1 Timothy  Message 3

1. Introduction of the Epistle 1:1-2

Two weeks ago we began preaching through this letter by being introduced to the writer and the recipient. We remember their –

1. Identification.

1 Timothy 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

1. The writer – Paul identified himself and then his position presenting –

1).  His appointment –  an Apostle

2).  His authority – God…

3).  His admission.  –  “…which is our hope.”  Our expected end, our hope is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

We also saw the faithful service in the life of  –

1. The recipient is Timothy      “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith…”

1).  The partner in ministry – “…my own son in the faith…”

a).  Introduced to the Lord through the Gospel preached by Paul and Silas

b).  Influenced by their dedication and service to the Lord.

c).  Included in the ministry, preaching the Word of God to the world.

We saw that this is how God works –

Convicted by the Word of God,

Converted by the Word of God,

Consecrated by the Word of God,

Commissioned by the Word of God,

Convinced by the Word of God –

Timothy was now –

2).  The pastor at Ephesus – refer to 1:3   Placed in authority –

“…abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some…”

The Lord helped Timothy, and all of us that read this letter, by sharing his heart in –

2. Intercession: “…our hope…”  Our expected end – what to look forward to along the way:

1 Timothy 1:2b  “…Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”

We saw that before us in life God has provided –

1. Grace,  Living grace needed for each day.  Last week we read of the application of the wonderful grace of God in the following verses. So different than what we had without Him! –

2 Corinthians 4:7-16  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; ……that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

1. Mercy, Paul realized the mercy of God in his own life and commended the same to Timothy –

And so we discover that grace and mercy introduce into our lives –

1. Peace, that which only can come from God.

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This morning we will begin to see the –

1. Charges to Timothy                 1 Timothy 1:3 – 6:21a

Now that he knows he has the presence of God providing him with grace, mercy, and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ, Timothy must make a –

1. Commitment to right Doctrine                              1:3-20

1. The Purpose    (What should he commit to do?)

1 Timothy 1:3,4, 10b-11   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, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do…….According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

1).  Expose wrong teaching in the church.

(This includes identifying those doing the teaching)

a).   False doctrine

b).   Fables

c).  Endless genealogies.  They tried to prove their teaching by referring to the past.  Notice how Jesus confronted the Pharisees when they based their authority on their family connection with Abraham.

John 8:39-40  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

In the same way, Timothy was to command them that what they taught must be from God’s Word as God intended truth to be taught, not what they wanted the Scripture to mean.

Timothy was to –

2).  Exhort them with Godly edification.  Godly edification should turn people from false doctrine, fables, and endless genealogies.  These teachers were not following God’s truth from His Word – “rather than godly edifying which is in faith…”.

In positive preaching and teaching he would –

3).  Encourage the church in – “…the glorious gospel of the blessed God…”

The Gospel not only brings us to the saving knowledge of God through His Son Jesus Christ, but also the blessed truth of life in Him (that which was just mentioned in grace, mercy, and peace).  These things are not found in the teaching of men.

We, along with Timothy, have a huge responsibility in exposing false teaching, exhorting to obey right doctrine, and encouraging in living out our salvation in the Lord.  How can we possibly fulfil this command of God?  We must examine our motive in knowing –

1.   The Priority      It is  better to leave it alone if love for God is not the motivating factor!

1 Timothy 1:5  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

The Lord taught Paul the importance of having his love for the Lord flow out of him as love for others, otherwise it is meaningless.  People know whether we care for them or are just are just using them for our own purpose.  But even more than this, God knows our heart!  God knows whether we are trying to glorify Him or ourselves!  Paul taught us how useless it is to try to build ourselves up instead of the Lord –

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth….

Timothy had to be careful to confront the people with the intention of them turning back to the Lord.

We have learned again how important it is to have God directing our lives and having His grace, mercy, and peace strengthening us.    It is so easy for us to want to be somebody, building ourselves up instead of others.  We must stand for truth, but speak in love.  Can you do this today?