1 Timothy chapter 6:3-21  Message 30

Having completed the instructions to Timothy on the pastor’s ministry to the church, Paul exhorted Timothy on the testimony of the believer’s –

      b.  Personal life.  1 Timothy 6:3-21

The pastor is to practice and to preach that believer’s will –

        1).  Be careful in fellowship. “…any man…” including Religious teachers

          a).  The command to the believers?

1 Timothy 6:3-5  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness……from such withdraw thyself.

We must note Paul’s inclusiveness in the declaration “If any man…”.  The truth is exclusive to is God Himself.  What God said is true.  His infinite perfect demands truth in all thins.  Man is true when he repeats the Words of God and is directed in life thereby.  If any man, including Paul himself, turns God’s truth into a lie, he is to be rejected –

Galatians 1:8-9  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

The believer is to accept the burden of knowing the truth and then never turning from it.

Be careful of those who say that this mandate applies only to the saving message of God, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Man cannot interpret God’s Word as he pleases to accommodate his own circumstances.  We are to o bey the whole counsel of God –

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Proverbs 30:5-6  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Though every religious teacher, every Christian scholar, even the whole world reject the Word of God as revealed in His Word, they are wrong and He is right –

Romans 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar…

Though the whole world declare that God’s Word is wrong their word is right and should be accepted, remember that the judgment of the world is relative to their own beliefs and is temporary, constantly changing.  God’s judgment is true and everlasting.  Be careful in the choice of your judge and remember that final judgment is coming and it will be based on God’s Word, not man’s opinion!

 Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Now, understanding and accepting this, it is important to understand that the idea behind the word ‘wholesome’ is dealing with good

Notice the Lord’s use of the word in –

Luke 5:31  And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

And John’s use in –

3 John 2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Hold on to wholesome words as opposed to sick or diseased words which are brought out of a sin sick heart revealing evil thoughts, ideas, and actions, which harm people.  These take away their health, spiritual sickness which also often leads to physical sickness.

The words of our Lord Jesus Christ are healthy words which keep us strong spiritually.  The words are full of grace and mercy which strengthen us.  They words are full of warning which protect us.

The words of our Lord Jesus Christ –

Matthew 22:37-40  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

          b).  The challenge to the believers.  

God set forth a very clear statement in His Word on what is healthy and unhealthy, what is holy and unholy, what is truth and what is a lie.

It is important that we are reminded again that health and is the same word as ‘sound’ doctrine reveals the sin and sickness in the world.  Read again of the purpose of ‘sound words’. 1 Timothy 1:10 –

 1 Timothy 1:9-10 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;

Take note of those that use ‘unhealthy’ words – “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, menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons…”

The Lord is declaring that the –

Ungodly,

Sinners,

Unholy and profane,

Murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers,

Manslayers,

Whoremongers – for those that promote fornication or adultery.

Homosexuals,

kidnappers (slave traders)

liars,

those that lie under oath – bear false witness

These are being excused by the world instead of being confronted and warned of being under condemnation and coming judgment.  The world does not care that these will die in their sins and spend eternity separated from God, tormented in Hell forever.  The world claims that any warning is hateful and hurtful, condemning the messengers, though they love and care for the souls of mankind as the Lord commands.

We must be very clear in this, even religious teachers present unsound words and encourage people to reject the Word of God, to reject the truth of God, to reject the love of God, and cause many to remain in a condemned state with no hope of escaping eternal separation from God, in hell forever.

They speak unhealthy words which do not agree with God’s truth!

          c).  The believer’s conduct?      “From such withdraw themselves…”

Christians should readily admit the difference between a holy life and an unholy life is the work of God in their lives which was brought about through their repentance and trust in God though His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

We are not to withdraw ourselves from them because we are better than them, but so as we will not be influenced to sin, but might influence them to turn to the Lord in faith.

We have spoken with multitudes of people over the years that refuse to turn to God, even to visit church with us, because of someone they knew that claimed to be a Christian and acted in some ungodly manner.  I spoke with our neighbor from across our street yesterday that gave this excuse. 

I find this strange that people claim to be their own person, making their own decisions, standing for what they think is right no matter what, and yet they let what someone has done influence the most important decision in eternity.

What can we do to help them?

            (1).  Do not let them influence us to do wrong.

            (2).  Live in such a way as to influence them to trust God.

Peter put it well –

James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Why would we do this?  Because we have a new commandment –

“…That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

At this point you might be saying to yourselves “What in the world was that all about”?  The good thing about using this medium to present the message is that you can go back and listen again.  I pray that you will and see that Paul instructed Timothy to live out salvation to the glory of God, being reminded of the simple truth brought out in –

2 Corinthians 4:4-5  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

The world needs to see God’s message in our lives.  Do they see Him in you?