"SERVANTS OF CHRIST PART VIIII"
Notes
Transcript
What do you spend your time focusing on?
According to the web - “Let’s take a look at how far you’ve come. Over the past 7 weeks, we’ve been focusing on the most important areas of your life to have an extraordinary quality of life. To recap, these areas are: Physical Body, Emotions and Meaning, Relationships, Time, Career, Finances and Contribution and Spirituality. Each of these areas requires focus – neglecting any one of them can cause massive pain in your life. To create a life of true fulfillment, you must master all seven areas.
While some areas may be stronger than others, it is important that you continue improve each of them. In doing so, you will create more balance in your life. This balance will allow you to create more momentum and power. Continual progress is the way you get bigger and better results while feeling more fulfilled.
To live an extraordinary life, you must know where you are and where you want to be – and the Pyramid of Mastery is your map for closing the gap and creating the life you deserve.”
Proposition - This morning we are going to bring this section of Scripture to a close. We are going to see that servants of Christ will be committed to 1) self-examination, and 2) perseverance no matter the cost.
Interrogative question - What do you spend your time focusing on?
Let me remind you of where we have come thus far -
Servants of Christ Will Be -
Saturated with the Word of God - vs. 6
Protect the Word of God - vs. 7a
Flee heresies against the Word of God - vs. 7a
Disciplined for the pursuit of godliness - vs. 7b-8
Committed to Hard Work - vs. 9-10
Prescribe and Teach with Authority - vs. 11
Live Out Your Faith - vs. 12
Priority, Model, and Pursuit of Biblical Ministry - vs. 13-15
Conclusion - vs. 16
Text Comparison - NASB, ESV NIV, NLT, and KJV
NASB - 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
ESV - 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
NIV84 - 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
NLT - 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.
KJV - 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1. THE COMMAND OF SELF-EXAMINATION -
1. THE COMMAND OF SELF-EXAMINATION -
16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
“pay close attention to” - (epecho) - verb, present, active, imperative, second person, singular - finite verb - hold fast; fix attention on -
Sense: to watch (observe) - to follow with the eyes or the mind
“Holding fast”
Philippians 2:16 (NASB95)
16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
Contemplative question - What are you focused on?
family
spouse
finances
retirement
the future of our country
grand kids
career
a. Self - examination of your conduct -
“yourself” - (seautou) - pronoun, reflexive, second person, dative, singular, masculine - reflexive pronoun
The Lexham Syntactic Greek New Testament Glossary reflexive pronoun
reflexive pronoun: The use of a pronoun to reference the subject as the object of the active verb. All of these relationships occur within a single clause. This type of pronoun is also used infrequently to express the inclusion of the subject as part of the predicate
The focus is to be inward not outward -
1 Timothy 4:7 (NASB95)
7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
1 Timothy 5:22 (NASB95)
22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB95)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Galatians 6:1 (NASB95)
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 23 when He is calling out the Pharisees -
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
To often friends we spend more time focusing on what others are doing right or wrong, rather, than true genuine self examination.
How do you and I know that we are saved?
1 John 5:13 (NASB95)
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Do you enjoy having fellowship with Christ and His redeemed people?
3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Would people say you walk in the light, or walk in the darkness?
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Do you admit and confess your sin?
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Are you obedient to God’s Word?
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
Does your life indicate you love God rather than the world?
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Is your life characterized by "doing what is right"?
29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
Do you seek to maintain a pure life?
3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life? (Note: this refers to not continuing in sin as a way of life, not a total absence of sin.]
5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
Do you demonstrate love for other Christians?
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.
Do you "walk the walk," versus just "talking the talk"?
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him
Do you maintain a clear conscience?
21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
Do you experience victory in your Christian walk?
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Jesus says in Matthew -
20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB95) - fruit of the Spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
John 15:6 (NASB95) - the vine and the branches
6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
James 2:19 (NASB95) - The gospel is more than simply believe in Jesus -
19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
James 2:17–18 (NASB95) - Obedience is the result of saving faith
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
b. Self - examination of your theology -
“to your teaching” - (didaskalia) - noun, dative, singular, feminine - dative object - instruction; teaching -
Sense: teaching - the content of what is taught
Noun: διδασκαλία (didaskalia), GK 1436 (S 1319), 21×. didaskalia, like didachē, denotes “teaching” or “doctrine,” both the content and the act. Content is expressed in Mt. 15:9, when Jesus refers to the “teachings” of the Pharisees as “rules taught by people,” and in Col. 2:22, which mentions “commandments and teachings of people.” The act is expressed in the reference to the gift of “teaching” (Rom. 12:7) and of the elder who works hard at “preaching and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17).
There is an important distinction in the NT between sound doctrine and false doctrine. The majority of occurrences of didaskalia are in the context of doctrine of the church or “sound doctrine,” e.g., “sound doctrine, which conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1 Tim. 1:10; also 1 Tim. 4:6, 13, 16; 5:17; 6:1; 2 Tim. 4:3; Tit. 2:7). An additional example that parallels didaskalia and didachē is “the trustworthy teaching [didachē] as it has been taught … sound doctrine [didaskalia]” (Tit. 1:9). Similarly, didaskalia refers to the OT in Rom. 15:4. A different label for sound doctrine is “the doctrine of God” (Tit. 2:10). Paul also refers to these teachings as “his teaching” (2 Tim. 3:10). In contrast, didaskalia can refer to false doctrines as in the aforementioned teachings of Pharisees (Mt. 15:9) and of “people” (Col. 2:22), as well as the negative “every wind of teaching” (Eph. 4:14). See NIDNTT-A, 139–40.
Mounce, W. D. (2006). In Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. 710). Zondervan.
didaskalia (διδασκαλία, 1319) denotes, as No. 1 (from which, however, it is to be distinguished), (a) “that which is taught, doctrine,” Matt. 15:9; Mark 7:7; Eph. 4:14; Col. 2:22; 1 Tim. 1:10; 4:1, 6; 6:1, 3; 2 Tim. 4:3; Titus 1:9 (“doctrine,” in last part of verse: see also No. 1); 2:1, 10; (b) “teaching, instruction,” Rom. 12:7, “teaching”; 15:4, “learning”, 1 Tim. 4:13, KJV, “doctrine,” RV, “teaching”; v. 16, KJV, “the doctrine,” RV, (correctly) “thy teaching;” 5:17, KJV, “doctrine,” RV “teaching”; 2 Tim. 3:10, 16 (ditto); Titus 2:7, “thy doctrine.” Cf. No. 1, under DOCTOR. See LEARNING.¶
Notes: (I) Whereas didache is used only twice in the Pastoral Epistles, 2 Tim. 4:2, and Titus 1:9, didaskalia occurs fifteen times. Both are used in the active and passive senses (i.e., the act of teaching and what is taught), the passive is predominant in didache, the active in didaskalia, the former stresses the authority, the latter the act (Cremer). Apart from the apostle Paul, other writers make use of didache only, save in Matt. 15:9 and Mark 7:7 (didaskalia). Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 180). T. Nelson.
Notice the use of the word in the Pastoral Epistles -
1 Timothy 1:10 (NASB95)
10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,
1 Timothy 4:13 (NASB95)
13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
1 Timothy 4:16 (NASB95)
16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
1 Timothy 5:17 (NASB95)
17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
2 Timothy 3:10 (NASB95)
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB95)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
2. THE COMMAND OF PERSEVERANCE -
2. THE COMMAND OF PERSEVERANCE -
16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
a. Perseverance in your personal pursuit of holiness -
b. Perseverance in your personal theology -
“persevere in” - (epimeno) - verb, present, active, imperative, second person, singular - finite verb - remain; stay; continue -
Sense: to continue - to continue a certain state, condition, or activity
The root Greek word means - remain; stay; continue - it is used in the following ways -
“Continue in”
Colossians 1:21–23 (NASB95)
21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
“remain on”
Philippians 1:21–26 (NASB95)
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
1 Thessalonians 4:1–5 (NASB95)
1 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.
2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
Paul says Persevere in “these things...” the question is what things? Well if we simply look at this verse we see that perseverance is to happen in both personal sanctification, and deepening ones theology.
Think about Psalm 1 - “like a tree firmly planted....” - that is the person who delights in the law of the Lord.
It is the unmistakable teaching of Scripture that persevering in the faith is a mark of genuine salvation. Jesus said in John 8:31, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” (cf. Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Acts 13:43; 14:22; Rom. 2:7; Col. 1:23; Heb. 3:14). Such perseverance is the result of giving careful heed and holding on to one’s own devotion to spiritual virtue. While the perseverance of the saints can only be accomplished by the power of God, it is nonetheless the responsibility of each believer. MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1995). 1 Timothy (p. 181). Moody Press.
3. THE RESULTS -
3. THE RESULTS -
16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
a. Ensure your personal Salvation -
“as you do” - (poieo) - verb, present, active, participle, singular, nominative, masculine - instrumental participle - do; make
Sense: to do (act) - to carry out or perform an action or course of action
“you will ensure salvation” - (sozo) - verb, future, active, indicative, second person, singular - finite verb - save; deliver -
b. Ensure Salvation of others -
Sense: to save (religious) - to deliver from sin (and consequential judgment) or save from evil
“hear” - (akouo) - verb, present, active, participle, plural, accusative, masculine - substantival participle - hear; listen to
Sense: to listen - to hear with intention
Summary -
He presses it upon him to be very cautious: “Take heed to thyself and to the doctrine, consider what thou preachest; continue in them, in the truths that thou hast received; and this will be the way to save thyself, and those that hear thee.” Observe, (1.) Ministers are engaged in saving work, which makes it a good work. (2.) The care of ministers should be in the first place to save themselves: “Save thyself in the first place, so shalt thou be instrumental to save those that hear thee.” (3.) Ministers in preaching should aim at the salvation of those that hear them, next to the salvation of their own souls. (4.) The best way to answer both these ends is to take heed to ourselves, etc. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2356). Hendrickson.
“Take heed to yourself” comes first. Examine yourself, find out where you are spiritually and where you are going. “The unexamined life is not worth living,” said the ancient philosopher Socrates. It is easy to correct doctrine, but much more challenging to live the doctrine. We will never save others if we lose our own spiritual power.
As you review these verses, you can see that Paul expected Timothy to build the church on the Word—to preach it, teach it, and practice it. The Word was to be his personal food and guide, as well as the food for the church. The pastor who spends time in the Word and in prayer will grow himself and will pastor a growing church. Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 631). Victor Books.
SO WHAT?
Believer - if you are a servant of Christ you must be focused on self examination and perseverance no matter the cost! I leave you with this question - what are you focused on?