(13) Until I come, be devoted to the public reading of Scripture, to the exhortation, to the teaching.
Timothy was one of the pastors of a church in the city of Ephesus. He had a job to do - just as modern day pastors do.
His job was to be devoted to the three things that God lists for him here - public Bible reading, giving the Bible's commands, and teaching what the Bible has to say. Note the common link? The Bible. Or in the passage's words, the Scripture - the writings given by God.
In other words, Timothy is supposed to give Jesus' people Jesus' words, explaining them and applying them as he does it.
Before we look at specific aspects of how that must look, though, it's worth noting that Timothy, and pastors, are to be devoted to these things - the public service of God's word. The word that is translated 'devoted' is used to describe those who are 'addicted' to 'much wine' in 1 Timothy 3:8. How does a drunk view alcohol? As a need. They have a compulsion to get it. It underlies the things that they do. It is a significant factor in their motives. It is the overriding passion in their hearts!
And that is how pastors are to treat their preaching of the word! Furthermore, the verb tense used for 'be devoted' indicates that this is something that is supposed to be constant. These services - giving Christ's word to Christ's people - are never to cease, never to wain, nor is the pastor's zeal in doing them.
This implies that God's word is worthy of zeal and compulsion. It is that good - that enjoyable - that significant.
It also implies that God's people need feeding - and that feeding must be of a devotee to God's words - or else there is a great inconsistency. God's words are words of life! What would it say if a pastor treated them as boring or insignificant. They are everything!
Paul lists three things that Timothy, and thus pastors, are to be devoted to: the public reading of Scripture, exhortation, and teaching.
Pastors are to read Scripture in public. It is the actual words of God. It must have its proper place! It must be heard in the congregation. It itself is life - not preaching!
Pastors are to exhort. The Bible gives many commands and encouragements. Pastors are not to skip them in favor of heady things or anything else. These things in Scripture must be given to God's people!
Pastors are to teach - that is to say, they are to give God's people God's teachings, God's truths. These aren't necessarily things that say 'do this' - but rather are truths about God and truths about what he has done in history.
Therefore, God's people have certain implied responsibilities. They must do the work of listening to God's word being read. They must obey the commands in Scripture. They must learn the truths of Scripture and trust them as they are heard - and delight in them and love them! If preaching is to be done with zeal, is it not so that listening and believing and obeying might be done with zeal?
A pastor can fall into certain sins, then.
-he can be dispassionate about the ministry he's called to
-he can fail to execute the ministry he's called to with consistency
-he can fail to read Scripture to God's people
-he can fail to faithfully teach ALL that God has to say - both truths and commands
-he can fail to rely on God and his word to bless God's people
-he can rely on his own abilities rather than on God's power and promises
-he can fail to love God's people and so give them little to eat
-he can have his own glory or pleasure in mind - not God's glory in the joy of his people through his word
-he can fail to delight himself in the Lord through his word
The rest of God's people can also sin in several ways:
-they can fail to do the work of listening to God's word
-they can rely on the preacher rather than God's word
-they can be seeking entertainment rather than joy from God's presence
-they can mistake entertainment for God's presence through his word
-they can fail to pay attention to preaching because of intellectual laziness
-they can fail to desire to really obey God, outside of adding church activities to their schedules
-they can tolerate the misuse of the pulpit
-they can fail to believe that knowing God is the highest joy of mankind
Yet, God is merciful and loving towards his people, even when we sin.
-He has given us his word - it is grace, our nourishment, life, that which brings us into God's presence
-He has given us new hearts, that, despite still being in the flesh, yearn to hear from their Lord
-He has given us pastors and churches through which to be nourished by his word
-This command itself is gracious. God is commanding - come to me! Delight in me! Let go of the things that hold you back from enjoying me - and feast. Taste and see that the Lord is good!
Pastor, delight in the Scriptures, and you'll be satisfied. Child of God, listen to the read and preached word of God, and delight in the Lord.
PRAYER;
Father, thank you for adopting us in Christ Jesus your Son into your family. Thank you for giving us your word! O God, cause our pastors to delight in you in it and to feed us with it! Cause us to yearn for it and be satisfied as you give yourself to us for our joy and your glory! Your commandments and promises are our delight. Forgive us for delighting in other things. Forgive us for working for food that doesn't satisfy. Fix our appetites, and fix our gazes on you. Because Christ died for us, rose for us, and is interceding for us, we pray boldly - amen.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Critical people usually have a hard time seeing God's sovereign grace - 1 Timothy 4:12
(12) Let no one despise your youth, but rather, be an example for the believers in speech, in manner of life, in love, in trust, in purity.
Timothy was a young pastor. Here, Paul gives him instructions about how to live based on two facts:
1) The Gospel should be heard and heeded, unhindered by human preconceived notions, by the people of God.
2) Certain aspects of a person can hinder the reception of the Gospel by even the people of God - like being young.
Paul's concern here is not that people despise Timothy for being young - but that they tune out God's word because Timothy is young! And if they do that, they will fail to be nourished and fail to enjoy God's presence.
Now, youth is attended by certain sins - 2 Timothy 2:22 commands, "Flee youthful passions." As people get older, their sins change. However, when we see somebody younger and think that they must be less spiritually mature than us, we err - because we fail to give God credit for what he can do - and we fail to realize that growth is from him through his Scriptures.
Paul is concerned that people will tune out the word because of Timothy's youth, so he tells him not to let people do it! How? By being an example, or a type. In other words - by having a truly transformed life.
He gives categories for this young pastor to think through: speech, manner of life, love, trust and purity. A young pastor especially must embrace living like Jesus publicly in those things.
Why? Because God's nourishing and satisfying word transforms people. If a pastor's life is transformed, it gives evidence for the reliability of the word he is preaching. It at least alleviates skepticism based on other, human factors. See the previous part of the chapter.
There are some danger signs we must look out for!
Pastors must be careful to let not anything they are or do externally be a hindrance to someone understanding God's word. If they can change something about themselves, they must change it!
Pastors can fail to really strive to nourish themselves on God's word - and be stagnant in their character growth.
People can criticize pastors - not for their faithfulness to God's word - but rather, based on external, human understanding.
People can fail to heed God's word as preached through his servants.
It really all boils down to paying attention to people rather than to God and his word.
Yet, God has rescued us from this situation. He has given us his word, ordained that his presence be made known in and through it, and has given us pastors. He has given us good churches! Jesus ultimately is our type and example and savior and teacher. We must together look to him to learn to obey him - through pastors put in place by him to communicate his word.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for giving us your Scriptures. You have communicated to us the words that bring life - words about your Son dying in our place, rising for our justification, and returning to bring us to himself. Cause us to not think of people as the world does - but as you would have us - thinking of your sovereign grace in the delivery of your word. Feed us on your word. Cause us to enjoy and abide in Christ - so that we'll bear fruit for your glory.
In Christ I pray,
amen
Timothy was a young pastor. Here, Paul gives him instructions about how to live based on two facts:
1) The Gospel should be heard and heeded, unhindered by human preconceived notions, by the people of God.
2) Certain aspects of a person can hinder the reception of the Gospel by even the people of God - like being young.
Paul's concern here is not that people despise Timothy for being young - but that they tune out God's word because Timothy is young! And if they do that, they will fail to be nourished and fail to enjoy God's presence.
Now, youth is attended by certain sins - 2 Timothy 2:22 commands, "Flee youthful passions." As people get older, their sins change. However, when we see somebody younger and think that they must be less spiritually mature than us, we err - because we fail to give God credit for what he can do - and we fail to realize that growth is from him through his Scriptures.
Paul is concerned that people will tune out the word because of Timothy's youth, so he tells him not to let people do it! How? By being an example, or a type. In other words - by having a truly transformed life.
He gives categories for this young pastor to think through: speech, manner of life, love, trust and purity. A young pastor especially must embrace living like Jesus publicly in those things.
Why? Because God's nourishing and satisfying word transforms people. If a pastor's life is transformed, it gives evidence for the reliability of the word he is preaching. It at least alleviates skepticism based on other, human factors. See the previous part of the chapter.
There are some danger signs we must look out for!
Pastors must be careful to let not anything they are or do externally be a hindrance to someone understanding God's word. If they can change something about themselves, they must change it!
Pastors can fail to really strive to nourish themselves on God's word - and be stagnant in their character growth.
People can criticize pastors - not for their faithfulness to God's word - but rather, based on external, human understanding.
People can fail to heed God's word as preached through his servants.
It really all boils down to paying attention to people rather than to God and his word.
Yet, God has rescued us from this situation. He has given us his word, ordained that his presence be made known in and through it, and has given us pastors. He has given us good churches! Jesus ultimately is our type and example and savior and teacher. We must together look to him to learn to obey him - through pastors put in place by him to communicate his word.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for giving us your Scriptures. You have communicated to us the words that bring life - words about your Son dying in our place, rising for our justification, and returning to bring us to himself. Cause us to not think of people as the world does - but as you would have us - thinking of your sovereign grace in the delivery of your word. Feed us on your word. Cause us to enjoy and abide in Christ - so that we'll bear fruit for your glory.
In Christ I pray,
amen
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The two distinct things that must be in sermons. If they're not, pastor, repent. If he won't, dude, get another church. 1 Timothy 4:11
(11) Command and teach these things.
In this verse, the apostle Paul commands Timothy, a young pastor, to command teach the things that he’s just been writing about.
What has he been writing about?
1) The Holy Spirit says that these ‘last days’ will be characterized by teachers in the church who are teachings things which contradict the implications of the Gospel
2) The Gospel is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, rose for our justification, and reigns – and that our justification is by belief in him.
3) The implications of that Gospel include that this physical world can be used for the glory of God – as we are hearing the Gospel and in prayer.
4) As people are nourished by the Scriptures, the Spirit produces godliness in them, and this godliness draws us nearer to the presence of God – and ultimately is the path of the Christian towards heaven and the full experience of God’s presence.
5) These things, particularly starting with nourishment through the Scriptures, are worth working hard for.
These are the things that Timothy, as a pastor, is to command and teach.
Paul used two words, didn’t he? ‘Command AND teach.’ Why is that? Well, the things he’s been writing about include both exhortation and doctrine – or commands and theology. Thus, Christians need both truth/doctrine/theology AND exhortation/commandments/practical implications of that theology. Pastors are thus required to give it. Neither must be assumed. We are in dangerous territory if either are assumed – being heady and forgetting we live in the world – OR – trying to be practical – and doing so for reasons not in accordance with truth. These heretics in 1 Timothy 4 looked very ‘godly’ by the worlds’ standards – and even in Christian eyes.
The Greek words ‘command and teach’ are in a verbal tense that is explicit about when these things are to be done – and that is, all the time, on a continuous basis. Pastors must, must, must be always presenting the Gospel, the truths of Scripture, and contradicting those things that contradict them – and they must, must, must always be giving Jesus’ sheep commands that flow out of the Gospel and the Scriptures.
And that’s because we need it. God has created us, as we’ve seen, to be nourished, just as one is nourished by foods. Pastors must continuously be nourishing themselves, and they must be continuously nourishing the sheep of God.
And the sheep must run to nourishment – they must run from false teachers, false preachers – preachers who are failing to preach the Gospel – and preaching things not from Scripture – and they must run to preachers who are preaching the words of God.
And when they get there, they must pay attention. They must not expect to be like babies being fed – but they must pay attention to the Word of God.
This is grace – that God has spoken to us promises. Jesus came in the flesh, into our world. His deeds, his death, his resurrection are recorded for us. The implications of those events are recorded for us. His commands are recorded for us. When he said ‘make disciples of the nations’ he was talking about making disciples of himself – teaching them to obey what HE has commanded.
And as his people hear his promises through the preacher, he produces godliness and we receive the presence of God, in part now, and in full when he returns to bring us home to him forever.
SUMMARY:
1) Preachers are to give both doctrine and its practical implications all the time, as well as contradicting things in the church that are in opposition to write doctrine. That is, what is in 1 Timothy 3:15-4:10.
2) Preachers must continuously be nourishing themselves on the word of God.
3) Sheep need nourishment from the word of God regularly, and must pay attention to the preachers.
4) God in his love has given us his word and pastors to communicate it to us.
PRAYER:
Holy God, set your name apart in us as holy!!! You are worthy of all praise, loving and gracious God. Help our pastors to regularly be nourished by the word, to regularly feed your sheep. Help us to feed on your word! Make it clear to us, implant it in us, and produce godliness in us. We yearn for you and want your promises. Thank you for the grace you’ve given to us in giving us the good news about Jesus – in giving us faith – in giving us all that accompanies salvation – and in giving us preachers. Cause us to pay attention to your word. Cause us to honor you here on earth.
Because Jesus stands vindicated before you, we pray confidently – amen.
In this verse, the apostle Paul commands Timothy, a young pastor, to command teach the things that he’s just been writing about.
What has he been writing about?
1) The Holy Spirit says that these ‘last days’ will be characterized by teachers in the church who are teachings things which contradict the implications of the Gospel
2) The Gospel is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, rose for our justification, and reigns – and that our justification is by belief in him.
3) The implications of that Gospel include that this physical world can be used for the glory of God – as we are hearing the Gospel and in prayer.
4) As people are nourished by the Scriptures, the Spirit produces godliness in them, and this godliness draws us nearer to the presence of God – and ultimately is the path of the Christian towards heaven and the full experience of God’s presence.
5) These things, particularly starting with nourishment through the Scriptures, are worth working hard for.
These are the things that Timothy, as a pastor, is to command and teach.
Paul used two words, didn’t he? ‘Command AND teach.’ Why is that? Well, the things he’s been writing about include both exhortation and doctrine – or commands and theology. Thus, Christians need both truth/doctrine/theology AND exhortation/commandments/practical implications of that theology. Pastors are thus required to give it. Neither must be assumed. We are in dangerous territory if either are assumed – being heady and forgetting we live in the world – OR – trying to be practical – and doing so for reasons not in accordance with truth. These heretics in 1 Timothy 4 looked very ‘godly’ by the worlds’ standards – and even in Christian eyes.
The Greek words ‘command and teach’ are in a verbal tense that is explicit about when these things are to be done – and that is, all the time, on a continuous basis. Pastors must, must, must be always presenting the Gospel, the truths of Scripture, and contradicting those things that contradict them – and they must, must, must always be giving Jesus’ sheep commands that flow out of the Gospel and the Scriptures.
And that’s because we need it. God has created us, as we’ve seen, to be nourished, just as one is nourished by foods. Pastors must continuously be nourishing themselves, and they must be continuously nourishing the sheep of God.
And the sheep must run to nourishment – they must run from false teachers, false preachers – preachers who are failing to preach the Gospel – and preaching things not from Scripture – and they must run to preachers who are preaching the words of God.
And when they get there, they must pay attention. They must not expect to be like babies being fed – but they must pay attention to the Word of God.
This is grace – that God has spoken to us promises. Jesus came in the flesh, into our world. His deeds, his death, his resurrection are recorded for us. The implications of those events are recorded for us. His commands are recorded for us. When he said ‘make disciples of the nations’ he was talking about making disciples of himself – teaching them to obey what HE has commanded.
And as his people hear his promises through the preacher, he produces godliness and we receive the presence of God, in part now, and in full when he returns to bring us home to him forever.
SUMMARY:
1) Preachers are to give both doctrine and its practical implications all the time, as well as contradicting things in the church that are in opposition to write doctrine. That is, what is in 1 Timothy 3:15-4:10.
2) Preachers must continuously be nourishing themselves on the word of God.
3) Sheep need nourishment from the word of God regularly, and must pay attention to the preachers.
4) God in his love has given us his word and pastors to communicate it to us.
PRAYER:
Holy God, set your name apart in us as holy!!! You are worthy of all praise, loving and gracious God. Help our pastors to regularly be nourished by the word, to regularly feed your sheep. Help us to feed on your word! Make it clear to us, implant it in us, and produce godliness in us. We yearn for you and want your promises. Thank you for the grace you’ve given to us in giving us the good news about Jesus – in giving us faith – in giving us all that accompanies salvation – and in giving us preachers. Cause us to pay attention to your word. Cause us to honor you here on earth.
Because Jesus stands vindicated before you, we pray confidently – amen.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
You need evidence for trusting God's promises? Here ya go. 1 Timothy 4:10
(10) For unto this we work and we struggle, since we have set our expectation on the living God, who is savior of all people, especially believers.
Paul was always toiling for the sake of the Gospel. He was preaching, engaging in conversations – even when it meant he’d be beaten, imprisoned, tortured, rejected, and hated.
And he makes note of this in a section of Scripture talking about one’s personally being nourished by God, being holy before God, and experiencing the presence of God. He clearly did not disjoin his personal walk with God from his ministry, preaching, leading to his own martyrdom. We should learn from that. Service to God is connected to, not distinct from, our walks with him. Pastors should toil, being fed by God’s word.
But why does Paul bring it up? He begins the verse saying, ‘for unto this.’ He’s justifying a statement – he’s backing a statement up. Which statement? The previous one – he just got done saying that the statement is trustworthy. Which statement?
Nourishing oneself on the word of God brings about godliness which brings about the experience of the presence of God here in part and full in the future when Jesus returns. Jesus has sent his Spirit to give us glimpses of him now – and will come full later and we will see him.
Paul is talking about his hard work to give evidence for the promise of God. Why on earth would some work themselves, literally, to death? There must be a reason! In Paul’s case, it was because of the promise of God – his presence, in the Spirit now, and in the fullness of Christ at his return.
Toil – hard work as if the things of this world and happiness here doesn’t matter - comes from being fed by God’s word.
He gives a related reason for his toil as well: “since we have set our expectation on the living God, who is savior of all men, especially believers.”
There was a point in the past at which Paul made a decision – to commit his future to the promises of God about Christ’s return – and forgiveness through his death, received by faith.
Why can he strive and struggle? Because he has an expectation for the future based on God’s promises.
This future is both near future and distant future. We get God’s presence in part through the Spirit now, and in the fullness of the Spirit when Christ returns later.
This is why Paul describes God as the living God. He is active. He is sovereign. He reigns over all things. His promises are true and can be trusted. If we obey his word, we will suffer – but his promises are true. We will never be willing to suffer unless we believe his promises!
This is also why Paul describes God as savior of all men, especially believers. If anyone is saved in this world – from an early childhood death, from a motorcycle accident, from cancer – it is by God’s sovereign and merciful hand. Every time someone is saved, God is showing off his great grace.
And those things are happening now! God is sovereign, living, and active now. And so we can trust his promises – and thus strive and toil and suffer for the Gospel – now.
But God is savior of believers in a particular way – we will be in the new creation with him, experiencing the fullness of his love and glory, forever.
God is the savior, all of the time, in every circumstance, and so we can trust him, fix our expectations on what he has promised us in Scripture, and move forward to serve him in this world – announcing Christ as King and Savior despite what happens.
The end of all this is that pastors fix their hopes on the great promises of God so that they will nourish themselves on the word and be filled with God’s fullness, as the Spirit glorifies Christ among us and in us for our joy and his glory – and as this happens, we speak the good news to others, and we depose falsehood – so that all will hope in Christ – and glorify God forever.
SUMMARY:
1) Paul worked really hard all the time for the sake of the Gospel.
2) His personal life with God was not distinguishable in practice from his ministry.
3) His life should be an example to us – striving because of God’s promises.
4) His life gives evidence for the reality of God’s promise – his gracious presence.
5) That gracious presence is now through the Spirit, and in the future in Jesus’ return to earth.
6) Toil must come from a decision to place one’s expectations on, and trust in, God’s word.
7) God is sovereign savior in all ways, at all times, now and forever.
8) Pastors must nourish themselves on the word, trust God’s promises in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and move forward in proclamation of the Gospel.
9) All believers should imitate this, being nourished on the proclaimed Gospel.
PRAYER:
God, you are Holy. You are so gracious. You are sovereign over all things. You control everything, now, and in the future. You are trustworthy. You have given us a glimpse of your glory in your word. Help us to see it, to trust you. Give us great delight in your presence. Cause us to become more like you, being convinced that the promises of your presence are greater than anything this world can offer. Cause us to reflect Christ in word and deed in this world, for his glory. Save your people through the word communicated by these means.
Thank you for your promises – that you’ve forgiven us in Christ, declared us righteous, and are sending him to gather us as your children to yourself. In Him we pray, amen.
Paul was always toiling for the sake of the Gospel. He was preaching, engaging in conversations – even when it meant he’d be beaten, imprisoned, tortured, rejected, and hated.
And he makes note of this in a section of Scripture talking about one’s personally being nourished by God, being holy before God, and experiencing the presence of God. He clearly did not disjoin his personal walk with God from his ministry, preaching, leading to his own martyrdom. We should learn from that. Service to God is connected to, not distinct from, our walks with him. Pastors should toil, being fed by God’s word.
But why does Paul bring it up? He begins the verse saying, ‘for unto this.’ He’s justifying a statement – he’s backing a statement up. Which statement? The previous one – he just got done saying that the statement is trustworthy. Which statement?
Nourishing oneself on the word of God brings about godliness which brings about the experience of the presence of God here in part and full in the future when Jesus returns. Jesus has sent his Spirit to give us glimpses of him now – and will come full later and we will see him.
Paul is talking about his hard work to give evidence for the promise of God. Why on earth would some work themselves, literally, to death? There must be a reason! In Paul’s case, it was because of the promise of God – his presence, in the Spirit now, and in the fullness of Christ at his return.
Toil – hard work as if the things of this world and happiness here doesn’t matter - comes from being fed by God’s word.
He gives a related reason for his toil as well: “since we have set our expectation on the living God, who is savior of all men, especially believers.”
There was a point in the past at which Paul made a decision – to commit his future to the promises of God about Christ’s return – and forgiveness through his death, received by faith.
Why can he strive and struggle? Because he has an expectation for the future based on God’s promises.
This future is both near future and distant future. We get God’s presence in part through the Spirit now, and in the fullness of the Spirit when Christ returns later.
This is why Paul describes God as the living God. He is active. He is sovereign. He reigns over all things. His promises are true and can be trusted. If we obey his word, we will suffer – but his promises are true. We will never be willing to suffer unless we believe his promises!
This is also why Paul describes God as savior of all men, especially believers. If anyone is saved in this world – from an early childhood death, from a motorcycle accident, from cancer – it is by God’s sovereign and merciful hand. Every time someone is saved, God is showing off his great grace.
And those things are happening now! God is sovereign, living, and active now. And so we can trust his promises – and thus strive and toil and suffer for the Gospel – now.
But God is savior of believers in a particular way – we will be in the new creation with him, experiencing the fullness of his love and glory, forever.
God is the savior, all of the time, in every circumstance, and so we can trust him, fix our expectations on what he has promised us in Scripture, and move forward to serve him in this world – announcing Christ as King and Savior despite what happens.
The end of all this is that pastors fix their hopes on the great promises of God so that they will nourish themselves on the word and be filled with God’s fullness, as the Spirit glorifies Christ among us and in us for our joy and his glory – and as this happens, we speak the good news to others, and we depose falsehood – so that all will hope in Christ – and glorify God forever.
SUMMARY:
1) Paul worked really hard all the time for the sake of the Gospel.
2) His personal life with God was not distinguishable in practice from his ministry.
3) His life should be an example to us – striving because of God’s promises.
4) His life gives evidence for the reality of God’s promise – his gracious presence.
5) That gracious presence is now through the Spirit, and in the future in Jesus’ return to earth.
6) Toil must come from a decision to place one’s expectations on, and trust in, God’s word.
7) God is sovereign savior in all ways, at all times, now and forever.
8) Pastors must nourish themselves on the word, trust God’s promises in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and move forward in proclamation of the Gospel.
9) All believers should imitate this, being nourished on the proclaimed Gospel.
PRAYER:
God, you are Holy. You are so gracious. You are sovereign over all things. You control everything, now, and in the future. You are trustworthy. You have given us a glimpse of your glory in your word. Help us to see it, to trust you. Give us great delight in your presence. Cause us to become more like you, being convinced that the promises of your presence are greater than anything this world can offer. Cause us to reflect Christ in word and deed in this world, for his glory. Save your people through the word communicated by these means.
Thank you for your promises – that you’ve forgiven us in Christ, declared us righteous, and are sending him to gather us as your children to yourself. In Him we pray, amen.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Preaching for the Presence of God - 1 Timothy 4:7-9
Paul has just finished giving Timothy the pastor commands about correcting teachings that contradict the Gospel in his church. He is to function as Christ’s representative, caring for his people, celebrating that they are saved by his death and resurrection – not by secret knowledge or rules. Timothy is to do this by being nourished by the Scriptures.
(7a) And have nothing to do with godless, silly myths…
We should first observe that there are godless, silly myths. What are they? Well, we should first observe that they are not from God. They are false, being myths. And they’re stupid.
If we go back to the first part of the chapter, we see that they’re satanic in origin.
And if we look at verse 6, we see that they contradict the words of the faith and good doctrine, or teaching, that Timothy has followed.
They are from the enemy of God, in opposition to God, in contradiction of God, and are being used to seek to deceive the people of God.
But they’re stupid and false.
Timothy, the pastor, is to have nothing to do with them. What does that mean? Well, certainly, he is to contradict them in public (v. 6). He is to nourish himself on the Scriptures – not to dwell on these speculations – things that aren’t written about in the Bible. He isn’t to waste energy on these things – except to expose them by the light of the word of God in public!
(7b) Rather, train yourself for godliness…
Here, God gives us the opposite of dwelling on myths and speculations – training oneself for godliness.
How does one do that? Paul gives us the example of training for a physical event: (8a) – for while bodily training is of some value…
Bodily training had an end in mind in those days – an event – something that would take the body to its limits – something that required preparation.
In the same way, godliness takes preparation. It isn’t merely something you can just do, per se.
So how does one train for it? How does one prepare to reflect the glory of God in this life? Well, what is the opposite of having something to do with godless, silly myths? It’s feeding on the words of the faith and doctrines in Scripture, that are from Jesus.
The energy that it takes to produce godliness in someone’s life is found in the Scriptures – and primarily as the Scriptures teach about the person and work of Jesus.
(8b) …for… godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
And here is the reason that Timothy is to train for godliness – it has value for this life and eternal life.
So while these speculations are based on demonic lies, God’s words, as we are fed on them and godliness is the result, holds promise for now and later.
What promise?
When Paul uses ‘promise’ terminology, he’s typically talking about fellowship with God – relationship. There is a promise of relationship forever to all who are declared righteous in Christ through faith!
There is as well promise of fellowship with God through his Holy Spirit even now, as we wait for Jesus to come back to renew this world and fix it.
We see this in 1 Timothy 6.
What about now? How does it hold promise for us now? Ephesians 1 and Romans 8 tell us that all believers have the Holy Spirit. However, given the commands in Galatians 3 and 5, we see that we can relate to Him more or less. Our relationship with God, seeing Christ’s glory, is through the Holy Spirit – and godliness, cleansing ourselves from sins by faith in Jesus’ blood and repentance, draws us ever nearer to him.
And that is gain, for what does the Spirit do? John 16 says he glorifies Christ – and we want to know Christ – Philippians 3. We want fellowship with God – 1 John 1. And we want to rejoice in him and delight ourselves in him. At his right hand are pleasures forevermore.
So what is this promise? – the joy of knowing Christ, in part now through the Spirit, and fully later. (9) The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. These things are not earned by our godliness – but rather are in agreement with it. The joy of knowing Christ is for us accomplished by Christ – and pastors are to teach for the sake of godliness – for the sake of the fellowship of the saints with their God!
And godliness is accomplished through dwelling on the person and work of Jesus Christ by the Spirit – not on stupid lies that aren’t taught in Scripture – but rather contradict it.
SUMMARY:
1) Pastors are not to be tricked by beliefs that are outside of the Scriptures.
2) Pastors are to expose those falsehoods with Scripture.
3) Pastors are to nourish themselves on Scripture.
4) The effect of nourishing oneself on Scripture is godliness.
5) The effect of godliness is fellowship with God, both in this life and in eternal life.
6) Pastors must believe these truths and preach these truths.
PRAYER:
Holy God, I praise you! You are holy, and yet, you’ve entered into relationship with us. You have spoken in your word – cause us to believe and submit to it! Cause us to yearn for it and feed on it! Cause us to proclaim it. You have justified us in Christ – cause us to rejoice in it! Cause us to glorify you for it! You have given us your Holy Spirit – cause us to depend on him! Cause us to seek his presence through your word! You have given us the promise of fellowship with you forever – God, give us expectation and trust that your promises are true – to live for that moment when we see your Son face to face – and to glorify you on earth now.
Because Jesus lived for us, died for us, rose for us, intercedes for us, and is coming again to gather us –
And for the sake of his glory we pray – amen.
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