september 11 2022
September 11th 2022
Old Testament: Ezekiel 34:11-24
Psalm: Psalm 119:169-176
Epistle: 1st Timothy 1: (3-11) 12-17
Gospel: Luke 15:1-10
Sermon Text: 1st Timothy 1:3-17
Sermon Title: “Christ Came to Save Sinners”
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen,
“Certain persons, desiring to be teachers of the law … without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions”. (1st Timothy 1:6-7) We know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully”. (1st Timothy 1:8) “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief”. (1st Timothy 1:15b) These are our primary texts this morning.
Last week, we sang, “Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed His blood for me”. We often use the word chief to describe a leader or ruler of some particular group of people. For example, the president is often called the commander in chief and the head of an Indian tribe is called a chief. Sometimes it is also used (as an adjective) to indicate something that is of utmost importance. We will see in a few moments how the great Apostle Paul applies this word to describe the kind of sinner he is, even though he has been forgiven by Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our text is from the first of Paul’s two letters to Timothy. After a brief introductory greeting, he dives immediately into the first topic of the letter; a warning against false teachers in the church. This indicates that it is part of the job of the pastor to refute false teachers/teaching. He begins, “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesius so that you may charge certain persons, not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith”. (1st Timothy 1:3-4) Elsewhere Paul calls these myths and genealogies, “stupid, senseless controversies”. (2nd Timothy 2:22)
The word “charge” is a strong military term that implies an order that is to be obeyed by the hearer. As their pastor, young Timothy was to make it abundantly clear that no one was to teach any doctrine that is contrary to the Gospel/Word that Paul had already taught them. Though we do not know the exact nature of the false teachings, it appears that they may have been adding to the Old Testament teaching about genealogies and endlessly speculating on such things rather than focusing on faith and the Gospel. Whatever it was, false teaching/doctrine always divides.
Paul continues, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith”. (1st Timothy 1:5) These things cannot be brought about by listening to false teachers, but only by the truth of the Word of God, working in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Many today look at pastors who correct and warn against false teachers as being “uncaring” or “loveless”, but in fact the opposite is true. If you love your brothers and sisters in the faith, “from a pure heart”, you will not give them false comfort when they sin and contradict the Word of God, rather you will warn them of the spiritual harm and eternal dangers of rejecting the Word of God. Believing unsound or unhealthy doctrine, as Paul calls it, is bad for you.
“Certain persons, by swerving from these (truths) have wandered away into vain discussions, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions”. (1st Timothy 1:6-7) The peddlers of false doctrine are usually quite sure of themselves, exhibiting a “confident ignorance” arrogantly rejecting God’s actual word for their own foolish ideas. Paul tells us that we are not to listen to them, for they do not know what they are talking about. This is why he told Timothy earlier, “charge/order them not to teach any different doctrine”. (1st Timothy 1:3b)
“Now, we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully”; (1st Timothy 1:8) meaning according to God’s intended purpose. “Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just, but for the lawless and the disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike 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”. (1st Timothy 1:8-11) CFW Walther in his “On the Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel” wrote that “to all persons of this description, only the Law is to be proclaimed and not a drop of Gospel … for these are at ease in their sin”. (P. 17) This is rightly dividing the law and the gospel; or using the law, “lawfully”.
So, the law of God has three purposes or uses according to Scripture and the Confessions. The first use of the law is as a curb or a restraint used by those in authority; to control (violent) outbursts of sin and to keep order/discipline in the world. Paul says this “work of the law is written on the hearts” (Romans 2:15) of all people. Therefore, some people use the phrase “natural law” to describe this use.
The second use of the law is that of a mirror, to show us our sin and to accuse us before God of breaking His commandments; “for through the law comes knowledge of sin”. (Romans 3:20b) “Sin is lawlessness”. (1st John 3:4b) In its second use, the law reveals our true nature. By this use, we are proven to be lawbreakers before God and in no way able to save ourselves from the consequences of our sins; which is eternal death. “If we say that we have not sinned, (we deceive ourselves) we make God a liar and His Word is not in us”. (1st John 1:10) This second use of the law shows that we are in urgent need of rescue; in desperate need of a Savior. But “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us”. (Galatians 3:13)
The third use of the law “teaches us (as) Christians what we should and should not do in order to lead a God pleasing life. The power to live according to the law, comes from the Gospel”. (Question 77 C, Small Catechism) It is true that the Christian has been born again through the water and the Word (apart from works of the law) and they are a new creation through faith in Christ Jesus. So, the preaching of the law to the Christian is NOT to make them righteous before God, but because we are both saint and sinners, we need to be reminded of God’s Word and the need for daily repentance.
Luther calls this daily repentance, “remembering your baptism”, “where our old self was crucified with Him”. (Romans 6:6a) Thus it is necessary to hold this law constantly before the believer’s eyes and to urge it upon them diligently. (Formula of Concord, Article VI, Third Use of the Law) As the Psalmist declared, “Blessed is the one … whose delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2) and “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord”. (Psalm 119:1) Christians need all three uses of the law.
Paul continues; “I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged (accounted) me faithful, appointing me to His service”. (1st Timothy 1:12) The Lord chose Saul/Paul for this service, even before he was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 9:15-19) The Lord chose Saul/Paul “as a chosen instrument of mine, to carry My name before the Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel”. (Acts 9:15)
The Lord chose Paul even though, “formerly He was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent”. (1st Timothy 1:13a) To illustrate how extreme these sins were; a blasphemer was someone who fought and spoke against God and tried to force others to do the same. A persecutor was one who pursues, chases, hunts down someone as if they were a wild animal. An insolent opponent is one who spoke spiteful and outrageous lies and insults against others. Paul was all of these things, acting against the true Christians, “but he received mercy, because he acted ignorantly in unbelief”. (1st Timothy 1:13b) As Jesus said from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. (Luke 23:34)
“And the grace of the Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (1st Timothy 1:14) The word used to describe grace “overflowed”, means to pour out in abundance, even more than is necessary to overcome his sins. This is the grace our Lord showed to Saul/Paul even though he was violently persecuting the church. This is the same grace available to each of us whenever we receive His Word and Sacraments in true faith and repentance.
“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 (the chief)”; (1st Timothy 1:15) the worst of sinners. Paul speaks in the present tense, (saying I am) even though his sins, which were many and grievous, have now been forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Despite all that he had accomplished; (no) rather what God had accomplished through Paul’s preaching, he confesses rightly that he is still a sinner, daily in need of God’s grace and mercy which he does not deserve.
Paul is essentially saying, “I am the worst sinner that I know”. We should see ourselves in the same way Paul does; as one who is in need of daily confession and repentance; but also confident in the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that He has promised to those who believe in Christ; to “all who have loved His appearing”. (2nd Timothy 4:8b) As we (joyfully) sang earlier, “Jesus sinners doth receive … also I have been forgiven”. (Hymn # 611, v. 7a) The Lord converts and welcomes sinners, by His grace, but also on His terms; meaning only through His Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, without any help from us.
Paul continues saying, “I received mercy for this reason, that in me, the foremost/chief (of sinners), Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience, as an example to those who were to believe on Him for eternal life”. (1st Timothy 1:16) As the Apostle Peter also declared “the Lord is patient towards you, not wishing that any would perish, but that all would reach repentance”. (2nd Peter 3:9) For God’s patience and “kindness is meant to lead you to repentance”. (Romans 2:4b)
If Jesus would “receive sinners and eat with them” (Luke 15:2b) and He chooses to save “the chief of sinners” like Paul, he can save anyone; for His death on the cross has atoned for the sins of the whole world; yours and mine and even those of our worst enemies. By (our sinful) nature, none of us deserve anything good from God, but Christ Jesus came into the world to reconcile us to God; to save us through faith in Him to life everlasting. “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory, forever and ever. Amen.”. (1st Timothy 1:17)
The peace of God …