Exceedingly Abundant

Letter to a Friend

1 Timothy 1:1–2  “ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, 2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”

What love to call someone your dad, mom, brother, son, daughter.

1 Timothy 1:3–7

1 Ti 1:3  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 

if he specifies don't then that means they? Were. Keep that in front of mind. Teaching correct doctrine important

1 Ti 1:4  nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 

1 Timothy 1:4  “ Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.”

Most false teachers point to someone everyone respected as their mentor, teacher, authority, etc. Some of these may have referred to Jewish heritage. People make that up even today. Mormons, Black “Hebrew” Israelites.

Teaching like this binds us to a system not Christ.

1 Ti 1:5  Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 

What commandment? v1 - Paul was sent by God to teach them to LOVE Romans 13:8–10  “ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Paul is teaching you and I to walk in love, with those qualities.

1 Ti 1:6  from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 

1 Timothy 1:6  “ But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.”

1 Ti 1:7  desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

1 Timothy 1:7  “ They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.”

The Hebrew roots movement is like this. They misapply, misinterpret, but do it with a great confidence that makes it seem like they know what they are talking about.

So we go from people acting like they know the law, to knowing the law - Paul explains when the law should come into our discovery. Its not in the obeying feasts or dietary restriction's but living holy lives

1 Timothy 1:8–11

1 Ti 1:8  But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 

The law applies to those who are living against the law. (See Rom 13 above) Paul makes this point;

1 Ti 1:9  knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 

1 Timothy 1:9  “ For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders.”

All of it violating one or more of the the big 10 or law. He continues.

1 Ti 1:10  for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 

1 Timothy 1:10  “ The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching”

Do we think that since our particular sin wasn’t mentioned its off the table, we’re good to go? NO. Stop tying to figure out what you can get away with and just live in Christ. Walk like you know Him. “if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine”

1 Ti 1:11  according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

Thats the command, the good news. That the law comes against those that live in this manner, the intonation also being that we don't live like this any longer. “if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine”

1 Timothy 1:12–15

1 Ti 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 

1 Ti 1:13  although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (though ignorant, still repented, still needed mercy)

1 Ti 1:14  And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 

1 Ti 1:15  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.

You are the biggest sinner you know. You know that. The other thing you should know, that Jesus Christ came to save you. To save us.

1 Timothy 1:16–17

1 Ti 1:16  However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 

Jesus has not abandoned you. He is calling you to repent and come home to Him.

1 Ti 1:17  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:18–20

1 Ti 1:18  This charge (command) I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, (know your calling)

1 Ti 1:19  having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 

By rejecting their call to live holy lives, by rejecting Christ first, by not living a moral life, it leads to going away from Christ.

1 Ti 1:20  of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

How’d you like to have your name memorialized like that? There was one more guy - 2 Timothy 2:17–18  “ And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.”

The reason that the plethora of entertainment (even christian) has become a great distraction, an AI Hymenaeus, Philetus and Alexander, out to destroy the faith of others.

This world and its system are not there to build unless it s their own caustic culture. Run away!