Thoughts From 1 Timothy 1 - Day 2

 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.  1 Tim. 1:3-7

        Paul sent Timothy to oversee the Church in Ephesus which was being threatened in two ways. First was doctrinally. The early Church was threatened by Satan messing with the essentials of the gospel in order that people could believe but believe the wrong gospel and thus not be redeemed. The essentials are

   1. The deity of Christ

   2. Salvation by grace through faith that is evidenced by obedience

   3. No other means of salvation but Jesus

   4. Resurrection of Christ and the dead

   5. The Bible is the inspired word of God (the Old testament scriptures for Timothy)

These are hills to die on and Paul sent Timothy to make sure that error didn't creep in. Today, Satan uses the same tactics and progressive Christianity includes a number of these errors. Church leaders must be aware of these and discerning and confrontational when exposed to them.

       The second attack to the church was geneologies and I'm not quite sure what that is but the results of it were 5 fold

      1. It caused arguing and quarreling

      2. This caused division - didn't lead to love

      3. Those who knew more than others were prideful

      4. Discussing it didn't go anywhere. Didn't lead to sanctification but was an intellectual exercise only

      5. Took away from faith alone. Wasn't violating the essentials but may have been chipping away.

   What are those things today? End times discussions, modes of baptism, incorporation of Jewish customs into Christianity, Calvinism or Arminianism, KJV only, political party allegiance, cessationism or not, old earth vs. young earth and many others are all areas where some people are much more knowledgeable about than you. As they pontificate it usually leads to pride, division, arguing and frankly usually doesn't increase anyone's faith. Paul told Timothy that this was already happening in the church and nip it in the bud.

    Is your church on the right track?

Thoughts From 1 Timothy - Day 1

  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  1 Timothy 1:1,2

             Paul must have been amazed every time he called himself an apostle of Jesus, being a previous persecutor of all who believed in Jesus to the point where he was probably instrumental in the death of people in the early church. Yet God saved him and commanded him to be a sent out one (apostle) to Jews and Gentiles in unreached areas.

           No wonder this title led him to speak of mercy, grace and peace. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Paul deserved the same thing back that he dished out and he didn't get it. Actually he sort of did but it wasn't from the church; it was from the people whose side he was previously on. The world loves you when you are singing their tune but they hang you out to dry when you quit.

       Grace is getting what you don't deserve. Paul deserved wrath from God, yet he received a calling, a new family, and a home in Heaven where I believe he will be rewarded with the same honor as the 12, taking Judas' spot. (Just a theory)

        Finally he received peace. Jesus said "why do you keep kicking against the goads?". In other words Paul's life prior to conversion was one of pain, frustration, inner turmoil. After salvation he knew the Truth and didn't have to fight against God and be His enemy but rather His friend and be empowered by Him. Christians should be characterized by a sense of peace. We don't have to fear like the world does because we know who is in control and we know how the story ends, and it's a happy ending.

       The other consideration with the "apostle" title is why this is preserved for us today. In order for books/ letters to be included in the Bible, they had to be penned by someone with apostolic authority. Paul, by calling himself an apostle, God ordained not self ordained, is lending God's stamp of approval to this epistle and everything you read from hereon in this letter, even though he was penning the words, it was equal to God penning the words. It is truth and should be received that way.