Night Watchmen of the Gospel

Introduction:

In the 5th century, the great city of Constantinople faced constant threats—not only from armies outside but from fires within the city, Much of the city was wood, so fires could spread faster than soldiers could respond. So the emperor appointed the night watchmen—men who walked the streets with lanterns, watching for the first spark which might destroy everything.

Their job was simple: to detect danger early, sound the alarm, and act decisively. Historians note the greatest fires always came when the watchmen grew careless—when they assumed the threat wasn’t serious, or someone else would handle it.

In many ways, Paul is appointing Timothy as the night watchman of Ephesus.

False teaching was the spark. The Church was the wooden city. And Timothy was charged to guard the flock before the fire spread.

Ephesus was no easy place for a young pastor. Paul had moved on to Macedonia, and Timothy was left to shepherd a troubled church—one infiltrated by false teachers who were diluting the gospel with speculation, law-keeping, and man-made ideas. Timothy I’m sure felt insecure. Overwhelmed. Maybe even a bit afraid.

Yet Paul give his very first charge in this letter:

“I urged you…remain in Ephesus, that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine.”

Timothy was called to stand firm, protect the truth, silence false teaching, and build up God’s people with sound doctrine.

Family, this is still the calling of Pastors today.

v. 3) Guard the doctrine—don’t drift from it:

“As I urge you:” this is the first charge given to the young minister—to be a defender of the faith. Timothy was called and charged to correct false teachers. How difficult it must have been for Timothy to leave the comfort of his father in the faith, and journey to Ephesus.

Ephesus was in Asia and Macedonia was in Europe, north of Greece. And pay attention to the fact Paul had to urge Timothy to stay at Ephesus.

This means to some extent it was with great reluctance, and through hard necessity, Timothy parted ways with a Paul (a dearly beloved father figure), in order he might labor for the glory of God.

His charge was to teach and preach in Ephesus. The church was in trouble because of false teaching had seeped in, and the church needed a God-fearing and godly man to help them, they needed Timothy. False teaching is so serious a matter it has to be handled immediately when it raises its ugly head.

Meaning Timothy had to remain in Ephesus so he could charge the church to stop the false teaching.

The word “charge (parangello) is a strong word and used at least 5 times throughout this letter. It carries with it a military connotation, to pass commands down through the ranks.

Timothy was to give orders and charge the false teachers to stop teaching false doctrine, and if this did not work, he was to order and charge the church to handle the false teachers.

This says several things about the church in Ephesus:

The leaders had not heeded the words of Paul when he had met with them earlier (Acts 20:17–31). He had warned them about false teachers.

Acts 20:28–31 NKJV

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

The leaders had not insisted upon the purity of the gospel as Paul had done and taught. They allowed the Word of God to become corrupted.

Acts 20:24–27 NKJV

24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Acts 20:32 NKJV

32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Timothy was to charge/command the ministers, teachers, and leaders to preach no other doctrine than the doctrine of God’s Word.

They were not to add to the doctrine of God’s Word.

They were not to take away from the doctrine of God’s Word.

They were not to formulate new doctrines for the church.

These leaders were not to make what they thought were improvements nor to correct what they thought were defects in the Word of God. They were not to change or alter the Word of God to any degree whatsoever. In the crystal clear words of this verse: “charge some that they teach no other doctrine.”

Galatians 1:6–9 NKJV

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Colossians 2:8 NKJV

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Timothy’s call was to oppose the false teachers who had begun to corrupt pure doctrine. In this command from Paul we see his heart for the church in Ephesus, and that Paul didn’t leave the church destitute of a pastor. One ancient writer remarked, “To keep what has been gained is not a smaller virtue than to make new acquisitions.”

Paul wishes to arm Timothy with power to restrain these false teachers.

“Yet it is worthy of observation, that we give the name of another doctrine not only to that which is openly at variance with the pure doctrine of the gospel, but to everything that either corrupts the purse gospel by new and borrowed inventions, or obscures it by ungodly speculations. For all the inventions of men are so many corruptions of the gospel; and they who make sport of the Scriptures, as ungodly people are accustomed to do, so as to turn Christianity into an act of display, darken the gospel. His manner of teaching, therefore, is entirely opposed to the word of God, and to that purity of doctrine in which Paul enjoins the Ephesians to continue.”–Calvin

Application for us:

Guard the pulpit—what is preached must be Scripture, not trends.

Guard your home—teach our children right doctrine and not spiritual clichés.

Guard your influences—believe it or not, not every “Christian” author, podcast, or movement is rooted in truth.

Guard your heart—false teaching often enters through unchecked curiosity.

v. 4) Edify one another—stop the endless debates:

One of the greatest descriptions of false teaching is given in this verse; as they give heed to speculations and controversies rather than to God’s work and Word.

The word “Fables” (muthois) refers to all forms of false and fictional teaching or doctrine. It means the false ideas and speculations of men about God and Christ and the teachings of God’s Word. This is because the doctrines of men are only speculations, fables, narratives, stories, fictions, and lies.

2 Timothy 4:4 NKJV

4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Titus 1:14 NKJV

14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.

Also the word “genealogies” (genealogia) refers to those who take comfort in a godly heritage. The Jews were guilty of this. They took great pride in their godly forefathers, so much so they felt that the godliness of their forefathers rubbed off on them. The more godly forefathers they had in their roots, the more prestigious and acceptable they felt before God and others.

They felt if they had stronger roots, the more men and God would accept and esteem them. However, pay attention to what Paul stated, “endless genealogies.” There were apparently those who were spending enormous amount of time in structuring and discussing the godly heritage of the past.

Apparently, the practice had seeped into the church. There were those:

who were stressing heritage over Christ.

who were depending upon a godly heritage for salvation instead of trusting in Christ.

who were spending more time in genealogies than in edifying and building up the godliness of the church.

who were concentrating upon questions and theories rather than upon building godly behavior among Christians.

Paul judges doctrine by the fruit; for everything which doesn’t edify ought to be rejected.

For us this is important to understand, doctrines must be tried by this rule, that the doctrines which contribute to edification may be approved, and those which give ground for unprofitable disputes may be rejected as unworthy of the Church proper.

What Paul is conveying with, “godly edification” which can also be translated “stewardship from God,” which in this context it either refers to God’s orderly outworking of his plan of salvation in all human history, or to our own responsibility in advancing His kingdom. The real key here is to understand the false teachers produce speculation rather than the advance of the kingdom by faith in Christ.

Godly edification is like a master builder following the architect’s blueprint. The blueprint is clear, ordered, and designed to bring the project—God’s redemptive plan—to completion.

But the false teachers are like workers who ignore the blueprint and instead doodle all over the plans with their own speculations.

Their scribbles don’t help build anything. They create confusion, slow the work, and distract from the construction that actually needs to happen.

Paul’s point: Stick to the blueprint. Build what God actually designed. Don’t let speculation interrupt the construction of God’s kingdom.

Application for us:

Don’t waste your energy on controversies which will not lead to holiness or the mission given to us as Christians.

Evaluate teachings by whether they advance faith in Christ, not curiosity in man.

Remember: fruit, not fascination, is God’s goal for His people.

vv. 5–6) The aim of truth is love:

The end of God’s commandment to men is love (agape, God’s kind of love—sacrificial). Therefore, ministers and teachers are to focus upon growing in love and in teaching love. The great call of believers is:

to know the love of God and to love God

to love each other as brothers and sisters in the Lord

to love the lost of the world so much that we are driven to take the gospel to them.

It is paramount we understand where this kind of love comes from. Its source is not found in men; it doesn’t just arise out of our hearts. The love which we are to know and possess come from three sources:

Love comes from a pure heart: a heart forgiven by God and cleansed from all impurities; a heart that is not weighted down by selfishness, worldliness, envy, covetousness, and immorality.

Love comes from a good conscience: a conscience which knows there is nothing between it and God, between it and men; a conscience which knows it has been true to God’s Word and has taught no error.

Love comes from a sincere faith: a faith which is set upon God and His Word, which holds to God’s Word and trusts and teaches God’s Word and God’s Word only.

The end of God’s commandment—of all that God has ever said to mankind—is love. Therefore, a true believer commits their life to learn more and more about the love of God and to teach the love of God more and more. but to do this we must be committed:

to having a pure heart before God

to having a good (clear) conscience before God

to following the faith, that being, the teachings and doctrine of God’s Word.

Family, this is not true with all though is it? It isn’t true with false teachers. Note exactly what Scripture says: some have swerved and turned aside to empt discussions. I like how the KJV points this, “vain janglings,” it’s a term which just sounds like what false teaching amounts to: janglings. The term means empty arguments, discussions, and speculations—the speculative ideas of men about God, Christ, and the Word of God.

False teachers swerve and turn aside from the doctrines of God’s Word to these vain janglings.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 NKJV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

Titus 1:10 NKJV

10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

Ecclesiastes 10:13 NKJV

13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness.

“Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” Some put the law of God into its wrong place. They made it a way of salvation, which it never was meant to be and never can be. It is a way of conviction! It is an instrument of humbling! It shows us the evil of sin, but it never takes sin away.”–Spurgeon

Application for us:

An important question to ask ourselves:

Is the teaching I’m listen to making me more loving toward God and others?

Sound doctrine should produce evangelism, repentance, forgiveness, compassion—never pride or tribalism.

v. 7) Ambition without understanding:

As the heading suggests, false teachers put their own ambition and personal ideas above the truth found in the Word of God. The picture is of a person who is ambitious:

to be recognized as an original teacher or preacher

to be recognized as a creative person

to be recognized as the creator of a novel idea or doctrine

to be recognized as the author of a new concept or doctrine

to be recognized as the founder of a new movement

The picture is that of a person who so desires to fit in with the latest fashion of teaching that they neglects or ignores the truth. He disregards the truth in order to fit in with their peers. The false teacher’s ambition is allowed to cloud their understanding of the truth.

Barclay points out the false teacher who is ambitious often:

demonstrates arrogance instead of humility

focuses upon teaching rather than learning

looks down upon simple-minded people

regards those who do not agree with their conclusions as ignorant fools

1 Timothy 6:3–5 NKJV

3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

2 Timothy 4:3 NKJV

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

This is the mindset of false teachers:

Colossians 2:18 NKJV

18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Application for us:

Beware of teachers who build platforms, rather than building up people.

Beware of teaching that elevates personality over Scripture.

Beware of teaching that seems new, clever, or edgy—truth is ancient and timeless.

vv. 8–11) The Law shows our sin—the Gospel shows our Savior:

These verses demonstrate and show the false teachers who had infiltrated the church, and they were Jewish legalists. These said a person became acceptable to God:

by Christ and the law

by receiving Christ plus keeping the law

by become righteous in Christ and by doing the righteousness of the law

What they rejected was the teaching of a person was saved by grace through faith alone. To them a person could not be saved unless they:

became good enough to please God

did enough good to make themselves acceptable to God.

What is wrong with this? There is nothing wrong with doing good, but there is a great deal wrong with thinking and teaching a person can do enough good to make himself acceptable to God.

God is perfect; therefore, a person would have to become perfect to be acceptable to God.

Man is already short of perfection; he is already imperfect; therefore, he can never be acceptable to God—not by any merit or work of his own.

Man already comes so short and is so sinful, he can never stop falling short and sinning.

Every person falls short, sins, fails, trespasses, and transgresses—no matter who they are. he is depraved and lives a depraved life—a life short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23).

This is the reason God gave man the law: not to show man he is righteous (or lawful), but to show him just how far short he really is of God’s glory—how unrighteous he is and how much he needs the love, mercy, and grace of God.

God gave the law to show us how much we need a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. This is what man fails to see. This is what the false teachers fail to see too.

Family, false teachers do not rightly understand/grasp the law and its purposes. God gave the law to man to show him how far he falls short he comes and to restrain evil.

The law was given to man—to all men.

The law was not made for the righteous, but for the unrighteous.

Therefore, all men must be unrighteous because the law was given to all men.

Scripture gives a list of the people to whom God gave the law. Note how the list covers all of society. Every persons is guilty of having broken the law of God.

The Law was given to:

expose sin

restrain evil

reveal our need for Christ

Shut the mouth of the self-righteous

The Law cannot:

save

cleanse

empower

redeem

or justify

The Gospel alone saves.

1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV

15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Paul doesn’t leave anyone out with this list (vv. 9–10): every human being who has ever lived or ever will live needs the law, for every person falls short of God’s glory; that is, every person is unrighteous.

What this means is, no person can ever be acceptable to God. Righteousness is not by the law—not by being good and doing good. False teachers faith to see this.

False teachers do not rightly understand the real measuring rod of God: the gospel—the glorious gospel of Christ. The blessed God has made a way for man to become acceptable to Him.

It is not the way of law and works, but the way of the gospel. When a person accepts the gospel of God, God accepts that person: So what is the Gospel?

The simplest way:

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NKJV

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

1 Peter 2:24 NKJV

24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

John 3:16–18 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Accountable:

Bad News:

Good News:

How Will We Respond?:

Application for us:

Teach the law to expose sin.

Preach the gospel to offer hope.

Hold both the law and gospel together but never confuse them.

Communion:

As we have an opportunity to approach the Lord’s Table, remember this:

Holy communion displays the gospel.

The bread reminds us of Christ’s body—the One who kept the law perfectly.

The cup reminds us of His blood—the One who bore the curse of the law for us.

At the Table we confess:

We are not saved by our works.

We are not made righteous by law-keeping.

We are accepted because Christ died, Christ rose, and Christ is coming again.

Properly partaking of communion is one of the antidotes to false doctrine, because it brings us back to the cross, the empty tomb, and the grace given to us by God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 NKJV

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 NKJV

25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Closing:

Family—Paul’s charge to Timothy is Christ’s charge to us:

Guard the doctrine. Avoid vain debates. Hold fast to love. Reject ambition. Walk in the gospel.

You are the night watchmen of your families, your ministries, your conversations, your church.

False doctrine is subtle, and it always spreads where believers grow careless.

So stand firm. Stay anchored. And keep Christ at the center.

May the Lord make us a people who

love the truth

live the truth

proclaim the truth

and guard the truth—until He returns

Benediction:

Numbers 6:24–26 NKJV

24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’