Grace, Mercy, and Peace

Introduction to 1 Timothy                   July 28, 2011
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.  1 Timothy 1:1-2


Background:

This is the first of two letters Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the faith. It was  the first of the three inspired letters written, known as the Pastoral Epistles, with the letter to Titus being written second, and then last was the second letter to Timothy.

"Evidence points to Paul's writing 1 Timothy and Titus shortly after his release from his first Roman imprisonment (A.D.62-64), and 2 Timothy from prison during his second Roman imprisonment (A.D.66-67), shortly before his death," states The MacArthur Bible Commentary.

I didn't realize there has been controversy concerning who the actual author was. However, after reading several commentaries, evidence supports Paul as the aurthor. something else I had not thought about, was that instead of being written to a church, like his previous letters, this letter is written to a person, Timothy.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary states: 

After being released from his first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30), Paul visited several of the cities in which he had ministered, including Ephesus. Leaving Timothy behind to deal with problems that had arisen in the Ephesian church, such as false doctrine, disorder in worship, the need for qualified leaders, and materialism, Paul went on to Macedonia, from where he wrote Timothy this letter to help him carry out his task in the church.

Who was Timothy?
Timothy's name means "one who honors God," given by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois. These ladies were devout Jews who became believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and taught Timothey the OT Scriptures from his childhood. His father was a Greek who may have died before Timothy met Paul. [Acts 16-18 and 2 Timothy gives us this information, of which I am not going to state all of the verses.]

Timothy was from Lystra , a city in the Roman provice of Galatia (part of modern Turkey). Paul led Timothy to Christ probably during his ministry there on his first missionary journey. He chose Tim to accompany him whenever Paul revisited Lystra on his second missionary journey.  Probably Tim was very young, late teens or early twenties, had a godly reputation. So Timothy became Paul's disciple, friend, and colaborer for the rest of Paul's life, minisering with him in Berea, Athen, Corinth, and accompanying him to Jerusalem.

Timothy was with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment and went to Philippi after Paul's release. Timothy served as pastor in the church at Ephesus. He was imprisoned somewhere and released, according to Hebrews 13:23. Being asscociated with Paul for years meant Timothy learned Paul's theology, doctine, and more about Christ. (Whew! I think that's enough background for us now.)

What is some teachings found in 1 Timothy?
Instructions dealing with false doctrine and false teachers; importance of prayer; roles of men. women, and  leaders and pastor in the church; laity instructions concerning older, widow, elders, slaves; faithfulness and separation.

LET IT GLOW

Many years ago, one night after church services, we found a little dog who had been dropped off outside the building. Since it didn't have a collar on, we adopted the poor thing. (It was in the hot summer.) Our two children fell in love with it; they bathed her, fed her, and played with her. Because we showed her grace by bringing her home with us, we decided to name the dog Grace.
Grace even slept on the foot of my daughter's bed. (I think it was the only dog she became attached to.) We all enjoyed the new member of our family. Then one day, Grace disappeared. We never saw her again. Did she run away? Did someone take her? Did her former owner find her? We don't know to this day what happened to Grace. It was sad, but we have fond memories of that dog. We were glad that Grace came into our lives. Isn't it that way for Christians? We are glad God showed us grace?

Grace means to get what we don't deserve. As sinners, we don't deserve God's grace. We are sinners saved by grace.
Mercy means you don't get what you do deserve. We deserve seperation from a holy God, hell as punishment for our sins and rebellion against Him, but He shows us mercy instead.
Peace means to bind together that which has been separated. Christ is our peace and binds us to God.
[Reference: Liberty Bible Commentary]

How thankful I am for God's grace, mercy, and peace. Aren't you?


LET IT GROW
Paul called Timothy his own son in the faith. In the Greek, the word for son as it's used here is teknon, which means a child, a born one. Just as every young preacher needs a spiritual father, so so we as a a child of God need a heavenly Father.

Henry and Richard Blackaby say this in their devotional book Experiencing God Day-By-Day:

Grace is the unearned gifts the Father bestows on His children. His grace bless us with the riches of heaven.
Mercy is God's withholding the punishment we deserve because of our sinfulness. The consequences of our sin is death, yet Jesus paid this penalty for us. God is long-suffering and delays our just punishment so we'll repent and receive His gift of salvation.  (Rom. 6:23, 2 Peter 3:9)
Peace is the state of mind and heart we experience when we are confident of God's grace and mercy toward us. It sustains us even in the most difficult crises. (Phil. 4:7)

Do I, like Paul, ask for grace, mercy, and peace of God for my loved ones?

LET IT GO

Seek God's grace, mercy, and peace. Then show it to others.