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73. I Timothy 1:
“Brother Timothy”
Golden Nursing
Center in Mannington, NJ –Evening
Service on 4/20/2017
(edited April 2021)
I and II Timothy are letters to a young leader
who was working to help establish the church at Ephesus. That would be located
in western Turkey on a modern map. And by establish a church, we mean the
people, not a building. Back then they did not let the lack of a building stop
them from worshiping the Lord!
These letters are from Timothy’s mentor, the
Apostle Paul. Paul is writing from the city of Philippi in Greece where the
Lord had established another church. Paul’s message in this letter, I think,
has two main intentions: to build up the church as a whole and to guide young
Timothy. And, by the way, I think God
also inspired Paul to write these words to encourage us, also!
Verse 1: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ
by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our
hope;”
Right off the bat, Paul identifies God as our
Savior! What a start! God was at work at Easter [that was the Sunday just
before this message was shared] raising Christ and saving us. Paul goes on to
point out that Jesus, by surrendering to His fate, there in the Garden of
Gethsemane and leading into Good Friday has brought us H O P E! Paul is
off to a wonderful start. And he’s just getting started:
Verses 2-3: “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace,
from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. As I besought
thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest
charge some that they teach no other doctrine,”
Paul was there when Timothy received
Christ and began his “New life” in Jesus. Now, after watching him grow in the
Faith, Paul has entrusted Timothy with an important leadership role at Ephesus.
It is important to do God’s work, but equally important to nurture and support
others as they step up and attempt do that work, also! That is what Paul is
doing here, and what we, in one way or another, should be doing today.
Verse 4: “Neither
give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather
than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”
Timothy was being challenged by many
voices at Ephesus. Not just the voice of encouragement from Paul. Voices that
could lead Timothy the new congregation in the wrong direction.
Verse 5: “Now
the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned:”
Paul is emphasizing a familiar theme
here; do you see it? In Verse 1 he started off mentioning H O P E. Now, here in
verse 5 he completes that Holy Triangle with F A I T H and
L O V E (our King
James Bible says “charity” meaning the Love of God). This is something he will
explain in full in the now famous chapter 13 of his first Letter to the
Corinthian church. That’s well worth reading sometime!
Paul was experienced and wise about
false teachers and resistance to the Truth of the Gospel. His advice to Timothy
and the church is excellent:
Verses 6-8: “From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor
whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it
lawfully;”
Certain ones at Ephesus had abandoned grace in favor
of a return to righteousness through laws, rules, and rituals. The laws of
Moses, no doubt, and probably among the Gentiles some laws they may have made
up on their own.
But the Lord’s clear purpose and direction for our
lives is stated back there in verse 5:
“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of
a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:”
Paul had learned well that adding layer after layer of
detail and regulation only distracts us from loving one another and loving the
Lord. Paul had been a “Pharisee of the Pharisees” before his conversion. He
KNEW that it was a spiritually bankrupt way to live, and he was determined to
NEVER give in to it again!
Verses 9-10: “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but
for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy
and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for
menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing
that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
Laws are for sinners, for unbelief. Believers must
live by Faith.
Verses 11-12: “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was
committed to my trust. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me,
for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;”
The Old Covenant Law, the Jewish way of worship, had
actually destroyed Paul, or should I say “Saul” of Tarsus. But now Paul revels
in the Hope only Christ can give – the Hope that had saved his own soul! Listen
now, to his testimony:
Verses 13-15: “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but
I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our
Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This
is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
Notice, please, that Paul did not I was the
chief of sinners, he says, “Hey, I still am!” Paul knew he needed Jesus every
day of his New Life in Christ, just as much as he did on that first day over
there near Damascus! We believers need to realize this and be as passionate
about Jesus every day as we were when we first turned to Him with our whole
heart and were saved!
Paul stayed passionate. That’s why he’s such a great
example for young Timothy and for us. Another great thing about Paul, he did
not keep all the blessings he had found in Christ as a personal secret. He knew
he had been saved so that he could share it with others and help others to discover
and to grow in God’s Grace:
Verse 16: “ Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in
me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them
which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”
Freedom from slavery to the Law and
to dead religion. That was Paul’s testimony. But, in this world, getting to
that freedom and staying there will always be a struggle. There was a real
spiritual battle going on at Ephesus. Timothy needed encouragement and guidance
so he could face it. And we are in that same situation today, aren’t we?
Verses 17-20: “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God,
be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. This charge I commit unto thee,
son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou
by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience;
which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is
Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn
not to blaspheme.”
There is an ugly side to the
Christian life. A struggle that, at least I don’t think, anyone can avoid for very
long. If I thought the Bible taught differently, I’d be happy to say so. Happy
for you and for me. But it doesn’t. So let’s get prepared, just like Timothy
had to get prepared, to experience Faith and Hope and Love, certainly, but also
to stand up when we must for the Truth we have found in Jesus Christ.
I would like to close tonight with a
quote from a letter Paul had written directly to the church at Ephesus at a
later time. Speaking of struggles, by then Paul had actually been put in prison
because of his preaching. And back at Ephesus they must have still had an
on-going spiritual battle on their hands. Beloved, so do we:
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be
strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of
God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having
done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Let’s pray.
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