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I Timothy Chapter 1

Memory verses for this week:  Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.

Introduction:  We begin a new study on the books written to Timothy by Paul this week.  These two books, along with Titus, are commonly called the “Pastoral Epistles” not because they were written to pastors, but because the relate to taking care of the flock, and were the last group of Paul’s letters.

I. The Salutation 

1 Timothy 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, 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.

Paul identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God.  For the first time in his writings, Paul refers to God as “our Saviour”.  This is so true, since Christ is the Savior and He is one of the three of the Godhead or Trinity.  Paul also in his letter to Titus used the term of “God our Saviour”.  Christ is referred to as our hope.   And what a hope Jesus is.   Without Christ, we are nothing and can not approach God.  But by having Him as our Savior, we can and are the joint-heirs with God.  Not because of anything good on our part, but because we have accepted what Jesus did for us when He paid the sin sacrifice on Mount Calvary. 

Colossians 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

Paul refers to Timothy as his own son in the faith.   Some have mistaken this to mean Timothy was the son of Paul, but that is not true.  We believe Timothy was saved under the ministry of Paul, thereby the term of ‘son in the faith.’  These men were close friends and Paul was a very good and powerful influence on this young man.  In the latter part of verse 2, Paul wishes him grace, mercy, and peace.  I think here he is not speaking of the grace that first saved us, but is speaking of the grace that sustains and keeps us.

Hebrews 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Probably the mercy is similar in that it is not speaking of the mercy we received when we were first forgiven of our sins, but is the mercy we receive day after day as we become conscious of our failures and sins.  We have to confess our sins daily, and when we do, God forgives us of our failures.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

Likewise, the peace of God mentioned is not that peace we received when we were saved, but rather the peace that gives us confidence in the day of adversity.

Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

II.  A Special Commission to Timothy

3 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.

We know that Paul had left young Timothy at Ephesus as he traveled on into Macedonia.  While he was there in Ephesus, he had a responsibility to see that they teach no other doctrine.  Notice it says this to “SOME” in verse 3, and later speaks of “some” in verse 6 and 19, and also in Chapter 4:1 and Chapter 5:15.   While allowing no false doctrine, they were also to ignore fables and endless genealogies.   Some people are like that… they would rather believe a far-fetched fairy tale than to true Word of God.  That was the kind of people Paul found in Athens on Mars Hill.

Acts 17:20  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

Acts 17:21  (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Our purpose as teachers and pastors is to edify the body, not to divide or cause endless questions.  All the important things are clearly laid out in God’s Word, and we need to study it and build up one another with those words.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  

III. The Law and Its Purpose 

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.

Paul tells us that the end of the commandment (meaning the law) is love.  The command to love God first and our neighbor second are the great commandments of the law and on those two hand all the law and prophets. 

Matthew 22:37   Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Men have deviated from the law and turned to ‘vain jangling’.  I’m afraid there may be more jangling coming from pulpits today than true doctrinal teachings.  Men are full of empty words whereas God’s Word is true and brings us wisdom when applied.  Verse 7 says they desire to be teachers of the law, but not only don’t understand what they are saying nor what it is that they affirm.  The true man of God has his feet on a the solid rock, understands the basic teachings of God’s Word, and can defend his position and teach sound doctrinal teaching. Some in Paul’s day were misusing the law and said that you had to be circumcised to be saved.  Never was this taught by the law. 

Acts 15:1  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Galatians 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Galatians 3: Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Having a desire to teach is good, but we need to know God’s Word before we try to teach others.  This way the teaching will be effective and truly help others.  It is crucial that we know the truth and teach the truth if we want to be crowned by the Lord one day. 

1 Cor 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

1 Cor 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

1 Cor 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

1 Cor 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 

8 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 menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 

Paul makes a serious point that there is nothing wrong with the law if a man uses it properly.  It is used to show us how unrighteous we truly are, and that without Christ we have no hope.  Righteousness by the law could not nor never will justify a man.  The commands of God are good and are for our benefit, but we will never reach perfection like our Lord Jesus Christ was able to accomplish in his life.  He fulfilled the law to every jot and tittle of the law.   

Rom 3:19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

J. Vernon McGee had this to say about verse 8.

Now Paul warns against legalists, those who taught that the law is a means of salvation and a means of sanctification after salvation.

The Law served a purpose, but God did not give it as a means of salvation. The Law condemns us; it reveals to man that he is a sinner in need of a Savior. Under the Law the best man in the world is absolutely condemned, but under the gospel the worst man can be justified if he will believe in Christ.

The sinner cannot be saved by good works for he is unable to perform any good works. Paul wrote in Romans, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8). This idea that in and of yourself you can please God absolutely contradicts the Word of God. It is impossible to please Him—you cannot meet His standard.

Good works cannot produce salvation, but salvation can produce good works. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved unto good works. Paul makes this very clear in Ephesians 2:8–10 where we read: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  

Verse 9 shows that the law is not for the righteous man, but those that are lawless and disobedient.   Who are these ungodly and sinners?  I’m afraid that it describes all of us at one point in life.  Until we come to Jesus Christ for salvation, we will never be justified before God.  Only by having Christ’s righteousness imputed unto us can be approach the Heavenly Father.  Once a person makes a commitment to Jesus Christ and becomes a child of God, those things mentioned should never be a part of our life.  Those things listed are horrible sins, and point out the depravity of man.  But we are a new man or woman when Christ saves us.  We are to walk in righteousness, not darkness.

Romans 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 

The law was given as a schoolmaster to show us our true condition before God. 

Gal 3:21  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Gal 3:22  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Anything that is contrary to sound doctrine should be shunned by the child of God.   Paul says the glorious gospel of the blessed was committed to his trust.   We all have a responsibility to tell others about Christ and to share the TRUE gospel with all men and women, boys and girls.

IV.  Paul’s Life and Conversion as an example 

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Notice that there are three things mentioned here that Christ did for Paul.

a.  He put Paul in the ministry.  In other Words, Paul was called into God’s Service.

b.  He enabled Paul.   He was not born with the ability to be effective, but received a special revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ.

c.  He counted Paul faithful. 

Oh that we might all be so dedicated to the Lord that we might be counted faithful.  We know it is impossible to please God without faith.    Before Paul became a man of faith, he was a blasphemer, a persecutor, one who bound Christians and brought them back to be put to death.   Before he was converted, Paul’s name was Saul. 

Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.  3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Paul persecuted the church in ignorance.  He thought he was doing God a favor in trying to stop Christians. 

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I’m sure you can agree that the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant when you found the love God had for you through Christ Jesus.   These verses point out that the hardest and most unlikely person can and will be forgiven if he or she will simply put their faith in Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Savior.  Paul said he was the chief of sinners, so he was saying he was the worst.   I know that there was much evil in Paul’s life, but I’m sure there were others more sinful that God has saved.  But in Paul’s eyes, he called himself the chief of sinners.  If the chief can be saved, God can save you too..   Christ Jesus came into this world to save lost sinners.  The word Jesus actually means Savior.  Paul points out that his conversion shows the pattern of longsuffering God has to them who should hereafter believe on Him.   Paul puts all the honor and glory to God forever. 

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

V.  Paul’s Charge to Timothy 

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 

Timothy is called upon to fight a good fight, to really get involved in the war.  Many never get in the fight because they don’t know there is a war going on.  Believe me, Satan is looking to destroy every child of God if he can get an edge into our life.  Our souls are secure, but our lives and testimonies are on the line everyday.  Paul tells him to hold the faith and a good conscience, unlike Hymenaeus and Alexander who had turned loose of the faith.  Their conscience became blind and they became shipwrecked in regards to the faith.  These men had been delivered unto Satan that they might learn to not blaspheme.

We all need to have a clear conscience.   Once we know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, it is truly the Holy Spirit that directs us and warns us of our errors.

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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