In pursuit of righteousness
Life as the church: Book of 1 Timothy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:14:07
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Put off, put on, flee from and to pursue
Put off, put on, flee from and to pursue
When we became a Christian we die to self and are raised as a new creation (2Cor5:17) and then as little children of God we learn to follow the commands (Mt28:20) so to have proper conduct as the church (1Tim3:15). This morning we will be looking at a great contract of flee and pursue (1Tim6:11) that follows the instructions given (1Tim6:3-10)
It would not be fair just to reference all those scriptures and not give you at least a few of them.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
When we are born again of water and spirit (Jn3:5) and resurrected with Christ (Rom6:3-4) that we than are a babe in Christ, sins forgiven and need to learn what it means to be a Christian and how to be one.
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This series “life as the church” is really been all about our conduct as the church with our key passage for the series
15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
As the church, we are to put off and put on things
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
and put on
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
and today we will pick up on that and look at the things to flee from and the thing to pursue, righteousness.
I would like you to consider a couple of questions today as we go through this lesson.
Am I putting off, fleeing from those things that I ought to put off and flee from?
Am I putting on, pursing those things that I need to pursue?
(Other scriptures referenced in this section: Jn3:5 and Rom6:3-4)
So this morning only two points:
Things to flee
Things to pursue
but first let’s look at the passage together.
1tim6:3-4
3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
Things to flee!
Things to flee!
Why do you think you are to flee something? Physical danger, spiritual danger, relational danger? Paul gives instructions, gives direction on things to flee for Timothy and the churches protection.
Flee from doctrinal error (1Tim6:3)
3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.
Flee from lust of the flesh (2Tim2:22)
22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Flee from sexual immorality, fornication (1Cor6:18)
18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
Flee from idolatry (1Cor10:14)
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
The only way you can know to flee from something, is to know it is dangerous to you.
Flee from disputes and arguments over words (1Tim6:4-5, 2Tim2:14-16)
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.
Some love to argue (any attorney’s here?), you know battling over words, love to argue religion.
Oftentimes the results of such things are:
Envy- a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck.
Strife- angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict.
Reviling- abusive language; slander, scorn, regarding the opposition, to revile,
Evil suspicions - mistrust, suspecting and impugning another’s motives
Beware of these things for they become useless wrangling as Paul mentioned to Timothy in the other letter
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
now tying the two together
By men of “depraved, corrupt minds, destitute of the truth.” (from v.5)
they cannot think straight
They do not understand the truth, accept the truth
By men who think godliness is a means of gain (from v.6)
Arguing, contrary to their beliefs will not make them famous, given them power, position or even wealth.
Timothy was told in 2Tim to stay away from people like that, from such wranglers.
Flee from overwhelming desire, lust for wealth (1Tim6:6-8; Php4:11-13; 1Tim6:9)
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
Flee since you cannot take it with you
Learn to be content with what you have, food, shelter, and as Paul says to church at Philippi
11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
It is a learned grace, contentment that is, a learned faith and trust in God to meet all of your needs.
Those who have overwhelming desire, lust for being rich, well, look here.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Fall into temptation and a snare
Many into foolish and harmful lusts that can lead men in destruction and perdition (a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death.)
Now that brings us to
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Love of money is love and reliance on self it can lead you away from your faith in greediness and can cause many sorrows.
(Transition) now this leads us from the fleeing to the pursuing
11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
Things to Pursue
Things to Pursue
If you are running, fleeing from something, you are running towards something. Here are some things we should be running towards, things to pursue.
Pursue righteousness (1Tim6:11; Mt5:16; Php3:7-14)
11 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy.
I only put that one up there since it says “run for your life!” Just had to do it, so run Christian run, flee those things we just looked at and pursue righteousness.
This is the quality of being right, doing right, in the sight of God and it will also be in the sight of man and they may come to glorify God because of it.
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
The righteousness we run for our life towards is found in Christ Jesus; consider Paul’s illustration
7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I thought about summarizing, but felt best to give it to you.
Pursue godliness (1Tim4:7-8)
This is devotion to God and godly things that we know please Him.
Defined as the quality of being devoutly religious; piety.
This godliness requires effort from the Christian
7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
A good pursuit for present life and the life to come.
Pursue faith (Rom10:17; 1Tim6:12; Heb3:12-15)
Hendrickson says in the subjective sense regarding faith “active reliance on God and His promises”
How do we get that? We get it from the hearing the word of God (ref. Rom10:17)
It may take a good fight too
12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
We need to be diligent and protect the faith, to actively pursue it so that
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, 15 while it is said, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.”
Pursue love (Mt22:36-40, 5:44; 1The4:9, 3:12)
We are to love the Lord our God, and our neighbors as yourself, yep, even our enemies and those who persecute you.
This is a decision of will, active good for others, not the heart, for the heart can be deceptive according to Jeremiah.
Agape love, active love, desiring the best for others is something that we need to be taught, and there is no greater teacher, check it out
1the4:9
9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
GOD IS THE BEST TEACHER EVER!
12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;
Not only teach you love but cause you to increase and abound in it too.
So if it is not natural, than it is something we need to pursue. . . . chose to do it daily!
Pursue patience (Heb12:1-4)
Another word for this is steadfastness, “the grace to bear up under adversities” - Hendrickson
Now who does not need that especially in times of adversity, persecution, discouragement, or just plain old hard times
Another word, is found in Hebrews, the word endurance.
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
(Transition) so we have pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and yet one more to come still.
Pursue gentleness ( 2Tim2:24-25)
This works hand in hand with patience, but with gentleness it has to do with dealing with people vs. situations or circumstances.
This impacts how we treat others.
24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
One writer said “Where the virtues of righteousness, godliness, faith, love and patience are present, the virtue of gentleness naturally follows.”
(Conclusion) in wrapping this up, in drawing to a close, this is not the only place Paul warned Timothy on this subject of fleeing and pursuing. Consider
22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.
(Invitation slide- kingdom of heaven)
Pursue righteousness, pursue Jesus, seek His kingdom first and foremost know that He wants you to be a part of His kingdom. Jesus came to establish His kingdom.
(Song) (Prayer) (Exit)