So I was challenged at
my Bible study this week to read the book of 1 Timothy and share next
week what spoke to me. I love a good challenge and if you're a
regular reader of Gena's Jewels you know if I get challenged so do
you :) I will only being doing the 1st chapter with you
for this jewel. I'll give you the Gena translation but as always I
encourage you to read the book for yourself.
Paul told Timothy to hang
out in Ephesus to handle men who were teaching false doctrines and
myths. He reminds Timothy that false teaching causes division instead
of unity in the body of Christ. The motive of Paul's command comes
from a pure heart of love with a clear conscience and a sincere
faith.
The problem was some men
wanted to be teachers of the law, teaching and instruction of God, but
they didn't know what they were talking about. They are running their
mouths without truth and doing it confidently. Nothing worse then a person
confidently talking trash. Paul breaks down that the law is good,
that it conforms to the gospel of God which was entrusted to him to share.
Paul makes it clear that
he gets his strength from God and he knows he is the least qualified
to share the gospel because of his past. He recognizes God's mercy as
he considers himself the worst of sinners.
Paul reminds Timothy what
was prophesied over him to encourage him to fight the good fight
HOWEVER some of the people he is now leading have rejected the true
teaching. Paul doesn't just give a general “some people” are messing up message, he
calls them out by name!
He doesn't just call them out by name he hands them over to satan to be taught not to blaspheme. What
that means is he kicks them out of the church til they repent.
I can just hear some of
you saying “that's not true, or God would never do that.” Hence
my title “Is Timothy telling tales?"
So if you dare Gems let's
go on.....
The first thing that hit
me was how Paul started his letter to Timothy
V1:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and
of Christ Jesus our hope,
Timothy and Paul had a
very close relationship, verse 2 shows us that right away when he
refers to Timothy as a son. So I'm thinking Timothy knew what Paul's
title was, why such a formal start.
It would be like me
writing to one of my children and saying
Gena, a Pastor and
Prophet of Christ Jesus appointed by God our Savior and of Christ
Jesus our hope. P.S. Also your mother, please clean your room. (I am seriously thinking of
trying this, I'll let you know how it works)
I think it's safe to say
he's getting ready to give a word that has to show the authority of
whom that word is from when Timothy,his son in the faith, shares it
with others.
Would you agree it must be a hard word for such a formal
greeting?
For example have you ever
told your child, or coworker if you don't have a child, to tell
someone else something they aren't going to want to hear and at the
end you say “mom said so!”
Or “the boss said so!” We are
making it clear that we are not speaking on our own authority so you
better listen or heads will roll.
That's whats happening in
this letter from Paul to Timothy.
You may or may not know
that Paul was Jewish and had Roman citizenship. (Acts 22:27-28)
His name was Saul but God was sending him to reach Gentiles (non
jews) so he changed his name to his Roman name Paul. Sometimes it's
better if we have things in common with the people we are trying to
reach.
Paul asks God to give
Timothy grace, mercy and peace.
V2
To
Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace,
mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Normally
Paul asks for grace and peace but this time he adds mercy.
Greek meaning mercy:properly, "mercy" as it is defined by loyalty to God's covenant.
Paul doesn't ask God to take this task away from Timothy he asks for God's mercy for him. That the difficult message ahead would not trump his trust in God.
That Timothy will be strong in correcting the ones with false teaching.
Verses 8-11 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
The law, teaching and instruction of God, is just as important today as it was when God gave it. It shows people how to live and where we go wrong so we can repent.
The law was condensed into 2 commands. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love others.
If you look at the list Paul gives of the first 3 wrong doings, you see they go against the first 4 commands of Moses. The rest of the verses sin against one another
Jesus speaking in Luke10 And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?"And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
The correct teaching of the law together with the Bible is the gospel!
The law shows people they are sinners because they learn what sin is. The gospel shows us the power and goodness of God to forgive our sins when we repent.
Because of the blood of Jesus we can be cleansed from those sins.
If you don't know what God considers a sin how can you turn from it?
Just ask all the women like me who didn't understand what abortion really is. It's murder. If I was taught the law/teaching and instruction of God I would have learned that very valuable lesson.
The church can be so busy with grace we have forgotten to teach sin and repentance. What a wonderful time to learn about sin when God has provided a way to be set free!
If your going to a church whose motto is “if you attend we won't offend” than find another church brothers and sisters!
Paul calls out the men who are being false teachers by name. Can you imagine sitting in church and the head deacon reads a letter from the pastor that says “Gena you are messing up and you wont stop so we are turning you over to satan.”
Go back and read verse 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
Either this happened or Timothy is a tale teller and the Bible lied.
Gems this may sound harsh but either you believe in the word of God or you don't. Stop telling people the law is irrelevant or you are a false teacher too!
Teach the truth, the whole truth.
Paul shares the best verses of all 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners!
I
pray this has challenged you to read God's word and apply it to your
life and know that you know there is no sin big enough to keep you
from God's love. He will show you mercy and grace BUT you have to
repent and ask for the free gift of salvation.
Now
may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in
every way. The Lord be with you all.
