Guarding the Gospel

Sermon Title: “Guarding the Gospel ”

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:3-7

Occasion: The Lord’s Day

Date: September 1, 2024

PRAYER:

Our gracious and sovereign Lord,

As we come before You today, we acknowledge our how desperately we need you.

We confess that, apart from You, we are blind, weak, and in need of Your grace.

So, we humbly ask: What we know not, teach us. What we are not, make us. What we have not, give us.

As we open Your Word, may Your Holy Spirit lead us into all truth.

“Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 Ti 1:2.

Welcome.

The title of my sermon this morning is:

“Guarding the Gospel”

Introduction: Defending the Faith in a World of Confusion

Imagine a ship at sea, navigating through a dense fog.

The captain must rely on his compass to ensure that the ship stays on course and avoids dangerous rocks hidden in the mist.

In a similar way, the church is navigating through a world filled with fog—fog created by false doctrine, myths, and endless speculations that are leading people away from the truth and to an eternity under the just and righteous wrath of God.

The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:3-7 to command him to defend the truth in the face of this confusion, reminding him that sound doctrine is like a compass that keeps the church on course.

Just like the captain who must keep his eyes on the compass, we too must guard the gospel from false teachings.

Paul urges Timothy—and by extension, us—to protect the church from doctrinal error, teaching us that love and truth must go hand in hand.

Today, we’ll look at three key points from this passage:

The Urgent Need for Doctrinal Purity.

The Goal of True Teaching, and

The Dangers of Empty Talk.

Point 1: The Urgent Need for Doctrinal Purity (vv. 3-4)

Paul begins by reminding Timothy of the urgency of the situation.

1 Timothy 1:3–4 (ESV)

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,

nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies

Paul had left Timothy in charge in Ephesus to combat false teaching that was threatening the church.

Historical Context and Heresy

At the time, the church in Ephesus was being infiltrated by false teachers who were promoting myths and endless genealogies.

(Inside job/Elders of the Church. Ref. 1 Tim. 3. Qualifications of an Elder)

(Discuss the difference between Paul’s letter to Galatia dealing with the outsiders Judaizers and the inside job of the false teaching elders here in Ephesus)

Some of the elders that Paul has in mind when he uses “certain people here in verse 3 is Hymenaues and Alexander (and Philetus mentioned in 2 Timothy).

These men were teaching that the resurrection had already taken place, denying the christian hope of future bodily resurrection.

He mentioned them in 1 Timothy 1:19-20.

1 Timothy 1:19–20 (ESV) (Have people look down at their bibles)

…By rejecting this (the gospel), some have made shipwreck of their faith,

among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

These false teachers paul is addressing were likely from a Jewish background, focusing on speculative interpretations of the Old Testament, particularly genealogies.

Their teachings were speculative, endless, and led to nothing but confusion.

They were distracted by what might be called "spiritual trivia"—details that might sound interesting but had no basis in the gospel.

Historically, these myths and genealogies are thought to be early forms of Gnosticism, which taught that special, secret knowledge was required for salvation.

These heresies undermined the simplicity and power of the gospel.

We can compare this to modern-day heresies, where people might get caught up in conspiracy theories, prosperity gospel teachings, or even a kind of intellectual elitism that suggests only a few can really know the "deep truths" of God.

Application: Modern Heresies

In our own day, the church faces similar challenges.

From the rise of the prosperity gospel to a postmodern skepticism that questions absolute truth, we are bombarded by false teachings.

Some of these teachings sound plausible because they mix a little bit of truth with a lot of error.

For instance, some might teach that faith is a means to material prosperity, or that God’s love means He overlooks sin.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, often called the "Prince of Preachers," once said,

"Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right." -C.H. Spurgeon

Spurgeon’s words highlight the subtlety of false doctrine, which can appear almost right YET be entirely wrong.

These modern heresies that I just mentioned, like the ones in Ephesus, lead people away from the truth of Scripture and toward speculation, confusion, and self-centered living.

Illustration: Guarding the Truth

Imagine a castle with a treasure inside—representing the gospel.

The job of the guards at the gate is to keep the treasure safe, not letting any thieves inside.

But if the guards fall asleep or get distracted, the treasure is stolen. In the same way, the church is entrusted with the treasure of the gospel, and our role is to guard that treasure from being corrupted by false teaching.

Paul calls Timothy to stay alert, just as we are called to stay alert today.

The gospel is under constant attack, but we must protect it with vigilance, wisdom, and courage.

Transition

Paul uses a very interesting phrase in the greek in verse 4 that is translated “Stewardship from God.”

This phrase means “orderly plan”.

Paul is referring here to the outworking of God’s plan of salvation in all human history, and more specially, the working out of that plan through his people advancing that plan.

And the point of Paul using this phrase here is actually quite simple:

He is saying there that False teachers only produce speculation (pulling us farther and farther away from the plan. Disorderly/Chaos/confusion) rather than sticking to the clear plan he has given us to advance the kingdom of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(Example of having a task and then getting caught up in a conversation and forgetting what you are doing. It’s like this! It’s easy to find yourself caught up in speculation and no longer on mission)

So, if RCS is to stay the course (stick to the plan and steward well according to God’s measurement) in advancing God’s kingdom here on earth, the way in which we guard the gospel, is to whole heartedly commit ourselves to the teaching and living out of the gospel at all costs.

What’s at stake?

The kingdom of God. The going out of the gospel. Peoples souls.

Exhortation:

Guard the gospel by stewarding God’s plan against those who are deliberately trying to cause you to deviate from the plan.

Transition

How can we ensure that we will stay on task in guarding the gospel?

Paul says we must. I repeat, we must know what we are aiming for. And that is where we find ourselves in verse 5.

Point 2: The Goal of True Teaching (v. 5)

After charging Timothy to confront the false teachers, Paul explains the ultimate goal of sound teaching:

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

True teaching always leads to love.

The false teachers in Ephesus were not teaching in love—they were promoting speculation, confusion, and division.

But Paul reminds Timothy that the goal of his command to silence false teachers is not merely to win an argument or prove who’s right.

The goal is love.

This love comes from three things: a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.

A Pure Heart (rather than one filled with sinful desires)

A pure heart is one that has been cleansed by the blood of Christ.

It is not perfect, but it is committed to following God.

False teaching often leads to impurity because it focuses on external rituals or legalism rather than the transformation of the heart.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).

Purity of heart is a marker of genuine love for God and others.

A Good Conscience (rather than one laden with guilt)

A good conscience is one that is aligned with God’s Word.

False teachings often lead people to justify sin or adopt practices that are inconsistent with Scripture Which leads to a guilty conscience.

But a good conscience knows right from wrong because it is informed by the truth of God’s Word. Paul tells Timothy later in this letter to

"fight the good fight, holding faith and a good conscience" (1 Timothy 1:19).

A good conscience is free, it doesn’t have to look over it’s shoulder, because it know’s it is aligned with God’s Word.

No matter what storm may come, a good conscience allows us to navigate the storm with clarity. That clarity is brought about only by the Scriptures, friends.

A Sincere Faith

Lastly, true teaching produces sincere faith, not hypocrisy or false religiosity.

Sincere faith is unpretentious—it doesn’t put on a show.

It trusts in Christ alone for salvation and lives out that faith with integrity.

False teaching, by contrast, often leads to hypocrisy.

Jesus warned about the Pharisees, who "say, but do not do" (Matthew 23:3).

Their teaching led to self-righteousness rather than sincere, humble faith.

Illustration: A Healthy Tree

True teaching is like a tree that bears good fruit.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:17, "A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit."

Sound doctrine produces the fruit of love, purity, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

On the other hand, false teaching is like a tree that looks healthy on the outside but is rotten at the core.

It might bear some fruit, but that fruit is poisonous.

In the end, it leads to death rather than life.

Application: Cultivating Love Through Sound Doctrine

As we seek to grow in our faith, we must ensure that the teaching we follow leads to love.

True Christian teaching never leads to division, speculation, or selfish ambition. Instead, it leads to love for God and others.

This is a challenge for us:

Are we teaching and living out the gospel in such a way that it leads to love?

Or are we caught up in the controversies and debates of the world, which lead to division and confusion?

Point 3: The Dangers of Empty Talk (vv. 6-7)

Paul warns Timothy about the danger of "meaningless talk" (v. 6).

1 Timothy 1:6–7 ESV

Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Empty Talk and False Confidence

The false teachers were promoting what Paul calls "vain discussion."

Their teaching had no substance—it was empty, pointless, and ultimately harmful.

They were confident in what they taught, but Paul says they didn’t understand the very things they were teaching.

This is a devastating critique.

These teachers thought they were wise, but they were actually ignorant of the truth.

They desired to be seen as experts in the law, but they didn’t even grasp its basic principles.

Illustration: Building on Sand

Jesus illustrated this kind of empty teaching in Matthew 7:26-27 when He spoke about the foolish man who built his house on sand.

The house looked fine until the storm came, and then it collapsed because it had no foundation.

False teaching is like building on sand—it looks solid for a time, but it can’t stand up to the trials of life or the judgment of God.

Only teaching built on the solid foundation of Christ and His Word will endure.

Modern Examples of Empty Talk

Today, we encounter many forms of empty talk in the church and the broader world.

Some teachers focus on self-help principles, personal success, or "your best life now."

While these teachings may sound positive, they often lack the substance of the gospel.

They fail to deal with the reality of sin, the need for repentance, and the centrality of Christ’s atoning work on the cross.

Other teachings focus on speculative theology—things that go beyond what Scripture reveals, such as trying to calculate the date of Christ’s return or overly complex theological systems that lose sight of the simple truth of the gospel.

These teachings lead people away from the solid foundation of Christ and toward endless debates that never produce spiritual fruit.

False teaching try's to convert you to religion not to Jesus.

It’ simple: Religion cannot produce godliness. Religion cannot save you.

Religion will never produce God’s love.

Only trusting in Jesus can do that for you, friend.

In fact, the great secret of godliness is found not in our approach to God but in his approach to us.

It is not in our moral or religious activities, or diving into something deeper than Jesus Christ that will change us, but we are changed when we trust in the gospel of God’s Son, who appeared in the flesh and was vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world and taken up in glory.

Guarding Against Empty Talk

Paul’s warning to Timothy is clear: Guard the church against this kind of empty talk.

Make sure that your teaching is grounded in Scripture and leads to godliness.

As we examine the teachings we listen to, we should ask ourselves:

Does this teaching glorify Christ and lead to godly living?

Or does it glorify man and lead to confusion and speculation?

Don’t get lost in the fog, keep the compass of the gospel close to the chest!

Conclusion: Stand Firm in the Gospel

As we draw to a close, let’s remind ourselves of the urgency of Paul’s message to Timothy.

The church is constantly under attack by false teachings that distort the gospel.

But we are called to guard the truth.

We must confront false teachings with love and grace, making sure that our doctrine produces love, purity, a clear conscience, and sincere faith.

Call to Action:

This week, consider how you can guard the gospel in your own life.

Are you reading and studying Scripture with discernment?

Are you careful about the teachings you listen to?

Are you growing in love and godliness, or are you being drawn into debates and distractions that pull you away from Christ?

Remember, the goal of sound teaching is love.

Let us be people who live out that love, guarding the gospel for the glory of God and the good of His church.

Let us pray.

Closing Prayer:

Father, we thank You for the truth of Your Word.

Help us to guard the gospel in our hearts and in our church.

Give us discernment by your Holy Spirit to recognize false teachings and the courage to confront them. May we grow in love, purity, and sincere faith as we follow Christ, our Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.