*HOLD TRUE TO THE WORD OF GOD!*
1 Timothy 1:1-7
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INTRODUCTION:
1.) As we begin this letter this morning, The Apostle Paul was writing to a young man in the ministry named Timothy.
2.) Really, much of this epistle we could describe as the syllabus for a class in Practical ministry for the local church
3.) This morning, and for the next several weeks, I would like us to examine the epistle and see many valuable teachings and lessons, not just for a minister, but for the entire body of Christ.
I.) DON’T BE CARELESS ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD.
-- 1 Tim. 1:3
1.) Some were teaching “false doctrine.”
A.) The Apostle Paul had even predicted this would happen at Ephesus.
aa.) Acts 20:29-30
B.) One of the primary reasons for Timothy to be there in Ephesus was to deal with false teachings and teachers that had crept into the church.
C.) Part of the charge that Paul had given to Timothy was to restore the teachings of the church to those in the Word of God.
ca.) One of the goals of the Church of Christ or Christian Church is this very same plea that Paul had given to Timothy.
caa.) It is the goal and determination of going beyond man-made creeds and doctrines, and getting back to just the Inspired Word of God, as our sole rule of faith and doctrine.
cab.) One of the slogans of the Restoration Movement has always been “Where the Bible speaks we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.”
2.) If it doesn’t line up with all of God’s Word it is not God’s Word.
A.) For me as a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and for you as part of this flock, we both have a responsibility to ourselves and to God, to examine and study the Scriptures, to see that what is being taught and preached is in alignment with the Word of God.
B.) One thing I have always done in my preaching is to have my Scripture references just listed, but usually not written out in my sermon notes.
ba.) The reason I have always done that, is because I intentionally want the congregation to be reading and verifying the Written Word of God even as I am preaching.
bb.) I do not want you to hear and merely take my word as being Scripture, but to be like the Bereans of old who challenged even the words of the Apostles against what had already been recorded in the Word of God.
bc.) Today many congregations with video equipment will have the Scripture printed out on the screen for all to see.
bca.) I have very mixed feelings about that practice.
bcb.) On the one hand, it is good that the people see the printed Word of God in front of them.
bcc.) Yet at the same time, I feel it is a practice that may have helped to bring laziness, to the people of God in searching the Scriptures for themselves.
bcd.) It is a practice that makes it very easy for the one in the pew to listen to and to readily accept everything the minister says without validating it for themselves in the Scriptures.
3.) “Don’t devote yourselves to myths.”
--verse 4
A.) If we are not reading and studying the Word of God for ourselves, it becomes easy for false teachings to come into the church as it was in Ephesus, where Paul had left Timothy to carry on his ministry.
B.) One of the major lines of false teachings that was coming into the church of the first Century was Gnosticism.
ba.) Basically in a nutshell, the Gnostics believed the body was evil, and the spirit good.
bb.) Therefore any sin in the body was excusable because the body that participated in sin was evil and separate from the spirit of the person that was considered to be good.
bc.) It was the teaching of myths, and false teaching that was leading people away from God and His Word.
4.) Don’t devote yourselves to “endless genealogies.”
A.) These genealogies may even have been a reference to a Jewish element within the church.
B.) Jewish families were very meticulous in keeping accurate genealogical records, and histories so they could trace their lineage back to Abraham.
C.) Just because Christianity has come into being, does not automatically remove the Jewish mindset that you had to be able to trace your family tree back to the Patriarch Abraham for your salvation.
5.) Paul said that “these myths and genealogies promote controversies rather than God’s Work.” (verse 4b.)
A.) God’s work is accomplished by faith in Christ, and a conviction from the Word of God.
6.) It matters not if we come to Christ as a Gentile, or as a Jew.
A.) Our hope of salvation comes not through the natural family line to Abraham, but through the supernatural line to Abraham through an obedient saving faith in Jesus Christ.
B.) Romans 10:17
7.) We need the kind of faith that comes from a sound knowledge and application of God’s Holy Word in our lives.
A.) Heb. 4:12
B.) We need a Scripture-based faith that reaches to the depths of our hearts, and transforms us into God’s desire and plan for our lives.
II.) DON’T BE FRUITLESS.
-- Verse 5
1.) The purpose of teaching sound doctrine is to call people to a right response.
A.) In our walk with Christ, bearing fruit is a good indicator of a man’s walk with God.
B.) The more that we live, dwell, and think on the Word of God, the greater will be the harvest of fruit it will produce in our lives.
2.) They were to have love from purity of heart.
A.) When God’s Word is allowed to grow and develop in our hearts it will bear fruit, including love.
B.) 1John 4:8
ba.) It is only natural that if “God is love”, we would ourselves grow deeper in the Love of God, as grow in our knowledge of The Word of God.
ba.) It is from the Word of God that He reveals to us the heart of God.
3.) They were to have a good conscience.
A.) When we are in the Word of God, and live by that to the best of our ability, and remain true to the Scriptures, we will have a good conscience.
B.) God’s Word working within our hearts and minds echoes through our lives revealing His will for us each and every day. ba.) The more we allow Him to speak to us, the greater will be the quality of the con- science that God has placed within us.
4.) They were to have a sincere faith.
A.) We have already looked at Romans 10:17 this morning that tells us that “faith comes by hearing the and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.”
B.) When we are true to the Word of God, that Word will develop a sincere faith in Christ that is both true and sincere, and anchored in the Word of God.
III.) DON’T BE FRIVOLOUS ABOUT YOUR FAITH. (6).
1.) Some had swerved away from the goal.
A.) When our minds are full of the Word of God, our focus will be to look directly to Jesus Christ.
aa.) When Christ becomes that focal point of our lives, He will keep us from detouring our paths away from the ways of God.
ab.) Hebrews 12:1-3
2.) The Word of God and faith had been replaced with meaningless words.
A.) As Christians, God expects us to know what we believe, and to have that faith based not on man, but on the authoritative Word of God.
aa.) God’s Word will put our lives on a firm and solid foundation.
ab.) Jesus Himself, said that very thing:
aba.) Matthew 7:24-27
IV.) DON’T BE FOOLISH IN REGARDS TO THE WORD OF GOD. -- Verse 7
1.) Some wanted to be teachers of the Word of God, but do not know what they are talking about.
A.) The preaching and teaching of the Word of God is a very solemn charge and is not to be taken lightly or carelessly.
aa.) James 3:1-2
ab.) As a teacher or preacher in delivering the Word of God, it is a matter whose truth is far more important than anything from a math book, or any other form of education that can be given on this planet.
ac.) For one to teach wrong in matters of mathematics, or Science, or something else will give a wrong answer, which can usually be rectified later on.
ad.) But to mishandle or misappropriate the Word of God in matters of teaching or preaching is so much more serious because it deals with the very soul and eternal destiny of man.
ae.) If what I give you from the Word of God is not in agreement with Scripture, it can result in a deception that could lead people to hell, rather than nearer to God.
af.) That is also why it is so vital for each of you to study the Scriptures, and test all preaching and teaching against the standard of God’s Word.
B.) Even though they don’t know the truth, they affirm it with confidence. (verse 7)
ba.) If I affirm something with confidence as being the teaching of God, I had better be be able to back up that claim with Scripture itself.
CONCLUSION
1.) This passage of Scripture we have addressed today was written to a young man going into the ministry.
2.) Though that is the background of this passage, the principles given to Timothy should be applied to the lives of every Christian.
3.) If I can leave you with a challenge today, it would be to: read, Study, and Know the Word of God.
4.) Do not take the words of any preacher or teacher including myself as being authoritative, but test each word and teaching against God’s Holy word.
5.) And finally, remember the words of Jesus: (John 8:32) Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
