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“Focusing on What’s Important” (1 Timothy 1:1-17)

First Baptist Church https://fbcbartow.org

The apostle Paul was a man who was committed to Judaism. He considered himself a Jew of Jews. He was highly trained and he was highly devout. 

In fact, before God changed Paul, he viewed his devotion to Judaism as a call to persecute those who belonged to a new religious movement. They were devoted to a man who claimed to be the Son of God, who was crucified, and who had risen from the dead. These people were called Christians.

However, God had great plans for Paul. On his way to bring harm to some of these Christians, Jesus appeared to Paul, and he himself became a Christian. Then, God told him that he would be used as an apostle; one who was sent to take the message of Christianity to others.

Paul became a devout missionary and church planter, planting many churches, and raising up others to lead in these churches. One place where he planted a church was the powerful city of Ephesus. One of those whom Paul trained, and whom Paul left to lead the church in Ephesus, was a young man named Timothy.

The letters of 1 and 2 Timothy are Paul’s correspondence and charge for Timothy to pastor the church in Ephesus well. 

These two letters are what we will study over the next several weeks in a series called “Instructions for the Local Church.”

Today’s sermon is entitled “Focusing on What’s Important.”

Let’s go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to speak to us as we study His Word.

(prayer)

Today’s passage is a little bit of introduction from Paul, and then Paul gets right into impactful truth from God’s Holy Spirit.

So, let’s look at the passage and learn what God has to say to us. Look at 1 Timothy 1:1-17: 

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope:

2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine 4 or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith. 5 Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. 8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately. 9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral and homosexuals, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.

12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

So, as we reflect upon this page, let’s extract three foundational truths from this letter from Paul, which are applicable for our lives.

First, . . . 

I. Godlyinstruction is rooted in love.

Paul gives some beautiful introductory words, including his mention of the wonderful grace, mercy, and peace that come from God the Father and our Lord Jesus. 

Then, Paul transitions in verse 3 to a charge for Timothy to remain in Ephesus.

You see, Timothy was serving as pastor in Ephesus, and if Timothy is like most pastors, there were probably times that Timothy wanted to give up and head out.

However, Paul wanted him to remain with the church in Ephesus.

Paul gives the primary reason why he wanted Timothy to remain in Ephesus. Look at verse 3 again. Paul says, “ . . . so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies.”

Let me tell you: we pastors hear a lot of crazy stuff that people think is worth discussion or acceptable to teach.

The particular problem for those in Ephesus had to do with false doctrine, myths, and some issue with certain genealogies. However, there could be other issues for other churches at other times.

Some of the biggest issues that I deal with are false doctrine, conspiracy theories, and personal preferences. 

Let me just help you out church: if it’s not in the Bible, don’t ask that it be taught in our church; if it’s some crazy theory that you came up with, don’t expect our pastors to care a whole lot; and if it’s about your personal preference, don’t expect our pastors to act like it’s the most important thing in the church.

Rather than being concerned with silliness, we should be concerned with the proper handling of God’s Word. 

In addition to being a family that is rooted in love and glorifying God, one of the primary purposes of the church is that it would be a place of godly instruction.

Well, what is the goal of all of this godly instruction? I’m glad you asked. Paul tells us in verse 5: “Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.”

When pastors and others teachers seek to teach the truth of God’s Word, it is done as an act of love.

When we commit this act of love, we should do so from a pure heart, with a good conscience, and in sincere faith.

The message of God is a message of love, because the Creator of the universe has spoken to you, and He wants to know you as His own. 

We should value godly instruction, and we should realize that it is an act of love.

However, Paul said that some had departed from this message and started chasing after nonsense.

Church: may we never care more about secondary issues and nonsense than the loving message that springs from God’s Word.

True, godly instruction is rooted in love.

Second, . . . 

II. Sin is rooted in lawlessness.

Next, Paul speaks of the law and sin, and how the two interact.

Look at verse 8. Paul says, “But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately.”

You see, church, you may recall from our discussion in Romans that the primary purpose of the law is to show us what is righteous and what is sinful.

You may remember, I described the law like a speed limit sign. You don’t really know how bad you’re speeding until you see the speed limit sign. So, also, the law of God shows us what is right and what is wrong.

Paul lists several particular sins, including lawlessness, rebellion, ungodliness, sinfulness, unholiness, irreverence, murder, sexual immorality, homosexuality, slavery, lying, perjury, and then he adds, “ . . . whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching.”

Our goal as God’s people should be, as Paul said in verse 11, to do that which, “ . . . conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God.”

Yet, when we reject God’s ways to do what we want to do instead, that is sin. Sin is rejecting God’s ways in favor of our ways.

Sin is rejecting holiness for unholiness. Sin is rejecting honoring our parents for dishonoring our parents. Sin is rejecting the honoring of life for murder. Sin is rejecting God’s design for marriage or purity for sexual immorality or homosexuality (or any modern variation). Sin is rejecting truth for lying. Sin is rejecting honoring and valuing others for slavery.

Let me tell you, church: culture’s view on these issues will shift from time to time, but God’s Word is constant. 

The view of Christians will shift on these issues as well from time to time. There was a day and time when proclaiming Christians even supported the evils of the slave trade. What an atrocity! 

We must stand for the Bible, no matter the view of the culture and no matter the view of other professing Christians.

At times, churches or Christians may even be considered bigoted or hateful because they stand for biblical views.

Listen, church: the culture does not set the standard of righteousness; the majority does not set the standard of righteousness; the Church does not set the standard of righteousness. God sets the standard of righteousness! God is our guide, and His Word is our standard.

Don’t forget, to teach the truth of God’s Word is actually an act of love. However, to reject God’s law is an act of sin.

Sin is rooted in lawlessness, which is a problem for all of us, because each of us has sinned.

That takes us to our final point:

III. Salvation is rooted in grace.

In case we think that Paul is simply wagging his finger at all the sinners in the world, he makes it very clear in this passage that all of us are sinners in need of the grace of God.

Let’s skip down to verse 15 to see very clearly Paul’s position on this matter. He says in verse 15, “This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them.”

Paul’s not pointing out how bad everyone else is while saying that he really has his act together. Rather, Paul is saying that all of us need the salvation that comes through Jesus.

Look at verse 13. Paul says he was “ . . . a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man.”

Despite his sin, God appointed Paul to ministry as an apostle, and he received mercy and grace from God.

Listen, church: none of us deserve the forgiveness of our sins that is offered through Jesus. The fact that any of us are rescued from our sin is an act of God’s grace.

Look at verse 16. Pauls says, “But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.”

Salvation is rooted in grace!

Let this bottom line summarize Paul’s message in 1 Timothy 1:1-17:

Bottom Line: We must focus on the message that Jesus savessinners.

Let us not be distracted by secondary, sinful, or slanderous issues. Rather, let us focus on the message that Jesus saves sinners.

Let us focus on, and be thankful for, the grace of God. This saying is trustworthy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

Verse 17 beautifully displays the praise that is due to God because of His wonderful grace shown through Jesus.

Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Challenge yourself to live out this passage in the following ways:

Weekly Challenge #1 – Determine to focus on what is mostimportant for the church.

I wonder if we gathered all the concern and chatter in our church, and sorted it into two buckets, one with true godly conversation and one with conversation concerning other matters, how those two buckets would compare to one another. Which would be heavier?

Will you make a commitment to focus on what is most important for the church? Will you make a commitment to focus on the gospel and true godly instruction?

Weekly Challenge #2 – ThankGod for the gospel.

Spend some time this week thanking God for how He has saved you from your sin.

Aren’t you glad you don’t have to live your life without the grace of God? Thank Him this week.

Weekly Challenge #3 – Proclaim the gospel.

This saying is trustworthy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

This is the most important message to share. Will you commit this week to share that trustworthy saying with your neighbor, with your family, with our community, and with the world?

You may want to check out the sermon series, “Gospel Tools for Gospel People,” on our website to help give you some tools to share the gospel.

(Gospel presentation)

(closing prayer)

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name. The author intends to provide free resources in order to inspire believers and to assist preachers and teachers in Kingdom work.