1 Timothy 1:1-11 Fight for Your Faith

Read 1 Timothy 1:1-7

Scripture Reading: Mark Esola

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New Study in 1 Timothy

Intro: Go to the Mattresses

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Theme of 1 Timothy

1 Timothy 6:12 ESV

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

There are a lot of fights we could fight

There are a lot of mountains we could die on

The most important fight we can fight is for our faith

Why is it important

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

We are going to see three things we need to fight against this morning

We have to fight fatigue, false teaching, & legalism

Stay in the Fight vs. 1-3

The first way that you need to fight for your faith is to stay in the fight

Timothy was tired and feeling defeated

Paul encourages hims as his spiritual father

Paul pulls the Dad card

This letter wasn’t just meant for Timothy

Paul wanted this letter read to the church

He asserts his Authority as an apostle and emphasizes it with his anointing by Jesus Christ

Child in the Faith

Paul urges Timothy to stay because he considers him his child in the faith

There is two parts to this

Paul could consider Timothy a true son in the faith because he probably led him and his mother to faith in Jesus on Paul’s first missionary journey.

Acts 16:1 ESV

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.

He discipled Timothy and trained him for ministry

Which brings us up to our second point

This also expressed Paul’s confidence in Timothy’s integrity and faithfulness to the truth

Paul could trust Timothy to get the job done

Urge You to Remain

Paul is headed to Macedonia

He needs Timothy to hold the fort down

There were serious issues that need to be dealt with

Timothy was probably missing Paul’s companionship

He was taking in on the chin from the older members who considered him too young

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Fight Against False Teaching vs. 4-7

The second way to fight for your faith is to fight against false teaching

False Teachings today

Positive/ Prosperity

Gender Identity

Political ideaology

Progressive

Causes Disputes

False Doctrine causes disputes

Myths & genealogies were items that, Jews especially, argued over

It was a way of promoting a Hierarchy

It took away from serving God

Romans 16:17 ESV

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Disrupts the Unity

False doctrine disrupts the unity

Paul brings this accountability in love

Notre Dame Coach on Accountability

asked why his team is successful

He replied “We have built a good culture”

The reporter asked if that was because there were people set a good example

He countered. “No, we have guys who speak the truth and hold people accountable.”

False doctrine will disrupt the unity because it wants the truth withheld

Produces Teachers w/o Understanding

False doctrine produces teachers without understanding

1 Timothy 6:4 ESV

he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,

Fight Against Legalism vs. 8-11

The final way to fight for your faith is to fight against legalism

There were people who were misusing the law in the church

People were using it to control others and condemn them

Use the Law right

Having standards and keeping them does not make us legalists and obedience doesn’t make us legalists.

We are legalists when we think what we do is what makes us right before God.

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