Ordinary life has dangers and delights, and the Christian life is no different. Remember, 1st Timothy, a letter written to a young church leader by his mentor, shows us what a Christian life looks like. It shows us what church life, church leadership and the church order look like. Last week we were reminded of the churches message that it’s all about Jesus. Today, Paul gives timothy some more specific instructions, and we see what a Gospel shaped life looks like. We see what a difference trusting in God and believing the Gospel makes.
First of all Paul warns Timothy about some of the dangers of a Gospel shaped life. We might now think that being a Christian and danger should go hand in hand. If we read our Bibles, go to church and keep out of trouble we’ll be OK right? Wrong! Almost the first thing that happened to Jesus, even before he started His ministry was being tempted by a tireless, arrogant Satan. If it can happen to Jesus, it can happen to you as well. Verse one tells us what the danger is, ‘the Spirit expressly says that in the later times, some will depart from the faith.’ Wow! God the Holy Spirit has made it clear that some people who came to church, read their Bibles and sung in the choir will depart the faith, in the later times, which is now. When we see or hear of a family member or friend leaving the faith, we should say, ‘there but for the grace of God go i.’ The way is narrow that leads to salvation, and some people will depart from it. This is not something to be relaxed or causal about. Some people will leave the faith.
Paul shows us how these people depart from the faith in the next couple of verses. Look at the second half of verse 1 through verse 2. The teaching that leads people away from the faith comes straight from hell. It’s not interesting or fun, or progressive, it’s deadly. It’s the deception, and deceit and doctrine of demons. It comes through human mouths, through seared consciences. The devil isn’t literally preaching the prosperity Gospel, or the self esteem Gospel, or teaching what’s contrary to the Bible, but it’s his doctrine. Be careful that you don’t depart from the faith, because this is the only place you’ll go.
People also depart from the faith by rejecting revelation that comes from God. We see that in verses 3 and 4. People in Ephesus at the time were forbidding marriage and requiring abstinence from certain foods. These two false teachings were a problem thought the first couple of centuries of the church. How does Paul deal with these objections to food and sex? He tells Timothy that everything created by God is good, just like Genesis tells us, and that it is made holy if it’s received with thanksgiving and prayer.
The Gospel shaped life is dangerous, because many things will try and lead you astray, luckily Paul doesn’t leave it there, but goes onto tell Timothy how to protect himself from these dangers. These are some specific instructions for Timothy, but they set a great example for us as well. Let’s read all of verses 5-16 together, and see the delights of the Gospel shaped life. What do we see? As Gospel shaped life must live, as well as believe. Our lives must match our lips.
First Paul focuses on what Timothy needs to say. He says ‘put these things before the brothers and sisters.’ Keep reminding the people in your church about Jesus. Keep preaching the Gospel. Don’t get distracted by social issues, or by what’s popular, or by what draws a crowd. Preach the Gospel Timothy! It’s only the Gospel that produces a Gospel shaped life. So, Timothy, everything I’ve just shared, put before people. This is a pastor’s job, to make sure people have opportunity to respond to the Gospel.
He says command and teach these things in verse 11. This is the essence of a pulpit ministry, commanding people where the scripture commands, and teaching where the Scripture teaches. In the Christian life there are things to do, and things to learn. Timothy is to keep on pointing those things out to his church. And his church is to do and to listen.
These two commands are simply summed up, preach the Gospel! Keep people on the narrow way, don’t let them be deceived.
Paul gives Timothy two things he must do as well. We needs to be an example. In verse 12 Paul calls Timothy young, he was probably in his mid thirties, and we often use this verse to stop older people looking down on us. But the responsibility is in the opposite direction. Paul tells Timothy, just because you’re young is no excuse. Set an example in speech, in conduct, in love and in faith. Verse 7 tells Timothy to train for godliness. In this culture physical training was a part of everyone’s daily life. Paul says this is fine. There’s nothing wrong with going to the gym and working out, as long as you’re training harder for godliness.
Verse 15 and 16 is the root of all this sort of life. Quite simply as a fish is in water and a bird is in the air, Timothy and you and I must be in these things. We must be in the Bible, we must be in the delights and aware of the dangers of a Gospel life. we must be making progress in this life, so that it will be obvious the Gospel is true. In verse 16 Paul tells Timothy doing these things will save himself, and his hearers. The preaching ministry is no joke. His faith will save himself, and his words and example will save his hearers.
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