(1Ti 1:14)  “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”  Paul’s sincerity of heart spoke of his own wicked acts and then of God’s mercy (only the guilty need mercy). Now he is led to speak of God’s grace (favor bestowed that is not deserved). Truth: your sin brought the death of Jesus Christ. You need mercy to be saved. Truth: if the Lord does give you the gift of salvation, you receive something you do not deserve. That receiving is called “grace”.

(1Ti 1:13)  “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” He didn’t believe the Lord Jesus to have been the Christ and thus have risen from the grave. But many, if not most, do believe those things. Still they do not come to Christ. There is a big difference. Why should the Lord continue to offer one mercy who knows the great price so lovingly given so they might be saved?   

(1Ti 1:12)  “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;”  Ministers are people. They can be lifted up with pride. It is a great danger as people praise you for your leadership, or preaching and teaching ability, or personality. What we forget, is that the Lord has “enabled” us, giving us the means both physically and spiritually, to carry out His ministry. Instead of glorying, we should be humbled. Give the Lord the praise!  

(1 Tim 1:11)  “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.”   Here are two things it seems that even the Holy Spirit finds language limited in describing: the extent of how much the gospel means to the saved soul (glorious gospel) and the ability to form thanks and praise to the God Who gifts it (the blessed God)! May the saved soul find the need to express it in varying ways every day of their eternal life!

 (1 Tim 1:11)  “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.”  This same gospel has been entrusted to each of the saved, (Jud_1:3) “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  To share the gospel with some soul that faces an eternity of suffering is not only a duty but a privilege. 

 1Ti 1:8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; (9)  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (10)  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; (11)  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.”  The purpose of the law is to reveal that we need a Savior – Jesus. Don’t trust baptisms, church membership, nor good intentions. We each need to repent and ask the Lord to save our souls, turning away from our desires unto His desires. Then will the Lord save your soul

 (1Ti 1:7)  “Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.”  Law here speaks of actions to merit salvation, or the salvation already received from God. The Bible says we are saved through “grace”: salvation bestowed that we do not deserve. Even afterwards, we do not work (obey God’s Word) to deserve our salvation, but because we are thankful for having received it. Obedience to God’s Word is to express thankfulness and love for the Savior!