"Paul's Testimony of God's Grace" June 23, 2024

First Baptist Church Leominster

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Wider than snow you made me today, grace that is greater than all my sin.

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Grace, grace, grace, grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.

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Amen. Please be seated. Bruce is going to come up and lead us now in reading our

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New Testament. Acts 18. Acts 18 records the

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Apostle Paul's ministry at Corinth primarily and then Paul's return to Antioch after the completion of that missionary journey.

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And then there's a word also about Apollos and his ministry. In the book of Acts there are four specific passages that detail dates with precision that biblical scholars have pointed out.

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And two of those dates in the book of Acts are found here in Acts 18. Verse 2 it speaks about the event when

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Claudius dispelled the Jews from Rome. That took place in AD 49. And then

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I believe it's in verse 12. It talks about when Claudius was proconsul of Achaia.

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That is the region of Corinth. And that was in AD 52. And so these are specific dates that can be identified in the book of Acts in that part, that time of the century.

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Acts chapter 18. Bruce, thank you. And then I'll pray afterwards. Acts 18.

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After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.

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And he found a certain Jew named Aquila born in Pontus who had recently come from Italy with his wife

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Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome.

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And he came to them. So because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked for by occupation they were tent makers.

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And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

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When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the spirit and testified to the

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Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, your blood be upon your own heads.

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I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named

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Justice. One who worshipped God whose house was next door to the synagogue.

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Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household and many of the

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Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized. Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision.

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Do not be afraid but speak and do not keep silent for I am with you and no one will attack you to hurt you for I have many people in this city.

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And he continued there a year and six months teaching the word of God among them.

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When Galileo was pro -consul of Achaia, the

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Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat saying, this fellow persuades men to worship

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God contrary to the law. And when Paul was about to open his mouth,

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Galileo said to the Jews, if it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, oh

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Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourself for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.

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And he drove them from the judgment seat. Not then all the Greeks took

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Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat.

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But Galileo took no notice of these things. So Paul still remained a good while.

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And then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria and Priscilla and Aquila were with him.

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He had his hair cut off at Sancreia for he had taken a vow and he came to Ephesus and left them there.

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But he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent but took leave of them saying,

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I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem. But I will return again to you,

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God willing. And when he sailed from Ephesus and when he had landed at Caesarea and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.

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After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order strengthening all the disciples.

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Now a certain Jew named Apollos was born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

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This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the

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Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.

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When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

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And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote exhorting the disciples to receive him.

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And when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace.

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For he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the scriptures that Jesus is the

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Christ. Father, just as you assured

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Paul there in Corinth that you had many people in that city that would be converted and that you would preserve and help

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Paul to accomplish that task, so we know our God that in our fallen world today you have many people yet that you've purposed to call unto

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Jesus Christ. And we thank you our God that you use the instrument of your word to do so.

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And so we look to you our God to bless your word, not only to encourage us and strengthen us, but also to call your elect out of the world unto salvation through Jesus Christ.

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Glorify yourself. May your kingdom come in great grace, our

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God. May we see your churches built up, expanded, reformed, revived.

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Now help Pastor Jason fill him with the blessed Holy Spirit as he opens your word before us.

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Give us understanding. Give us grace. Instruct us. Correct us.

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Motivate us. Enable us, our God, to better walk with you throughout this coming week.

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And we pray for that perhaps that lost soul that's here farthest from Christ that you would awaken him or her and impart salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

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In whose name we pray, amen. Not the labor of my hands can fulfill thy law's demands.

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Could my zeal, no respite no, could my tears forever flow? All for sin could not atone.

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Thou must save and thou alone. Nothing in my hand

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I bring, simply to the cross I cling. Naked come to thee for dress, helpless look to thee for grace.

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Foul I to the fountain fly, wash me savior or I die.

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Augustus Montague Toplady wrote these words in 1763. He was caught in a thunderstorm and took shelter in the cleft of a rock and there while protected from the storm he scribbled out the initial words of this hymn onto a playing card.

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Rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.

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Rock of ages has always been one of my favorite hymns because the lyrics remind me of my great need for the

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Lord Jesus Christ. It reminds me of my sinfulness, my helplessness, it reminds me of my hopelessness apart from the

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Lord Jesus Christ. It reminds me of my great, great need for the grace of God.

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Indeed, not the labor of my hands can fulfill thy law's demands.

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All for sin could not atone, thou must save and thou alone. These lyrics mimic

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Paul's word to the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 2, 8 and 9. For by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.

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The salvation of a sinner is not based upon their adherence to the law of God. Salvation is not the result of man's effort, it's not the result of man's work.

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In fact, throughout history there has never been a man who was saved because of his obedience to the law of God.

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Romans 3 20, for by the works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

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In other words, no man will ever be justified, no man will ever gain a right legal standing before the

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Lord God based upon his obedience to the law of God. The righteousness that man needs to be justified does not come from the law, it comes from the

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Lord God, it comes from his abundant and overflowing grace.

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Could my zeal no respite no, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone, thou must save and thou alone.

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Beloved, our right legal standing before the Lord God, our justification, our salvation from sin and unrighteousness is solely based upon his grace.

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It is by God's grace through faith because of the atoning sacrifice of his son

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Jesus Christ that a sinner's salvation is accomplished. Thou must save and thou alone.

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In contrast to this message of grace throughout the church's history man has repeatedly distorted this message by attempting to add his works to the grace of God and by adding works to grace the gospel message is undermined.

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By adding works to grace the provision of salvation based upon the merit of the

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Lord Jesus Christ is nullified. Salvation is either by grace alone or it is by works.

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Romans 11 6, but if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

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You see it's either one or it's the other. Those who have added works to grace are not just slightly changing the message of the gospel, adding works to grace is not just a subtle change.

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Those who add works to the grace of God shatter and destroy the message of the gospel.

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A church whose gospel message has been perverted and distorted by a works -based salvation is a different doctrine.

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It is a vastly different doctrine and the result will be an unhappy unsettled and unfruitful church devoid of any real spiritual power.

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In the book of 1st Timothy Paul urged Timothy to remain at Ephesus to instruct certain persons not to teach a different doctrine.

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Savage wolves had infiltrated the church not sparing the flock. False teachers had spread false doctrine and taught perverse things to draw away the disciples after them.

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The false teachers at Ephesus desired to be teachers of the law but were without understanding, without humility, and without love.

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Regarding the law these men didn't understand what they were saying yet they made bold and confident assertions based on their ignorance.

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It's bad enough to be an ignorant teacher but it is far worse to be dogmatic in your ignorance.

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In 1st Timothy 1 8 through 11 Paul corrects their wrong view of the law and he clarifies the correct manner in which the law of God is to be used.

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The law is good if one uses it lawfully. The law was not made for the righteous but for the unrighteous.

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It was made for the lawless. It was made for the rebellious. The law is to be used to reveal man's sin and to reveal his desperate need for a savior.

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Thus the law must be used in accordance with the gospel. Verse 11.

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In contrast to the false teachers who were using the law unlawfully Paul now reminds them of his conversion that his salvation was not the result of his law keeping his salvation was because of the grace of God.

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Please turn with me to the book of 1st Timothy. In our passage this morning Paul illustrates the lawful use of the law from his experience and gives us his testimony of God's saving grace.

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1st Timothy 1 verses 12 through 17. I thank him who has given me strength

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Christ Jesus our Lord because he judged me faithful appointing me to his service though formerly

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I was a blasphemer persecutor and insolent opponent but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of our

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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

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I am foremost but I received mercy for this reason that in me as the foremost

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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 ages immortal invisible the only

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God be honor and glory forever and ever amen. In sharing his testimony we see four different aspects of God's grace the origin of grace verse 12 the necessity for grace verse 13 the measure of grace verse 14 and the purpose of grace verses 15 and 16.

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Since we'll be looking at various aspects of grace we must first define it what is grace?

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Grace is God's free and unmerited favor shown towards guilty sinners who deserve only judgment only wrath and condemnation.

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Grace is God's loving forgiveness by which he exempts us from judgment wrath and condemnation and promises us eternal life without any worthiness or merit on our part.

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Grace is based upon nothing that man has done or not done it is entirely of God.

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Charles Spurgeon defined grace as the free favor of God the undeserved bounty of the ever gracious creator against whom we have offended the generous pardon the infinite spontaneous loving kindness of the

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God who has been provoked and angered by our sin but who delighting in mercy and grieving to smite the creatures whom he has made is ever ready to pass by transgression iniquity and sin and to save his people from all the evil consequences of their guilt.

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That's a tremendous definition. Paul begins his testimony by thanking the

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Lord Jesus Christ not for his saving grace but for his enabling grace.

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Verse 12 I thank him who has given me strength Christ Jesus our Lord because he judged me faithful appointing me to his service.

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In Acts chapter 9 Paul experienced God's saving grace in his conversion.

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In this verse Paul expressed his gratitude for God's empowering or enabling grace the grace which strengthened him for the work of service.

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In Paul's ministry Christ Jesus gave him the strength necessary to fulfill his ministry and fulfill his service to the

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Lord God. Paul's effectiveness in ministry was not dependent upon his natural abilities it was not dependent upon his intellect or his talents it was not dependent upon his cultural background his theological education or his national heritage.

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Paul's effectiveness in ministry was because he was spiritually empowered by the

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Lord God and he was put into service. Paul had learned to do everything and endure everything through the

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Lord Jesus Christ who had given him strength. Paul wrote in the book of Philippians chapter 4 verses 12 through 13

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I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance

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I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger abundance and need

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I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Paul was able to do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthened him.

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Paul was able to endure all things through Christ Jesus who strengthened him and it's important to remember that Paul did not have an uncomplicated life he did not have an easy life the path that was set before him was a challenging and difficult path.

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In Acts chapter 9 after being blinded by the Lord God Ananias was commanded to find

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Paul and lay hands on him so that he might regain his sight. Ananias was very reluctant because at that time

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Paul was a great persecutor and oppressor of the church. Acts 9 verses 15 but the

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Lord said to him go for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the

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Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.

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Indeed Paul did suffer greatly for the sake of Jesus Christ.

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He continually experienced hardship persecution and suffering in his life and these things would have been inconceivable without the

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Lord God's divine provision of grace. These are some of the difficulties that Paul faced he lays them out for us in the book of 2nd

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Corinthians. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one I am talking like a madman with far greater labors far more imprisonments with countless beatings and often near death five times

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I received at the hands of the Jews the 40 lashes less one three times I was beaten with rods once I was stoned three times

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I was shipwrecked a night and a day I was adrift at sea on frequent journeys in danger from rivers danger from robbers danger from my own people danger from Gentiles dangers in the city danger in the wilderness danger at sea danger from false brothers in toil in hardship through many a sleepless night in hunger and thirst often without food in cold and exposure and apart from these things there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches for the sake of Christ Paul was content with all of these difficulties

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Paul even rejoiced in these difficulties Paul was content with weaknesses hardships insults persecution and calamities because the grace of God was sufficient the power of God was made perfect in Paul's weakness he needed to be divinely enabled and strengthened for the work of ministry he was not able to endure or persevere without it the grace of God was sufficient for Paul and it is sufficient for us beloved we cannot accomplish the

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Lord's work in our own strength in our own power in our own abilities we can do nothing apart from the power and provision of the

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Lord God this was Jesus' message to his disciples in John 15.

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Abide in me and I in you as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine neither can you unless you abide in me

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I am the vine you are the branches whoever abides in me and I in him he it is that bears much fruit for apart from me you can do nothing apart from the vine apart from the

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Lord God's enabling grace you can do nothing Paul recognized this which is one of the reasons for his thankfulness he was thankful to Christ Jesus for his enabling grace which enabled strengthened and empowered him for ministry and service notice in verse 12 that Paul was also thankful for the ministry itself

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I thank him who has given me strength Christ Jesus our Lord because he judged me faithful appointing me to his service

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Paul was thankful that Christ Jesus appointed him to his service now this is another excellent example for us to follow

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Paul was grateful for the ministry and the work that the Lord God had given him to accomplish as the workmanship of the

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Lord God each one of us was created for good works which the Lord God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them but sometimes a ministry in service to others can feel like a burden it can be arduous tedious it's often a thankless job this is especially true when your ministry and service are behind the scenes and not visibly seen by others in the church beloved are you grateful to the

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Lord God for the ministry and the service that he has given you are you thankful to the

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Lord God for the honor and privilege of serving him and his people do you thank the

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Lord God for the ministry that he has given to you do you thank the Lord God for the honor and privilege of serving him even when no one else notices your diligence and your hard work in your ministry and service whether it be teaching missions serving in the kitchen serving in the nursery managing the church finances or some other unseen task do you regularly thank the

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Lord God for the high honor and the high privilege it is to serve his name or are you ungrateful are you resentful have you allowed a root of bitterness to spring up and defile and spoil your service it can be tempting to think that the

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Lord God should thank us for our spiritual service but we know the opposite is true beloved don't seek praise and recognition for your ministry and service do not boast and glory in your ministry in service instead follow the example of Paul Paul had a humble heart he never lost his sense of personal unworthiness for ministry nor his profound gratitude for the honor and privilege of serving the

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Lord God Paul was a thankful man he was grateful that the Lord God used him in ministry and that the

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Lord God provided him with the grace and strength to accomplish his work after Paul recognized and thanked

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Christ Jesus as the source of grace he gave further substance to his thanksgiving by reminding

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Timothy who he was before saving faith and the radical transformation that brought him from his past sinfulness to his present service verse 13 though formerly

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I was a blasphemer persecutor an insolent opponent but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief

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Paul described to Timothy his merciless and murderous past before his conversion

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Paul had been a violent man he was a violent aggressor he was an enemy of the church he had a zeal for the

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Lord God but not according to knowledge he had an intense hatred for the

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Lord Jesus Christ he had an intense hatred for the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ Paul used three words to describe his former manner of life blasphemer persecutor and an insolent opponent

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Paul was a blasphemer he defamed denigrated and demeaned the

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Lord God he railed against the Lord God with harsh and abusive insults he violently opposed and spoke evil against the

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Lord Jesus Christ Paul hated the Lord Jesus Christ he denied his divinity and he rejected his authority not only was

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Paul a blasphemer but he also attempted to force others to blaspheme the

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Lord God Acts 26 I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth and I did so in Jerusalem I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests but when they were put to death

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I cast my vote against them and I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme and in raging fury against them

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I persecuted them even to foreign cities Paul was a blasphemer and he was also a persecutor he was a persecutor of the church he did everything in his power to restrict damage and destroy the cause of Christ he arrested

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Christians he locked up Christians he voted to execute them and put them to death in raging fury he pursued them to foreign cities in Galatians 1 13 he writes for you have heard of my former life in Judaism how

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I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it

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Paul sought to eradicate and destroy the church through violence he was intense zealous and deliberate in his actions

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Paul was an insolent opponent he was insultingly contemptuous in his speech and his actions in Greek the term insolent opponent is one word hubris from which our

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English word hubris is derived Paul was excessive in his pride he was excessive in his presumption he was excessive in his arrogance this term implies a certain satisfaction in insulting others a certain satisfaction in humiliating and hurting others a violent aggressor is a person with no concern for human kindness it describes a person driven to mistreat others by violence and contempt in carrying out his evil plans to destroy and eradicate the church

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Paul took delight in committing these atrocities he found joy in committing blasphemy he found joy in forcing others to commit blasphemy he took pleasure in the persecution he was a violent and murderous man who had no regard for Christians using these three descriptive terms blasphemer blasphemer persecutor and insolent opponent it's essential to note the ascending scale of wickedness the first sin blasphemer is a matter of words only the second sin persecutor describes action to inflict suffering on others the third sin insolent opponent implies a sadistic mentality someone with a cruel and abusive mindset

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I'm sure that remembering his testimony and what the Lord God delivered him from this must have helped

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Paul maintain an attitude of humility and gratitude throughout the course of his ministry verse 13 though formerly

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I was a blasphemer a persecutor and insolent opponent but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief a

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Christian's testimony is the story of the Lord God's grace in overcoming our ignorance in overcoming our rebellion in sin it's the story of our salvation how the

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Lord God reconciled us to himself through his son in verse 13

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Paul describes the means of his conversion he says but I received mercy even though Paul was a blasphemer a persecutor and a violent oppressor the

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Lord God showed him mercy mercy concerns the

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Lord God's goodness toward those in misery and distress mercy is not getting what you rightfully deserve it differs from grace in that grace relates to the sinner's state before the

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Lord God as judge mercy however relates to the sinner's condition in his sin grace judicially forgives the offender for his wrongdoing mercy compassionately helps him to recover

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Paul deserved to be punished for his transgressions if anyone deserved a just and condemning sentence it was

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Paul he was a blasphemer he was a persecutor he was an insolent opponent against the

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Lord Jesus Christ and his church but did Paul receive the punishment that he deserved no why did

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Paul's ignorance and unbelief somehow qualify him for salvation did Paul's ignorance and unbelief somehow make his actions less sinful no

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Paul was guilty the Lord God never excuses sin because of mitigating circumstances the

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Lord God doesn't excuse our sins of ignorance man is always accountable for his thoughts his words and deeds nevertheless

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Paul was shown mercy despite his blasphemy despite his persecution and insolence the

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Lord God's compassion and mercy met Paul's wretchedness wickedness and depravity

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Paul was accountable for his sins but the Lord God took pity on his spiritual ignorance the

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Lord God was merciful Titus 3 4 through 7 but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our

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Savior appeared he saved us not because of works done by us in righteousness but according to his own mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the

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Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our

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Savior so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life man is not saved based upon his good deeds or his good works but according to the mercy of God the

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Lord God meets us in our miserable and pathetic spiritual state and he has mercy upon us

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John Bunyan experienced the same mercy in his book grace abounding to the chief of sinners he wrote but I observe though I was such a great sinner before conversion yet God never much charged the guilt of my sins of my ignorance upon me only he showed me

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I was lost if I had not Christ because I had been a sinner I saw that I wanted a perfect righteousness to present me without fault before God and this righteousness was nowhere to be found but in the person of Jesus Christ at conversion sinners not only receive mercy but we also receive grace we escape the punishment that we deserve mercy and we receive the

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Lord God's abundant kindness and favor which we do not deserve grace and the

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Lord God gave Paul an abundance of grace look at verse 14 and the grace of our

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Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus the measure of the

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Lord God's grace was overflowing it was exceedingly abundant it was extraordinarily abundant it was magnanimous it was generous it was bountiful the word overflowed in the

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Greek comprises two words abundant and the preposition hyper which means more over or beyond but it is often translated as super the literal meaning of this term overflowed is super abundant the measure of God's grace is so vast and so wondrous that Paul needed to make up a new word for it

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God's grace is abundant but it's more than abundant it is super abundant the grace of our

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Lord Jesus Christ was super abundant with the faith and love found in Christ Jesus the measure of God's grace is like a river that overflows and cannot be contained by its banks it overflows and floods everything in its path the difference between an overflowing river and overflowing grace is that when a river overflows it leaves destruction and devastation but when the grace of God overflows it leaves behind great blessing the overflowing grace of God produces the blessings of faith and love the

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Lord God's overflowing river of grace brings great blessings particularly love faith and love the

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Lord God's super abundant grace floods the cold dead and unbelieving heart of man it floods the heart filled with wickedness and hatred and it warms it it softens it and spiritual life is breathed into it so that man can freely receive the

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Lord Jesus Christ through faith remember a few verses back Paul had condemned the false teachers for swerving from or departing from love they had departed from a pure heart a good conscience and a sincere faith the source of love again we see

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Paul contrasting himself his testimony and his gospel with the false teachers at Ephesus Paul testified that he himself received grace faith and love when he came to the

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Lord Jesus Christ anyone who has known the super abundant grace of the Lord God knows that faith love and everything else that Christ Jesus has to offer comes right along with it the multiple benefits of our salvation in Christ cannot be separate you get all or you get nothing the book of Ephesians speaks of these spiritual blessings

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Ephesians 1 3 blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus the book of 2nd

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Peter talks about these spiritual blessings 2nd Peter 1 3 through 4 his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence by which he is granted to us precious and very great promises so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire beloved all of our blessings all of our spiritual blessings are found in Christ Jesus they overflow overflow from the

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Lord God's abundant and manifold grace even our faith is an undeserved gracious gift from the

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Lord God the Lord God freely offers eternal life to all men but man is too sinful and stubborn to take it man's heart is cold and dead to the spiritual things of God man stands as an enemy in direct opposition to the

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Lord God and his hands are clenched in rebellion and defiance against the one true

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God and creator but God but God takes hold of us and he firmly takes us by the wrists and he uncurls our fingers and he places the blessings and the abundant grace into our feeble hands and he wraps our fingers back around them we lay hold of eternal life with the hand of faith but it is the

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Lord God who opens fills and closes the hand Paul is a perfect example of the grace of God and salvation in Acts chapter 9

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Paul was traveling to Damascus to persecute and destroy the church of the

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Lord Jesus Christ Paul was breathing threats against the church he had his fists clenched in rebellion and defiance against the

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Lord God Paul was not looking for God Paul was not seeking after God he was raging against him on the road to Damascus Paul saw the glory of the risen

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Christ and he was blinded for three days he fasted he prayed and he waited for the

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Lord God to answer him and the Lord God sent to him Ananias who laid his hands upon him in the name of the

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Lord Jesus Christ his sight was restored and he was filled with the spirit

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Paul's conversion was the Lord God's gracious work from beginning to end and it was the same grace that Paul depended upon for the rest of his life

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God's grace is super abundant it includes not only salvation but also all the other spiritual blessings that accompany salvation in Paul's testimony we've examined the source of grace the need of grace the measure of grace and lastly the purpose of grace what was the purpose of grace verses 15 and 16 the saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom

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I am foremost but I received mercy for this reason that in me as the foremost

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Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life the phrase the saying is trustworthy is unique to the pastoral epistles first and second

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Timothy and Titus it appears five times and the trustworthy statement in verse 15 is a condensed articulation of the gospel

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Paul lays out a marvelous summation of the gospel message in eight Greek words from the incarnation to the atonement again in contrast to the false teachers at Ephesus their preoccupation with the law their speculative nonsense that resulted in controversy that resulted in vain discussion the content of Paul's doctrine sound and healthy doctrine is trustworthy it is genuine it is sincere verse 15 the saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom

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I am the foremost the Lord Jesus Christ's purpose in this fallen world was to save sinners before his birth an angel of the

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Lord told Joseph in Matthew 121 she will bear a son you will call his name

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Jesus for he will save his people from their sins in the book of Luke at the conversion of Zacchaeus the

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Lord Jesus Christ himself stated in Luke 19 the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost the

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Lord God the creator of the universe left the glories of heaven entered into creation entered into time and became a human being to seek and save the lost

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Christ Jesus came into the world to seek and save sinners he came to deliver them from their sin deliver them from judgment death wrath and eternal darkness the

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Lord Jesus Christ the King of Kings the Lord of Lords came to redeem and restore fallen man

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Paul adds an interesting phrase at the end of verse 15 he says among whom

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I am foremost in the realm of sinners Paul saw himself as the foremost of all in this phrase

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Paul identified himself as the first of sinners Paul was the first he was the worst he was the foremost he was the chief of all sinners now are we to understand him literally was

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Paul in fact the foremost of sinners Paul had led a wicked and violent life but the principle behind this statement is that the

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Holy Spirit convicts believers of their sinfulness and one of the immediate results is that we abandon all comparisons to other sinners and we look only to the

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Lord Jesus Christ Paul was so vividly aware of his sin that he could not conceive of anyone else any worse than him

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Paul was the chief of sinners and this is the language that any sinner whose heart has been awakened and convicted by the

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Holy Spirit Luke 18 9 he told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt two men went up to the temple to pray one a pharisee and the other a tax collector the pharisee standing by himself prayed thus

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God I thank you that I am not like other men extortioners unjust adulterers or even like this tax collector

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I fast twice a week I give tithes of all I get verse 13 but the tax collector standing far off would not even lift his eyes to heaven but beat his breast saying

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God be merciful to me a sinner the saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance

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Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am foremost today many would attempt to correct

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Paul's view of himself they would seek to restore his self -worth his self -esteem his self -estimation come on Paul you're not that bad but in actuality this is a healthy view to have of oneself because it is entirely accurate in light of who

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Christ is verse 16 but I received mercy for this reason that in me is the foremost

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Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life

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Paul found mercy because he was the foremost sinner and it was through the

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Lord God's saving of Paul that the Lord Jesus Christ could most clearly demonstrate his perfect patience even the absolute worst of all sinners can find mercy and abundant grace in the

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Lord Jesus Christ and Paul's point is this that if the Lord God was patient with the worst of sinners if the

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Lord God was patient with a blasphemer a persecutor and an insolent opponent the foremost of sinners then no one is beyond the reach of God's saving grace on this particular passage

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Charles Spurgeon remarked despair's head is cut off and stuck on a pole by the salvation of the chief of sinners no man can now say that he is too great a sinner to be saved because the chief of sinners was saved 1800 years ago if the ringleader the chief of the gang has been washed in the precious blood and is now in heaven why not

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I why not you beloved

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Paul in his exam is an example for those who would believe Paul is living proof that the

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Lord Jesus Christ can save any sinner Paul was the chief of sinners he's the model he is the type he is the pattern

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Paul was the exhibition of the Lord Jesus Christ's infinite patience and matchless grace to those who fear that you are beyond the saving grace of the

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Lord God that the Lord God cannot save you you would do well to remember the life of Paul if the grace of God saved the chief of sinners then why not you and why not today this passage starts off with Paul expressing gratitude for the

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Lord Jesus Christ for strengthening him and appointing him to ministry and service

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Paul then reminded Timothy of his past transgressions and his great need for God's grace he rejoiced at the super abundant grace of the

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Lord God that was made available to him and he reminded Timothy of the purpose of grace the salvation of a sinner and if the

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Lord God can save Paul the chief and foremost of sinners then he can save anyone he can certainly save you in verse 17

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Paul closes with a short burst of thankfulness and praise which should always be our response to the grace of God verse 17 to the king of the ages immortal invisible the only

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God be honor and glory forever and ever amen our father we thank you for your great great grace we thank you for your great great mercy we thank you

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Lord for what you have accomplished in our lives and Lord we rejoice that we know you we rejoice that we are in Christ Jesus and that we have everything has been given to us for the purpose of life and godliness everything we need to please you everything we need to serve you and so Lord we pray that we would look to you for strength as we walk through this world that we would look to you for strength as we minister to others and as we serve others within the church and outside the church

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Lord we pray that everything would we that we do would be done to your glory for Lord you are the king of ages you are immortal you are invisible you are the only