Daily Scripture Reading 1Timothy 1:1-20

There are Christians in our churches today who began serving Jesus later in life, after living a life full of sin, rebellion, law-breaking, drug addiction, and/or sexual perversion. While those people now have the joy of Christ, they also have many regrets about their previous lifestyle choices. I assume they wish they had made better choices when they were young.

Today, we will start reading 1Timothy. In the first chapter, Paul recounted his previous life as a persecutor of the church. He had regrets, but he also understood that Christ used his previous life for something good. That can be an encouragement to fellow believers today who struggle with remorse over decisions they made earlier in life.

1Tim. 1:1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, our hope,

1Tim. 1:2 ¶ To Timothy, my genuine child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul wrote this letter to Timothy. Paul crossed paths with Timothy at the beginning of his second missionary journey. Timothy began traveling with Paul and often visited churches on behalf of Paul to minister, deliver messages, and solve problems.

1Tim. 1:3 ¶ As I exhorted you when going to Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may command certain ones not to teach a different doctrine,

When Paul wrote this letter, Timothy was in Ephesus. This verse tells us why Paul wrote this letter. He wrote it to give Timothy instructions regarding what he was supposed to do in Ephesus. The first instruction was to command certain ones not to teach a different doctrine.

1Tim. 1:4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the stewardship from God which is by faith.

1Tim. 1:5 But the goal of our command is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and an unhypocritical faith.

As we see in other passages in the Bible, love is paramount. However, we need to have a Biblical definition of love, not a worldly definition of love. Our culture believes that love is merely an emotion, having romantic feelings for another person, or having affinity and concern for a friend or family member. Jesus taught us that the greatest love is giving your life for your friend. Love is not merely an emotion, it is a self-sacrificial action.

1Tim. 1:6 For some, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,

1Tim. 1:7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

1Tim. 1:8 ¶ But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

1Tim. 1:9 knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and godless, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

1Tim. 1:10 for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,

Verses 9-10 list actions that are wrong. Notice the inclusion of sexual immorality and homosexuality. Modern culture is working hard to normalize sexual perversion. However, the Bible is clear that homosexuality is wrong.

Having said that, this list of sins also includes lying. Think about the reality that lying appears in a list that includes murder, kidnapping, and homosexuality.

1Tim. 1:11 according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

1Tim. 1:12 ¶ I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He regarded me faithful, putting me into service,

1Tim. 1:13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;

Paul’s actions against Christ, when he was known as Saul, are recorded in Acts 7-9. His conversion to Christianity is recorded in Acts 9.

Note the word “mercy”. Paul knew he did not deserve salvation.

1Tim. 1:14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

1Tim. 1:15 It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.

1Tim. 1:16 Yet for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all His patience as an example for those who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life.

Notice the word “mercy” again. Christ extended mercy to Paul in order to demonstrate His patience.

I assume Paul felt remorse for how he had persecuted Christ before he was a Christian. Having said that, this verse tells us Paul also knew that something good came out of his being a persecutor. Paul is proof that anyone can leave behind a life of sin and become a Christian.

There are many Christians in our churches today who lived very sinful, degenerate lives before they began following Jesus. While they now experience the joy of being saved, they also have residual scars from their past sinful actions. This passage can be an encouragement to those who feel remorse about their past. Just as Jesus used Paul’s past and conversion as proof of the patience and mercy of Jesus, so too modern Christians who come from a background of lawlessness, sexual perversion, and addiction serve as proof that Christ can save anyone.

1Tim. 1:17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

This verse states some clear facts about God. He is immortal and invisible. He is the only God.

1Tim. 1:18 ¶ This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight,

1Tim. 1:19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

1Tim. 1:20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

There are many believers today who lived very sinful lives before they became a Christian. I assume they live with a lot of regret about decisions they made early in life. Paul also made mistakes when he was young, but he also knew Jesus used his conversion as proof that Jesus is full of mercy and patience.

Who are some people you know who lived very ungodly lives before becoming a believer?

How can Christ use their sinful background to accomplish something good?

Who are some people who believe they are too sinful to become Christians?

How can you use the example of Paul and others to convince them that on one is beyond being saved?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”