Training for Godliness

1 Timothy 4:6-16

The Pastor, His Charge, and His Church

This passage is for the Pastor - Timothy

His Charge in Ministry

Teaching, preaching, serving Christ Jesus well

The words of faith and sound doctrine

Public reading, exhortation, and teaching.

Practice these things, immerse yourself in them.

Not neglecting the gift of ordination:

The elders laid hands on you, you’ve been given a gift .

Setting an example for godliness before the brothers and sisters of the Church:

Don’t let anyone despise your youth… but set an example to the faithful in your speech, conduct, love, and purity…

“The greatest need of my people is my own personal holiness.”

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Watching his own conduct and teaching:

Careful examination and self-control of your life and teaching.

When a church has lost its purpose, its usually because they love the charisma more than character of their pastor.

The people are called to follow that example

While written to Timothy, this is for the building up of the whole church. We are called to grow in godliness together.

Trusting in Christ for our salvation, we look to him for our godliness and train ourselves in him, with our eyes set on the promised blessing that godliness offers.

The Call to Godliness

Godliness is…

A life of devotion to God - reverence, sanctity - a life that strives to mirror the character, quality, and goodness of God. It is a God-centered life. The godly person walks with God at home, at work, at church, at school, and at play. Godliness includes godly thoughts, godly speech, and godly behavior.

Godliness is Christ

The mystery of godliness 1 Tim 3:16

Godliness is revealed in Christ’s life, death, resurrection - the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Godliness is only found in Christ

Godliness begins when we recognize that we can’t be godly apart from Christ. It starts with confessing our sin; owning the fact that we are not godly, and have no hope to be godly on our own.

Godliness is found when we come to Christ in Faith

We trust in His righteousness - he who knew no sin was made to be sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God. In Him we have not just forgiveness of sins, but we are declared holy, godly, by the ministry of God’s Holy Spirit

Godliness is Christ in Us

His life being manifested in ours

The Holy Spirit not only applies Christ’s holiness to us, but works holiness in us, that we might grow in godliness, becoming more and more like Christ

Dying to myself and living new life in Christ. Because we have set our hope in the God who saves, we strive and toil for godliness in our lives.

Training in Godliness

We are called to training -

The Spirit works, and we work in the Spirit

Training - γυμναζο - exercise, discipline - The training in godliness is the training of life in the light of Christ. It’s not a new set of rules for living but a new way of living by the gospel of Christ. It is embracing what God has done for us by Christ as announced to us in the gospel. It is how we are behave in the household of God.

Be in the Word - Knowing the Fundamentals

vs 6 - trained in the words of faith and doctrine, nourished in it

You cannot have the mind of Christ apart from the word of Christ vs 15 - practice these things, immerse yourself in them

“Be in them”

Be in Worship - Doing the Exercises

vs 13 - Timothy was called to be devoted to the public reading, exhortation, teaching - that means, we do these things as we come together in worship.

Knowledge by itself puffs up - makes us proud of what we know. But true biblical knowledge, sound doctrine, is meant to result in praise, worship, and adoration of God.

Prayer, adoration, devotion - all are essential in our training in godliness

Prayer humbles us - as we ask of God for that which we need

Adoration - praising God as our Sovereign Lord and Creator - puts us in mind not only of how small we are, but also of how great God is, and how great His love is for us.

Daily Devotion - allowing His word to lead us, leaning not on your own understanding, but seeing the world through God’s truth

Be with Others - Join the Team

Heb. 10:25 - Do not forsake coming together -

Thabiti M. Anyabwile, “The New Testament has no vision for the Christian life apart from our playing our part in the local church.”

You will struggle to grow in godliness without other believers in your life vs 15 - We are to practice godliness so that others may see our progress, holding us accountable, and learning from our witness

Be a Witness - Get on the field

This is where the training is proven, as you live for others. All the practice in the world doesn’t mean anything until you take the field. Serve the Lord, share the gospel - let your godliness be a witness to the world, as you love and live for the truth,

Preach, teach, encourage sound words of faith and doctrine, not worthless and silly myths

The Blessing of Godliness

Godliness begins and ends with Jesus

We start with Him, we grow in Him, so that now and forevermore we will be with Him.

Scripture reading, worship, fellowship, and service are the drills that God has appointed for our spiritual training. By faith and the Holy Spirit, these spiritual exercises produce spiritual fruit.

Training for godliness has promise of value now and for eternity

It is valuable in the home, the church, and the marketplace. It is valuable both in times of trouble and in times of prosperity. It helps a person deal with enemies as well as friends. Godliness is never superfluous. It guides the believer in every situation.

Training for godliness brings salvation

1 Tim 4:16 In doing this, you will save yourself and those who hear you.

Saved from the rebuke of unfaithful ministers:

Eze 33:9 If you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

Bringing salvation to all:

Ministers of the gospel have a crucial role in the salvation of sinners. Salvation comes only by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17), and the word of Christ, in turn, comes by the preaching of the gospel.

Conclusion

Pray for your Pastor that he may set the example of godliness.

Take up the means God has given to grow in godliness:

Learn the fundamentals; Be in Scripture

Exercise your Faith; Be at Worship

Join the Team; Be in Fellowship

Get on the Field; Be a Witness