Women In The Ministry: Paul’s Doctrinal Order Shows Faithful Women Labouring In The Gospel Without Taking The Offices God Gave To Men

Right now, debates are raging all across the professing Church as to what is, and is not, the role of women in the Church of Jesus Christ. Many of these heated discussions are really just people responding primarily from their feelings and prejudices rather than from the revealed word of God. Let the church honour faithful women without altering church office. Let men stop hiding from responsibility and qualify themselves for leadership. Let deacons be what Paul said they must be. Let women serve where God has placed them with joy, strength, and reward. And let the whole church bow to the final authority of the written word of God. Amen? My Sunday Servuce message is entitled “Women In The Ministry”, the first in a new series we will explore Sunday mornings and in the Sunday night Radio Bible Study as well.

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3 (KJB)

YOU ARE INVITED: Come and be a part of our live and in-person Sunday Service starting at 11:00AM at the Bible Believers Church at the Bookstore in Palatka, Florida.

SUNDAY SERVICE STUDY NOTES: Women In The Ministry, Part 1

Women In The Ministry, Part 1

Main Text

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3 (KJB)

The New Testament honors faithful women in ministry, but it does not establish women as ordained deacons in the church. Paul’s order is clear: women may serve, labour, help, teach in proper order, support the gospel, and be highly commended by the apostle, but the official church offices of bishop and deacon are given with male qualifications.

Application

A Bible-believing church must never despise the labour of godly women in the gospel ministry, but neither may it rewrite Paul’s doctrine to satisfy modern confusion. The answer is not to silence faithful women from all service, and it is not to place them into offices God did not give them. The answer is to let every member of the body serve according to the order of the Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:22-27 (KJB)

I. Paul Gives The Office Of Deacon To Qualified Men

“Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.” 1 Timothy 3:12 (KJB)

Paul does not leave the office of deacon undefined. He gives qualifications, and those qualifications include being “the husbands of one wife” and ruling “their children and their own houses well.” That language is not accidental, cultural, or optional. It places the office of deacon in the same masculine household order as the office of bishop. The deacon is not merely someone who helps around the church; he is a qualified man entrusted with recognized service under the authority and order of the local assembly.

The modern church often tries to separate service from Scripture, as though usefulness alone qualifies someone for office. But Paul never does that. A man may be willing, talented, energetic, and popular, and still not be qualified. Likewise, a woman may be faithful, godly, fruitful, and deeply useful, and still not be given the office of deacon. The issue is not value, the issue is order.

II. Phebe Was A Servant, Not An Ordained Female Deacon

“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:” Romans 16:1 (KJB) – read all of the chapter.

Phebe is one of the strongest examples of a faithful woman in Paul’s ministry circle. Paul commends her by name. She was a servant of the church at Cenchrea, and that is a high commendation. She was trusted, useful, faithful, and worthy of the church’s help and reception.

But the King James Bible does not call Phebe a deacon. It calls her “a servant of the church.” That matters because words matter. God preserved His words, not His “message” The word may be connected to service, but Paul’s doctrinal qualifications for the office are not found in Romans 16; they are found in 1 Timothy 3. Romans 16 shows her faithful service. It does not install her into ordained church office.

The Bible believer should be careful here. We should not downgrade Phebe into nothing, and we should not promote her into something the Scripture does not say. She was a servant, a succourer, and a faithful helper in the ministry. A “succourer “ is one that, according to Webster’s 1828, is one that provides relief and help, and a deliverer. That is honourable enough without changing the Bible.

Look at this amazing honour that Jesus gave to a woman in the “gospel ministry” that He gave to none of the apostles.

“And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Mark 14:6-9 (KJB)

III. The Wives Of Deacons Must Also Be Spiritually Qualified

“Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.” 1 Timothy 3:11 (KJB)

Paul inserts this verse right in the middle of the deacon qualifications because the home life of a deacon matters. His wife is not irrelevant to his ministry. She must be grave, not a slanderer, sober, and faithful in all things. Why? Because the deacon’s service touches the church, the saints, the home, the poor, the widows, and the practical burdens of ministry.

Some try to make this verse mean “women deacons,” but the King James Bible gives the plain reading: “their wives.” The context then continues immediately with the deacon being “the husband of one wife.” Paul is not creating a female office here. He is showing that the wife of a deacon must not undermine the ministry by gossip, instability, worldliness, or unfaithfulness. A man’s public ministry can be damaged by disorder in his private house. Paul’s church order does not merely examine a man’s platform; it examines his household.

IV. Women Laboured Mightily In The Gospel Without Taking Church Office

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3 (KJB)

Paul had no problem commending women who laboured in the gospel. Euodias and Syntyche laboured with Paul. Phebe served the church. Priscilla helped in the work with Aquila. Mary bestowed much labour. Tryphena and Tryphosa laboured in the Lord. Persis laboured much in the Lord.

That should end the false charge that biblical church order makes women useless. It does not. Godly women in the New Testament were active, valuable, remembered, and commended. They served the saints, helped gospel workers, hosted churches, taught younger women, assisted in private instruction in proper order, and bore burdens in the ministry. But Paul’s commendation of their labour never cancels Paul’s doctrine of church office. Labour is not the same as headship. Help is not the same as oversight. Service is not the same as ordained authority. The church gets into trouble when it confuses those categories.

V. Paul’s Restriction Is Against Authority Over Men, Not Against All Ministry

“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:12 (KJB)

This is the verse the modern church does not want, but it is still in the Bible. Paul does not forbid women from serving the Lord. He does not forbid them from prayer, testimony, hospitality, discipleship, mercy, teaching younger women, or helping in gospel work. What he forbids is a woman teaching or usurping authority over the man in the assembly.

That means the issue is not whether women can minister. They can and they did. The issue is whether women may take the ruling, authoritative, doctrinal offices of the church. Paul’s answer is no.

The Bible’s order is not anti-woman. It is anti-confusion. It protects men from laziness, women from misplaced burdens, and the church from rebellion against the written word.

VI. God’s Order Protects The Church From Confusion

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJB)

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJB)

When Paul gives church order, he is not trying to suppress life in the body. He is trying to preserve peace, doctrine, authority, and edification. Confusion enters when the church starts measuring ministry by ability alone instead of obedience. A woman may be gifted, but giftedness is not the qualification for office. A man may be willing, but willingness is not the qualification either. God has an order.

A church that follows Paul’s doctrine will have men leading, women serving, saints edified, doctrine protected, and the gospel advanced. A church that rejects Paul’s doctrine may still have activity, but it will not have biblical order.

Closing Challenge

“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 (KJB)

The question is not, “Can women be useful in the ministry?” The Bible answers that with a resounding yes. The question is not, “Did Paul value women who laboured in the gospel?” He absolutely did. In fact, I will go so far as to say without those women, Paul could never have gotten done all the things God used him to do. So the question is, “Did Paul establish female deacons as an ordained church office?” The answer from the King James Bible is no.

Let the church honour faithful women without altering church office. Let men stop hiding from responsibility and qualify themselves for leadership. Many churches are run by women because the men have abdicated their God-given positions. Let deacons be what Paul said they must be. Let women serve where God has placed them with joy, strength, and reward. And let the whole church bow to the final authority of the written word of God.

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJB)

The Bible position is balanced and plain: faithful women are servants in the work, but ordained deacons are qualified men. That is not tradition, or preferring men over women, or any of that nonsense. That is Paul’s doctrinal order for the church.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

• HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Little Children In The Bible Show Us The Whole Path Of Faith From Coming To Christ, To Being Formed By Christ, To Abiding Until He Comes. That’s Faith Like A Child

Faith like a child is not weak faith, ignorant faith, or blind religious sentiment; it is the right kind of faith because it comes to Christ with empty hands and a dependent heart. When the Lord Jesus said, “Suffer little children to come unto me,” He showed us that the doorway is not pride, performance, intellect, ritual, or religious self-confidence, but simple trust in the One who calls. A child does not negotiate terms, present qualifications, or boast in achievement; a child simply comes because he is invited and because he believes the one calling him is good. That is the beginning of true faith: not confidence in the flesh, but helpless dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ. But childlike faith does not end with merely coming to Christ; it continues as Christ is formed in the believer and the believer abides in Him until He appears.

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16 (KJB)

SUNDAY SERVICE STUDY NOTES: Faith Like A Child

Faith Like A Child

Little Children: From Coming To Christ To Being Ready At His Coming

Main Texts

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16 (KJB)

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19 (KJB)

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28 (KJB)

The Bible presents a spiritual progression in these three uses of “little children.” The Bible uses the phrase “little children” to denote actual little children who are seeking to come to Jesus, and it also uses that phrase to denote the “little children” that are formed, in people of any age, through the new birth.

First, the little children are called to come to Christ. That is the beginning. No one enters the kingdom through pride, religious performance, self-righteousness, or human merit. The child comes empty-handed, dependent, trusting, and helpless.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJB)

Second, the little children must have Christ formed in them. Paul is not dealing with unsaved pagans in Galatians 4:19, but with believers who had been turned aside by legalism. They had begun in the Spirit, but were being tempted to be made perfect by the flesh. Paul travailed over them because doctrine matters, grace matters, and Christ must be formed in the believer.

Third, the little children are told to abide in Him until He appears. John brings the thought to the Judgment Seat and the appearing of Jesus Christ. It is possible for a saved person to be ashamed at His coming, not because salvation is lost, but because fellowship, fruit, doctrine, and testimony were neglected. We cannot lose our salvation, but we can lose our inheritance.

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Colossians 3:22-25 (KJB)

In the case of a Christian who might have lived in such a way as to lose their inheritance, you would need to plead the “sure mercies of David” before the Lord.

“God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.” Acts 13:33,34 (KJB)

“Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:2,3,7 (KJB)

Come to Christ → Christ formed in you → Abide in Christ until He appears

That is reception, formation, and expectation.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 (KJB)

Application

I. The Child Must First Come To Christ

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16 (KJB)

The first issue is not religion, church attendance, moral reform, or personal improvement. The first issue is coming to Christ. A child does not come with a résumé. A child does not come boasting. A child comes because he is called, welcomed, and received.

This is the simplicity of salvation. The sinner comes to Jesus Christ by faith, with nothing to offer and everything to receive.

“Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.”

Doctrinal Point: Salvation begins with helpless dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, not confidence in the flesh.

II. The Child Must Then Be Formed By Christ

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19 (KJB)

Paul calls the Galatians “my little children” because he had spiritual responsibility for them. But they were in trouble. They had been pulled toward law-keeping, religious bondage, and fleshly performance after having begun in grace.

Christ being “formed” in them speaks of more than profession. It speaks of doctrine taking root. Grace replacing bondage. The inner man being shaped by the truth of Christ according to Paul’s gospel.

Doctrinal Point: The saved person must grow beyond merely being brought to Christ; Christ must be formed in him through sound doctrine, grace, and the renewing of the mind.

III. The Child Must Abide Until Christ Appears

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28 (KJB)

John brings the child of God face to face with the appearing of Jesus Christ. This is not merely sentimental language. This is accountability language. A believer may have confidence at His coming, or he may be ashamed.

The issue is abiding. Remaining in fellowship, continuing in truth, and not being seduced by antichrists, false doctrine, worldliness, and spiritual drift.

Doctrinal Point: The Christian life is lived in view of the appearing of Jesus Christ, and the believer should desire confidence, not shame, at His coming.

Closing Challenge

The connection between these three verses is not accidental. The Holy Spirit shows us the whole path of the child of God.

The little child comes to Christ.
The little child has Christ formed in him.
The little child abides in Christ until He appears.

Many are content to say they came to Christ, but they resist being formed by Christ. Others begin well, but fail to abide. The Bible calls the believer to all three.

So the question is not only, Have you come to Christ?

The deeper questions are:

• Is Christ being formed in you?
• Are you abiding in Him?
• Will you have confidence when He appears, or will you be ashamed before Him at His coming?

The Lord does not merely call little children to come near. He calls them to grow in grace, stand in truth, abide in Him, and be ready when He appears. Whenever that may be.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

• HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Paul Never Forgot That He Had Persecuted The Church, But He Refused To Let His Past Become Greater Than The Grace Of God

Paul’s testimony is one of the greatest encouragements in the entire word of God, because Paul is not presented to us as a man who had no past. He is presented as a man with a terrible past, a religious past, a violent past, a Christ-rejecting past — and yet a man who found mercy in Jesus Christ. That is what makes Paul’s testimony so powerful. He was not merely a sinner who lived carelessly in the world. He was a sinner who sinned while thinking he was serving God. He was religious, zealous, educated, separated, serious, and completely wrong. Saul of Tarsus had Bible, religion, tradition, authority, and zeal — but he did not have Jesus Christ.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJB)

Paul never forgot what he was when Jesus Christ found him. He was not looking for the Lord. He was not seeking truth. He was breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. When Paul says he was “the least of the apostles,” he is not denying his apostleship. He is remembering the mercy that made him an apostle. He knew he was called by the risen Christ, but he also knew he had once persecuted the church of God. This is why he calls himself the “least of all saints”, and the “chief of sinners”. Paul’s authority was real. His calling was real. His office was real. But none of it produced pride in him, because grace always points back to the One who gave it. If God can do all that that through Paul, he can do it through you, too. If you are discouraged today, this message will give you a real hope that God can give you a better future.

SUNDAY SERVICE STUDY NOTES: Chief Of Sinners

Chief Of Sinners

“For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” 1 Corinthians 15:9 (KJB)

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” Ephesians 3:8 (KJB)

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJB)

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13,14 (KJB)

I. Paul Remembered What He Had Been

Paul never tried to rewrite his testimony. He had been a persecutor, a blasphemer, and injurious. He had dragged believers out, consented to the death of Stephen, and fought against the very Lord who would later save him.

“Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” 1 Timothy 1:13 (KJB)

Paul did not hide his past, but neither did he let his past define his future. He remembered it only as a monument to the mercy of God.

Application

Some sinners think they are too far gone. Some Christians think they have ruined everything beyond repair. Some carry memories that still accuse them when they lay their head on the pillow at night. But Paul’s life says otherwise.

If God could save Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor of Christians, He can save anyone. If God could put Paul into the ministry after what Paul had done, then no sinner should ever say, “There is no hope for me.”

Closing Challenge

Do not let the devil preach your past louder than Christ preaches His blood.

II. Paul Humbled Himself Under Grace

Paul’s spiritual progression was downward in self and upward in Christ.

He said:

• “I am the least of the apostles.”
• “I am less than the least of all saints.”
• “I am chief of sinners.”

That was not despair. That was humility born from grace. Paul knew exactly what he had been, but he also knew exactly what Christ had done.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly then they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10 (KJB)

Application

Grace does not make a man proud. Grace makes a man useful.

Paul did not say, “Because I sinned so badly, I cannot serve God.” He said, in effect, “Because God had mercy on me, I will spend my life preaching the One who saved me.”

The same grace that saves the sinner also strengthens the servant.

Closing Challenge

Your past may explain where grace found you, but it does not have the authority to cancel what God has called you to do now.

III. Paul Refused To Be Chained To What Was Behind Him

This is the missing piece:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13,14 (KJB)

Paul had much to forget.

• He had the memory of persecuting the church.
• He had the memory of opposing Christ.
• He had the memory of wasted years in religion.
• He had the memory of blood, rage, blindness, and pride.

But Paul did not live looking backward. He looked forward. He reached forward. He pressed forward. This does not mean Paul denied what he had done. It means he refused to let what he had done become greater in his mind than what Christ had done for him.

Application

There are sinners who need to hear this plainly: you cannot undo yesterday, but Jesus Christ can save you today.

There are Christians who need to hear this just as plainly: you cannot serve God while dragging the chains of forgiven sin behind you as though the blood of Christ was not enough.

Paul did not forget his past by pretending it never happened. He forgot it by refusing to let it control the race set before him.

Closing Challenge

Are you reaching forth unto those things which are before, or are you still reaching backward into the graveyard of sins Christ already judged at Calvary?

IV. Paul’s Past Became A Testimony, Not A Tomb

Paul’s sin was great, but God’s grace was greater. Why did Jesus chose Saul to be the leader of the Church? Because He wanted to give us a living example of the power of the grace of God. He took the worst person He could find, a man whose whole live was devoted to killing the followers of Jesus Christ, and saved him and showed him grace.

“I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.” Acts 22:3-5 (KJB)

“And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 1:14 (KJB)

That phrase “exceeding abundant” is the answer to every sinner who thinks he has sinned too much, fallen too far, or waited too long. Paul was not merely forgiven quietly in a corner. God made him a public display of long-suffering mercy.

“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” 1 Timothy 1:16 (KJB)

Paul became a pattern. His life says: “Look what Christ can do with the chief of sinners.”

Application

That is the encouragement for sinners.

• The drunkard can be saved.
• The blasphemer can be saved.
• The religious hypocrite can be saved.
• The immoral sinner can be saved.
• The bitter rebel can be saved.
• The backslider can be restored.
• The ashamed believer can get back up and press toward the mark.

Paul’s past did not become his excuse. It became his pulpit.

Closing Challenge

Will you let your past be the place where the devil buries you, or the place where God displays His mercy?

V. Paul Pressed Toward The Mark

Paul did not merely stop looking back. He started pressing forward. Ceasing to do a negative resets you back to zero, and that’s good but not good enough. Once you are able to stop living in the negative, there must be a pressing forward into the positive!

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 (KJB)

That word “press” matters. Paul’s life was not passive. He ran. He reached. He laboured. He endured. He followed Christ with urgency. Grace did not make Paul careless. Grace made Paul determined.

Application

The answer to a sinful past is not self-pity. It is not denial. It is not pretending sin was harmless. It is bringing it under the blood of Jesus Christ and then getting up to follow the Lord.

The sinner needs salvation.
The saved man needs cleansing.
The discouraged servant needs to press on.
The ashamed believer needs to stop staring at the ashes and start looking at Christ.

Closing Challenge

You cannot run today’s race while living in yesterday’s failure.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1,2 (KJB)

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

• HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB