1 Tim 4 - Truth Matters

Introduction:

Whether you get your news from print or online, from broadcast or social media, outlets are attempting to give themselves credibility by labeling others as Fake News, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Fake Videos, or “Cheap Fake” Videos.

The press briefing from our Nation’s Capital tried to persuade attendants that “what you see is not what happened”. We can no longer trust our 5 senses to determine what is true.

To test this proposition, I asked the same question to 4 different AI bots and received 4 different answers (and in my opinion, ALL of them were wrong!). I asked Siri, Microsoft CoPilot, Google and ChatGPT “Where is the best place to live in Kansas?” Not a single source could agree with any of the others! I was told KCK, Wichita, Overland Park, and Lenexa were the right answer.

Last Thursday some of you watched a debate in an empty studio between 2 of the men who wish to be your president for the next 4 years. While the debate was still happening Fact Checkers were scrambling to verify the truth of the things being said. And as soon as the final remarks were broadcasts we entered a 48 hour cycle of experts trying to tell you what was meant by what was said.

It should be no surprise when the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will...devote themselves to deceit that truth both within and beyond the body of Christ becomes optional.

Last Day “Christians” make a willing DEPARTURE (vv.1-5)

Seared Consciences (v.2)

William James, an American philosopher and psychologist who was also trained as a physician in the mid 1800s. said “There's nothing so absurd that if you repeat it often enough, people will believe it.”

Why are we amazed to hear the foolishness that comes out of some people’s mouths? Some have been do indoctrinated that their conscience doesn’t even bristle when certain things come out of their mouths.

“How can you tell if an [insert opponent of your choosing] is lying?” Answer: their lips are moving.

We were warned by God 1950 years ago that we would encounter stone-cold, bold-faced liars, even in the church. So, each of us needs to have a standard for evaluating truth.

Some use their experience, some trust their gut, some quote authors or bloggers, I trust the Word of God because I know my own heart is desperately wicked and I can’t trust myself!

Extra Expectations (v.3)

One of the first witnessing tracts I was trained to use in personal evangelism was the Four Spiritual Laws. The 1st law is “God love you and has a wonderful plan for your life”. It was humorously rewritten in many Christian circles to say, “God loves you and WE have a wonderful plan for your life”. It is rare to participate actively in a group of Christians for long before discovering the unwritten expectation of those in the group

Earlier this week I was listening to a biography of John Calvin and found that there was actually a tribunal held in Geneva, Switzerland over the allowance of “split breeches”. I had to look up split breeches! I first found out that breeches is not spelled the way I thought, and then I found out split did not refer to the 2 legs of a pair of pants, but split breeches were lined with expensive silk lining and slits were place in the clothing (much like today’s distressed jeans) so people could see the expensive lining underneath as a demonstration of wealth. At one point in the Tribunal, Calvin was asked to provide a place in Scripture that mentioned split breeches. The best he could do was lean into the warnings against pride. The Biblical prohibition of pride got turned into a church rule about slits in outer garments.

Likewise, some in Ephesus had denied the idea in Hebrews 13:4 that marriage should be honored by all, they went right past Paul’s’ instruction to Corinth that there are benefits to both marriage and singleness and they didn’t stop until they were 180° opposite of Hebrews.

This same overzealous group also skipped Acts 10:15 in their Bible reading and continued to promote some variety of veganism.

Damnable Substitution (vv.4-5)

Their sin was substituting their opinions for God’s Word. They chose to ignore what God had said and made themselves into the arbiters of right and wrong.

TRANSITION: Whether I believe it or not, God’s truth defines truth and the matter is settled. But what do we do when exposed to lies, deceit and hypocrisy?

Untrained Christians REACT to the Falsehood (v.6)

IF

There really is no option here. All servants of Christ Jesus have the Holy Spirit inside of them convicting that some concepts just are not true.

But the good servant is the one who permits the words of faith and sound doctrine to shape the manner in which we return. The NASB and LSB capture the essence by translating as “In pointing out these things”[i]rather than “If you point these things out”[ii]. This is a great example of how comparing multiple translations can open up truth that we may miss on a first reading.

Fight or Flight

Ever since Dr. Martin Luther King said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Many have been compelled into saying something, rather than delay to say the right thing.

We live in an age of outrage, and the fires of outrage dissipate without fuel. If we don’t wish to be considered cowards by silence, the other unmeasured reaction is fighting with emotional words.

We mistakenly conclude that frequent words are better than taking flight with our silence.

Social media can be either a tool or a weapon. The unedited responses give voice to emotion if not restrained. After a loving and helpful admonition from our Elders, I have been trying this summer to be more restrained on social media. Yes, Jesus knocked over the moneychangers’ tables, but not every table is assigned for me to topple.

Trained

Why do we call firemen, deputies and EMTs first responders instead of first reactors? Why are all students in healthcare taught the fundamental principle “Do no further harm?”

The ability to avoid harm or paralysis requires the wise, intentional and strategic application of training to a particular situation.

God has placed His people in various locations and specific situations. At one point God told Noah that the best thing he could do was to build a boat and get into it (Gen 6). Peter was told to get out of a perfectly good boat and step on the water (Mt 14:29). During David’s reign, the men of Issachar had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do (1 Chron 12:32). In Persia He placed Esther in such a time as this to go out on a limb ensuring the preservation of her people (Est 4:14). None of these examples were patriotic Americans, but they were each faithful to God’s purpose exactly where and when He placed them. You and I have been placed in the United States of America in 2024. This Thursday most of us will consider what it means to be independent, and contemplate how best to live in that freedom.

2. I desire to be a good servant of Christ Jesus, so I am compelled to point these things out. But what are these things? Do I have a responsibility to call out or pile on all the lies and deceit? OR does my servanthood become good by pointing to v.5 [sanctified by the word of God and prayer] and the rest of v.6[nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching]?

TRANSITION: The good servant is not the one who points out all the deceit, hypocrisy, and lies, but the good servant is the one who points out the Word of God, prayer, and faithful teaching so that…

Exemplary Christians RESPOND to the Challenge (vv.7-16)

Just as I gave you 4 examples of things that God asked of people in the Bible that He doesn’t directly ask of you, the rest of the verses in today’s chapter use first person singular pronouns, which means Paul is talking specifically to Timothy, not to anyone else who may run across a copy of the letter. It would be short-sighted for me to preach each of these as direct commands for you. But knowing what Paul commanded to Timothy can be helpful IF any of us wish to be used in our world, similar to the way God used this young preacher.

Engage in Combat Training (vv.6-10 cf. 2 Tim 2:1-7)

The words gymnazō and gymnasia initially focused on physical exercise. Even in pre-Christian times, gymnazō and gymnasia could be used figuratively to describe any sort of structured process of development or training, including mental development. Gymnazō occurs three other times in the NT, and each of these portrays training in spiritual terms (whether good or evil) (Heb 5:14; 12:11; 2 Pet 2:14).

Training is best away from (before) the Battle. Before our soldiers go to war, I hope they know which end of the barrel to point downrange! Long before the recital, the tournament or the contest will be hours and hours of training, whether you are doing something physical, mental or spiritual.

V.7 indicates you must isolate and focus. You can’t be an expert in all areas. Those who try to do too much are known as know-it-alls, and few people appreciate a know-it-all!

V.8 identifies that you must choose the desired outcome and allow that to determine your training. Even within bodily training you must prioritize because the slim physique of a swimmer is unlikely to lead to excellence on the Rugby pitch.

Vv.9-10 remind that performance in the training room is not the goal, we toil and strive because real life outcomes are at stake.

Execute the Battle Plan (vv.11-16 cf. 2 Tim 4:1-6)

The Message of Truth (v.11) – The ESV use of insincerity is literally the word hypokrisis which is why so many other translations use the word hypocrisy. In our literature it is only in a negative sense to create a public impression that is at odds with one’s real purposes or motivations, play-acting, pretense, outward show,[iii]

A Model of Godliness (v.12 cf. Tt 2:7) – the message of v.11 and speech of v.12 demand to be backed up by conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Titus 2:7–8 NASB:20

7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

3. If vv.11-12 are written specifically to Timothy, and Titus 2:7-8 are written specifically Titus, we might be safe allowing God’s Spirit to produce in us the overlap of these 4 verses.

Conclusion:

Let me wrap up this challenge by taking the direct instruction to Timothy in his time, recalling the time and place where we live, and looking at 2 verses that were not written to individuals, but to groups of believers.

1 Peter 2:16 ESV:2016

16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

Galatians 5:13 ESV:2016

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

You are called to freedom, you are free, now let’s use our freedom as servants of God to serve one another! Let us speak truth and live with integrity!

Response Song #390....... “May the Mind of Christ, My Savior”

Benediction: 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV) — But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

[i] Legacy Standard Bible. 2022. Three Sixteen Publishing. [ii] The New International Version. 2011. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. [iii] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., 1038. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.