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Journey Into Servanthood Lesson 1
. . . Staying on Course During the First, we must let God’s Word be our guide (1:3-4). Timothy faced many storms while in Ephesus. One tradition says Timothy was later beaten to death by a mob at Ephesus because he condemned the worship of the pagan goddess Artemis (ar´-te-mis), who was named Diana by the Romans and was the twin sister of Apollo. Her temple in Ephesus is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Ephesus was a tough time for Timothy because Paul writes: As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine (1:3). Young Timothy was to charge or “order” certain men to stop spreading false teachings that were tearing down rather than building up the church. Timothy was to pass on commands from Paul, an inspired apostle. These commands were not simply Timothy’s opinion or preference. We all have our own Ephesus, our tough times, so we need the principles in this epistle to be good and faithful servants like Paul and Timothy. This is because of what truth found in Psalm 119:105? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ We do not know exactly what the false teachers were teaching but we can get an idea from verse four, where Paul tells Timothy to tell them not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies (1 Tim. 1:4a). Some had apparently fabricated some mythical stories based on genealogies and the church was apparently caught up in this heresy. Such teachings always encourage questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith (1:4b). Instead of promoting questions that tear down believers, we are to promote the work of God which is in faith. God wants us to build up other believers, but the Evil One wants to create controversies and tear people down. That is why God gives us what command in Ephesians 4:29b? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ This means we must always be sensitive to situations and people by saying words to build them up, not tear them down. To stay on course during the storms of life, we must let God’s Word be our guide and . . . Second, we must have love as our goal (1:5-7). Of his command to forbid certain men from teaching false doctrine, Paul writes: Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned (1:5). The word translated charity (agape) is a love that unselfishly seeks the welfare of others. In this verse we find three things that will be true in our lives if we have this kind of love. 1. We must have a pure heart. The word translated pure refers to a heart cleansed from all sin and selfish motives. Agape love can only reside in a pure heart. Whenever we are in one of life’s storms, especially a relationship storm, we should first of all pray what prayer found in Psalm 51:10a? ____________________________________________________________ 2. We must have a good conscience. Our conscience is a God-given internal sin detector. It is what makes us feel guilty when we have done wrong and feel good when we have done right. We cannot love others as the Bible teaches without a pure heart, a good conscience, and . . . 3. We must have an unfeigned faith. The word unfeigned means “without deceit or pretense.” This means we have no ulterior motive in our service to God, His church, or people. To love with agape love, we must have a pure heart, good conscience, and unfeigned faith. The false teachers at Ephesus had none of the three, yet they wanted to be teachers. Therefore, Paul writes they understood neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm (1:7). They pretended to be wise but they really didn’t even know what they were talking about. Thus, their motive was not love. True believers will always have love as their goal. How does Jesus make this clear in John 13:35? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ To stay on course during the storms of life, we must let God’s Word be our guide, have love as our goal, and . . . Third, we must guard God’s Word (1:8-11). During the storms of life, one great temptation is to retreat from the truth of God’s Word or twist it to fit our selfish desires. While Paul says the false teachers at Ephesus were bad, he writes: the law is good, if a man use it lawfully (1:8). The false teachers at Ephesus perverted the Law to support their false teachings and selfish goals. However, the Law is good when we use it lawfully. When used properly, what does God’s Word do, according to Romans 3:20b? ____________________________________________________________ The Law makes us aware of our selfishness and sin. In 1 Timothy 1:9-10 Paul lists the kinds of people for whom the Law was given. First are the lawless and disobedient, those who deliberately break God’s Law to satisfy their own lust and ambitions. Next, the Law is for the ungodly and for sinners, those who have no reverence for God. Then, Paul mentions the unholy and profane, which refers to people who desecrate what is sacred. Murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers and manslayers are those who commit the ultimate act of dishonoring God’s Law, the taking of a human life. Paul writes the law is also For whoremongers and them that defile themselves with mankind (1:10a), referring to any kind of sexual immorality. The phrase translated them that defile themselves with mankind literally means “males in the marriage bed,” referring to homosexuality. In 1 Corinthians 6:9b-10, the Bible says we should not be deceived because neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God. Then, what wonderful observation does Paul make in 1 Corinthians 6:11a? ____________________________________________________________ This means many wonderful believers came out of a life of sexual perversion because the Gospel of Christ has the power to change anyone. Paul continues in 1 Timothy 1:10 by writing that the Law is also for menstealers. Finally, the Law was given for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine (1:10). That last phrase makes it clear this list is not exhaustive. Everything contrary to sound doctrine is wrong, and everything that is according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God is right (1:11). The word translated sound (hygiaino) is the Greek word from which we get “hygiene” or “hygienic.” It refers to principles and practices that lead to good health. Therefore, sound doctrine is doctrine that leads to good spiritual health. Not only was the teaching of the sound doctrine of the glorious gospel . . . committed to Paul and Timothy’s trust, but also to you and me. God has given us a sacred trust, which we are to guard and keep pure. How does 2 Timothy 1:14 remind us of this truth? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |