1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Hello and good morning friends and faithful listeners. My name 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: is Jen. I am the host of this podcast. Thank 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: you so much for tuning in as we discuss First 4 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: Timothy chapter one. All righty, grab your cup of coffee 5 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: or your cup of tea this morning, and also your 6 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: Bible out of the version that you prefer. We're going 7 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: to be finishing up First Timothy chapter one today talking 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: about this mission that Timothy is on and also how 9 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:34,160 Speaker 1: Paul is trying to encourage Timothy by sharing his own story. 10 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,840 Speaker 1: So we're going to get into Paul's testimony today, which 11 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to talking about because yes, probably many 12 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: people already know Paul's story, but we're going to go 13 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: more into depth with it today and talk about like 14 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: just how bad Paul really was before he met Jesus. 15 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,319 Speaker 1: So let's read First Timothy one twelve through twenty. I'll 16 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: be reading from the web. I thank him who enabled me, Christ, Jesus, 17 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service. 18 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: Although I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent, 19 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: However I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 20 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and 21 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 1: with love, which is in Christ Jesus. The saying is 22 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: faithful and worthy of all acceptance. That Christ Jesus came 23 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, 24 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first 25 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ might display all his patients for an example 26 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: of those who are going to believe in him for 27 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: eternal life. Now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, to 28 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever 29 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: and ever. Amen. I commit this instruction to you, my 30 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: child Timothy, according to the prophecies which were given to 31 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: you before, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 32 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: holding faith in a good conscience, which some, having thrust away, 33 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: made a shipwreck. Concerning the faith of whom our High 34 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: i'm Anas and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, that 35 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: they might be taught not to blaspheme so quick recap 36 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 1: before we begin. This letter was written to Timothy, as 37 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: the name suggests, who was a young man and one 38 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: of Paul's companions who traveled around with Paul and essentially 39 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: was a disciple of Paul. So Timothy is now old 40 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 1: enough and wise enough in spiritual matters to be a 41 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: teacher in his own right. So Paul asks Timothy to 42 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: stay behind in Ephesus so that Timothy can kind of 43 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: counteract some of the problems that were going on in 44 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: Ephesus at the time. Specifically, Judaizers who were legalistic Jews 45 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: were coming into Ephesus and telling people that they weren't 46 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: holy enough even though they believed in Jesus, that was 47 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: not enough to get them into Heaven. They also had 48 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: to follow the Old Testament laws. So Paul leaves Timothy 49 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: behind in Ephesus so that Timothy can spread the Gospel 50 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 1: the way it is supposed to be spread without all 51 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: of this other confusing garbage coming into the church essentially. 52 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: But the problem was it kind of seems like Timothy 53 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: did not want to be there, even based upon this 54 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: first chapter, because Paul has to urge Timothy several times 55 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,239 Speaker 1: to actually stay in Ephesus. And you can imagine, you know, 56 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: a young man by himself, presumably in Ephesus, would be 57 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: lonely and want to travel with Paul once again. You know, 58 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: Timothy had always traveled with Paul before and Paul being 59 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: on his fourth missionary journey probably sounded really appealing to Timothy, 60 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: who just knew that life. So there's some evidence he 61 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: didn't want to stay in Ephesus. He wanted to meet 62 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: up with Paul somewhere. But Paul says, no, Timothy, you 63 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: are needed in Ephesus. Even though you are young. You 64 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: know the Gospel. You can do this thing. And then 65 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: in verses twelve through seventeen, Paul talks about how evil 66 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: he used to be. And you might be like, why 67 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: does Paul go into this, like right here in this 68 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: letter to Timothy. Obviously Timothy already knows all of this well. 69 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: Paul wouldn't be writing it if there wasn't a specific 70 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: purpose for it. Don't forget Timothy probably didn't want to 71 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: be an Ephesis or felt unqualified to be there. Paul 72 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 1: goes into how bad he used to be to ease 73 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: Timothy's fears about unqualifications, because if anybody was unqualified, it 74 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: was Paul before he met Jesus. Verse twelve, I thank 75 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: him who enabled me Christ, Jesus, our Lord, because he 76 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: counted me faithful, appointing me to service. That verse is 77 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: actually really convicting to me because I've never once thanked 78 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: God for counting me faithful and appointing me to service. 79 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: Not once I've thanked Him for like bla things he's 80 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: given me. But I've never told God, Hey, God, I 81 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: am so thankful over the fact that you have given 82 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: me jobs to do at church. I am so thankful 83 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,239 Speaker 1: that you've given me service to do that benefits other people. 84 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 1: I've never once, I don't think, said those words to God. 85 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 1: And yet that is why Paul is thankful to God. 86 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: And you know, don't forget, Paul was not a rich man. 87 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: He was not one that we would look at as 88 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:33,599 Speaker 1: being particularly blessed earthly wise, like, he didn't have a 89 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 1: home that we know of. He was in prison multiple times, 90 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: he got beaten on several occasions, stoned on one particular occasion, 91 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: shipwrecked on a few occasions, bitten by snakes like. When 92 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: we look at Paul's life, we do not think of 93 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: him as being somebody blessed by God. We think of 94 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: him as a suffering servant in a sense. And yet 95 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: Paul was thankful to be a suffering servant. He says, 96 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: I am thankful to God because he counted me faithful 97 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: somebody as awful as me, He counted me faithful and 98 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: appointed me to this service. Although I used to be 99 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent verse thirteen. However I 100 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. In fact, 101 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: let's go back to Paul's story for those of you 102 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: who need a refresh. Before Paul knew Jesus, he used 103 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: to persecute Christians so badly he would send them to 104 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: their deaths. He was likely part of the Sanhedrin, which 105 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: was a Jewish court official who was able to cast 106 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,559 Speaker 1: votes based upon whatever trial was being heard, and Paul, 107 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: who hated Christians, would cast his vote for them to die. 108 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 1: Every single time one of them came into his courtroom. 109 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: He would go and find Christians. He would drag them 110 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: out of their houses in handcuffs, men, women, and children, 111 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: bring them to the Jewish court and cast his vote 112 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: for them to be put to death. This is how 113 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: much he hated Christians, and not only that, he used 114 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: to try to force people to denounce the name of Jesus. 115 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: So let's rate Acts twenty six nine through eleven. This 116 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: is Paul talking to King Agrippa and he's telling his 117 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: story to King Agrippa. Like his testimony, starting in verse 118 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: nine of Acts twenty six, Paul says, I myself most 119 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary 120 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. I also did 121 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: this in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the 122 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, 123 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: and when they were put to death, I gave my 124 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: vote against them, punishing them often in all the synagogues. 125 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them. 126 00:07:55,200 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: I persecuted them even to foreign cities. There it says 127 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: that Paul not only cast his vote against them, dragged 128 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: them to prison, and punished them in the synagogues, but 129 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: he also tried to make them blaspheme the name of 130 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: Jesus in verse eleven. And presumably if they didn't blasphem 131 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: the name of Jesus, he would throw them in prison 132 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: or try to get them killed. That is the hardest 133 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: part of persecution, and also the one thing persecutors always 134 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: try to make Christians do is to blaspheme the name 135 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: of Jesus, and to get Christians to stop worshiping Jesus, 136 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 1: and if they don't do it, they'll persecute them even 137 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,599 Speaker 1: more and kill them. In fact, I've done some of 138 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 1: my own personal research into Japanese history, specifically with Christians, 139 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: because for some reason the topic interests me a lot 140 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: and Japanese people back several hundred years ago during the 141 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: Edo period. I believe they used to persecute Christians so 142 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 1: badly that every single year there was like this festivity 143 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: where every person in these various villages would have to 144 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: come to the city center and step on like a 145 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: little picture of Jesus and the Virgin Mother. And if 146 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 1: they refused to step on those pictures, they would do 147 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: all sorts of terrible torture to these Christians. They would 148 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: like hang them upside down in like toilets, like things 149 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: of dung, They would rip off their fingernails, and all 150 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: sorts of really really nasty tortures that were done to 151 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: these Christians. But before the torture would take place, they 152 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: forced the Christians to blaspheme the name of Jesus by 153 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: stepping on a picture of him. And you can imagine, 154 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: you know, in Japan, these Christians who believe in Jesus 155 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: would either have to step on the picture and have 156 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: so much guilt over the fact that you are unable 157 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: to stand up for your faith, or you don't step 158 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: on the picture, get tortured to death and your family 159 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,079 Speaker 1: is without a mother, father, or a child. So the 160 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: people who are persecuting these Christians trying to get them 161 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 1: to blasphem Jesus's name, are putting them in impossible situations 162 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: where they either are guilty for the rest of their lives, 163 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: possibly thinking that they are damned to hell because of it, 164 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 1: or they are tortured to death and their family is 165 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: without a provider. That is the two options that people 166 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 1: who persecute Christians always put them in, and that is 167 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: the same with Paul. He would force these Christians to 168 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: blaspheme the name of Jesus, and if they did not 169 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: blaspheme Jesus's name, he would either try to put them 170 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: to death or throw them into prison. Quite honestly, Paul 171 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: was a really crappy guy. Like before he met Jesus, 172 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:59,079 Speaker 1: he was a crappy individual, but he understood this about himself, 173 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:01,680 Speaker 1: which is why he says the chief of sinners. You know, 174 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: he felt guilt. I am sure every single day for 175 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: how he treated those Christians. But the reason he received 176 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: mercy is because he did it ignorantly in unbelief. Now 177 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: that's not to say that those past sins Paul did 178 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 1: just don't matter anymore, that oh yeah, God's just gonna 179 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: wink his eye at it because Paul is now saved. 180 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: Absolutely not, Paul will stand in front of God and 181 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 1: give an account of his life the same as every 182 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: other Christian has to do. Those sins they still matter. 183 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: But because Paul did it in complete ignorance and unbelief 184 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: of Jesus, God had mercy on Paul. Because think about 185 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,839 Speaker 1: who Paul was. You know, he was a Pharisee above 186 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 1: all pharisees. He knew the Old Testament laws in and out. 187 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: He believed in God the Father. So when he hears 188 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: about these crist Christians coming in and worshiping this guy 189 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:08,559 Speaker 1: named Jesus, who is God the Father's son, Paul thinks 190 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 1: of that as blasphemy against God the Father. So Paul's 191 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: going out in ignorance and unbelief of Jesus persecuting these Christians. 192 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: And as you all know, Paul went to Damascus to 193 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: try to kill and torture some more Christians. On the 194 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: way to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Paul with this blinding 195 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 1: bright light. Paul literally became blind from it. Paul fell 196 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: on his face, and Jesus said, why are you persecuting me? Paul? 197 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 1: Why are you doing it? And after that, Paul believed 198 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: in Jesus obviously, because how could you not if Jesus 199 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: is standing right before you and you're like literally blinded 200 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: from his presence. Which, yeah, Paul obviously got his eyesight 201 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: back after that. But the point is God showed mercy 202 00:12:56,080 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: to Paul because of his ignorance and unbelief. Now, people 203 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: who know the Gospel message and refuse to do it, 204 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:08,679 Speaker 1: those people are not going to have the same mercy 205 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: from God because those people acted knowingly against God. They 206 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: were in rebellion against God. Paul was not exactly in 207 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: rebellion against God. Well, he was, but not in a 208 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: way that he understood. He thought he was doing something 209 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: for God the Father by going and killing these Christians. 210 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: That's what he believed. So God showed him the right path. 211 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,839 Speaker 1: But I am sure that until the day Paul died, 212 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: he had some guilt over the way he treated those Christians. 213 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 1: He probably thought about it every day of his life, 214 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: because he says right here in verse fifteen, the saying 215 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus 216 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 1: came into the world to save sinners, of whom I 217 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: am chief. People might say that they are the chief 218 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 1: of sinners, and there's like a false humility there. Paul 219 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 1: did not have a false humility when he said this. 220 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: I think he truly believed he was the chief of 221 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: sinners because he actually was a murderer and forced people 222 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: to blaspheme and destroyed families and put innocent people into prison. 223 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: He did all of those things. And it wasn't just 224 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: for a short period of time either, like he did 225 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: this for months and months and months before coming to 226 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: know Jesus. So when Paul says he's the chief of sinners, 227 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: he's not having false humility. He's not making it up. 228 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: He believes it and he knows it. He says, however, 229 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: for this cause, I obtained mercy that in me first, 230 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ might display his patience for an example of 231 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 232 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 1: This is why Paul is thankful to God for God 233 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: appointing him to service and counting him faithful because God 234 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: gave him a second chance. God showed him the light 235 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: in spite of how terrible Paul had been in his 236 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: life before Jesus, and he says, God did this for 237 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: the benefit of everybody who would hear the gospel message 238 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: from me, because I'm an example of Jesus Christ's patience 239 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: for everyone who will eventually believe in Jesus. I'm sure 240 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: there are people back in Paul's day who believed that 241 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: they were too far gone, that God just could not 242 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: accept them because they had done something too terrible. Paul's like, 243 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: you are not too far gone, because here is where 244 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: I was. And going back to Timothy's very possible insecurity 245 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 1: of being alone in Ephesus teaching people who are older 246 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: than him, says Timothy, if God appointed me the chief 247 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: of sinners worthy to preach the gospel, then you'll do 248 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: just fine. You're gonna do just fine. And right after 249 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: this in verse seventeen, when he thinks about God's amazing 250 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: mercy to him. Now, to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, 251 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory 252 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: forever and ever, amen. Now, Paul's kind of throwing some 253 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: shade on some Greek gods right here when he says this, 254 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:45,119 Speaker 1: because the Greek goddess Artemis was considered to be the eternal, 255 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: immortal invisible, and so Paul is throwing some shade on 256 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: Artemis by calling God alone the eternal, immortal and invisible, 257 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: which that would have been considered very in taller rent 258 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: actually in Greek culture to say that there is only 259 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 1: one God, which is what Paul says here. God alone 260 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: is wise. In other words, God alone is God. There 261 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: was tolerance in Greek culture for saying that one God 262 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 1: was more powerful than another god. But if you were 263 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: to say no, there is only one God, Greek people 264 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 1: were actually very irritated by that. But Paul doesn't care, 265 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: and so with this phrase he essentially throws shade on 266 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,959 Speaker 1: Artemis and pretty much every other Greek god that exists. Then, 267 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: in Verses eighteen through twenty, in conclusion of this chapter, 268 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,640 Speaker 1: Paul says, I commit this instruction to you, my child Timothy, 269 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: according to the prophecies which were given to you before 270 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: that by them you may wage the good warfare. I 271 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,199 Speaker 1: would say this entire chapter is summed up with encouraging 272 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: Timothy to keep going, to not give up, to not 273 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: feel insecure, but to be bold to spread the Gospel 274 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 1: to the city of Ephesus, And he kind of does 275 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,119 Speaker 1: that even here in verse eighteen. He's like, remember the 276 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: prophecies that were given to you before. And we don't 277 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: know if Timothy was a prophet, he very well could 278 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:13,959 Speaker 1: have been, and Paul's reminding him, like, Timothy, you're a 279 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: prophet who received prophecies from God, so live by them. 280 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,680 Speaker 1: Remember what you were told. Or Paul could be referring 281 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 1: to the Old Testament prophecies that all of us have 282 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: been given, and that Paul trained Timothy in to know 283 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 1: them and to preach the Gospel to Jewish people who 284 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: also knew the prophecies and relate them back to Christ. 285 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: How Jesus Christ fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies, 286 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: so he could be referring to that, or he could 287 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 1: be referring to prophecies that were given to Timothy by 288 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 1: somebody else, either by Paul or some other church member 289 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:51,640 Speaker 1: that we don't even know about. So we're not sure 290 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: what prophecies Paul is referring to here. But Timothy would 291 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: have known what Paul is talking about here. He says, 292 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:01,119 Speaker 1: hold faith and a good conscience, which some have thrust 293 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: away and made a shipwreck concerning the faith of whom 294 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 1: are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that 295 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: they might be taught not to blaspheme. So this Hymenaeus 296 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: guy is also talked about in Two Timothy Chapter two. 297 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,479 Speaker 1: Paul mentions his name again in verses sixteen through nineteen. 298 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: So here's what that says. Shun empty chatter, for it 299 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: will go further in ungodliness, and those words will consume 300 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philadus, men who 301 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: have aired concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is 302 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:38,959 Speaker 1: already passed, and overthrowing the faith of some. However, God's 303 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 1: firm foundation stands having this seal. The Lord knows who 304 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,879 Speaker 1: are his and that everyone who names the name of 305 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: the Lord depart from unrighteousness. So the Simonaeus guy was 306 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: bad news. He was going around saying that the resurrection 307 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: of the dead had already happened. Not to mention, he 308 00:19:55,480 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: was confusing people, And Paul says, even over throwing the 309 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 1: faith of certain people, And in one Timothy one, Paul 310 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: considers that blaspheming. So if you're purposely going around trying 311 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: to get Christians to not believe in Jesus or spreading 312 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: ideology that gets people to question their faith, Paul considers 313 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 1: that blaspheming. So he says, I delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander 314 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: to Satan that they might be taught not to blaspheme. 315 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 1: That's talking about ostracizing them from the church, which, interestingly enough, 316 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 1: we talked about church discipline on last Thursday's episode, So 317 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 1: let's read First Corinthians five one through five once again 318 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: and discuss what this says about church discipline. It is 319 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 1: actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and 320 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: such sexual immorality is not even named among the gentiles, 321 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: that one has his father's wife. You are arrogant and 322 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: didn't mourn instead that he who had done this deed 323 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,680 Speaker 1: might be removed from among you. For I'm certainly, as 324 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, 325 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: as though I were present, judged him who has done 326 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: this thing. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 327 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: When you are gathered together with my spirit, with the 328 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: power of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are to deliver 329 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 1: such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, 330 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: that the spirit might be saved in the day of 331 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: the Lord Jesus. So once again, this is talking about 332 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: this guy that was engaging in a sexual sin, and 333 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 1: he was a church member of the Corinthian Church. He 334 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:31,919 Speaker 1: was engaging in a sexual sin, specifically with his stepmother. 335 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: And so Paul heard about this from a far away 336 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,199 Speaker 1: distance and he's like, what the heck is happening in 337 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 1: corinth You know, I was just there. And so he 338 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,479 Speaker 1: sends this letter to the Corinthians and he's like, why 339 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 1: are you celebrating this guy who is living with his stepmom? 340 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 1: Even the Gentiles don't engage in sexual sin like that. 341 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: He's like, you should be mourning this guy instead, and 342 00:21:55,880 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: you should enact church discipline on this person, because you 343 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: are to deliver such a one as Satan for the 344 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:07,679 Speaker 1: destruction of the flesh. Now, when Paul talks about destruction 345 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: of the flesh, he's not talking about like our physical bodies. 346 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:16,359 Speaker 1: He's talking about fleshly desires. When a person is ostracized 347 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 1: from the church, it is discipline on that individual so 348 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: that they eventually come back to Jesus. That is the 349 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: main reason church discipline should be done for the benefit 350 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,359 Speaker 1: of the person being disciplined. There are so many times 351 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 1: in scripture where God talks about punishing his children and 352 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: how adversity leads to strength, And I mean, how many 353 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,360 Speaker 1: times have you known about that? Personally? When you go 354 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 1: through adversity, does it not make you closer to God 355 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: because you realize your need for an almighty savior. Some 356 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: of you may have found this podcast because you were 357 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:59,399 Speaker 1: going through something really dark and hard, and yet God 358 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: used that at adversity in your life to actually bring 359 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 1: you closer to Him. So God uses adversity for good 360 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: and the church is also supposed to do the same thing. 361 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 1: They are to discipline people who need discipline, specifically church members. Okay, 362 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:22,400 Speaker 1: not just like average churchgoers or people that only show 363 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 1: up once in a while. This is for an active 364 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 1: member of the church and it is to be done 365 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 1: for the good of that member. When they are sinning, 366 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: it is not good for them, it is not healthy 367 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:39,360 Speaker 1: for them. And if that person refuses to turn from 368 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: their sin when they're talked to by several different people 369 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 1: saying like, hey, you know you're sinning you need to stop. 370 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: If that person refuses, that's when church discipline happens and 371 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 1: that person is no longer welcome inside the church for 372 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: a period of time. This wasn't supposed to be a 373 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:01,400 Speaker 1: permanent solution. This was specifically to help that person get 374 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: back to Jesus. And the second they get back to 375 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 1: Jesus and they come to the church and they're like, hey, 376 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: you know I was wrong. I miss you guys. This 377 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: is my family. I realize my need for Jesus, and 378 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: I reject that sin I was doing. That's when the church, 379 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: with open arms, welcomes that person back in. And so 380 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: paul In one Timothy one enacted church discipline on Hymenaeus 381 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:33,119 Speaker 1: and Alexander, who are spreading blasphemes all over Ephesus. And 382 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: since Timothy is left behind in Ephesus, he's probably warning 383 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 1: Timothy about these two men, saying, look, there are some 384 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 1: there that are doing a lot of damage, so be 385 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 1: careful of them. But Timothy, I trust that you have 386 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: enough knowledge and spiritual wisdom to do this mission on 387 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 1: your own. Well, faithful listeners, thank you so much for 388 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: tuning into today's episode. I hope you've been enjoying our 389 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 1: time in Fir Timothy so far. Now don't forget that tomorrow. 390 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,120 Speaker 1: There is no regular scheduled episode. Right now, I am 391 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,719 Speaker 1: doing a separate podcast for the members and we are 392 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 1: going through the Book of the Psalms. So if you'd 393 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:14,640 Speaker 1: like to become a member and gain access to more 394 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: podcast episodes, then please click the link in the description 395 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 1: that says kofe and that will take you over there. 396 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 1: But of course, faithful members, please pray for this ministry. 397 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 1: That is the best way that this ministry can grow 398 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 1: is through your prayers. And if you ever have a 399 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 1: prayer quest you'd like me to pray for, please reach 400 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 1: out and I will pray for you for the week. 401 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 1: I'll write you down my little prayer journal and I 402 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:39,919 Speaker 1: actually have one now. I used to just have like 403 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:41,919 Speaker 1: a planner and I'd write everybody's name like up in 404 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,160 Speaker 1: the corner and like what I need to pray for 405 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: for the week. But now I have a prayer journal 406 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 1: planner that has like a section for prayers every single week. 407 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 1: It's kind of cool. So yeah, send those prayer requests 408 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 1: over so I can use my new prayer journal. Faith 409 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: listeners have a fantastic and wonderful rest of your day, 410 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: happy listening and God bless