01) Fruit of the Faithful
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We come today to gather before the truth of God’s word, to hear his voice an his will in our lives.
Let us Pray
If you would open you bible to 1 Timothy chapter 1. While you are turning there after a little introduction. Today we start to explore what is commonly know as one of the Pastoral Epistles or Pastoral letters. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus make up this group of letters.
They are called the Pastoral Epistles as they give instruction to two church leaders, two pastors. Timothy who served the church in Ephesus and Titus who served in the church on the island of Crete. They give instruction and encouragement to these men as they lead the believers under their authority.
Even though 1 Timothy states with the very clear statement that Paul has written this letter there are still those that question if Paul is the actual author. Reasons that are used to challenge that Paul is the author revolve primarily around what seems to be differences in Paul’s letter to the churches and the Pastoral writings.
Some point out a different set of vocabulary and style used here that readers find in the letters to the churches. Others point to the heresies that they believe the author is addressing in the letters. These people tie the false teachings to later common ideas that were affecting the church.
Some point out the detail and specifics that these letters speak about the organization of the church. They make assumptions about the position of Timothy and Titus and point out differences in what is written to other churches.
Others point out the timeline of the letters. It is important to know to the best of our ability when a book of the bible was written in order to best understand the context of the text. The timing of these letters is not as clear as others. This leads people to question if Paul actually wrote them.
There are other topics that get brought up but like the ones already listed here, there are just as plausible explanations against these challenges as for them.
There seem to be a question that is the starting point for the challenges to Paul’s authorship:
When could he have done the things he said he did in these books if he was in jail?
Paul was arrested in the mid 50s of the 1st century and was imprisoned for about 5 years. This is where the book of Acts ends.
30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
The scriptures do not reveal what happens next but it is believed that he would be eventually let go from his imprisonment.
We know that neither the Roman Proconsul Festus or Herod Agrippa found any grounds for the imprisonment.
14 Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There’s a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix. 15 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned. 16 I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defense against the charges. 17 So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 The accusers stood up but brought no charge against him of the evils I was expecting. 19 Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive. 20 Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters. 21 But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”
and
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
At this time there were no charges that would have condemned him. We see in his letter to the Philippians that he believed he would come back to them.
25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.
and in Philem 22
22 Meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
and even in this book
15 But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
But there seems to be a shift in 2 Timothy as he does not speak as if he will return to them.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.
The tone and surety of his pending death seems to have changed in the second letter to Timothy.
The writings of other people speak about Paul in a way that affirms the idea that Paul was released for awhile. This along with the fact that the early centuries of the church never questioned Paul’s authorship, give strong defense of the authenticity of Paul hand in these letters.
There is no evidence that the first line of the letter has been changed or questioned. The conclusions that people make revolve around this being a pen name or a forgery. These accusations really fall apart when there is not a question of the text being changed but who wrote it.
I believe Paul is the author and he writes to a man that he has a deep relationship with. He has mentored him, spent time with him, and has trained him for over 15 years.
He would use different language and speak of different things to this man than he would to churches in general. When I coach soccer I usually have 10 to 15 hyped up energized boys. There are times that they need correction or direction. I do not use the same language to the entire team than I do either of my boys. Sometimes a single word, or a look will be all I need to convey my thoughts and expectations to my children. However when I speak to someone else child I need a much different set of vocabulary to get my point access.
In this way Paul uses direct language that would have been heard by Timothy in the context of years of ministry together. With hours of co laboring together. Their relationship would have been built differently than what we seen today in our lives.
Timothy was in his mid to late teens when he joined Paul on his second missionary journey. They met in Lystra and would travel together for over 800 miles. This is basically walking with a person from Spokane to Seattle, back to Spokane and then back to Seattle. They would have spent months and if not years together talking sharing life together. Experiencing trial together, worshiping together, breaking bread together.
They did not come together for an hour and a half on Sunday and then go home. These two would have had there own vocabulary that would have been built out of time and conversation.
So he writes to his friend, and brother in Christ and in the mission of the Gospel. He writes this letter to instruct and exhort him.
We will be examining this letter for the summer and into the fall. Maybe even the winter. Just kidding.
Hebrews was foundational in the life, work, and good news of Jesus. I believe that God used our time in Hebrews to deepen our faith and trust in Jesus as our Lord and savior and to clarify the New Covenant that we have entered by faith alone.
In this letter we will see two main themes that can be summarized as exhorting Timothy to stand boldly in opposition to all false teaching and he instructs him on the behavior that should be seen in a church of truth, in the household of God.
3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine
15 But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Today we start Paul’s instruction on false teaching. Let us read 1 Timothy chapter 1.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope: 2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine 4 or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith. 5 Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. 8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately. 9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me. 12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
We find the the letter starts with the greeting from Paul.
From Paul
From Paul
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope:
It does not take long for a person that is reading the New Testament for the name Paul to appear on the pages. His name is mentioned nearly 200 times. In our minds we see this bold missionary with elegant speech and writing that walks around as a large and impressive figure in the history of scripture.
But he would be not be described by that way by those that challenged him,
10 For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak and his public speaking amounts to nothing.”
In one commentary this was written
A second-century writer described him as “a man small of stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in a good state of body, with eyebrows meeting and nose somewhat hooked, full of friendliness; for now he appeared like a man, and now he had the face of an angel
He was not impressive physically but he made up for that in zeal. He had followed the Law as it was taught religiously and even claimed the following:
3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee;
He had commited his life zealously to the traditions of the Jews. In that passion he became a persecutor of Christians.
6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
But that would all change on the Damascus Road.
1 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.
Jesus would meet the man that was actively bringing murder upon his children. That encounter along with his interaction with Ananias would change his life.
10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he replied. 11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Ananias would be obedient to God
17 Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. 20 Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”
The man named Saul went from the persecuting to proclamation. Immediately he went to the gathering place of the synagogues and proclaimed “He is the Son of God”. The power of the Gospel demonstrated in the life of a man who by faith has been saved. He believed, he was baptized, he proclaimed. And he lived a life dedicated to proclaiming that truth.
He was an ambassador and a messenger of Christ. He was an apostle in the general sense that the bible uses the term. In the general use of the word apostles all believers are messengers sent as ambassadors of Jesus and therefor apostles in the general use of the word.
But in the use of the title of an Apostle of Christ there were specific requirements. There were the original 12.
13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.
And then we see the requirements as they replaced Judas.
21 “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
After the 12 the bible reveals that Paul was also taught for three years like the original 12.
11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. 12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.
He claims that after Christ did the redeeming work of salvation in his life that he did not consult any man but that Christ revealed the gospel the he preaches directly from divine origin. Not passed down from man. We also see three times after that, that Jesus speaks to Paul
9 The Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.”
17 “After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”
Paul claimed to not only have been added to the 12 as the only apostles of Christ Jesus. But that he had been put there by the command of God.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope:
On a side note, the word order of Christ Jesus is used 85 times by Paul in his epistles. No other epistle in the New Testament has this work order.
Paul was establishing his authority at the beginning of his letter to Timothy. Is this because Timothy had forgotten who Paul was, no it was so that Timothy could use the letter in his dealings and corrections that he was going to establish in the church.
Paul says it was a command of God our savior. God has been savior from the beginning.
46 The Lord lives—blessed be my rock! The God of my salvation is exalted.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long.
9 Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or abandon me, God of my salvation.
13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
It was through God’s plan of salvation. The will of the father for Jesus to be the hope of man’s salvation.
10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished. 11 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.
Paul has established the highest authority that backs the words that he writes to Timothy.
To Timothy
To Timothy
2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul calls Timothy his true son of faith. Paul knew the heart of this man that he had full confidence in his faith. Timothy was a son of a Jewish mother and a Greek father.
1 Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek.
Even though Timothy found himself in a family that had a pagan father he was still taught the sacred scriptures as a kid.
5 I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Timothy would have had an upbringing that would have known both the culture of his father the Greeks and his mother the Jews. It would be the teaching of the scriptures that prepared Timothy for the work that God would have for him.
This should be a word of encouragement and instruction for any mother that finds that your husband is a non-believer. It also shows the impact that mothers have on their children when they teach the scriptures to their children. Christian fathers are to lead in the teaching of the word to the family but mothers place a very important role in the teaching as well. Husband and wife do this together.
This was the preparation God had used for his ministry with Paul.
After God brought them together in Lystra Timothy would be a friend, co-worker and Paul treated him like a son. Paul would train and teach him and then send him out on various missions. He was with Paul when he wrote many of the letters to the churches and would have a thorough understanding of their content and intent as he was sent to churches to deliver and answer questions that would arise.
Paul called him his son in the faith.
This is a letter from one man of God to a spiritual son. The motive is brotherly love and guidance from Paul to a younger Timothy who had been put in the Ephesian church to guide it and correct it to be a church that glorifies God. The letter is very direct and gets to the point very quickly but before he dives in brings forth to the mind of Timothy what he will need to accomplish the task.
Greeting
Greeting
1 Timothy 1:2 (CSB)
2 … Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grace. It is God’s grace that frees sinners from the consequences of sin. It is His undeserved favor, love and forgiveness. God’s undeserved blessing.
His mercy which is his undeserved restraint from providing the punishment that is deserved.
The peace of God which is only found in God grace and mercy from God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
Only in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy does Paul add mercy. He commonly greeted with grace and peace. Timothy would need to stand firm in God’s grace, mercy and peace as he moved forward to act on the instructions that Paul would give him. Without these, the work ahead would not be accomplished.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Timothy was a man of high character and Paul knew that about him. Timothy had demonstrated his faith along side of Paul on many occasions, was obedient first to God and then to Paul as Paul sent him out he had proven a faithful man.
As Paul will rebuke the prideful men in the church, Timothy would have demonstrated the opposite, humility. Grounded in sound doctrine that was planted in his mind and heart from childhood.
Finally he was a man that was willing to do the hard work to serve God. The ministry of the early church was hard and trying. He stayed the course.
Before we ever get to the instruction of Paul we see the impact that people have on the next generation spiritually. The impact of God fearing parents and older men and women walking with and training younger men and women in the work of the faith.
This need is still great today as we still live in a world that rebels against the truth of God. We still live in a time of where the people of God are tempted and drawn away from God to the things of the world.
As we go through 1 Timothy this summer it will reveal to us the will of God for guarding the church from the schemes of the enemy. That the words of Paul in Ephesians is still true today.
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
Satan will continue to attack God’s church, the body of Christ. I the midst of all of professed Christianity God has his church and it will persevere but it will be attacked.
Timothy is the leader of a church that is being attacked by the enemy. The attack came from within the church and Paul gives instruction on dealing with false teaching, the impact the false teaching was having on the church, how to determine who is a false teacher and who is a true teachers.
He will give instructions concerning the church, the leaders of the church and the people of the church. We will see things that we look around and say wow nothing has changed. We will deal with some very difficult topics in the church today. We will see the schemes of the enemy and I believe we may see that we have fallen for some of these schemes.
50,000 people 200 vendors 32nd annual
Today
Let us pray.
Let us pray.
Prayer
Communion
Warning
Children, Lost, Sin
19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Prayer
Song
Closing
Blessing/Benediction
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.