The Lord's Day Bible Message Outlines
December 27,
2009
Pastor Dana Johnson
"...I obtained
mercy because I did it ignorantly in
unbelief."
-1 Timothy
1:13
Although I was formerly a
blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I
obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in
unbelief.
1. God's mercy-- the
gift of salvation from the judgment we deserve as sinners--
is a very personal thing. He has mercy on
individuals.
a. Mercy is
not a response to the individual's will or performance.
Instead, it has its beginning in the sovereign will and
purpose of God.
Romans
9:15-18 - For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on
whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on
whomever I will have compassion." 16So then it
is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God
who shows mercy. 17For the Scripture says to
Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up,
that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be
declared in all the earth." 18Therefore He has
mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He
hardens.
b. Individuals were
predestined in eternity past to receive God's mercy for
the glory of God.
Romans
9:23 - And that He might make known the riches of His
glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared
beforehand for glory.
2. God's mercy is
closely linked with other gifts bestowed by God: grace,
faith and love.
1
Timothy 1:14 - And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly
abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ
Jesus.
3. What did Paul mean
by his comment, "because I did it ignorantly in unbelief"?
Was he excusing his sin?
a. He did not
mean to excuse or minimize his sin. For indeed, he labels
himself the "chief of sinners.
b. Instead, he did
mean to explain his sin-- that it was conducted within
the condition common to all humanity: ignorance and
unbelief.
c. Who conducts a
campaign of terror against God's people with full
understanding and awareness of what he is doing and, we
know for a fact, will never obtain God's mercy?
Satan.
d. Unlike Satan,
Paul is a human and therefore, a potential object of
God's mercy. And, we know that God did indeed predestine
Paul to obtain mercy.
4. In conclusion,
Paul's conversion operates as a pattern and guide for others
after him:
1
Timothy 1:16 - However, for this reason I obtained mercy,
that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering,
as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for
everlasting life.
a. No one can
say his/her sin is too great for God's mercy.
b. No one earns
salvation. All humans are in the same condition of
ignorance and unbelief.
c. Paul's actual
conversion reveals vividly that God's mercy is
overpowering and effectual.
Acts
9:1-9 - Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder
against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high
priest 2and asked letters from him to the
synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were
of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them
bound to Jerusalem. 3As he journeyed he came
near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from
heaven. 4Then he fell to the ground, and heard
a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?" 5And he said, "Who are You,
Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the
goads." 6So he, trembling and astonished,
said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord
said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be
told what you must do." 7And the men who
journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but
seeing no one. 8Then Saul arose from the
ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But
they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9And he was three days without sight, and
neither ate nor drank.
(All
Scripture quoted is from the New King James
Version)
|