Race Toward Godliness
1 Timothy 6:11-16
Introduction
Someone said that running in the morning ensured that nothing worse can happen to you in that day. Other people are bigger fans. “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever put my body through, but for me, running is a mental game. I’ve learned that if I can convince myself to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, then I can run as far as I want to.” — Chip Gaines. Runner Usain Bolt said, "Train hard, turn up, run your best and the rest will take care of itself.”
The Bible uses the image of running to encourage us to stick with our commitment to Christ.
In our text, Paul writes to Timothy to encourage and strengthen him in his ministry. In his words we find the energy to keep on running the race set before us with energy and persistence.
1 Timothy 6:11-16 But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal might! Amen.
1. Run Away When You Need To (11a)
There is an element of escape from the dangers of sin as we flee the things that can keep us from the pursuit of godliness. “The tone is that of an emergency. Both flight and pursuits however, require not only a conscious decision but also a sustained, lifelong effort…” -Towner
Roper: “Some like to get as close as possible to temptation without ‘crossing the line,’ but Paul said to stay far away from it! We are not to stroll casually away with an occasional backward look; we need to flee!”
2. Six Pursuits of the Christian Race (11b)
Righteousness. Barclay: “The righteous man is he who does his duty to God and to his fellow-men.” Wiersbe: “Righteousness means personal integrity.”
Godliness. Roper: “a deep reverence for God that results in godly living.” Barclay: “The reverence of the man who never ceases to be aware that all life is lived in the presence of God.”
Faith. Barclay: “…fidelity, and is the virtue of the man who, through all the chances and the changes of life, down even to the gates of death is loyal to God.”
Love. Wiersbe: “Agape love that sacrifices for the sake of others. It seeks to give, not to gain.”
Perseverance. Translated “endurance”, NIV ; “steadfastness” ESV. “The ‘won’t quit’ determination of God’s servants in the face of opposition to the gospel.” (Towner)
Gentleness. “An attitude of patient, gentle composure …” (Towner) Barclay: “It describes the spirit which never blazes into anger for its own wrongs but can be devastatingly angry or the wrongs of others.”
These describe the spiritual life to which we are running. Roper: “To pursue…is to ‘follow in haste’ or ‘run after.’ This action is characterized by at the kind of fervor with which some pursue riches.”
N. T. Wright “They don’t come about by accident. They occur in someone’s life because that person has chased after them energetically, has worked at them, has chosen again and again to live that way rather than the other way.”
3. The Energy to Run (12)
GNT “Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses.”
Energy to Run
-Fight for it! Roper: “Paul was again emphasizing that Timothy was not to put forth a halfhearted effort. Rather, he was to ‘put forth every effort,’ ‘straining every nerve’ to be faithful to his task.”
-Take hold of eternal life - embrace the promises of God with faith and obedience. Answer the call!
-Remember your confession - Jesus is Lord! Paul reminds Timothy of his baptism.Our confession is that Jesus has the right to rule my life….I crown him King of my life.
-Follow Paul’s Example (2 Timothy 4:6-7 “…The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”)
The Christian life is a fight.
- We have to fight against the flow of culture/crowd
- We have to fight against the urge to live for self
- We have to fight against the things that divide us
4. Never Stop Running (13-15a)
Run in the power of God’s presence.
Run in the promise of Jesus’ Return
-We live in the promise of his return - the “appearing”.
-Christ’s return is the promise of relief
-Christ’s return is a note of urgency.
Run in the Praise of God’s Glory (15b-16)
Race to godliness is all about honoring God with our lives.
God who is in control, who is eternal, who is glorious, who is worthy of honor, who is mighty!
Conclusion
Paul asked the Galatians, Galatians 5:7 You were running well; 2ho hindered you from obeying the truth?
We are running a Christian race.
We run away from things that hinder us.
We run toward the Christian virtues that power our steps.
We run with energy and faith!
We run with perseverance - never giving up - to God’s glory!
Don’t let anything hinder your race!
__________________________
Questions For Discussion
1. Running is a word picture used to describe the Christian life in several passages. Before we look at those, what are some things about running that you think can be applied to the Christian life?
2. Running away from temptation sounds easier than it actually is. Every temptation brings a decision. What is Timothy commanded to avoid in 6:11? What is something you can tell yourself when you’re being tempted that will help you turn and flee?
3. In the Six Pursuits of the Christian Race, several of them show up in other lists that Paul wrote (such as Fruit of the Spirit). What is the best way to grow in these areas? How do we run to them?
4. How can Timothy - or any of us - “take hold of eternal life”? He was already a Christian. What do you think this means?
5. What about the Christian life seems like a fight?
6. Paul asked the Galatians, Galatians 5:7 “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?” What kinds of things hinder us from running well - what are some things for which we need to be watchful?
7. Let’s read a few other passages that use the running metaphor. What is your main impression of each one?
- 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
- Philippians 2:16
- Hebrews 12:1
8. Was there anything else you wanted to talk about today?
For Next Week Read Colossians: Rescued By The Cross
___________________
To receive sermon notes in your email inbox, subscribe here:
https://forsythesermons.substack.com/
To receive emails from John Dobbs on topics of faith, books, photography, and miscellany:
https://johndobbs.substack.com/
To watch videos of sermons from Forsythe Church of Christ:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ForsytheChurchofChrist
Our church website is http://facoc.org
___________________
Resources
Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible Series: The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Revised Edition. Westminster Press, 1975.
Roper, David L. Truth for Today Commentary: 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. Resource Publications, 2017.
Towner, Philip H. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: 1-2 Timothy & Titus. InterVarsity Press, 1994.
Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume II: Ephesians - Revelation. David C. Cook, 1989.
Wright, Tom. Paul for Everyone, The Pastoral Letters 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004.
