I wrote this expository sermon on 1 Timothy 1:12–17 for a preaching class at Bob Jones University.
Introduction. Our text is 1 Timothy 1:12–17. In this first letter to Timothy, his own son in the faith (v. 2), Paul begins by warning against the error of false teaching—a constant struggle in the church then and now—and then, in contrast, in verse 11 he turns to the true doctrine of “the glorious gospel.” Paul was consumed with the gospel of grace: it was the constant theme of his preaching, it filled his thoughts, and it was always the burden of his heart. Today we have strayed from that focus, and our preaching often reflects a weak, man-centered theology. We must get back to preaching the pure gospel of grace, for it alone is the power of God unto salvation. In our text we notice three things about this glorious gospel: it transforms, it enables, and it encourages.
I. The gospel of grace transforms (vv. 13–14). No greater picture of the transforming power of God’s grace exists than the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. In verse 13 Paul describes his past as a lost man—responsible for the persecution of the church (Gal. 1:13; 1 Cor. 15:9; Acts 8:3), a violent and blasphemous man. But the super-abundant grace of God struck him on the road to Damascus, and the gospel’s greatest enemy was transformed into perhaps the greatest preacher of the gospel who has ever lived. How? The only answer is the grace of God.
1. It transforms from unbelief to faith. Paul said he acted as he did “in unbelief”; he denied that Jesus was the Messiah and thought he was doing right in opposing Him (Acts 26:9). Men by nature are skeptics toward the true gospel; they do not believe, and cannot apart from grace (Rom. 3:10–18). Faith is a supernatural work of God—verse 14 says grace brought the result of faith (1 John 5:20; John 6:29; Eph. 2:8–9). The word translated “exceeding abundant” (huperpleonazō) is unique to the New Testament: the root means to be more than enough, to overflow, and the huper prefix intensifies it—superabundant, gushing over. Picture Niagara Falls, dumping over 200,000 cubic feet of water every second, and then imagine filling a small cup at its base. Something like that is the grace Paul experienced.
2. It transforms from hatred to love. Paul had imprisoned and killed believers, making “havoc” of the church. This same violent man became a passionate lover of God and His people. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20). What brought the change? In Paul’s own words, “I am what I am by the grace of God.”
II. The gospel of grace enables (v. 12). The gospel does not merely save a man and leave him there; it empowers and enables him for ministry all his life.
1. It enables by equipping. Acts 9:15 calls Paul “a chosen vessel.” But God did not choose Paul because Paul had promise—apart from grace, his only potential was for evil (v. 13). Paul did not merit his calling; the only thing he deserved was death. He “obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful” (1 Cor. 7:25). As Augustine said, “God does not choose a person who is worthy, but by the act of choosing him he makes him worthy.” What encouragement this is: God has not called us on the basis of our worthiness, but when He calls us He enables and empowers us to do what He has called us to do.
2. It enables by enlisting. God had a great purpose for Paul’s life; God is the one who puts men into the ministry. In the opening of most of his epistles Paul notes that he was an apostle “by the will of God.” God has a ministry for each of us—not merely a decision on our part, but the calling and will of God. The gospel was “committed to [Paul’s] trust” (v. 11), and we too have been entrusted with the responsibility to defend the gospel of grace.
III. The gospel of grace encourages (vv. 15–16).
1. It encourages by its extent. The message of the gospel is dependable and sufficient for all sinners—powerful enough to save them all. “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). We must therefore preach this gospel to all; our duty is to proclaim it, and who responds is up to God (Rom. 10:14).
2. It encourages by its example. Paul continually shared his experience of God’s grace (Acts 22; 26). Long overdue for judgment, he was spared, and so became a pattern for those who would later believe. He calls himself “the chief of sinners”—and there is great hope in that: if God can save a man like Paul, He can save anyone. All God requires of you to qualify for the gospel is to be a sinner who recognizes your need (Matt. 1:21; 9:13). I had a camper this summer who thought he had done too many bad things for God to save him; he did not yet understand that if the gospel can save the chief of sinners, it can save all who come to Christ in faith and repentance.
Conclusion. The gospel of grace transforms, it enables, and it encourages. We must preach the pure gospel of the grace of God. Our gospel today is too often man-centered—viewed as a work of man’s will, a ticket out of hell. Paul took the gospel with utmost seriousness: “If any man preach any other gospel… let him be accursed” (Gal. 1). One day most of you will stand in a pulpit. Preach the transforming grace of God; defend it and uphold it. We have a glorious gospel of grace.