Transformed by Grace (1 Timothy 1:12-17)

Big Idea: True grace is God's generous and undeserved favor that transforms people into grateful individuals who acknowledge their unworthiness and respond with sincere thanksgiving.

As a young man in youth group, I was taught that grace is "God's unmerited favor." Then I remember being taught the acrostic, that grace stands for "God's riches at Christ's expense." About a year ago, I studied grace and defined it as God treating people not based on what they deserve, but according to his goodness and generosity. That's not a bad definition at all.

But what does grace look like? One individual has characterized grace in this way: Imagine earning forty dollars for each hour of work. It's payday. You go in and expect to be paid what you earned: $700. Your boss, however, pays you $700 plus an additional $1,000. You ask why you've been given extra, and your boss replies that he was just feeling generous. That's grace. That's somebody dealing with a person not on the basis of what they deserve, but according to goodness and generosity.

I love stories about grace. I love to hear of John Newton – a former slave trader turned Christian. He wrote that song we sang this morning, Amazing Grace. I love to read about Charles Colson, and his conversion from one of Nixon's henchmen to believer. I enjoy hearing stories of people like alcoholics, drug addicts, murderers, adulterers, thieves, fornicators, homosexuals, and motorcycle gang leaders discovering faith in Christ.

In 1 Timothy 1:8-11, we read:

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 

He's just been talking about false teachers, and how they tend to twist the law around. And he ends up by talking about the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God. And then he pauses, and almost seems to remember something. In most letters in that day, the salutation that is found in verses 1 and 2 would be followed by the next thing: a giving of thanks.

For instance:

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 

To Timothy, my beloved child:

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

I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. (2 Timothy 1:1-3)

In 1 Timothy, Paul got sidetracked by false teachings and emphasized that Timothy needed to correct them. But then in verse 11, Paul talks about the gospel that has been entrusted to him. And it's as if all of a sudden he remembers that he was supposed to give thanks. And then he gives thanks with a vengeance.

Have you ever seen someone who is spiritually alive, and shows it? Have you ever witnessed the thrill of someone who sings, "In my heart there rings a melody," and means it? It's a rare thing, but I have met some people who are different from the rest of us. If you get them talking about spiritual things, all of a sudden you see their eyes begin to well up. You can sense the spiritual passion that is there. They are alive spiritually, and everyone knows it.

Well, Paul felt the rush of spiritual life, and he showed it. And this was in spite of hardships and painful struggles. In spite of floggings, imprisonment, stoning, shipwrecks, sleeplessness, and hunger, Paul's passion for God was alive. Circumstances could not get him down. He had a high-adrenaline Christianity.

It's so unlike us. Sometimes, a good service on Sunday will pump us up. But by Wednesday, we begin to feel flat and empty. But the apostle Paul proved that there is no good reason why any Christian should live in the minor key.

Paul had three secrets. He knew how to do three things. They're all marks of God's grace. Tonight I'm going to challenge you to do these three things as well, before we leave, and to make this your practice in the coming week.

The first thing that Paul knew how to do is this:

Paul Knew How to Give Thanks

"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service..." (1 Timothy 1:12).

Christ viewed Paul as faithful. He entrusted the Gospel to him, as we read in verse 11. And Paul was a grateful man. And what we witness in verse 12 is wholehearted gratitude. It’s what happens when you know you're unworthy and undeserving.

Have you ever met someone who has an entitlement mindset? They think that they deserve it. They aren't very thankful. They may say thank you, but it’s little more than a polite gesture. Underneath, they get the impression that they are just being civil and nothing more. But as we look at verse 12, we sense that Paul is not just being civil.

Paul thanks God for three things: strengthening him, considering him faithful, and placing him in service. The word for service refers to humble, lowly service. Paul is not boasting about his faithfulness or trustworthiness. Paul didn't want honor for himself. He was pleased to be used by God in any way possible.

Paul stands in contrast to so many in ministry today. You get the impression that they're doing God a favor by serving him. They exude so little joy over the privilege of ministry that people run the other way. They're half-hearted. But Paul's gratitude knew no bounds. He can't get over it. He feels so undeserving.

Verse 13 explains that despite being a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent person, mercy was granted because it was done in ignorance and unbelief. Before his dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul recognized he was a blasphemer who slandered God. He was a persecutor of the church – he entered houses to arrest believers. He approved of Stephen's death, according to Acts 8:1, and many others as well, according to Acts 26:10. When Christians were put in prison, and sentenced to death, Paul cast his vote against them. And he was also a violent man. The word has sadistic overtones to it. It refers to someone who deliberately hurts and attacks someone to bring harm to them. Paul repeatedly attacked Christians. He felt so undeserving – so overwhelmed by God's mercy. And that's why he was so grateful.

Sometimes I sit back and wonder why God chose to rescue me. How is it that Jesus Christ loved me enough to save me? I don't know your past, but even if you didn't do the things Paul did, do you ever wonder why God chose you before the foundation of the world? Do you ever question why God chose you? When you think of those who haven't heard, what was it that caused God to place his gracious hand upon you and call you into his kingdom? How thankful are you?

Paul not only knew how to give thanks:

Paul Knew How to Receive Grace

...though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our 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 I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1"13-16)

Verse 14 has the idea of the surpassing measure of God's grace, which is far greater than our sin. There's the idea of extravagance here – God's extravagance in dealing with people who deserve nothing but wrath. God threw a party for Paul and gave him lavish gifts of grace, faith, and love – large and precious gifts. God's grace is so abundant that it not only included salvation, but the faith and love that accompany it. That's what God has given us as well.

In verse 15, Paul makes a profound statement. The "trustworthy saying" signals that an important doctrine or commonly known truth is about to be presented. In this case, he adds for emphasis that it's a statement that deserves full acceptance. And then you have the Gospel summarized in eight Greek words or nine English words: Christ came into the world, and Christ came to save sinners. Christ's entire purpose in coming to the world was to save that which was lost. The world, lost and condemned for its hostility to God, was the focus of his mercy. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Paul thought of himself as being the foremost of all sinners.

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:9–10)

Paul was a compelling demonstration of God's grace. If Christ could save Paul, who blasphemed Him and persecuted Christians, including causing deaths, how can anyone say they are beyond Christ's mercy? Paul was, if you will, the poster boy of divine mercy. No one could be more desperate for God's mercy than Paul. No one had been a more brutal opponent of Christianity. Paul was a lesson in the greatest lesson anyone can learn. It's about God's grace.

Paul knew how to give thanks, accept grace, and finally:

Paul Knew How to Offer Praise

"To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17)

Have you noticed how Paul has progressed in this passage? He started out giving a routine thanks, and has built up a tremendous amount of energy in this passage. He's moved from thinking with his head to bursting out spontaneously with an exclamation of praise. Receiving God's grace is not a cold mental calculation. The truth exhilarated Paul. It warmed his soul; it stirred his spirit. As the saying goes, if this doesn't light your fire, you've got wet wood. Outbursts of adoration are the only proper response to truth. We should be amazed by God's grace, not only in church but also in our daily lives. Our hearts and heads ought to work in concert, working together in praise to God.

So I ask you again, what are you like? Have you felt the rush of spiritual life, or are you flat and empty? Are you grateful to God because you feel so privileged? Have you felt the extravagance of God's grace? Or do you still believe that God's grace is rationed sparingly instead of lavished extravagantly? What about praise? Is the only time you praise him here, in this room? It has to be the right experience – just the right mood, just the proper music? Does praise come from within your own soul?