1 Tim 1:1-20 Trust & Obey.
Authorship: Mid 60 AD
• Possible to be a time when Paul was released (After Acts) and shortly rearrested and finally martyred and some of the events mentioned happened during his time of liberty.
• Timothy was a close associate of Paul converted probably on Pauls 1st mission journey and was closely associated with Paul on his 2nd &3rd journeys Hence Timothy was a well loved brother and travelling companion in the Lord.
• Timothy was gifted in ministering to others, Paul charges Him to fan into flame the Gift he had received.
• 1, 2.Timothey & Titus are known as pastoral letters they address issues relating to the Church at Ephesus and Crete respectively.
• Both Timothy and Titus were trouble shooters with different dispositions (Timothy ,Timid and sickly, Titus strong & bold) yet both endowed with the gift to teach and manage the Church , sent on apostolic authority to rectify error and establish Godly leadership within the context of the local Church.
Chapter Outline:
1:-2 Personal greetings:
3-11 The Gospel & its counterfeits:
12-17. Paul’s personal experience of Christ.
18-20 A Charge & warning to Timothy
Current Culture – The need to Trust and Obey
In our time there is a great need for Christians to trust solely in Christ & Obey the clear instructions laid down by the apostles and the whole of scriptures. We live in turbulent times when the gospel of Christ is under threat from within these walls and from outside these walls.
There is a very clear anti Christian mandate seen in the growing scrutiny & even persecution Christians are facing in recent years not in India &Iran but right here on these shores in the UK. Again and Again we here news of Christians coming under scrutiny for practicing their beliefs in the public sphere.
• A Nurse discharged for praying with a patient.
• A register dismissed for her refusal to marry a homosexual couples.
• The BA air hostess who was banned from wearing a cross at work
• A couple of hoteliers arrested for comments made on Islam.
• A open air preacher arrested for sharing Biblical views on homosexuality when asked.
• Only last week a couple from Cambridge who refused a same sex couple a doubled bed in the news.
All this is because of the growing secular PC agenda of our age found in politics and in the public sphere of governance with the European laws on human rights being implimentated it has caused new laws on the freedom of sexual orientation conflicting with religious freedom of thought and practice.
Even within the Church itself we have growing array of false teachers rising up aligning themselves up with the teaching of the day, filling the vacuum of uncertainty with a new Christian liberalism which seeks to replace the old order with a new. Those of us with long held evangelical Biblical convictions are under attack and some are even surrendering to the mindset of the Day (Consider Steve Chalk and his view on penal substitution) as cosmic child abuse .
Such teachers claim we need to interpret scripture in the light of society and its new morality, these individuals claim to be the new bred of theological teachers, who are also hooked into government and politics as advisers and champions of the faith with social concerns at the top of the agenda, but they are devoid of the apostolic gospel of Christ, they appear to be wise but in reality their wisdom is foolishness in Gods sight and a snare to weak Christians.
To them doctrine and morality (Gene Robinson the first openly Gay Bishop) is becoming liquid its always evolving and so the Church needs to adapt too it ( In the UK sees the new equality Bill although defeated in some areas but not in all , certain denominations are accepting civil partnerships can now be blessed within the setting of the Church).
State 1st century AD: This period of History for Paul & Timothy was no different society was ruled by the Rome whose culture was decadent, immoral , emperor worship & yet pluralistic with many deities too . Then this small sect explodes onto the scene which become an increasing thorn in their side with the preaching of the Gospel of Christ which would have made many uncomfortable with its ethical moral and spiritual demands. It meant fierce persecution for those who followed the gospel many facing their demise crucified or thrown to the wild beasts and to gladiators forced to fight in the arenas of death simply used as Roman scapegoats for many of the ills of society at large , and so it is still today.
Church:1ST Century AD Then within the community of believers itself you continued to have those who were undermining the gospel from within whether it was Juadizers who considered gentile converts needed a new obedience to the law, or antinomians whose faith was licence to continue in immoral lifestyles, to the Gnostics who later infiltrated the early Church with the superior spiritual secrets.
Paul had ministered here for a good number of years and under much hardship and planted a vibrant Church. On Paul’s final journey to Rome he stops off at the shores of Miletus, a decade earlier, Paul said his final farewell to the Elders of Ephesus Church, calling them to Shepherd the flock and warning them with prophetic words that false teachers would come amongst them even rising up from their own number (Acts. 20: 28- 31) so they must be on their guard a decade later his words come to fruition and Timothy is sent in to put things right.
In such perilous times what must we do as believers? We must be alert for we are in spiritual warfare, that is exactly what this letter is all about v3. Shows his train of thought and v18 confirms it as two bookends where he restates his charge of warfare........
What I we too do in such a climate? Well I believe we can learn some vital lessons from (1Tim:1: 1-20)
The call is to trust & obey in a number of areas.
1. Trust and obey godly leaders ( who seek to confront error, strengthen the body & maintain strong Biblical convictions)
2. Trust and obey the Word ( We are to maintain strong Biblical convictions)
3. Trust and obey in the power of Christ to transform. (We have encountered Christ, born again)
1. We must trust and obey our leaders who tackle false teachers. v 3 - 7 & v18 – 20
The problem : It appears from this passage that Ephesus had got its self into a right mess , you see when a young Church is growing rapidly, life is exciting, converts are new, and there is always a growing desire for more new truths, minds and hearts are like sponges, God becomes a reality, the meaning of the cross is brought home, the indwelling Holy Spirit becomes empowering , with all this there is a tendency for leaders to bring forward new ideas, new truths and new converts will take on board any form of new teaching without much scrutiny...........
• Verses (3, 5, 18) serve as Bookends where he restates his charge to Timothy
It appears here that certain leaders from within were directing this young Church into a new direction v3 with new doctrines based on Myths and genealogies also y even women were beginning to teach and lead (1Tim 2:12) others into error so Paul sends Timothy with his apostolic authority to trouble shoot and sort out the problems.
• Paul’s V3. Charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrines. (v4) devoted to myths Are fanciful & deceptive stories. (4) Genealogies ~ Jew loved debating ancestry roots ~ (4) Controversies/speculations debates - no gospel message (6) Meaningless talk – secret occult groups using gibberish talk – in group jargon - which outsider fail to understand). (7) The law – stressed keep Jewish rituals and law keeping. Which may have excluded gentiles? There teaching is to lead people to swerve and wander (6).
Case in question today : Lakeland Florida & Todd Bentley - His meetings are full of violent behaviour, he puts words into the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father, his divine visitations of angels, (Angels of finance , call down Angels Col 2:18 ) Todd Bentley is peddling at Lakeland a false and contagious and dangerous spirit with violent behaviour. Violent there is no mention of judgement Gods righteous anger, Christ’s atonement, repentance, just come to Jesus, the spiritual manifestations are violent and a delusion. Moreover, he preaches another Jesus - one who is nothing like the Jesus revealed to us by the apostles (2Thes 2: 9 -11) Im afriad its a strong delusion.
The answer: We must always trust and obey our leaders; we are called to do so in Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls. Those amongst us who have been recognised as men sound in the faith, in character and full of the Holy Spirit (1Tim 3: 1-7). In comparison to false teachers, godly leaders will teach out of love, coming from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (5). in the simple truth
Time for Action: When those leaders move away from the Apostles teaching as found in the New Testament. (Acts 2:42 Devoted to the Apostles teaching) and wander into new doctrines, myths , speculations genealogies and so on then we must challenge false teachers and no longer follow them as in the case here in Ephesus.
• Stuart Briscoe speaks of a colleague of his officiating at a funeral of a war veteran. The dead man’s military friends wished to have a part in the service at the funeral home, so they requested the pastor to lead them down to the casket, stand with them for a solemn moment of remembrance, and then lead them out through the side door. This he proceeded to do, but unfortunately the effect was somewhat marred when he picked the wrong door. The result was that they marched with military precision into a broom closet, in full view of the mourners, and had to beat a hasty retreat covered with confusion. This true story illustrates a cardinal rule or two. If you’re going to lead, make sure you know where you’re going. If you’re going to follow, make sure that you are following someone who knows what he is doing!”
Timothy was sent in because he knew where he was going and others knew where he was going and what he was doing was right and could be trusted and obeyed. The Church could follow with confidence working together in partnership. (Paul – leaders - fellowship) .
Application: As a leadership and fellowship we must always be examining our core beliefs in the light of scriptures, (2Tim 3:16) we must be teaching the scriptures, in our post modern and pluralistic, spiritual age we must be aware of NEW doctrines, ideas creeping into our fellowships, by false teachers, which are not biblical, it has caused many individuals and churches to swerve and wander to different doctrines, myths, speculations and vain discussions (6) many as a result have shipwrecked their faith.
And as our leaders confront these individuals we must trust & obey our leaders in this arduous task of defending the faith against error . As it is the fellowships responsibility as a whole to bring all those who turn to error to account not out of a spirit of superiority but in love, with a pure heart and a good conscience (5).
• A good pattern to follow would be that found in the teaching of Jesus (Matt18: 15-19).
(20) Ultimately if there is no repentance they are to be put out of the Church, to be handed over to Satan, in order to bring about repentance.
2. We must trust and obey the Word alone: to do its good work. v3 v8 -11.
We must be a people devoted to the apostle doctrine ( Acts 2:42) To the Word of God to the whole of scripture including the law of God, with a proper understanding , these false teachers had failed in sound doctrine & failed in the application of the law of God.
A proper understanding of the word of God is paramount , our trust and obedience must rest upon it, no matter what others might say, it wasn’t only here in Ephesus where they were deserting the apostolic Gospel & miss using the law, it happened in Corinth (2Cor 11:4) , In Galatia (Gal. 1:60) In Colosse heresy (Col) in Asia minor with the 7 Churches ( Rev: 2,3) false teaching was rampant and in such cases then and is still today.
In such case we must teach that which is in accordance with sound doctrine (10) as found in the scriptures and divide the scriptures law & Gospel with the utmost care, we must commit ourselves whole heartedly trusting and obeying its directive. The Bible is our ultimate source of authority in all matter of faith and conduct for the Church.
The problem here was they were going to new truths, new sources away from the apostles teaching on Christ, a wrong application of the law towards believers.
(a) To different doctrines (3) idolatry pagan worship influences of eastern religion. New age teaching today syncretism.
• Martin Luther said - God is everywhere. However, He does not want you to reach out for Him everywhere but only in the Word. Reach out for the Word and you will grasp Him a right. Otherwise you are tempting God and setting up idolatry. That is why He has established a certain method for us. This teaches us how and where we are to look for Him and find Him, namely, in the Word.
These false teacher were turning to new doctrines but also they were going to the old laws and desiring to be teacher of the law we reinterpreting them without understanding they are misconstruing the law and holding others in bondage through law.
(b) Purpose of the law: Also law keeping although the law is good and Gods people can benefit from it, as we come under the law of Christ we come to see our sin , we benefit from its wisdom , and so in Christ we delight in God’s law, yet the law itself cannot save us and was never meant to, only the gospel can do that.
(8-11) Paul insists the purpose of the law here is for the lawless, and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners and so on.......... in order to convict of sin and bring them to the gospel of Christ to which Paul has been entrusted with and this only flows out through sound doctrine is taught and preached.
(c) The purpose of the Gospel (10-11): Greek word ‘Sound’ doctrine in accordance with the gospel – Greek word which was a medical term where we get our English word Hygiene/ healthy it is the opposite to sick unhealthy - we could say then healthy doctrine is important .
The law is for the morally diseased as listed in that list in verses (8-11) And so the gospel with its sound doctrine is health giving life to the morally diseased under the law, which heals them from their sickness . This is the gospel (11) Paul had been entrusted to proclaim, these scriptures, and likewise we’ve been entrusted to imparting the same message still today, we must proclaim this sound doctrine which uses the law for the morally diseased and the gospel which brings healing to the spiritually sick.
Paul confesses himself as a benefactor (11-15). As we all are if we are in Christ, and so we must never be ashamed of the word we must always proclaim the whole counsel of God, we must always proclaim the .(15) trustworthy message that deserves full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world the save sinners.
3. We must trust and obey Christ to bring transformation. V12 -17 .
It looks here that Paul is straying from the point, but he isn’t because these false teachers were claiming that obedience to the law was necessary for salvation . Paul of course had firsthand knowledge of this very point He was a teacher of the law, in fact in keeping the law he believed himself to be faultless, so Paul knows a thing or two about law . He was so zealous for the law, he persecuted Christians, look what he says about his own character at that time (13) He was a blasphemer, a persecutor a violent man, who acted in ignorance and was filled with unbelief)
Yet at his conversion he received mercy (13, 16) and grace of God which was poured out abundantly (14) along with faith and love in Christ Jesus. - In Christ he came to see he could no longer save himself through obedience to the law .
And so he shares his 1st of 5 trustworthy saying’s (15) that Christ Jesus came into the world (incarnation) to save sinners (atonement - redemption) – of whom I am the worst (personal experience) . This trustworthy saying sums it all up, the law cannot rescue us, it can condemn us , it can guide us but only Christ came into the world to save us! We must trust in Christ, not the law, we must show a new obedience to Him, who fulfilled the law. Can you echo these words, are you a sinner saved by grace, if you can’t you might well just be hanging onto something extra , a little add on like these false teachers....
• Just like a drowning man, cannot save himself, has to come to the end of his own actions to save himself, he must trust solely on the rescuer to come alongside and save his life). It is Christ in whom we trust, it is in Christ we show a new obedience too not out of duty but delight. Friends we must trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.
(17) As a result Paul is filled with praise. (Rom11:33-36, 16:27 Gal 1:5, Eph 3:20, 1Tim 6:15) not the first time. – Salvation has that effect friends, isn’t it your experience?
In Ephesus : This is what they needed to hear, some needed to be reminded, those who had gone astray, they needed to turn to the mercy & grace of God to intervene in their lives - Paul was lifting up his life as a mirror to theirs : They had turned away from sound doctrine (10) from the faith & love (6) they blasphemed (20) they quarrelled and had unhealthy interests (4) (6:4) all of which Paul had been saved from, they needed too. Paul was holding up the power of Christ to transform his life - saying what he has done for me , he can still do for you, trust and obey.
(20) He mentions former elders at Ephesus, whom he has dealt with personally Hymenaeus (2Tim2:17) who had wandered away from the truth- claiming the resurrection had already taken place and Alexandra (a metal worker or 2Tim 4:14 or Ephesian Jew of that name Acts 19:33). Both of whom have been handed over to Satan ( means to have been put out of the Church ) not for banishment without redemption but in order to come to a place of reform, to bring them to repentance and restoration, even they can receive the abundant mercy and grace of God.
Application:
1. We can learn here that nobody is beyond redemption. The gospel is the power of God onto salvation to all who believe. The greatest enemies of the gospel can become the greatest practioners of the faith...... We must trust solely in Christ for salvation and unlike these false teachers we must walk in the new obedience to Christ that he requires of all his followers.
2. We can learn that the best offence when being addressed by false teachers (J.Ws , Mormons) religious people, atheists and agnostics is sharing the wonderful message of how we came to experience the saving power of Christ and how we are trusting not in our own works but in the rescue of Christ through his death and resurrection and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit who enables us to walk in a new obedience to the law of Christ.
3. We can learn that our salvation has been secured through Christ alone we must trust Christ alone we must live in a new obedience to Christ not in accordance to the flesh but in the spirit of Christ. We are saved by grace through faith and not by works.
• So in closing trust and obey those leaders among you who are walking and living in accordance with the Word of God and don’t fail to address those who wander away from the truth but always in a right manner in the hope of bring them to a place of reform, repentance and restoration.
• Trust and obey the Word of God let it be your sole authority in all matters of faith and conduct never allow new doctrines of myths or law keeping prevent you from trusting in Christ alone.
• And remember its Christ in whom we trust and its Christ who saves, praise God , It is Christ in whom we are called to be obedient children and follow in his footsteps in a new obedience. .
• Closing Hymn: So to be happy in Jesus let us continue to trust and obey because there is no other way.
