I couldn’t close down this first letter to Timothy without highlighting the last 5 words of Paul. He starts the letter with grace and he ends with it.
“Grace be with you all.” (1 Timothy 6 v 21)
Between the start and the finish the letter contains compelling truth. It hasnt pulled any punches. It is a letter dealing with truth, character, leadership, humility, separation from the world, warnings after warnings about false teaching, spiritual dangers which he lists are many and now he ends with grace.
This is essential.
Truth without grace becomes legalism. Grace without truth becomes sentimentalism. The gospel holds truth and grace in perfect tension.
It should be the hallmark of our Christian lives. We defend the faith not with arrogance but with humility, knowing we too rely entirely on the grace of God for our lives. We always hope for restoration more than compliance or victory.
We ourselves are products of grace. Like Timothy we were called, chosen, equipped and sustained by God’s grace.
Paul didn’t tell Timothy to get into an argument with the dividers of the faith. He told him to turn away, to be kind, to win their hearts not the argument.
Paul doesn’t write these 5 words to be polite. This is theology at its heart. The gospel isn’t about rules to be followed but it is about grace.
Are we known more for our principled lifestyle than our gracious one? Do people encounter a defender of truth or a releaser of grace?
Put this day through the filter of grace and watch what happens to your world.
Missions Paul 