1 Timothy, Day 1
THE GOSPEL LEADS TO PRACTICAL, VISIBLE CHANGE IN BELIEVERS’ LIVES
“Introduction and Warning About False Teaching”
1 Timothy Chapter 1
1 Timothy is one of the four epistles that Paul wrote to individuals (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon). The first three are typically called the “pastoral epistles.” All were written near the end of Paul’s life. Timothy was a young man who had a great passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Timothy had a Jewish mother and gentile father (Acts 16:1). Timothy’s family lived in Lystra, which was in the region of Galatia. Timothy’s mother and grandmother came to know Christ through Paul’s ministry during his first missionary journey. Timothy joined Paul during the second missionary journey when Paul returned to Lystra. Timothy was with Paul in parts of the third missionary journey. Paul encouraged Timothy a few times during the third journey to stay behind and teach the new believers while Paul moved on to another city to preach the gospel. Timothy continued to be a part of Paul’s ministry for years to come. 1 Timothy is a letter of encouragement and exhortation from an older pastor to a younger one. Paul deals with “holding the faith and opposing heresy.” This letter includes addressing Christ’s great themes, holy living, relationships within the church, and the need for sound instruction.
1 Timothy Chapter 1
Paul begins his letter to Timothy by saying “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is a similar greeting to the ones used in many of his other epistles that means, “Hello Jews, hello gentiles. Grace, mercy, and peace” (Chapter 1:1 – 2). Paul goes on in Chapter 1:3 – 11 to challenge Timothy to confront those in the local church who are teaching false doctrines so that they would stop doing it. The false teaching included teachings from the Old Testament law and not grace through the new covenant through Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul then goes on to thank God (Chapter 1:12 – 20) for the strength that he has been given in order to preach the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the gentile world. Paul was taking his new responsibility from God seriously and wanted Timothy to take on his responsibility of teaching the gentiles correct doctrine from Jesus’s accomplishments on the cross and His resurrection from human death.
Something to think about
I came to know Christ as my Savior in 1971, in the last year of my Air Force tour in Bellevue, Nebraska. The Lord put a passion in my heart to be a Christian businessman and a leader in my local church. I became a deacon at my church in my late 20s. I was trained and mentored by my senior deacon board members and I am today a recipient of their molding influence on my life. It took me a few decades to come to understand what some of the other deacons did within the church. I couldn’t figure it out with my “young pup” eyes. And then one day, God revealed it to me through His word. The senior deacons were, as a group, maintaining order within our church, and making sure that NO false teachings were being taught at FBCA. BINGO! They were putting into practice at FBCA the message of Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy Chapter 1.
Application
Now that I am one of the senior deacons at FBCA, it is my turn to pass on that leadership responsibility to younger deacons and leaders of the church, passing the torch to the next generations. I am convinced that God has a continuing plan for FBCA and we as a church body need to take God’s plan for our church through our mission statement (the Plan), vision statement (how we are going to carry out the Plan), and core values (our heart attitude as we carry out the Plan) very seriously. Are you up for the challenge that Paul has passed on to Timothy?
Blessings from Carlton Ringer