We All Have a Past
By Rev. Heidi L. Barham | September 14, 2025
Click here to listen to the service
Read 1 Timothy 1:12 – 17 (NIV)
Our New Testament lesson this morning comes from the Lectionary... and I want to be clear... the text had already been selected and the theme for the sermon was already chosen before some extremely disturbing events took place over the course of this past week.
But that is simply how God works... we are often given what we need before we realize what we need it or that we really need it...
And so this morning, as we reflect on this passage from Paul’s letter to his young protégé, Timothy, I want to invite us to think on the subject WE ALL HAVE A PAST.
Unless you have been hiding under a rock and have not paid attention to any news reports or social media posts... then you likely know that on this past Wednesday, 31-year-old conservative political activist and media personality, Charlie Kirk, was brutally murdered as he stood on stage giving a speech at Utah Valley University.
Almost immediately after the tragic incident took place, the accusations and finger-pointing and blaming began... not all that surprising given the world that we are living in today.
But as I began to see post after post flooding social media... I felt something begin to stir in my spirit... there was a message that came through loud and clear... a word of caution, that we ALL need to tread lightly... a warning that seems to be in line with the theme for the sermon this morning... because the fact of the matter is that WE ALL HAVE A PAST... whether we choose to admit it or not.
However, as we take a look at this passage found in Paul’s letter to Timothy... what we find is Paul acknowledging his far from stellar past... owning up to the egregious things he had done... while at the same time, recognizing the amazing gift of grace that he had been given... all through the love of Christ.
Let’s listen to the first verses of this passage again as they are found in the Message Paraphrase:
Read 1 Timothy 1:12 – 17 (NIV)
Our New Testament lesson this morning comes from the Lectionary... and I want to be clear... the text had already been selected and the theme for the sermon was already chosen before some extremely disturbing events took place over the course of this past week.
But that is simply how God works... we are often given what we need before we realize what we need it or that we really need it...
And so this morning, as we reflect on this passage from Paul’s letter to his young protégé, Timothy, I want to invite us to think on the subject WE ALL HAVE A PAST.
Unless you have been hiding under a rock and have not paid attention to any news reports or social media posts... then you likely know that on this past Wednesday, 31-year-old conservative political activist and media personality, Charlie Kirk, was brutally murdered as he stood on stage giving a speech at Utah Valley University.
Almost immediately after the tragic incident took place, the accusations and finger-pointing and blaming began... not all that surprising given the world that we are living in today.
But as I began to see post after post flooding social media... I felt something begin to stir in my spirit... there was a message that came through loud and clear... a word of caution, that we ALL need to tread lightly... a warning that seems to be in line with the theme for the sermon this morning... because the fact of the matter is that WE ALL HAVE A PAST... whether we choose to admit it or not.
However, as we take a look at this passage found in Paul’s letter to Timothy... what we find is Paul acknowledging his far from stellar past... owning up to the egregious things he had done... while at the same time, recognizing the amazing gift of grace that he had been given... all through the love of Christ.
Let’s listen to the first verses of this passage again as they are found in the Message Paraphrase:
I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were violence and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.
Paul understood exactly Who deserved the credit for all that he was able to do... all that he was allowed to do. Paul was not naïve in recognizing that he needed to give thanks to God for the gift that had been given to him... the privilege of preaching and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ...
In spite of all that he had done before... he was grateful that he had not been disqualified because of his prior bad acts.
And here’s the good news... neither are we.
Whenever we get to a place where we feel that we are too inadequate for God to love us or bless us or use us... we can be confident that God can and will use us... not in spite of our past... but actually because of our past.
After all, who better to help an addict get on the road to recovery than someone who has walked that treacherous path before... just ask any one of our friends from the Ledgewood groups.
Who better to encourage a formerly incarcerated person that there is still hope for them than someone who has returned home and been able to make a fresh start?
Who better to help someone struggling with a battle against obesity than someone who has firsthand experience with learning how to eat to live rather than simply living to eat?
And who better to show someone that God loves them and forgives them than the one who has experienced that love and forgiveness for themselves... someone like the Apostle Paul.
In fact, listen again to the last verses of our text:
In spite of all that he had done before... he was grateful that he had not been disqualified because of his prior bad acts.
And here’s the good news... neither are we.
Whenever we get to a place where we feel that we are too inadequate for God to love us or bless us or use us... we can be confident that God can and will use us... not in spite of our past... but actually because of our past.
After all, who better to help an addict get on the road to recovery than someone who has walked that treacherous path before... just ask any one of our friends from the Ledgewood groups.
Who better to encourage a formerly incarcerated person that there is still hope for them than someone who has returned home and been able to make a fresh start?
Who better to help someone struggling with a battle against obesity than someone who has firsthand experience with learning how to eat to live rather than simply living to eat?
And who better to show someone that God loves them and forgives them than the one who has experienced that love and forgiveness for themselves... someone like the Apostle Paul.
In fact, listen again to the last verses of our text:
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Despite believing himself to be the worst of sinners... Paul could say unequivocally that he had been shown mercy... in order to bring God glory... for the express purpose that others would be drawn to Jesus.
And what the Lord did for Paul... He also does for us.
He picks us up from our lowest point and showers us with His grace... with His unmerited favor... but not because of anything we have done to deserve it... in fact the exact opposite is true... there is nothing we can do to earn God’s grace... but He gives it to us anyhow.
In the third chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23 – 24).
While a little further on in chapter six, we read, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
And then in his letter to the Ephesians, we read, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8 – 9).
In spite of any and all reports to the contrary, there is absolutely nothing we have ever done or can ever do that will earn us the right to have eternal life... it is a gift that has been given freely to us by God through the death of His Son Jesus on a cross at Calvary... simply because God loves us just that much.
As Paul wrote in Romans 5 (8), “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
And here is the best part, just as there is nothing that we can do to earn God’s grace and God’s love... there is nothing that we can do to lose it... nothing... not one thing.
In Romans 8 (38 – 39) we find this assurance from Paul, who writes:
And what the Lord did for Paul... He also does for us.
He picks us up from our lowest point and showers us with His grace... with His unmerited favor... but not because of anything we have done to deserve it... in fact the exact opposite is true... there is nothing we can do to earn God’s grace... but He gives it to us anyhow.
In the third chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23 – 24).
While a little further on in chapter six, we read, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
And then in his letter to the Ephesians, we read, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8 – 9).
In spite of any and all reports to the contrary, there is absolutely nothing we have ever done or can ever do that will earn us the right to have eternal life... it is a gift that has been given freely to us by God through the death of His Son Jesus on a cross at Calvary... simply because God loves us just that much.
As Paul wrote in Romans 5 (8), “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
And here is the best part, just as there is nothing that we can do to earn God’s grace and God’s love... there is nothing that we can do to lose it... nothing... not one thing.
In Romans 8 (38 – 39) we find this assurance from Paul, who writes:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So, what does all of this mean?
It means that God is well aware of the fact that WE ALL HAVE A PAST... but because of His great love for us... because of His grace and His mercy... WE ALL HAVE A FUTURE.
Jesus gave His life for each and every one of us... He took on the punishment that all of our sins deserved... He paid the price that none of us could afford to pay... and He did it so that we could and would have a future.
And not just any future, but a future with hope...
In Proverbs 23 (17 – 18), we read, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”
While in Jeremiah 29:11, we find these words, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
And we can hold onto the hope found in these Old Testament scriptures... as Paul wrote further on his letter to the Romans (15:4), “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
And as the writer of Hebrews encourages us, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
And as Peter wrote:
It means that God is well aware of the fact that WE ALL HAVE A PAST... but because of His great love for us... because of His grace and His mercy... WE ALL HAVE A FUTURE.
Jesus gave His life for each and every one of us... He took on the punishment that all of our sins deserved... He paid the price that none of us could afford to pay... and He did it so that we could and would have a future.
And not just any future, but a future with hope...
In Proverbs 23 (17 – 18), we read, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”
While in Jeremiah 29:11, we find these words, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
And we can hold onto the hope found in these Old Testament scriptures... as Paul wrote further on his letter to the Romans (15:4), “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
And as the writer of Hebrews encourages us, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
And as Peter wrote:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade (1 Peter 1:3 – 4).
In spite of the fact that WE ALL HAVE A PAST... we do have the promise of a future and that ought to give us all some hope... especially in the face of everything we are seeing play out in the world around us.
But I do need to go back to something that I said earlier... which is that we really do need to be careful and tread lightly to avoid the trap of trying to appropriate the seat of judgment by declaring who deserves what... because the fact of the matter is that seat of judgment belongs only to God.
In Matthew 7 (1 – 2), we find these words of Jesus, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
And remember as was mentioned in the sermon last week, over in John 8 (7), we find Jesus admonishing the religious leaders who were looking to stone a woman caught in the act of adultery. He told them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” I am willing to bet, you could hear a pin drop in the midst of those stones hitting the ground...
Because as you may recall me saying a time or two before... whenever we point a finger at someone else... there are three times as many fingers pointing back at us...
Which is why, regardless of what that other person may have done or not done... it is not up to us to serve as judge, jury, or executioner.
In fact, in Romans 12 (18 – 19) we read:
But I do need to go back to something that I said earlier... which is that we really do need to be careful and tread lightly to avoid the trap of trying to appropriate the seat of judgment by declaring who deserves what... because the fact of the matter is that seat of judgment belongs only to God.
In Matthew 7 (1 – 2), we find these words of Jesus, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
And remember as was mentioned in the sermon last week, over in John 8 (7), we find Jesus admonishing the religious leaders who were looking to stone a woman caught in the act of adultery. He told them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” I am willing to bet, you could hear a pin drop in the midst of those stones hitting the ground...
Because as you may recall me saying a time or two before... whenever we point a finger at someone else... there are three times as many fingers pointing back at us...
Which is why, regardless of what that other person may have done or not done... it is not up to us to serve as judge, jury, or executioner.
In fact, in Romans 12 (18 – 19) we read:
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
But then Paul takes things even further, saying in the next verse, “On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’” (Romans 12:20).
Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder if Paul realized just how hard it would be to do some of the things that he said we should do... but of course he did. He did not suggest that anyone should do anything that he was not willing to do himself...
He even wrote in his letter to the Philippians (4:8 – 9):
Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder if Paul realized just how hard it would be to do some of the things that he said we should do... but of course he did. He did not suggest that anyone should do anything that he was not willing to do himself...
He even wrote in his letter to the Philippians (4:8 – 9):
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Or as it reads in the Message:
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
In other words, we can all take a page out of Paul’s book and stop looking back at all the “stuff” we have done wrong... and instead look ahead to all that God has in store for us.
Yes, WE ALL HAVE A PAST but because of God’s grace... we also have a future... one that is filled with hope in the promise that God has made to never leave us nor forsake us...
And regardless of what the circumstances may look like around us... we can be at peace... because as Jesus encourages us in John 16:33 (MSG), “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
And that really is good news today... especially in light of everything we have been witnessing lately... thank God for Jesus!
So, let me leave us with this thought... in his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for? Pastor Rick Warren writes, “We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it” (2002, p. 28).
Let me suggest, that although WE ALL HAVE A PAST... God’s amazing grace unlocks the prison doors of that past which have kept us bound for so long... and because of Jesus’ sacrifice on that cross we have been set free from the chains of the past... and, “...if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Just yesterday, I came across a quote from the late Adrian Rogers in one of my daily devotionals which said, “Freedom in Christ is not the right to do what we want but the power to do what we ought.”
Because of God’s love for us we have been given access to a future filled with hope... and now it is up to us to make the most of that hope-filled future by sharing that gift of grace with others... sharing the good news about a living Savior... as we live out His command to love God and the people of God...
And even when it feels like it is the absolute hardest thing for us to do... you know to love those folks who we think are so unlovable... we can still do it... it is because of God’s amazing grace that we have been given the power to do what we ought to do... to do what Jesus would do... trusting that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).
And it is with that thought in mind that I want to invite us to stand now and join in singing our Hymn of Discipleship: Amazing Grace #546.
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Yes, WE ALL HAVE A PAST but because of God’s grace... we also have a future... one that is filled with hope in the promise that God has made to never leave us nor forsake us...
And regardless of what the circumstances may look like around us... we can be at peace... because as Jesus encourages us in John 16:33 (MSG), “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
And that really is good news today... especially in light of everything we have been witnessing lately... thank God for Jesus!
So, let me leave us with this thought... in his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for? Pastor Rick Warren writes, “We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it” (2002, p. 28).
Let me suggest, that although WE ALL HAVE A PAST... God’s amazing grace unlocks the prison doors of that past which have kept us bound for so long... and because of Jesus’ sacrifice on that cross we have been set free from the chains of the past... and, “...if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Just yesterday, I came across a quote from the late Adrian Rogers in one of my daily devotionals which said, “Freedom in Christ is not the right to do what we want but the power to do what we ought.”
Because of God’s love for us we have been given access to a future filled with hope... and now it is up to us to make the most of that hope-filled future by sharing that gift of grace with others... sharing the good news about a living Savior... as we live out His command to love God and the people of God...
And even when it feels like it is the absolute hardest thing for us to do... you know to love those folks who we think are so unlovable... we can still do it... it is because of God’s amazing grace that we have been given the power to do what we ought to do... to do what Jesus would do... trusting that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).
And it is with that thought in mind that I want to invite us to stand now and join in singing our Hymn of Discipleship: Amazing Grace #546.
