OUR FATHER WHO IS ETERNAL AND WISE

In 1 Timothy chapter 1 verses 12 - 20, the Apostle Paul recounts his former deeds as an insolent  blashemer and persecuter of the people of God and he thanks the Lord Jesus for for the mercy and abundant grace he was shown. The Lord Jesus counted Paul as faithful and entrusted  a ministry into his hands even though he was initially a violent and vociferous  sinner to  demonstrate Christ's longsuffering to believers.

 Paul emotionally declares that the eternal, immortal and invisible king and the only wise God was due honor and glory forever.

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Paul solemnly confers the authority of the ministry upon Timothy (the one he is addressing in his letter), in keeping with the prophecies that were made about him so that he (Timothy) would be able to fight the good fight of faith and with a good conscience and against the blasphemers and those who rejected the tenets of the faith and consequently suffered shipwreck of their faith. 

Paul revealed that there were some over whom he had removed the spiritual covering of the church so that they would be exposed unshielded to the kingdom of darkness so that they would cease taking for granted the immeasurable value of their place in the family of God.

Amen.

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