Two Choices Timothy
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I Timothy 6.20-21
I Timothy 6.20-21
In the Bible, there's the story of Esau, who traded his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew. Esau, hungry and exhausted, exchanged his future inheritance—the blessing and leadership of his family—for immediate satisfaction. This impulsive decision highlighted the consequences of prioritizing immediate desires over long-term blessings.
Something of Great Value is traded for something of little value
Certainly, there's the parable of the Prodigal Son. A younger son asked his father for his share of the inheritance and squandered it on a reckless lifestyle. He traded the wealth and security of his family for a life of extravagance. Eventually, he found himself in dire straits, realizing the true value of what he had traded away. In a moment of humility, he returned home, where his father welcomed him with open arms, teaching a lesson about repentance and forgiveness.
Something of Great Value is traded for something of little value
Consider the story of Zacchaeus from the New Testament. Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, climbed a tree to see Jesus passing by. Intrigued by Zacchaeus' change of heart, Jesus dined at his house. Overwhelmed by the encounter, Zacchaeus pledged to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay fourfold to anyone he had cheated. In this transformation, Zacchaeus traded material wealth for a newfound sense of generosity and compassion.
Something of little Value is traded for something of Great value
The Command Remains the same.
The Simplicity of serving God
Just hold to what is true. Don’t swerve to that which is false.
But preacher that seems to be real hard.
What is it that makes holding to true so difficult.
There is only one thing to hold to. “Keep that which is committed to thy trust.”
This is a regular appeal in Scripture:
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
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; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
There is a constant appeal for those who hold the truth to not trade it for a lie.
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,
Paul calls the false teaching of the attack on Ephesus:
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
The Strike on those serving God.
Paul helps Timothy by giving him a simple test on whether or not he is on the right topic.
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
The fruit of holding to the truth is fruitful.
Charity out of a pure heart
Good Conscience
Faith Unfeigned
I’m not going to re-preach the message I gave at the beginning of this series. I want to point out that a healthy church starts with
~Spiritual Healthy Families
~Staying on the Word of God
~Building a Spiritual healthy church
As goes the individual so goes the home, as goes the home, so goes the church.
This is why Paul could give to one man Timothy and he could confront individuals the false teachers and false widows. And the result is a healthy church. But it also explains why the false teachers could make such head way.
Christian this is why it is essential that our primary goal should be to
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
The Soundness of Serving God
You and I don’t have to run around trying to learn the “deeper things of Scripture”. Understand where the giants came from are not the “deeper things of Scripture.”
When the Apostles spoke of deeper things or mysteries he was always referring to the beauty of the God becoming man, so that in his death burial and resurrection man might know God.
Everything else misses the point.
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
You see the deep things of Scripture are always based around the incredible gift of Jesus at Calvary.
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
I can hear someone say wait preacher in Hebrews 6:1-3 we are told to leave the teaching of Jesus and move to perfection:
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.
Then for the remainder of the book, While the author of Hebrews encourages believers to move beyond elementary teachings, the focus remains on the significance of Christ and the new covenant. The later chapters of Hebrews delve into the priesthood of Christ, the superiority of the new covenant over the old, and the role of faith in the life of a believer.
The Apostle is telling us that the Gospel is more than just you getting saved. Rather it is for your perfection to be like Jesus as well. If leaving the Gospel is the concern of Paul in I timothy and the Perfection of the Gospel is his point in Hebrews than my friend you should lay hold of the Gospel and not trade it for anything this world has to offer.
Some of trades being made…
Endless Geneology:
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
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; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Whose Blood matters?
Albert Barnes states that the Hebrews kept careful genealogical records because it was necessary in order that the distinction of their tribes might be kept up. What was the importance of keeping up the distinction of their tribes, and their blood and of birth?
Therefore they melted their value as a Church down to whose blood was in your bloodline. We know that the only blood that matters is that whose was shed at Calvary.
Profane and Vain Babbling
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Vain thinking leads to more ungodliness.
When we turn to vain babbling WE will find ourselves. Arguing in our position of whose right and whose wrong. The Gospel keeps us in our position of God’s child.
Science falsely so called
This is an indicator as to who the problem was the problem was gnosticism.
Here is the bottom line.
You and I are susceptible to false teaching.
You and I are susceptible to Vain living.
You and I are susceptible to higher knowledge.
We have only one hope to remain faithful to this simple Gospel.
That is to choose to remain faithful to this book.