1 Timothy 6:11-21 - Godly Pursuit of Faith

1 Timothy 6:11-21

The Good Confession

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Instructions to the Rich

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Guard the Faith

20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen.

Pursuing the things of God in light of His grace leads to the good confession of faith in action.  This is to be our godly pursuit of faith that is demonstrated in what we confess.  We are to run after contentment while avoiding greed and corrupt teaching and put these off as we put on righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentle humility.  This is how we are able and qualified to fight the good fight of faith which ends in eternal life beyond the grave, from here to eternity in Christ.  If we therefore have made the good confession of faith in Jesus Christ before many witnesses who acknowledged our calling (John 6:44) to salvation (John 1:12) through genuine believing and receiving the Son of God when cut to the heart (Acts 2:37-39) after hearing the gospel words of truth, then this should be the resulting pursuit and direction of our lives with matching character being molded by God’s hand in us to transform (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18) our souls.  Though it is by God’s work and power that we are being changed (Philippians 1:6), we are urged to pursue these things for Him to work them into our very souls (Philippians 2:12) over time for our sanctification to be holy as He is.  We are to keep His commandments until He returns to honor and glorify Him who is our ruling Sovereign King and Lord and not only our Savior.  When we contemplate how our Lord lives in the light of unapproachable eternal glory and who alone deserves all honor, then we should gladly and doggedly pursue righteousness and holiness with all these other associated traits.  This command extends to those who possess many things and riches in their life as well, with the admonition to humility and faith in God for all provision as we understand that all we have comes from Him and is His in the end.  If therefore we have much, we should be willing to provide for those with less in a generous attitude that lays an eternal foundation in the life to come.  We are to heed the final sentences of this letter as we also guard the faith taught us by other saints gone before as we stick to sound doctrine and reject false humility and philosophies of men being offered as if from God.  May we not join those who stray from the faith into such bad and false teachings as we confirm and acknowledge the truth of the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) and the words of His grace given freely to us to offer to others.  This is the godly pursuit of faith to,which we have all been called to in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God (John 20:28)!  Amen and amen. 

1 Timothy 6:1-10 - Godly Pursuit of Contentment

1 Timothy 6:1-10

Honor Masters

1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Error and Greed

3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

As Timothy was reminded to teach those he ministered the gospel to, we also are reminded of these same things as we follow and serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  If we are an actual slave in parts of the world where this still happens or if we view our employer as the equivalent whom we serve willingly for pay, either way the are called to honor the one we serve under.  We do this to honor the name of our Lord God in heaven whom we all fall under as the commandment to honor our father and mother in Exodus 20:12 says for our well-being in life extends to loving God with all we are and our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39) with honor and respect to reflect well on our Father in heaven.  The last thing we desire is to inspire disrespect and dishonor to our Lord by our attitudes and actions.  This is especially important when our masters or employers are brethren in Christ whom we benefit by our labors as beloved family under our common Father we honor as we do to them.  Do we teach and encourage these things among one another?  We should, just as we need to agree to wholesome words of doctrine according to the scriptures we learn and practice for the Lord’s honor and glory.  If we do not echo the words of Jesus then we are left with our own pride to speak our own minds and words which are not godly by definition and end up arguing about our own opinions and beliefs in what does not matter for eternity.  Such arguments yield bad fruit as mentioned here, “envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings (perverse disputing, useless occupation)” which are grown out of the corruption of our old fallen sin nature apart from the truth of God’s word and will of His commands.  We are told that those who pursue these things do not have the truth because they are completely destitute of it as they attempt to use their works and pet beliefs for spiritual and material gain.  Let us not be like them in the least, but avoid them after warning them once or the consequences.  Evil company corrupts even our good and godly habits as 1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us plainly.  Instead of these pursuits equivalent to grasping after the wind, we are urged to have contentment in godly behavior and thoughts to rule our lives.  When we realize all we have has been and will be given by God as grace to us and that we did not inherit anything of worth when we were born (Romans 5:12, 18-19) in sin, and take nothing with us into the grave apart from our faith and trust in Christ’s work on our behalf, then we understand true contentment in our Lord (Philippians 4:11-13) and His provisions of grace.  Striving to fill our earthly pockets with wealth is only filthy lucre in the end which is left behind as we meet our Father who we should instead bring honor and not dishonor apart from our empty desires (Ecclesiastes 4:6, 1 John 2:15-17).  Who and what we serve (Matthew 6:24, 1 Timothy 6:17-19) really matters for eternity.  Contentment acknowledges the grace of God and His providential provision as more than enough to value and pursue.  Desires to fill our pockets that have holes only leads to a sense of real and harmful loss because desiring and loving wealth and possessions is where evil takes root and grows to consume our lives both now and forevermore.  Why then stray from the faith of contentment in God’s good provision into greed and run into only sorrow in the end?  The pursuit of God in Christ is where true riches are discovered and uncovered.  This is our godly pursuit of contentment. 

1 Timothy 5:17-25 - Honor your Shepherds!

1 Timothy 5:17-25

Honor the Elders

17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

We within the body of Christ, the church, are told to greatly honor those put over us in the churches who labor hard (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) in the word of God and doctrine for our sakes.  We the flock of Christ have these under-shepherds appointed over us for our sanctification in the Lord through teaching, preaching, and imparting the truths of God’s word as scribes (Matthew 13:52) of the truths of the gospel in scripture brought to light (Matthew 28:20, Luke 24:27) for our building up in the Lord.  Truly these are worthy of the work they put into the word of God and prayer for our sake!  Therefore, when an accusation is made against one of these faithful men, there must be certainty sought out as to the truth of the matter as proven by more than one person, and if found to be true then that man must take the responsibility of rebuke publicly to cause others to see the seriousness for us all of following Christ in spirit and truth with holiness and sincerity.  This must be done fairly without special favoritism to any one man because the Lord is watching with a heavenly audience of angels and we all are held to account in the end, both the one sinning and the one rendering judgment.  This is sobering and keeps us from making quick and unfounded accusations against the servants of our Lord.  We are to discern rightly and not cover sins with the result of sharing in them ourselves in the process.  Then Paul reminded Timothy to care for his health as well as his spiritual life and ended with an admonition to watch closely over time for God to reveal good works and sins in others, not making snap judgments but allowing God to bring out what we need to see to judge accurately and fairly.  We are to honor our God-given shepherds for their labor of love (1 Thessalonians 5:3, Hebrews 6:10, 11-12) as we ourselves do not get lazy in the work of the gospel for the good of one another.  Amen. 

1 Timothy 5:1-16 - Taking Care of Our Own

1 Timothy 5:1-16

Treatment of Church Members

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Honor True Widows

3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

We who are within the church are urged to take care of our own, starting in our own households and then as a church for those who have nobody to take care of those like widows without income or prospects.  This care begins among one another as we show respect for those older than us as parents and as siblings for those younger.  This respect extends to the younger as brothers and sisters and not with impure actions and words, for intimacy with respect is reserved for spouses alone.  When it comes to widows as the issue arose in the early church especially, we are to first make certain that they are really widows with real needs unmet by their family members; the children should first take in their elderly parents whether widows or widowers who are no longer unable to look after or support themselves.  The church is only needed to help when there is nobody in the family to care for their parents, not as a free assistance fund to support who they refuse to.  This passage also identifies the merry widow who can support herself but chooses to live in pleasure instead of seeking God in prayer for others in serving the Lord.  This one is not to be given support from the church as some well meaning but misguided sense of responsibility so that those truly in need may receive the help they need and deserve if there is no family to assist.  In fact, the stern warning is given to let those know who refuse to care for their parents or others of their household in need that they are faithless and worse off than unbelievers!  That should move true believers to tend to their own in need before the Lord.  Further instruction is given for the church to support widows in particular, making certain that they have lived for the Lord with generous assistance to others before receiving generous help from the church, a contentious idea in today’s churches who identify refusal to help for any reason to be a bad thing.  We are called to be good stewards of all the Lord provides and so provide only for those too old to remarry or work or have children to care for them.  Younger widows may use the opportunity to live for pleasure and not be responsible to care for themselves and were identified as not being eligible or entitled to help.  If they expect assistance while refusing to help themselves, then they have cast off their faith to follow ungodly ways unworthy of asking help until they straighten themselves out.  The church should not be expected to be burdened unnecessarily so their limited resources may be liberally applied to those in real need.  That is the bottom line here, to take care of our own and use the church community to support the truly needy who are unable to care for themselves as they had done for others previously.  This care begins with the families before the house of God of which the families are a part.  These are hard sayings for us to consider and contemplate. 

1 Timothy 4:1-16 - Beware False Teachings with Godly Exercise

1 Timothy 4:1-16

The Great Apostasy

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.

Take Heed to Your Ministry

12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

The warning to young Timothy is just as valid for all who are in Christ today.  We are to watch out for false teachings that follow those who walk away from sound doctrine established by the word of God and agreed with by many in Christ since those words were given to us.  Some actually do decide to disagree and disregard the biblical truth that our confessions have encapsulated though times of examining the scriptures to see if these truths are so (Acts 17:11).  These will who stray from sound teaching (2 Timothy 4:3) say that doctrine is unimportant or even bad for us as they themselves wander off away from God’s word into the teachings of the world under the sway of the wicked one (John 8:44, 2 Timothy 3:13, 1 John 5:19-20) who is their chosen leader.  We see this more and more often as people wander from the truths delivered to us in search of lies to support their hypocritical stand against the truth with cauterized consciences that stop feeling the conviction of sinful error.  Two signs of these people are given here: one is that these forbid marriage (as Rome has done for centuries now), and the other is prohibition of certain foods.  We know that the Lord God created us as man and woman to be fruitful and multiply, and both the examples of scripture and our own good reason based on the word of God tell us that to mandate celibacy hinders the work of the gospel to raise godly children to carry on the work to reach the world with our testimony witnessing His work.  Likewise, those who demand we cannot eat certain foods as the devout Jews, Roman Catholics, and even fringe cults, these are subtly making us unthankful for God’s gracious provision of everything except (Acts 15:29, 21:25) eating blood and animals ritually strangled with their blood still inside to offer to idols of false gods.  The life is in the blood as we are told (Genesis 9:3-5) so corrupt life only corrupts us, just as diseases pass to us from blood and we are to consume the life God gives and not given to another.  Aside from these two stipulations, we are to thankfully accept all foods provided for us according tot the word of God with prayer, including animal and vegetable alike but without judgment on the latter (Romans 14:2-3).  By avoiding false teachings that only show false humility and faux godliness we can teach others what God has commanded instead, “words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed” as we rightly discern the scriptures to cut them straight (2 Timothy 2:15) and live accordingly.  Godly exercise exposes profane and old wives’ fables and gives us the promised life that God has for us both now and into eternity.  Contrary to modern teaching rampant in the church today, godliness comes before selfish prosperity teachings contrary to the clear commands of the scriptures.  We therefore trust in the Lord who bought us at such a price to save us from our rebellious sin by following Him.  These things we are told to command and teach as living examples of fidelity and faithfulness to the truth.  We are to use what gifts we have been given by God’s will to fulfill those prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10) to do as we meditate on God’s word and our calling.  Doctrine matters as essential and we are to heed all we need to know, live, and teach others to be well-pleasing sons and daughters of the Lord.  Remember, we are to beware false teachings with exercises to godliness and awareness of error and truth. 

1 Timothy 3:14-16 - Such a Great Mystery!

1 Timothy 3:14-16

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh,

Justified in the Spirit,

Seen by angels,

Preached among the Gentiles,

Believed on in the world,

Received up in glory.

Such a great mystery has been revealed to us by God our Creator and Father in the life and words of Christ’s teaching, His suffering as innocent to save we who are all guilty from judgment, His painful sacrificial death, and His glorious resurrection from death to life out of the grave!  We are shown these truths to know the only true good and Jesus Christ His Son whom He sent (John 17:3) and unveiled all these things hidden in the scriptures from the beginning.  Just as the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Mark 15:38-39, 2 Corinthians 3:14, 16, 18), so Christ tore His body as Hebrews 10:19-20 tells us that the veil opened to us was the Son of God Himself who allows us entrance to the most holy place that we may know and see His face to worship Him without being hidden any longer.  The mystery has been revealed at last to we whose eyes are opened!  And because of this great mystery revealed to us, we know we are called to conduct ourselves in true righteousness and holiness within His body, the church, which these truths are founded upon in Him.  Yes, this mystery of God and His character is admittedly immense as we consider how God showed Himself as a man (John 1:1, 14, 10:30) and justified Himself as completely righteous and pure to be a perfect sacrifice in our place.  He was observed across the theater of heaven in His work revealed according to scripture (Luke 24:26-27) and was announced among the nations from out of Jerusalem (Romans 10:17-18) and many believed in whom he revealed He is (Romans 16:26, Colossians 1:5-6) and then received back from the lower parts of the earth back to His home in heaven (Luke 24:51-53) to be worshipped and praised.  This is the mystery revealed which is not only who Christ is and what He has done, but also that He now lives in we who believe as our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), which hope is with Him in the kingdom shown us now that lasts into eternity.  Such a great mystery has been revealed to us!  

1 Timothy 3:1-13 - Qualifications for Service

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Qualifications of Overseers

1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Qualifications for elders and deacons are clearly specified in this passage of God’s word to guide churches in selecting men according to God’s standards of qualities to be fit to serve God and man in local bodies.  Though these should be chosen (Titus 1:5) and not self-elected by the candidates, there should be a genuine desire to aspire to that trying work with all humility.  The qualities which God presents to us include a blameless life, unhindered by scandal or hidden doubts of godliness; the husband of one wife, likely meaning monogamous and not necessarily married previously; self-controlled, sober and circumspect with both alcohol and other forms of selfish desire; having good behavior, which includes being hospitable to others to demonstrate God’s mark of love in them for the body they serve; not violently reacting to others, in words or actions; not out to get rich as if serving the Lord was for personal gain; all the while being gentle in spirit and not always arguing or looking to gain what others have as if in comparison or competition to inflate one’s position seen by others.  The list adds that this life should be echoed in the family life with orderly upbringing of their children that the same attention and loving care be demonstrated in the body to deal with sin and not with a laze fair attitude with a complete lack of discipline and order for the good of others and not just to make them happy.  This also means that the person be experienced by walking with the Lord for a number of years until sufficient sanctification has worked spiritual maturity into the life.  Those who are spiritually immature can much more easily fall into the devil’s trap of deception by pride, as we see in Eden’s Garden (Genesis 3:4-5, 6-7) when lack of knowledge and understanding led to doubting God’s word of clear command and acting contrarily in sinful disobedience.  For those seemingly mature enough, the test must be made to also be certain there are no bad testimonies from those outside the church in the world who reveal bad or ungodly behavior.  A man must not be one who puts on an act in the church and acts differently outside when not in view of fellow believers.  This hypocrisy is a clear indicator that the man should not be put in a position of responsibility in the church, which only leads to being snared by the adversary and bringing shame on God’s name.  These qualities in verses 8-13 are similar for deacons who serve just as much as for the elders who lead and shepherd the flock in the verses described and prescribed so far in this chapter.  Deacon servants are to be reverent with a attitude of the awe and holiness of the Lord that they may echo that character in their conduct.  Speaking truthfully and not drinking too much, not greedy for personal gain, and having a pure conscience (Acts 24:16, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Peter 3:16) are all needed to hold to the mystery of the gospel by faith in practice and not shame God’s name.  Their wives must likewise hold to the same character as they support and help their husbands as they do God’s work; if they love in opposition to this, they can become as Eve who was deceived (2 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Timothy 2:13-14) and led Adam astray with her into disbelief and disobedience to God’s word.  The other qualifying traits are the same as for the elder shepherds and this work for the Lord then leads to a bold faith to share the witness of God’s work in them as a testament to the gospel’s power and truth to save from the judgment of God’s wrath to come (Matthew 3:7, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Revelation 6:17) on the hearers and observers of them.  These qualities that qualify for service to the Lord in His house are essential to the work of the gospel! 

1 Timothy 2:1-15 - Authority and Prayer

1 Timothy 2:1-15 

Pray for All Men

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Men and Women in the Church

8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

We are called to understand authority and prayer within the church and outwardly to the world which God has put us in and rules over all.  We are strongly urged to pray for all people to include our government rulers; this entails interceding for their safety and salvation and even thanking God for putting them over us (Romans 13:1-2, 3-5) as we submit to the Lord in following their leadership.  In this way, we find peace in living and demonstrate godliness as we respect and honor their leadership.  Too often dislike of our leaders turns to ungodly verbal insults or even outright hostility towards their decisions, attitudes, or behavior.  This is good because it opens the gospel to those who witness our genuine love and godliness in action when we seem to have every democratic right to rebel and criticize harshly.  What we claim as our rights often is unacceptable in the sight of God since we keep the gospel from reaching the ears of those we offend and even cause stumbling blocks by our unloving attitudes and words towards those God put over us for unseen reasons.  We think that we choose our leaders and that they must do what scripture says believers are bound by when they are not because they usually are still lost in their sin and need to hear the good news of grace for redemption.  Then we justify our ungodly actions which do not take into account that God has a plan for the world to get worse and not better until judgment day and neglect to honor their place over us as the Lord works all things for our good and His glory.  We then pray for these ungodly leaders as we submit according to the Bible that we may live in peace with God and man as much as is possible (Romans 12:18, 14:19) and they may stop to hear us tell them of the Mediator Jesus Christ who sacrificed Himself as a ransom to buy condemned men and women back from sin’s penalty.  This is teaching of faith and truth as the apostle reminds us here.  This passage continues to address prayer and authority within the church body as living holy lives without the worldly anger of political battles to be effective in the spiritual warfare for the souls of people.  Within the church, we are to work to maintain authority of the roles God designed from the beginning of creation and in light of the results of the Fall from grace by original sin.  Women are submissive by good works under the authority of their husbands (not all men) but also under the authority of those set over them in the church, just like the men.  The role for women since the entrance of sin caused by Eve’s deceit (2 Corinthians 11:3) and resulting sin spread to Adam in condoning the disobedience to God’s word (Genesis 3:4, 6, 13), but her initial action now makes her descendants under the teaching authority of men chosen to preach or teach in the church according to the roles given them because Adam did not teach the truth to his wife in Eden as his responsibility demanded and brought sin’s penalty on us all.  We see then the authority under rulers and in the church requires prayer for salvation and good order.  Let all things then be done decently and in God’s order of authority and prayer therefore in these difficult areas in light of government and the church. 

1 Timothy 1:12-20 - Awe-Inspiring Grace (Mercy for Sinners as I)

1 Timothy 1:12-20

Glory to God for His Grace (Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–19)

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Fight the Good Fight

18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

There is mercy for sinners such as I if there was mercy shown to Saul who persecuted the church and had many put to death for their faith.  God enabled Paul who was the chief of sinners, the top of the pile of those offending God and breaking all His Law, to be counted as faithful and used to minister the gospel of truth in words of redeeming life to those he once sought only harm.  But God changed him on the road to destruction (which also was the road to Damascus) and transformed this insolent and blaspheming persecutor into the ambassador of forgiving grace which none of us deserve as fellow sinners (1 Corinthians 15:9-10).  This is a gift of God, not only the faith to believe (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12) in the Deliverer who is Christ, but also to become unworthy ambassadors of grace ourselves.  We also acted with ignorance in our unbelief of God’s work before He opened our blind eyes and deaf ears to see Him and His work on the cross and out of the grave to bring us from death to life in Jesus Christ.  Just as abundant grace was showered upon Paul née Saul, so has he done with each of us no matter our lives of sin and unbelieving fighting against the goad of truth before our own conversions.  The faith we have is due to the love of God in Christ to call us out of the darkness of blind opposition into the light (Acts 26:18, 1 Peter 2:9-10) of the glorious grace seen in His face (2 Corinthians 3:18).  We are completely accepted in the Beloved!  Our sins against the Almighty have been washed away (Ephesians 5:26, Titus 3:4-6) in the righteousness of Christ according to His word of this gospel in which we stand blameless in Him.  Yes, we can look back at our sins of opposition to this gospel from our youth and echo Paul’s words, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”  The apostle was the epitome of those opposing God yet was saved from destruction and called to be the messenger who wrote much of our New Testament, that is, God’s authoritative word, and to be a pattern for us to follow after Christ to, everlasting life by repentance and faith of awe-inspiring grace.  We also respond in kind to exalt our Savior who is the Sovereign King, eternal and unseen yet more real than everything we have ever seen with our own eyes!  God alone is wise to know and show us these truths in His word which we could never understand on our own, this mystery of Christ come to be in us (Colossians 1:27) as the hope of glory to God that we now know.  Because we also now know these truths of the words of this life (Acts 5:20), should we not join Timothy in fighting the good fight for the souls of fellow sinners still unredeemed even in the midst of false teachings and opposition to the truth and their salvation?  Those who know Him and stray into these things we should also rescue from their faith’s shipwreck by letting them see for themselves the errors of their ways as they hear the calling that saves and return to port to yet sail again in truth to glorify God in Christ’s words and work of deliverance from God’s wrath on our rebellion against Him which is sin.  This is the result of the working of awe-inspiring grace and mercy for sinners such as I in our calling and commission of the gospel. 

1 Timothy:1-11 - One True Doctrine of Eternal Hope

1 Timothy 1:1-11

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

No Other Doctrine

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

Paul was given a co-laborer in the work of the gospel of Jesus Christ by the Lord just as he was given the role of an apostle because he had seen Jesus face to face as the original twelve had.  He was chosen by the Lord and did not aspire to the position nor work himself up to it within the church.  The other apostles recognized God’s unlikely choice when they heard of his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:27) and heard of the powerful preaching of God’s word through him to confound the Jewish scholars and his fellow Pharisees.  They saw the finger of God on Paul and realized that he was commanded by God to be an apostle as well as Jesus had chosen them in the beginning of His ministry.  This same chosen one saw the hand of God on Timothy (Acts 16:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:15) and brought him along to work side by side in the work of the Lord and treated him as his own son in the Lord by the same faith.  He therefore prayed that the Lord God and His Son would continue to grant Timothy His grace, mercy, and peace in the hope of being called in Jesus.  Here Paul the aged urged Timothy the younger to engage in ministry to the Ephesians by keeping them aligned with sound teaching and not run after physical genealogies or philosophical stories instead of the truths of scripture because the former only result in arguments and do not edify.  Godly building on the foundation of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11, Ephesians 2:20) and His work by faith in the word of God was what was and still is required, unadulterated by human reasoning and reliance on human nationality or Jewish heritage.  We are accepted in Christ by His work alone and not on anything we possess or inherit outside of Him.  Our God-given faith is our standing.  What then is the purpose of the commandments of God in Jesus Christ?  Love should mark a disciple out of a sincere faith grown in pure desire for the Lord and others and a clear conscience in doing what is good and right in the sight of all (Acts 24:16, Romans 12:17, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 4:2, 2 Timothy 1:3).  Those who stray away from sound doctrine to pursue worldly wisdom or miraculous signs and wonders such as healings (1 Corinthians 1:22-23, 24-25) as proof end up themselves teaching things they do not understand or agree to and end in conflict and disputes contrary to scripture and detrimental to the spiritual growth of the body toward a common faith (Ephesians 4:3, 13-14, 15-16) under Christ as our authoritative head.  The Law of works that some apply rigorously and legalistically has to be applied by faith in the context of the heart and all intentions of scripture to be effective and good.  It turns people (Galatians 3:19-20, 23-24) to conviction of their sin and to the grace of Him who alone fulfilled every point of that Law, Jesus Christ, who is God and man in one so as to enable His perfection to work our eternal salvation.  This is the purpose of the glorious gospel of hope we have been given and share with others, not philosophy or miracles that only mask the true doctrine of Jesus Christ according to His work and wisdom straight from God the Father as revealed by the Spirit through Him to us.  His miracles proved to doubting Thomases who He is as the first apostles followed suit until the full counsel of God was captured in the scriptures of the New Testament we now possess and look to for the wisdom and power of God working in the souls of men and women we bear witness to.  This gospel is the one true doctrine of eternal hope.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 - Obediently Following Christ

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

Warning Against Idleness

6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Benediction

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Following Christ means we pursue Him in willing obedience and with desire to please God.  We are warned here not to be disorderly, deviating from the word of God.  We are also not to make association with unbelieving sinners so frequent that we indulge in their behavior contrary to scripture.  Such idle living apart from pursuing the things of God and Christ Himself lead to disorderly lives that echo the sin we have been snatched out of in our old lives of darkness apart from God.  Those who follow sound biblical teaching should be our primary associations and deepest friends because we have the same goal to live for and the same Lord to please in the way we now live.  We are not to live to take from others instead of working for our own sustenance as the warning here goes.  No, we are to set the example by hard work and not to burden others to provide for us as many still do in the name of the Lord to our shame.  We have been given these examples to follow that we may be well-pleasing to the Lord; as the saying goes, If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  Responsible living and not taking advantage of others is our call.  Likewise, we are not to be gossips and busybodies who talk badly or even slanderously about others behind their backs, but speaking truthfully in love in front of them!  Those who are caught doing so must be told to be quiet and work for their own sustenance instead of criticizing others and maligning them in the process.  Those who are warned and continue in such sin are to be avoided until they come to their senses in Christ.  These are not our enemies, but brethren who need shining for correction for their own good in love.  The God of Peace Himself gives us peace as we willing follow in obedience in His grace and in true godly love to one another.  Paul wrote with a heart of genuine concerned love as he pointes out in his signature written by himself and not by a scribe that the distance between him and the readers would be minimized.  This grace of God is our example on how to live. 

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 - The Lord is Faithful!

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Pray for Us

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

The apostle reminded the sheep under his responsibility that he was praying for them and pleaded for them to pray for him as well.  Why?  So that the word of God, the gospel, might have free run among all those who heard and God would be glorified in the work it did in the hearts of men and women who were receptive to believe and receive the truth to salvation from sin.  He also asked them to pray that he and his co-laborers would be kept from wicked men who have no faith and are set on their destruction for their testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17).  But the Lord is faithful!  He is the one who delivers us from these and who grounds us in steadfast hope of unwavering trust in the face of all adversity and adversaries, including the Adversary set against all God’s people and who stirs up the multitude to attack and stop we who proclaim the state of their lost nature in sin and the answer of the good news of salvation by grace alone in Christ alone for God’s glory and not our own.  Even Paul had this confidence in these Thessalonians who were initially at least not as receptive (Acts 17:11, 13) as the Bereans and some who were antagonists against Paul and his band of brothers.  God had done a work among them to bring many to follow Christ faithfully and who now were attentive to the word of this letter for their encouragement against others now opposed tot them.  Therefore, Paul had confidence by their acts and actions in the Lord as he saw their change by sanctifying grace.  He ended by praying for their hearts to be directed into God’s love with Christ’s patient endurance in their testimony and service for the gospel’s sake.  May we also pray these things for other believers as they pray for us that we all attain (Ephesians 4:13) maturity in unity to know and be like Jesus Christ who set the example as a man and answered everything for us with authority as God.  The Lord is faithful to finish His work (Philippians 1:6) in each of His children!  Continue steadfastly in prayer therefore.