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Grace Baptist Church

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Overflowing Grace

Overflowing Grace

Apr 02, 2017

Passage: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Preacher: Tom Ascol

Series: Ecclesiastes - Real Life in a Fallen World

Category: Sunday Morning

Keywords: gospel, grace, sinner, trophy

Detail:

Pastor Tom Ascol continues his series on the Pastoral Epistles with a message entitled “Overflowing Grace” centered on 1 Timothy 1:12 – 17. In this passage, Paul teaches God’s overflowing grace transforms even the worst of sinners. Paul’s life experiences had taught him the importance of God’s grace and mercy. He had been a recipient and, in the receiving, had been enabled to live for God. Paul points to six specific things he had learned about God’s grace.

The first truth is that God gives grace to us in Christ. Paul acknowledges this in v. 12. Implied in this truth is that the gospel is all about Jesus Christ. God’s kindness has been revealed to us in Christ who did all necessary to provide for our great need of a savior. Understanding the gospel, trusting in Jesus is to experience God’s grace. And, as v. 14 teaches, an abundance, an overflowing, of God’s grace exists for His people.

We need this grace because of our sin. Paul confesses. He was a blasphemer, a persecutor, an insolent opponent of God and His church. Paul had come to recognize and now knew that on his own he was a wicked, violent man, and therefore, a man in need of grace. His sin made him a candidate for God’s grace. Having received this needed grace Paul moves to his third point; grace empowers us to serve. Just as Paul could thank God for giving him strength, God’s grace is available to all His children. With us, as with Paul, when God calls you to a task in His service he gives enabling power. As God calls and enables all individuals in the church to their tasks the needs of the whole body are then met. This grace is available to all.

Point Four illustrates this availability. Grace extends to even the worst of sinners. Paul emphasizes this point by beginning v. 15 with an important clause, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.” The phrase alerts the reader to pay attention, what follows is indisputable and deserving of full belief. Paul lays out the gospel and then claims it is effective even for him, the greatest of sinners. Paul is not saying he is the worst sinner ever but rather that he is amazed that despite his sins, so abhorrent to God, grace was still available to him. Paul then presents the gospel. Christ came into the world to save sinners. Only through His sinless life could His payment on the Cross be sufficient to cover our sins. Only by the value of His sacrifice can we sinners find solace and comfort. It is unavailable elsewhere.

The final points, grace encourages people to trust Christ, and grace evokes gratitude and praise follow directly from the previous point. Accepting the gospel, finding new life in Christ, with repentance and faith can only be accomplished as God gives the grace and once accepted grace fills the believer with praise and thanksgiving.