Good morning,
This week we will look at 1 Timothy 1.
Timothy was a young preacher, lead to Christ by Paul. Paul is now writing to Timothy words of encouragement, challenge, and a charge on how to best minister to the church at Ephesus.
We will look at an introduction to 1 Timothy, the warning against false teachers, the Lord’s grace to Paul, and the purpose of Paul’s instruction to Timothy.
Greeting (1 Timothy 1:1-2)
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Warning against false teachers (1 Timothy 1:3-11)
The nature of the heresy (1 Timothy 1:3-7)
“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, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. 5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.”
People were opposing the presentation of the gospel. They taught false doctrine, engaged others in meaningless debates, and claimed to be leaders of the faith. Their motives were not pure. They lacked love.
Paul tells Timothy to teach the Ephesians correct doctrine in love.
When we present the gospel to others, we must do it in love. Not argumentative or being overbearing. Love wins people to Christ.
The purpose of the Law (1 Timothy 1:8-11)
“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.”
What was the purpose of the law? To show men and women that they were sinners who could not keep the law. They needed a blood atonement for their sins. God directed them to sacrifice animals. However, that was not sufficient.
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:1-4)
The law points the lost to Jesus. He is the perfect lamb of God sacrificed for the sins of all mankind.
“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” (Hebrews 10:11-13)
We need to tell others about how Jesus paid the sin debt that we owed, but could not pay.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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