Paul, Chief of Sinners
A. PAUL BEFORE HIS CONVERSION ( Acts 22:3-5; 26:9-11 ).
B. YET GOD SAW FIT TO SAVE PAUL. MOST PROLIFIC APOSTLE.
C. IN OUR TEXT PAUL RELATES HIS FORMER LIFE TO GOD’S SALVATION.
A. TWO WAYS TO VIEW THIS FACT.
1. God’s power is vested in the gospel. We must so the seed and let the ground do the
accepting ( Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16 ).
2. Is anyone too wicked to be saved? ( Matt. 21:31-32 ).
3. You have never done anything so bad you can’t be saved.
a. Look at Paul. b. Pentecost. c. Publicans and harlots.
B. PAUL SEEMS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THOSE WHO SIN OUT OF
IGNORANCE AND UNBELIEF AND THOSE WHO SIN KNOWING THE TRUTH.
1. The distinction is found elsewhere ( Heb. 10:26; 6:4-6; 3:12-13 ).
2. Ignorance and unbelief are no excuse! ( Acts 10:1-2; 17:30-31 ).
C. PAUL’S INTENTIONS WERE GOOD. HE THOUGHT HE WAS SERVING GOD.
( 1 Tim. 1:13, 15; 23:1 ). CHIEF OF SINNERS!!!!
D. PAUL OBTAINED MERCY IN SPITE OF THE FACT HE DID NOT DESERVE IT.
SAVED BY GRACE!
1. We are saved by grace ( Eph. 2:8-9 ).
2. Grace finds expression in Jesus’ death in our place ( Rom. 3:26 ).
3. God’s love for us, not our goodness, compelled him to send Jesus ( Titus 3:4-7 ).
4. Access to grace by faith ( Rom. 5:1-2 ).
5. Which motivates to work ( Gal. 5:6 ).
E. A REALIZATION OF OUR WORTHLESSNESS MOVES US TO ACCEPT GRACE.
1. We must realize that we, like Paul, are sinners, too ( Rom. 3:23; 6:23 ).
2. Jesus came to save sinners ( 1 Tim. 1:5 ).
3. No exceptions ( 1 Tim. 2:3-4 ).
A. HE WAS CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE, A CHOSEN VESSEL ( Acts 9:15-16 ).
1. Paul was an inspired teacher of God’s word ( Gal. 1:11-12 ).
2. He was a witness of the resurrection of Christ ( 1 Cor. 15:8 ).
3. Paul is also an example to us all of hope ( 1 Tim. 1:16 ).
B. AS THE GOSPEL WAS COMMITTED TO PAUL, SO IT WAS TO TIMOTHY AND
THE REST OF US ( 1 Tim. 1:11-12 ).
1. Timothy shared Paul’s commitment to the gospel ( 2 Tim. 1:13-14; 2:2 ).
2. This commitment came not to Paul by special appointment or calling
( Rom 1:14; 2 Cor. 5:14-15 ).
3. This commitment is ours for the same reason.
4. There is a place for you! (Rom. 12:4-8 ).
A. IF WE LOVE THE LORD WE WILL KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS ( John 14:15 ).
B. WHAT ARE HIS COMMANDS?