1 Timothy 1-3
Transformation
Starting in Chapter 1, verse 8, we read that the Law was given to show us that we are sinners and law breakers in need of two things. First, we must realize and admit that according to God’s Law we are lawbreakers. Second, we need to understand that the only remedy for breaking God’s law is to ask God for forgiveness. Forgiveness is the only way sin; (missing the whole goal and scope of life,) can be remedied. The sad reality is that as long as we are in this body we will at times continue to sin because we have a sin nature. The blessed reality is that when we understand what sin is and seek God, we no longer are missing the whole goal and scope in life. Understanding the whole goal and scope in life begins with a relationship with God. Having a relationship with God is by far the most important thing we can do because everything pertaining to life stems from Him.
Many people deny they are sinners or compare themselves with others who are “worse sinners.”
They usually rationalize their sin by saying something like, “sure I have made some mistakes but I’m not like that person.” “I’m a good person.” Others are quick to point out that their sin was a result or response to what someone did, or something that happened to them. One of the most difficult sins to admit to comes from arrogant pride. Pride blinds us to who we are and what we are doing. Pride also makes the heart so hard that we will not accept the fact that we are a law beaker according to God’s law.
All of the above are man-made remedies that lack one key thing. Man-made remedies are a poor replacement for a relationship with God. Without a relationship with God we miss the whole goal and scope in life. As we read in a previous study one of the Greek words translated as a sin that leads to death in 1John 5:16 means missing the whole goal and scope of life. This makes it clear that even if we attempt to be a good person but do not have a relationship with God we are still dead in our trespasses and sin. We have “missed the mark in our relationship with God” which is the definition of another word translated “sin.” From that definition we can see this sin leads to missing the whole goal and scope of life if we are not careful.
Jesus died for our sins and forgiveness can only be had from Him. John, in 1 John 2:2, made it clear that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. The sin He died for is missing the whole goal and scope of life. No one is excluded from the offer of forgiveness for our sin because God desires a relationship with each and every one of us.
It is important to understand that this is all about the relationship with God. It is from a relationship with God that transformation comes. Paul describes his transformation starting in verse 12 of Chapter 1. In this, and the verses that follow, Paul describes how God transformed his life. That transformation was evident in Paul and should be evident in us.
To be honest, I was a prideful type of sinner who considered himself a good guy relatively speaking, or so I thought. In fact after becoming a believer I thought that I didn’t have much of a testimony about how God had transformed my life. But as I walked with the Lord, He showed me that the area that needed transformation was in the area of my thinking. My relationship with the Lord began to develop and grow through reading the Bible continually, going to church, and Bible studies. From doing these I developed a desire to learn God’s ways and plan for my life. I began to see that how I thought about myself was blinding me to the depth of my sin that God had forgiven. I, like Paul, was the worst of sinners because I had missed the whole goal and scope of life. In this we are all on equal ground.
Transformation begins with a relationship with God and that relationship begins when we ask Him to forgive us of our sins. Transformation progresses when we surrender our will and start to listen to our Father in Heaven speak to us through the Holy Spirit He has given to be with us. Ephesians 1:13&14
Be Forgiven. Be surrendered. Be transformed!
Pastor Dave