Clinging To The Faith.

Clinging To The Faith.

1 Timothy 1:15-20NLT

Church, I want you to repeat the Apostle Paul’s words—1 Timothy 1:15, This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. 18 Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. 19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

Let me mention from the start, that blaspheming God, is blatantly campaigning against God. Campaigning against Jesus Christ, Campaigning against the Holy Spirit, the word of God, and even campaigning against the Church.

From the get go, I’m not thinking anyone at CECC campaigns against God.

Again according to, 1 Timothy 1:15, The apostle Paul felt the gravity of his own hypocrisy more at the end of his journey then at the beginning.

Take special note of this: Early on as a Christian, Paul referred to himself as Paul, an apostle. Later, he became Paul, the least of the apostles, then later, Paul, the least of all the saints, then finally, 1 Timothy 1:15NKJV, This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Paul’s awareness of the gravity of Jesus’ holiness is just too much!

Paul’s maturity in knowing that the just, become just through, and in Jesus Christ alone!

Paul also wrote with great emotions about the inner conflict of living inconsistently with his in most, spirit-formed desires.

Romans 7:25-25NLT  Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Aren’t you relieved that those you respect most in the faith also have shortcomings? Aren’t you relieved that so many of the men and women in the Bible, people like Isaiah and Paul, Rahab and Martha, are men and women with deep, body flaws.

Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones shares a similar perspective on our human condition; the first thing you must realize, as you look at that mountain which you are told you must ascend, is that you cannot do it, that you are utterly in capable in and of yourself, and that any attempt to do it in your own strength is proof positive that you have not understood it.

The writer of Hebrews 11:1-2, 6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

“Paul solidifies his resolve, by expressing that the just shall live by faith.” P.H

1 Timothy 1:16TPT Yet I was captured by grace, so that Jesus Christ could display through me the outpouring of his Spirit as a pattern to be seen for all those who would believe in him for eternal life.

Again verse 16, The Apostle Paul says, He was captured by Jesus’ grace, so he could become a pattern to be seen by all who would believe in Jesus for eternal life!

On that road leading to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus was blinded by the light of God, It was there when Saul asked the Lord who He was.

Paul cried out, “Who are you Lord?” The Lord answered, “Im Jesus who you persecute.”

Paul is saying in I Timothy 1:16, “If Jesus Christ can save me, He can save you also.”

Here’s the remedy to pridefully living a selfish life. Psalm 51:17, for a broken and contrite heart he will not despise.