Take a Stand

Introduction

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2440 What’s That, Again?

When Clarence Darrow was a young lawyer, he was presenting a suit for damages in a civil court in a small town. The jury that was selected appeared to be even lower than average in intelligence. However, one man seemed much superior to the rest and would probably be elected foreman by the jury—according to the local legal customs. Throughout the case, therefore, Darrow concentrated on this man, and addressed all his oratory to him.

The case finally went to the jury. After an unusually long wait, the jury filed in, and Darrow saw that his surmise had been correct. The object of his attention headed the procession of foreman.

“Gentleman,” said the judge, “have you reached a decision?”

“No, Your Honor,” answered the foreman, “we’ve come back to ask for some information. There are two words which have been used throughout this trial which we don’t know the meaning of.”

“What are they?” asked the judge.

“One word is “plaintiff” and the other is “defendant.” ”

We may laugh about this story, but the reality of it is that we have those within the church that are ignorant of spiritual truths, just as these jurors were ignorant of legal truths, trying to lead others in the realm of spiritual truth. These spiritual leaders are making a mockery of the Lord and His message. As Paul previously stated that the intent of his teachings were that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed (1 Timothy 6:2b NKJV). However, these false teachers, in their spiritual ignorance are doing just this, blaspheming the name of God and His doctrine. Which leads us to a questions that we must personally ask ourselves: 1) Am I spiritually ignorant, trying to teach others about that which I do not understand? and 2) If I am saved, am I allowing myself to be influenced and lead by the spiritually ignorant?

Focus Passage

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.

Outline

Paul has spent a good portion of this first letter to Timothy addressing false teachers. We find that one of the primary reasons for Paul sending Timothy to Ephesus to pastor the church, and sending his first letter was to combat these false teachers and their false doctrines...

1 Timothy 1:3–4 NKJV

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

Paul then tells Timothy that he was charging Timothy with this call to make war against those that were teaching false doctrines within the church, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:18-19a). Because these false teachers have shipwrecked their own faith and were shipwrecking other’s faith by teaching them to deny the faith (1:19b).

It was this purpose that Paul tells Timothy to Teach and exhort these things (6:2b). The secondary reason was Timothy’s fight against false teachers and the primary reason was for God’s name and His doctrine to not be blasphemed.

Spiritually Weak: the result of false teaching (v.3)

1 Timothy 6:3 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,

I) False teachers do not give sound doctrine but rather broadcast false doctrine

We find many in the church today that would rather have their ears tickled than their heart convicted. This is just a fulfillment of prophecy as Paul has already revealed within this epistle...

1 Timothy 4:1 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,

It is this demonic teachings that these false teachers are proclaiming. Paul tells Timothy, you will face this. When you face those that are teaching these doctrines, remember that these teachings are not healthy.

2) False teachers do not give healthy doctrine

Paul states that these false teachers that proclaim a false doctrine are not growing the church. They are not edifying the church or the individual. What they are doing, is that they are truly making the church ill, spiritually speaking. They are causing cancer to spread throughout the church. Paul writes, does not consent to wholesome words. The word ‘wholesome’ in the Gk is a medical term meaning healthy. He is stating that these false teachers are not teaching healthy doctrine.

For one to spiritual vitality and vigour, they must endure sound doctrine. They must desire the pure Word of God as a baby desires the milk of their mother.

1 Peter 2:2 NKJV

2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

We find may within the church today starving, emaciated, and beaten down because they are not feeding off the milk and meat of the Word of God. They are instead feeding off of and desiring a false doctrine that agrees with their life rather than challenging their life.

3) False teachers promote a doctrine contrary to Jesus’ doctrine

What does Paul mean when he writes, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ? Paul was not just mentioning an excerpt from the Gospels or just a collection of saying from Jesus. Within our text, Paul is reminding young Timothy that Jesus is the source of all sound doctrine. Any Gospel presented outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be considered demonic. Those that teach such doctrine are to be considered cursed before God.

Galatians 1:8 NKJV

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.

Why does Paul stand so firm against these false teachers and their false doctrines. We must understand that any doctrine, any gospel that stands opposed to God, stands opposed to righteousness. The true gospel presented was the teaching of Jesus and promotes godliness, which accords with godliness. Truly it surrounds itself in godliness and righteousness which honors God. However, the doctrine of false teachers promotes all this is considered ungodly.

1 Timothy 4:7–8 NKJV

7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

The ignorance of the false teacher (v.4)

1 Timothy 6:4 NKJV

4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

Paul, as he continues to instruct Timothy to teach sound doctrine and make war against false teachers reveals three character traits of those who oppose the pure Word of God.

Three character traits of false teachers

I. False teachers are prideful - ‘he is proud’

Their pride was not in the Lord. Their pride was in self. They took pride in their flesh, their knowledge, their understanding, their doctrine. They chose to promote the pleasures of the flesh and promote a works based religion. Their teachers were demonic and had roots in their god, Satan himself, who was cast out of heaven because of his own pride and selfish rebellion.

II. False teachers are ignorant - ‘knowing nothing’

They speak and teach of those things they do not comprehend. They may have a whole lot of knowledge but lack wisdom and understanding. Paul previously addresses this when he writes, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm (1 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). He further addresses this truth in his second epistle to Timothy...

2 Timothy 3:7 NKJV

7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Truly, false teachers are the blind trying to teach the blind. You can have a head knowledge without ever having a heart knowledge. Head knowledge means nothing without the change that heart knowledge brings.

III. False teachers bring about the disease of contention within the church - ‘obsessed with disputes and arguments over words’

Within this disease of contention, we find that what is birthed is what has destroyed the church in the past and continues to destroy many churches today: envy (jealously), strife (bickering and arguing), and reviling (in fighting). When brothers and sisters are not on the same page and following the same message, same doctrine, and not having the same goal in mind, all that results is destruction from within and the name of God and His doctrine is truly blasphemed, made useless. Satan has already won. We, as a church, have become a laughing stock to the community of lost that we are surrounded by every day.

Take a stand (v.5)

1 Timothy 6:5 NKJV

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.

What is the cause of this constant irritation or argumentative spirit that is propagated by the false teacher, useless wranglings of men?

I. The false teacher’s mind is morally perverted, ruined - ‘of corrupt minds’

These false teachers, these promoters of demonic doctrines have been corrupted, morally perverted, and indoctrinated with spiritual decay by the enemy and a drive that is driven by the flesh rather than the Spirit.

II. The false teacher is deprived of the truth - ‘destitute of the truth’

The false teacher knows not the truth, so how can they teach the truth. Rather than coming to an understanding that the Gospel is about reconciliation between God and man and for those who are shackled by sin, guilt, and shame to know God’s redemptive love and pardoning grace, they use a perverted gospel to bring these people under a continued bondage. A bondage that is only about the flesh and never about the Spirit. It is about wealth rather than freedom, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

Conclusion

How do we respond to this truth? We must ask the question, Do I know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior? Do I know what it means to be a genuine follower of Christ and His teachings? It is only through a personal relationship with Christ and knowing His truth that we come to identify false doctrines, perverted and ruined doctrine, and demonic teachings that are from men who have head knowledge but no heart knowledge. They are here to line their pockets rather than bring liberty to the captive.

If I do know Jesus and I know his truth, how do I respond to this false doctrine and these false teachers? You take a stand. You take a stand on the Word of God. You take a stand for the truth of the Scripture, and you take a stand by rejecting the false authority of the false teacher and refraining from following their false doctrine.

As stated before, it all begins with knowing: knowing the Jesus, knowing the truth.