Authority and Encouragement
Blue Prints for the Local Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsPaul begins his pastoral epistles with a letter to young Timothy about setting up the Blue Prints for the church and it starts with a word of encouragement and authority to complete the task at hand: resisting false teachers.
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Introduction |
As one begins a journey to see how the church is to be On Mission and organized, they cannot help but turn to what is referred to as the Pastoral Epistles: 1 & 2 Timothy, and Titus. Within these three epistles, one finds what is in essence the blue prints of the church. Timothy was parented by a Jewish believing mother and Greek father. He was influenced by both his believing mother and grandmother in the faith. He was more than likely a convert of Paul. Either way, Paul discipled young Timothy and Titus both. Both 1 Timothy and Titus were written during a time where Paul was On Mission, while 2 Timothy was written while he was imprisoned awaiting his martyrdom.
The focus of 1 Timothy is to show the church how she is to act. This key truth is found in 1 Tim 3:15
15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one should act in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
1 Timothy is divided into four divisions:
The church and her message (Chapter 1)
The church and her members (Chapters 2 & 3)
The church and her minister (Chapter 4)
The church and her ministry (Chapters 5 & 6)
As we come to this beginning study of 1 Timothy, let us look at Warren Weirsbee’s Commentary for an introduction:
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: Stay on the Job (1 Timothy 1)
Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.”
That advertisement appeared in a London newspaper and thousands of men responded! It was signed by the noted Arctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, and that was what made the difference.
If Jesus Christ had advertised for workers, the announcement might have read something like this:
“Men and women wanted for difficult task of helping to build My church. You will often be misunderstood, even by those working with you. You will face constant attack from an invisible enemy. You may not see the results of your labor, and your full reward will not come till after all your work is completed. It may cost you your home, your ambitions, even your life.”
In spite of the demands that He makes, Jesus Christ receives the “applications” of many who gladly give their all for Him. He is certainly the greatest Master for whom anyone could work, and the task of building His church is certainly the greatest challenge to which a believer could give his life.
Focus Passage | 1 Timothy 1:1-7
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is 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 Just as I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, to remain on at Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to useless speculation rather than advance the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith. 6 Some people have strayed from these things and have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Outline |
The task at hand (vv. 3-4)
Timothy’s task at hand was to deliver a message of order and rebuke - ‘…instruct certain people not to teach strange doctrines…’
Paul, throughout his epistles, addresses false teachings, and does so with an infadic warning within his letter to the churches of Galatia
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
Timothy’s task at hand was to deliver a message of warning - ‘…nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies…’
Myths - the taking of legends from the past used to encourage immorality and a life contrary to God’s way and order (taking the Word of God out of context and perverting it to fit their will and way)
Endless genealogies - refers to histories and prophetic speculations rising out of guess work and wanting to be different (taking the Word of God out of context and perverting it to fit their will and way) (vv. 6-7)
Why warn the church about false teachings (myths and endless genealogies)?
They bring division rather than unity - ‘…give rise to useless speculation…’
They hinder the advancement of the gospel - ‘…rather than advance the plan of God…’ (i.e. the Gospel)
They diminish the faith of the hearer - ‘…which is by faith…’
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
The goal of the task at hand (v. 5)
The primary goal of Timothy’s task was to reveal God’s love through his instruction
How was this love to be shown
Through a God honoring motive - pure heart
Through a God honoring life (how one lives out their life ) - good conscience
Through a God honoring behavior - sincere faith
The authority and encouragement to fulfill the task at hand (vv. 1-2)
The authority that Paul delivered to young Timothy was two-fold
He delivered to him positional authority - ‘…an apostle of Jesus Christ…’
He delivered to him divine authority - ‘…according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus…’
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
20 teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Paul delivered to young Timothy encouragement
Encouragement through their relationship - ‘…my true son in the faith…’
Encouragement through the promise of hope - ‘…of Christ Jesus, who is our hope…’
What is this hope spoken of? What is biblical hope?
No fear of punishment - Rom 8:1
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Removal of guilt - Ps 103:2
2 Bless the Lord, my soul, And do not forget any of His benefits;
Assurance of Heaven - 1 Jn 5:13
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Encouragement through the blessings of God (v. 2b)
Grace - Unmerited favor God that covers everything
Mercy - Special attention of God to people during their time of need
Peace - A heart in harmony with God that finds tranquility independent of circumstances
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Conclusion |
We are called to resist false teaching. We are called to warn against false teachings and the results thereof. It is only through a pure and unadulterated gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ that one finds salvation.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
