1 Timothy Chapter One Message 7

A. Introduction of the Epistle 1:1-2
B. Charges to Timothy 1 Timothy 1:3 – 6:21a
When he knew he had the presence of God providing him with grace, mercy, and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ, Timothy was to make a –

1. Commitment to right Doctrine 1:3-20

We have learned of Timothy and –

e. The resolve to be faithful. 1 Timothy 1:18-20

Timothy had learned from the missionaries that there were to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, the prophets, the apostles, and all the preachers of the Word of God.

It was time for Timothy to take the lead and he was –

1). Exhorted to action. 1:18a “This charge I commit unto thee…”

a). The charge

(1). This is what Timothy was to do –

1 Timothy 1:3-4 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.

(2). This is how Timothy was to do it –

1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Once he understood what he was to do and how he was to do it, we note –
b). The commitment. 1:4 “…so do…”
Let’s look at some of the things that Timothy may have thought about –

(1). He was not from the city of Ephesus.
Often local citizens do not take kindly to ‘foreign interference’.
(2). He seems to have been younger than those he was leading..
1Ti 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth…”
(3). He was having some physical problems. “…thine often infirmities…”

Last week we saw that Timothy needed to overcome his personal concerns and take courage in the Lord, understanding that he had been –

2). Equipped to serve 1:18b “…according to the prophecies which went before thee, that by them thou mightiest war a good warfare.”

Timothy was to preach the Word and to live the Word that people may see how God works in our lives.

This morning we will be instructed along with Timothy that he was –

3). Established in the faith. 1:19a “Holding faith, and a good conscience…”

Having that which he needed –

a). The Courage – “…holding faith…”

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Along with –

b). The confidence – “…and a good conscience…”

He would be able to accomplish the task because of the authority given to him and the responsibility that came with that authority, “This charge I commit unto thee…” – He was to –

4). Enforce the truth. 1:19b-20

“… 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.”

We have come to a command from the Lord to His church that is seldom being practiced today. As a matter of fact, it is often ignored completely because of the lack of character among the leaders in the church. They would rather overlook a situation that involves a church member practicing sin in their lives. Many pastors will ignore the sin and just wait to see if the person will stop their sinful activity or leave the church on their own. They are much like those in the church in Corinth that the Apostle Paul rebuked strongly –

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

It takes a lot of love and courage to confront a person for their sin. If we believed that we are compelled to confront our brothers and sisters in the Lord, we would follow the Lord’s plan. We must realize that we are compelled to act upon the Word of God – “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Most people will say that while they admit it is their responsibility, they do not know how to go about confronting a fellow church member who is living in sin.
We should note that Paul did not give Timothy this responsibility without giving him the procedure and the purpose of enforcing the truth.
We will examine both the procedure and the purpose this morning.

a). The Procedure to be followed.

“… which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan….

(1). The Pattern given by Jesus to His church. Read Matthew 18:15-17

(a). Pray before confronting the person.
(b). Privately speak with the person. Matthew 18:15

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

If he refuses to listen to you, then –

(c). Personally ask two or three spiritually mature men to go with you to witness your conversation with the person. Matthew 18:16

“But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”

Do not discuss the sin with those that have been chosen to be witnesses. This would be no different than gossip. They are simply to go along and witness the conversation.

(d). Present the accusation in the presence of the church.
Matthew 18:17a “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church:…”

The person living in sin may have the opportunity to hear from the church and speak to the church. Again, the church members should not be informed of the sin beforehand. This is an opportunity for the offending member to continue in good standing with the church without all the members knowing of the offence.

(e). Publicly separate the person from the church. Matthew 18:17b

“…let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

The person who refuses to repent (change their mind), confess their sin (admit they are wrong and have been sinning), and ask for forgiveness from God, any of those they have sinned against, and if necessary, the church, will be separated from the church.
If they come to God for His forgiveness, and then the church asking for their forgiveness, they will be restored into the church in good standing and nothing will be said about the issue again.

(2). The Practice in the church. Please read 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 11

The church in Corinth was to put the man that was living in sin out of the church. They were to do this to help him realize how terrible his sin was and that he should stop it immediately and turn to the Lord for forgiveness. By removing him from the fellowship of the church, he was open to the attacks of Satan.

b). The Purpose to be achieved.
Ask a family member to read 2 Corinthians 2:6-10

(1). The offender might realize their sinful condition.

“… that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

(2). The offender might repent and turn to God, forsaking their sin.
(3). The offender might be restored into the fellowship of the church.

We read in 2 Corinthians chapter 2, verses 6 through 10 that when the man who was put out of the church repented of his sin and turned to back to God, the church was to forgive him and accept him into fellowship in the love of God.

We are to be a forgiving people because we are a forgiven people –

Colossians 3:13-14 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Timothy was to lead the church and instruct them in the practice of church discipline. This was going to take great courage and compassion. By accepting the charge given to him he would help the church to be pure in the sight of God and keep it from becoming a community of busybodies and gossips.

We should desire that we honour God in the church and glorify Him in the world through the church. The church is the body of Christ. Christ is holy, righteous, true, loving, ready to forgive those who are ready to turn to Him in truth and humility.
We should desire to be a blessing to the pastor and our fellow members of the church by living a true and holy life.
We should hate sin and stay away from it.
We should welcome the confrontation of those who love us in times that we sin

Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Those who do not really love us will encourage us to keep sinning by not telling us that we are wrong, or by telling us that we are just doing what everyone else is doing – “the kisses of the enemy…”.
We should thank the Lord for those who love us enough to tell us the truth, that we are wrong and need to turn back to God. These are being faithful to God and to us – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Of course it hurts, we are wounded, we are injured when we are confronted with our sin, but we need to hear the truth in order to change.
Do we understand that today we have read of a very difficult part of the life of a pastor, but it is also a very blessed ministry of truth and love.

Will you decide to submit your life to God today and live unto Him?
Will you decide to love others and pray for them that they might live a holy life?