for obtaining salvation.

It cannot save a sinner, but it can correct him or reveal that he is a sinner. That is its purpose.

A) It’s a schoolmaster to show us our need for a Savior and to drive us to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:24).

B) You see, contrary to the popular psychology of the day, I’m not okay—and neither are you!

1) We’re sinners in need of a Savior.

See God’s Standard of righteousness hasn’t changed but what has changed is His attitude toward the sinner –

A) Because at Calvary He provided the perfect redemption for sinners - - Jesus paid the price –

B) So The law was intended to show us what Holiness is – But it was not meant to make us Holy !

1) It is Jesus who makes us Holy

C) SO The law is not for the righteous –

1) because he realizes his righteousness is not due to his efforts but comes thru the ministry of Christ

D) But these false teachers were putting a priority on the law:

1) A confidence in the flesh to try and please God and to be right with God. Problem never good enough –

E) Perfection is the Standard. – Speed limit is 70 you can get a ticket for going 71.

1) So the purpose of the law was to reveal the standard – in order to drive us to grace.

#2 Paul’s personal battle with the law:

A) But Paul knew that if anyone could have been saved by keeping the Law it would have been him.

Phil 3:4-7

4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:5 circumcised the Eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

B) Despite his training & adherence to the law – Paul knew first hand the struggle of the law w/ his flesh

Romans 7:14-16

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. { STRUGGLE

Romans 7:22-25

.22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Paul realized his only hope was in Jesus - Not more emphasis on the flesh – but less – Less Paul and more of Jesus is the answer

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ- laid aside everything that I put confidence in that I might gain Christ.

A) How many are unwilling to do that – Tonight – see a story- man who was reluctant to lay aside everything for Christ –

He is no fool who lays aside what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

B) So there is no point in focusing in on the law – after you have been saved -

1) The law is for the Rebellious – but Grace is for those who have repented!

#3 Paul’s personal Witness to grace RD v.12-16

2 points

A) PT. #1 If God can save me – He can save anyone –

Paul was once a self righteous Pharisee – now He saw himself as the chief of sinners

B) Luke in the book of acts describes Paul as a religious predator

Acts 9:1-3

“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.” NIV

Damascus was about 150 miles from Jerusalem –

A) It would have taken several days about a week to travel there on foot –

B) but Paul would have traveled a month to fulfill this mission- Saul was a hunter a man out for blood.

Paul’s own words to aggrippa

Acts 26:9-11

9 "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

A.T. Robertson put it this way:

“ Threatening and slaughter had come to be the very breath that Paul breathed – like a warhorse who sniffed the smell of battle. He was a threatening violent enemy of the Church.”

Kent Hughes “He was a callous, pious, self-righteous, bigoted murder hell-bent on a full scale inquisition.”

But Paul the untamed tiger was shown grace that day when He met Jesus the lion of the tribe of Judah at the Damascus off ramp

A) Paul why are you persecuting me – hard to kick against the goads – resisting the spirit { Started w/ Stephen

B) What about you ? Not saved – Kicking against the goads

C) Saved but not submitted in an area – Kicking against the goads –

1) Jesus wants all of you!

Jesus seeks out sinners - Paul’s says – faithful saying Christ Jesus came to save sinners

A) Jesus sought out Zach. - Jericho – People wondered why would he waste time w/ a guy like that?

B)– Because – I came to seek and to save the lost

C) Jesus sought out Paul – on the Rd to Damascus-

D) Jesus sought out YOU – or He is seeking you out

1) Question is will you respond ?

In 1830 a court in the eastern district of Pennsylvania condemned a man by the name of George Wilson to death for the armed robbery of the US Mail. And the date was set for his execution.

However he was pardoned for some reason by President Andrew Jackson – However – Wilson refused to receive his pardon. His lawyers demanded a stay of execution – declaring – “ You cannot execute a man who has been pardoned.” The case went to the supreme court –

This was their ruling: A pardon is a deed, to which the validity of the delivery is essential, and it’s delivery is not complete without acceptance.”

If a person rejects the pardon then their sentence will be carried out.

Same holds true spiritually – God’s offer of salvation has to be accepted.

The sentence for sin is death – Eternal damnation

Paul was saved by grace that day on the road to Damascus –

Christ in his mercy choose Paul to be his servant

C) There were many living at that time who wanted nothing to do with Paul –

1) But Jesus wasn’t one of them

D) Jesus saw the potential in Paul –

1) Blasphemer became a Believer

2) Persecutor became a Preacher

3) Murderer became a Minister and a Missionary

E) Who would be on your list – the last person in my family / company/ school / to be saved

1) Start praying – Crusade coming – share the Lord

V.16 PT #2 If God can use me He can use anyone! A) Paul’s conversion and appointment to ministry is an example of what Christ can do with a life that is yielded to Him

#4 Paul’s Public Praise V.17

A) Paul breaks out into Praise – Can’t hold it in another second – Rd v.17

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

B) Taken in context with v.16 – Paul is talking about Christ in v.17

C) This makes v.17 a beautiful Declaration of Jesus and His Divinity – Divine Attributes as God

He is an Eternal King: He is unchanging – Same yesterday today and Forever !

He is an Immortal king:

A) We often equate the word immortal with the fact that Jesus conquered death and that is accurate –

B) but the word actually means more - Literally in the Grk – uncorrupted or not liable to corruption or decay.

C) The Lord demonstrated His immortality in that sense in the tomb.

1) The horrors of the grave could visit Jesus in the tomb because it had been decreed in

Psalm 16:10 You will not leave my soul in sheol & neither will you allow your holy one to suffer corruption.

Remember when Jesus came to the tomb of Laz – and was going to call him forth – Martha replied – Lord He has been dead 4 days – He is going to stink – A) rigamortus has set in. Death and decay are the inevitable consequences of sin.

B) These companions of death found no footing in the Lord’s tomb- He is the King Immortal

He is an Invisible King: Unseen – although – He chooses now to reveal himself in and thru his people

He is King infallible – He is the only wise God !

Col 2:3 in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

He is the only wise God – responsible for Creation

DNA

Time

Space

He is a King that deserves all honor and Glory!

A) Honor speaks of Great esteem and Dignity

B) Honor someone – visits your house – Give the master bedroom

Make sure they are comfortable

C) Dignity – You treat them with a decree of reverence and respect – Mr. President

1) Don’t say – Hey Dude

D) Honor also speaks of Value – Hold up high

1) Honor also speaks of reverence and submission

Glory speaks of Praise and worship - TO BOAST – Kids in the Children’s ministry – They boast right now – God is good / God is great -