Living In A Pagan Society Series

We continue our study of our new message series on the Letters to Timothy. Please open your Bibles to 1st Timothy 1. Read along with me again 1 Timothy 1:1-4…..

Paul was called by Jesus Christ to be an apostle to the Gentiles (to Non-Jews) ; we note this in v1: Paul, an Apostle, commanded by God! Let us briefly discuss what an apostle is.

In general, apostle (“Apostolos” in Biblical Greek) means a messenger, envoy, delegate, one commissioned by another to represent that person. An apostle is an “ambassador” directly for Jesus Christ.

Today, there are 2 views of apostleship:

1. Apostles only existed for a few men in the early church. They were….

- personally called and taught by Jesus

- the titles were given

- witnessed the death and resurrection of Christ

- they were foundational to the church

- performed many miraculous signs

- received God’s revelations (authored Scriptures)

Some say Apostles still exists today (as a continuing gift of the Spirit – Ephesians 4:11-12….

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Since there is no indication of a time frame in Ephesians 4 about spiritual gifts, 2. Some Christians will accept apostles to be present today. However, if you look at the other many Biblical truths, as stated earlier, I believe it is a stretch to accept that there are apostles today nor is there a need for them.

V2a: Timothy was discipled by Paul! Paul and Timothy went all over the Mideast to proclaim the Good News of Salvation! In the Book of Acts we read that Paul and other disciples went to Ephesus and led many to Jesus Christ who brings grace, mercy, and peace (v2b).

V3-4: Timothy was called to Minister in Ephesus!

Let us note…..

Ephesus, 2000 years ago, had strong Greek and Roman cultures with many gods but not the God of the Bible! We can simply say that Ephesus, 2000 years ago, was like Las Vegas of today! Timothy was called to minister, to be a Christian, in a pagan society!

Let us note this for a moment, “How pagan is our own society today?”

What were the specific instructions given to Timothy for the pagan society of Ephesus?

a. command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer

b. to stop devoting themselves to myths and endless genealogies

c. prevent controversies and promote God’s work by faith

A few weeks ago, we focused on not devoting on “myths” which just promote controversies. Today, let us discuss false doctrines and endless genealogies; what do they refer to? Do people today still get trapped with them?

What are false doctrines, which Timothy was to try and stop?

A doctrine is a belief which is taught to others and used for decisions in life! Let us note that there were already Believers in Ephesus. Christians in Ephesus 2000 years ago were living in a pagan society but were remain in the True Doctrines from God; especially, salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ! Since Timothy was called to minister to the church in Ephesus, it seems there were false teachers in the church! Timothy was commanded to confront those teaching doctrines which contradicted God’s Word and Teachings of Jesus Christ infiltrating the church!

Again, as we noted a few weeks back, Christians are not to devote themselves to myths.

Timothy was also called to tell Christians in Ephesus to stop devoting themselves to endless genealogies. What did that mean? Genealogies means a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor; and endless genealogies refer to an obsession to knowing every detail of where a person came from, trying to explain why people are the way they are.

We note that false doctrines, myths, and endless genealogies just lead to controversies and the focus for a Christian is to promote God’s work by faith! Timothy was a Christian called not only to live in a pagan society but to teach truths from God! Timothy was told what to confront and what to promote!

What about us today? We say in America “In God we trust!” In general, how does America treat God’s Word, the Bible? Does America base all its decisions according to God’s Word? In general, does America see prayer as imperative actions? Simply, where is God and the Bible in our schools? Where is God and the Bible in our government? Where is God and the bible once we step out of this building?

America may not yet be a pagan society but we sure are heading towards it!

How are Christians today, you and me, to live in a pagan society?