Graham continued his series on Timothy this morning majoring on 1 Timothy 1:12 to 18.
1 Timothy 1:12-18
Intro
Verses 12 to 17 Paul says - he has chosen me for this privilege.
Verses 18 to 20 Paul says - he has chosen you Timothy.
1) What a glorious Gospel!
The whole of Chapter 1 rests on the fulcrum of Verse 11
“…the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.”
Verse 12. False teachers taught contrary to it, Paul and Timothy have been “appointed” to it.
committed to my trust-Translate as in the Greek order, which brings into prominent emphasis Paul, “committed in trust to me”; in contrast to the kind of law-teaching which they (who had no Gospel commission), the false teachers, assumed to themselves
See 1Timothy 1:8
Titus 1:1-3
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness- a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Saviour,
“Glorious gospel” and “Gospel of glory of Christ” See 2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
The supremely blessed One is He from whom all blessedness flows. This term, as applied to God, occurs only here and in 1 Timothy 6:15 (which God will bring about in his own time- God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, whom no-one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might for ever. Amen. )
Here it is that the Gospel is blessed in contrast to the curse on those under the law.
See Galatians 3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.
See 1 Peter 1:10-12
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
“glorious gospel of the blessed God.” Why preach the false when we have the treasure we can proclaim? The false teachers have failed to see the treasure. What would happen to to us if we lost sight of the treasure? We keep our sight of the treasure clear by fellowship, worship, conversation with God, feeding on the scriptures, obedience.
2) Verse 12 “Considered me faithful.”
Was that before his appointment? It seems it was before his appointment, when God knew his character. See verses 13 to 16.
God saw a different character in Paul than he saw in himself. Compare this with his view of himself.
Paul is claiming that God foresaw that he would be faithful by the faithfulness God placed within him. Once again we find ourselves refering to Philippians 2:11-13
(Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.)
So this great trust and equipping was committed to Paul. This conviction will have been a huge motivation to him. Does it motivate us? Paul was thanking God for this shows that the value of Paul’s faithfulness was due solely to God’s grace, it was not to his own natural strength. It does not have to be our alone either. Faithfulness is the quality required in servants such as us 1 Corinthians 4:1-4 (So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.)
Remember though, amidst all this talk of faithfulness, Paul is claiming that God foresaw that Paul would be faithful according to the faithfulness God placed within him.
3) Verse 19 “Holding on”,
not just in a general sense, but in particular regarding the false teachers and the pressure put upon church leaders to not ‘rock the boat’ in the church.
Appointments - Paul and Timothy’s calling and perseverance.
putting me into-rather as in 1Th 5:9, “appointing me (in His sovereign purposes of grace) unto the ministry” (Ac 20:24).
Timothy’s appointment, see 4:11-16.
What good is the appointment if there is no follow-on?
What good is starting a race if there is no completing?
See Luke 14:27-33
…anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Holding on.
Holding on to the sense of what God wants to accomplish in you and with you.
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
1 Thessalonians 1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
2 Corinthians 12:12 The things that mark an apostle- signs, wonders and miracles- were done among you with great perseverance.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
James 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
