Then & Now

September 1, 2021

Series: Misc Sermons

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Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

There are some people that you may know for many years and yet you’ve never heard their testimony. They may attend church and are active, yet never a verbal testimony. The Apostle Paul went around and told whomever he came in contact with his testimony. If God has called you to do something then you’ve been qualified to do it.

1 Timothy 1:13
We see Paul’s honesty coming out while he talked about what he used to be. He claimed to be a blasphemer.
There is also a difference between doing something on purpose versus ignorantly. God knows the difference between the two. There are a lot of people today that know better and yet claim not to. God knows the difference. Many know what the Word of God says yet they act and do the opposite of what it says. We will ALL be judged on what we know.

1 Timothy 1:14-15
Paul goes into what happened when Jesus came on the scene in his life. How many people went to the slaughter because of Paul? Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. One can trust in the truth that Jesus came to save the lost. It will never be false because it will always be true. Commit yourself to sow the seed. We should come to church expecting God to save yet many seem to have given up.

1 Timothy 1:16
Paul then goes back to explain that Jesus saved him for a purpose. Jesus does this to each and every person that He saves. No matter what a saved person does on this earth to try to repay Jesus, they will never repay that debt. Have you dug into the Word to seek out God? Did you share Jesus with each person you witnessed today? We are a sinful flesh and do things for ourselves selfishly. Paul felt that God saved him to prove to others that if He can save him then He could save anyone.

1 Timothy 1:17
If you’ve been saved then you have something that you’ll never get over. Paul begins this verse with praise. He was excited that God had brought him out of his sinful nature. Your testimony should excite you, thrill your soul. One thing that the church is missing today is people that are glad they are saved. Why do the saved sit as if they are depressed? The saved should be the happiest people in the world!