1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,720 You're listening to Key Life Fellowships Pulpit ministry 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,920 podcast. We thank you for tuning in as we 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,320 learn from God's Word together. If you would like more 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,760 information regarding Key Life or to speak with one of our 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:20,960 pastors, please visit us at keylifefellow-ship.com. 6 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:25,400 Amen. Thank you for the reminder of 7 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,240 the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you thankful for the Lord, 8 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,960 His sacrifice, His death, his burial in His resurrection this 9 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:37,640 morning? If you have your Bibles, if you 10 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:43,040 would go ahead and turn to First Timothy chapter 1 and you can go 11 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:46,320 ahead and put you a bookmark there in First Timothy because 12 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,840 we were going to be here for quite some time. 13 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:55,280 Today we will embark on a new journey through the Word of God. 14 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:01,040 And this journey that we are going to embark on is a journey 15 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:07,000 in looking at what has been dubbed or titled Paul's Pastoral 16 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,680 Epistles or the shorter abbreviated version of that, 17 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:12,880 simply just the Pastoral Epistles. 18 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,680 Any of these letters, what the apostle Paul is doing, those 19 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,560 letters would be First Timothy, Titus, and then Second Timothy. 20 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:25,600 What he's doing is he's giving instructions to the pastors of 21 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,960 those churches. We know today we'll be looking. 22 00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:33,000 At A man named Timothy. When we get to Titus, we'll be 23 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:38,360 looking at a man named Titus, both of them real men, receiving 24 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,280 a message from a real man, the Apostle Paul. 25 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,480 So many times when we talk about the Bible, we talk as if this 26 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,960 this was just some kind of folklore or some kind of fairy 27 00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:48,960 tale that these people really didn't exist. 28 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:51,560 I don't want us to take that viewpoint. 29 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,320 I don't want us to even gravitate toward that viewpoint 30 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,360 because when we do, we miss the reality of what's actually going 31 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,560 on here. And so I want to give you a 32 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,440 little bit of backdrop as we begin these pastoral epistles 33 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,800 and namely this first one, First Timothy, as we'll be looking at 34 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,240 that today in the 1st 11 verses. Let me give you a little 35 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,160 backdrop so that you understand. Most of you are familiar with 36 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,720 the Apostle Paul. He, of course, was raised up by 37 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:18,080 Christ himself there at his Damascus Rd. experience where he 38 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:19,600 came to know Christ. And we know that he was 39 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,000 commissioned as the apostle to the Gentiles. 40 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:26,280 Now Paul has done what we all ought to be doing. 41 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,080 He has made disciples as the Lord has commanded. 42 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,680 Us to do and in making disciples, he's trained the next 43 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:36,480 generation of believers. Not only has he made disciples, 44 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:41,040 he's also mentoring, and he's making young pastors. 45 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,720 And so this first example that we're going to see as we begin 46 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,640 the pastoral Epistles is a man by the name of Timothy. 47 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:50,720 I want to give you a little history lesson so that you get 48 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,400 who he is, because often we open the book and say, OK, a guy 49 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:54,360 named Timothy. Great. 50 00:02:55,920 --> 00:02:57,520 I would encourage you to go back in scripture. 51 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:58,560 I'm going to give you some references. 52 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,440 Just trace the steps and and just see his life and how this 53 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:03,480 was all developed. Because in that you see the 54 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,320 reality and this was a real guy who really came to faith in 55 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,560 Christ, who God had a sovereign plan for his life and he 56 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,720 executes that plan in obedience as the apostle Paul is collabing 57 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:18,280 alongside of him and encouraging him as an apostle to the church. 58 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,040 We look at Timothy's life and we look at his early life. 59 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,040 And this was before AD 47, because we believe that 60 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,920 somewhere around AD 47 he would have encountered the apostle 61 00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:30,200 Paul. We know this from scripture that 62 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,480 Timothy was raised in a place called Lystra, which is in 63 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,480 modern day Turkey. You can see this in Acts chapter 64 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:38,320 16 if you want to go back and reference that. 65 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,160 And we see there in Lystra, he, he, he was a part of a family, 66 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:46,600 his mother named Eunice. Eunice being a Jewish believer, 67 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:48,960 this woman who was raised probably a Jew who then 68 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:53,200 converted to Christianity, she was there and we know that she 69 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,600 taught him scripture from his youth that when he was an early. 70 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,840 Child, he was already learning the Old Testament scriptures. 71 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:02,520 We also see that another influence in his life was his 72 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,240 grandmother Lois, probably doing the same thing. 73 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,560 We also find out about Timothy from the accounts in Acts, that 74 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,560 he had a father there in Lystra as well, who was an unbelieving 75 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,760 Greek. And so interesting enough, this 76 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,360 pastor that we're going to see of this church called Ephesus. 77 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,360 He was raised in a home where his dad was not even a believer 78 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:26,080 in Christ at all. However, God used his mother 79 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,800 Eunice and his grandmother Lois, as Paul testifies to and will 80 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:34,080 testify to when we get to second Timothy to raise him up knowing 81 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,360 the word of God. And so Timothy being taught the 82 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:42,160 scriptures from his childhood by his mother and his grandmother. 83 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:47,120 Many believe that Timothy became a follower of Christ during 84 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:51,440 Paul's first missionary journey where he would have found 85 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,000 himself ministering the gospel in Lystra. 86 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,200 Timothy being a very young man there, possibly hearing the 87 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:02,400 truth of the gospel and then following the Lord Jesus Christ. 88 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:07,200 That was again in 47 to 49 AD during Paul's first missionary 89 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,080 journey. He would have went to Lystra 90 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,160 there in Acts 14. You can go back and you can read 91 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,240 that account verses 6 through 23 if you want to document that in 92 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:19,400 your mind. Again, Timothy likely personally 93 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:25,280 met Paul, then likely personally heard the gospel from Paul and 94 00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:28,640 actually saw Paul being persecuted and even healed by 95 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:30,640 God there while he was in Lystra. 96 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:35,160 So a very interesting encounter in the early life of this man 97 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:38,800 called Timothy. And then we know this in 8049 to 98 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,960 52 during what we know as Paul's second missionary journey, 99 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,680 Timothy joins Paul on this journey. 100 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,720 So if you will just picture Timothy coming to faith in 101 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,000 Christ as a young. Man. 102 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,520 And then there in Lystra. He sees the Apostle Paul. 103 00:05:55,560 --> 00:06:00,360 He hears the gospel. He sees the Lord working in the 104 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,720 life of the apostle Paul. And then on Paul's second 105 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:05,760 missionary journey just a few years later, this young man is 106 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,640 now going with Paul. Paul taking him under his wing, 107 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,960 seeing that he's useful for gospel ministry, and he's taking 108 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,760 him out on his second missionary journey. 109 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:22,560 Paul then in that journey goes out and Timothy with him. 110 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:28,080 They travel all across to the known world of the day, Regia, 111 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,440 Galatia, Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, 112 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,840 Corinth, all those places we see documented in Acts chapter 16, 113 00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:39,160 verse 16 through verse chapter 16, excuse me, to chapter 18 114 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,240 where we see Paul and Timothy working together on that second 115 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,680 missionary journey. It was interesting when Paul 116 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,080 before that journey began, he went back to Lystra and he heard 117 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:56,880 about Timothy and Scripture says that he heard that Timothy had 118 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:00,480 an excellent reputation. You see that in Acts chapter 16. 119 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:04,840 And I find it amazing that Paul heard about his excellent 120 00:07:04,840 --> 00:07:07,600 reputation. And Paul being the man of God 121 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,000 that he was, I'm sure to thought to himself, that's the kind of 122 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,360 guy I want on my team. A guy who lives it, a guy who 123 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,680 doesn't just talk it, but he has a reputation in the community 124 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,520 and in his world where he lives as a person of true faith. 125 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:25,480 And so again, Paul taking Timothy under his arm and 126 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,120 bringing him on that second missionary journey, That 127 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,360 wouldn't be the extent of Timothy's mission work, though. 128 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,840 We know that Timothy was actually sent out on mission in 129 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:39,000 50 to 52 AD Somewhere along those lines, Paul sends Timothy 130 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:44,440 to Thessalonica and he sends him to Thessalonica for a purpose, 131 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:48,480 and that was to, as the Word of God declares, to strengthen the 132 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:52,480 believers there in Thessalonica. First Thessalonians chapter 3 133 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:57,480 documents that, and then Timothy brings a good report back to 134 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:01,840 Paul about the fact that the Thessalonians were doing what it 135 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:05,320 is that Paul had left them there to do as far as spreading the 136 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,960 gospel and teaching the truth concerning Jesus Christ. 137 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,520 So Timothy going out on mission for himself. 138 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:17,080 Then we also see this, that he's reunited with Paul again. 139 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:23,640 We see him in Corinth, 8051 to 52, Timothy's with Paul, and 1st 140 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,240 and 2nd Thessalonians are written. 141 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:30,120 We see that Timothy is with Paul again on Paul's third missionary 142 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:34,360 journey and 53 to 57 AD. And Timothy travels with Paul 143 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:38,919 again to Ephesus, Ephesus, Macedonia, Akaya. 144 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:43,360 We see all that in Acts chapter 19, chapter 20. 145 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:46,640 So I want you to understand this is a real guy who was doing real 146 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:52,720 gospel work with a real apostle. He's also there with Paul at his 147 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,280 side during many of the letters that he's written. 148 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,040 Now, I hope that you're thankful for the apostle Paul and how God 149 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,840 used him to write the New Testament because there wouldn't 150 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,400 be much to it were not for the apostle Paul. 151 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,800 Pretty much the the last half of the book of Acts would be 152 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,560 obsolete and the rest of the New Testament, save the things that 153 00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:12,800 Peter and John wrote, we wouldn't have those things. 154 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:15,240 And what's interesting is Timothy was right there with 155 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:20,880 Paul, as Paul would have written many of his letters, those 156 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,000 letters to the churches. He was there zero to second 157 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:28,200 Corinthian letter, Colossians, Romans, Philippians. 158 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:35,040 We see Paul and his associate Timothy then during Paul's years 159 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,640 under house arrest there in Rome, Timothy right there by his 160 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:45,320 side, assisting him, taking care of him, ministering to his 161 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,600 brother in Christ. In fact, Paul describes him to 162 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:53,160 the Philippians as being a person who I have no one like he 163 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:57,880 says, I have no one like him. There's there's no one who I've 164 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:00,760 seen in all these years of ministry who, who emulates 165 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:05,120 Christ as Timothy does. He, he, he is striving to be a 166 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,640 good minister of the gospel. And again, that shows they're 167 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,680 deep in their personal bond that they have in Christ, to which we 168 00:10:10,680 --> 00:10:12,520 will talk much about in just a moment. 169 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:18,680 Then after Paul's first Roman imprisonment in 62 to 66 AD, 170 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,480 Paul and Timothy then travel again. 171 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:27,880 Tradition says that they went to Macedonia, Ephesus, and then 172 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,600 other regions. And where we pick up in our 173 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:35,720 letter today, Paul is going to leave Timothy in Ephesus on the 174 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,600 3rd missionary journey. He leaves them leaves him there 175 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:43,000 in Ephesus and he leaves them there to take on the role as the 176 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,080 Bishop or the pastor there in Ephesus. 177 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:48,920 We find ourselves opening this letter today. 178 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,840 First Timothy verse one and it says this. 179 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,040 It says Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the command of 180 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,880 God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope to Timothy, my 181 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:06,520 true son in the faith, grace, mercy, and peace from God the 182 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:09,120 Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 183 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:14,360 Verse 3 says, as I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay 184 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:18,600 there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach 185 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,800 false doctrines any longer, nor to devote themselves to myths 186 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,600 and endless genealogies. These promote controversies 187 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,560 rather than God's work, which is by faith. 188 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,800 Verse 5 He says the goal of this command is love, which comes 189 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,920 from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 190 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,920 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless 191 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,280 talk. They want to be teachers of the 192 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,800 law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what 193 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:52,440 they so confidently affirm. We know that the law is good. 194 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,760 One uses it properly. We also know that the that law 195 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:00,120 is made not for the righteous, but for the law Breakers and 196 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,680 rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and the irreligious, 197 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,480 for those who killed their fathers or mothers, for 198 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:10,080 murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and 199 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:14,320 liars and perjures, and for whatever else is contrary to the 200 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:18,680 sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the 201 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:22,480 blessed God which he entrusted to me. 202 00:12:22,560 --> 00:12:24,400 Let's pray together. Father, in the name of Jesus, we 203 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:25,920 come to you, thanking you for your word. 204 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:31,680 Lord, I pray as we open up this letter of First Timothy, Lord, 205 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:35,760 as we read the greetings and as we read the intro to this, Lord, 206 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,040 that you would answer the questions that you want us to 207 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:42,160 know from the Scriptures today. That in answering these 208 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,320 questions, we would understand why we would even take the time 209 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:47,800 to read this portion of Scripture and why it is so 210 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,160 important to us. And I pray that you use it in 211 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:55,440 our lives to continue to conform us into the image of Christ, to 212 00:12:55,440 --> 00:13:00,000 make those of us who were pastors more effective in our 213 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:04,160 role as pastors, and to take those who are ministers in this 214 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:08,840 church as laypeople, as believers and Saints. 215 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,400 Now that you would show them their role and how to live this 216 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:16,520 out according to Scripture, they would be obedient in that Lord. 217 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,880 We also ask that as we study Your Word, that as the gospel 218 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:25,000 goes forth, page after page after page, those who are here 219 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,360 who do not know Christ, Lord, that by Your mercy You would 220 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:30,560 quicken them, that you would awaken them to the truth. 221 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:33,360 That they would see their need for Your grace and Your mercy. 222 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:36,960 They would see their need for Jesus as Lord and Savior, and 223 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:40,200 they would be brought to a place of surrender and humility and 224 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:43,680 brokenness where they cry out to Jesus to save them from the 225 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:47,720 wrath that is to come. Lord, we know that You will be 226 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:50,720 as always, faithful to save those who call upon Your name. 227 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,240 Holy Spirit, we invite and we ask you to teach us your word 228 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,480 and to give us insight today. And we pray these things in the 229 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:02,840 mighty name of Jesus, Amen. So as we embark on this journey, 230 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,880 on this study today, as we begin, I want us to answer or to 231 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,520 ask first, because it's impossible to answer a question 232 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:13,040 that we don't first ask, to ask three questions and then to 233 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,040 answer those three questions. And the first one is this. 234 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,560 What is the reason for this letter? 235 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,200 I want us to understand what the reason for this letter is. 236 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,040 Because if there's no point to this, we're simply wasting our 237 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,720 time, aren't we? We're just reading words. 238 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,880 We might as well just be reading Shakespeare, or we might as well 239 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:32,600 well be reading the the the newest. 240 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,920 New York Times bestseller list. However, there is a reason for 241 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:40,480 this and we're going to answer as to what this reason is as we 242 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,920 walk through this. Secondly, I I want us to ask the 243 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,680 question, what's the relationship between Paul and 244 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:47,880 Timothy? What? 245 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,360 What is this all about? Why is this relationship what it 246 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:51,800 is? Why is it so strong? 247 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:53,760 Why is there so such a bond here? 248 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:58,280 Why is there so much love involved in this passion, 249 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:03,160 diligence, hard work? And thirdly, I want to ask what? 250 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,040 What were the pastoral responsibilities that Timothy 251 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:07,960 received? Paul is going to give him some 252 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,440 responsibilities. I want us to answer the 253 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,400 question, what are the responsibilities that that Paul 254 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,320 gave as an apostle to this young pastor? 255 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:18,960 Because I want us to all to understand this before we ever 256 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,720 get there. Our responsibilities as pastors 257 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,960 are still the same today. The responsibility that Paul 258 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,800 gave to Timothy, that also falls on the shoulders of all who 259 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,120 stand in the pulpit as pastors today. 260 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,840 Many have forgotten that. We're going to see that. 261 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:37,240 It's very important that we understand that what the 262 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,640 responsibilities of a pastor really are. 263 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:44,800 The reason that I want you to understand that is so that you 264 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:48,120 can hold me accountable to being the pastor that I need to be 265 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,560 biblically. The reason that I need to 266 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:54,120 understand that is so I will find myself being the Good 267 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:58,000 Shepherd that God has called me to be over His people, leading 268 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,440 them and guiding them through the Word of God. 269 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,400 Paul wanted the same for Timothy that he would. 270 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,960 Be that Good Shepherd to the people of Christ, and he gives 271 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:11,960 him some responsibilities. And sadly, as we are going to 272 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:16,240 see, we see many so-called pastors in today's time shocking 273 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,560 those responsibilities for the things of this world. 274 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:24,280 And it should not be so. In fact, even a comrade of 275 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:28,000 Paul's, Demas, we'll see in the second letter to Timothy, he 276 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:31,360 forsakes the ministry and forsakes the Paul himself 277 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:35,120 because he loves this world. A guy who was at one time 278 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,560 ministering right alongside of the apostle Paul. 279 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,600 He was opposite. Of Timothy we're going to see 280 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:45,480 Timothy was a faithful servant and a Co worker a Co laborer for 281 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,560 the gospel of Jesus Christ. So let's answer those questions 282 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,120 in this intro message today. I know what you're thinking an 283 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:55,040 intro message that is 11 versed as long Kirk, we we have heard 284 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:57,440 you preach. For over an hour on one verse. 285 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:59,400 What are we going to do with 11 verses? 286 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:01,400 I'm just going to tell you this, don't watch your clock today. 287 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,400 Don't even look at it. In fact, I'm not only going to 288 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,119 preach that I practiced it in the first service. 289 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:12,119 I didn't even look at the clock. I looked up, it was 1041 and I 290 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,720 panicked and I said, Oh no, the Lord only gives us a certain 291 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:17,400 amount of time for him to work and he's got to work. 292 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:22,800 No, I didn't do that. I said, Oh well, as we look at 293 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:24,599 the word of God, I want us to look first at the reason. 294 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,079 The reason. What is the reason for this 295 00:17:27,079 --> 00:17:30,560 letter? Why did Paul sit down and why 296 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,480 did he pin this to Timothy? Yeah, and we know ultimately 297 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:35,760 because it was the plan and the will of God. 298 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:39,520 We know that the Spirit breathed these words into Paul, Paul then 299 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,800 being an instrument in the hands of God as he pinned these things 300 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:45,240 down, as he was carried along by the Holy Spirit. 301 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,920 However, we also know that there is that human side of it that 302 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:52,600 God had orchestrated inside of Paul, that there was a reason in 303 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:56,440 his mind and in his heart to write this letter to Timothy. 304 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:01,120 What is that reason? We see this in the greeting 305 00:18:01,120 --> 00:18:04,320 here. Paul says, Paul, an apostle of 306 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:10,320 Christ Jesus, by the command of God our Savior and of Christ 307 00:18:10,360 --> 00:18:14,120 Jesus, our hope. Now I know what you're going to 308 00:18:14,120 --> 00:18:15,800 ask Kirk. You're going to read that one 309 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,840 verse and you're going to think that that gives us the reason 310 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:20,360 for the letter. And I'm going to tell you, yes, 311 00:18:20,360 --> 00:18:23,920 it does. What we often do is we read a 312 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:25,840 scripture and we don't study Scripture. 313 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,040 There is something that Paul is saying here. 314 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:32,320 He's not just wasting words. He's not a guy who does waste 315 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,600 words. He's getting to a point here. 316 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,760 And he begins by addressing them with his name, Paul. 317 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:42,200 They knew immediately That's Paul who was Saul, who was 318 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,040 converted on the road to Damascus, who once persecuted 319 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:49,000 the church, who was converted to Christ, and who is now the 320 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,560 apostle to the Gentiles. That's what he says next, an 321 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,400 apostle, apostle of Christ Jesus. 322 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:58,360 Paul's not just stating his name here for the sake of stating his 323 00:18:58,360 --> 00:19:01,200 name. What he's doing is he's giving 324 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:04,520 his credentials. He is laying his authority down. 325 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:07,160 I know in the day and time where where people aren't interested 326 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:11,880 in being vetted in the church, right, a 16 year old kid will 327 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,360 will surrender to Christ one Sunday and the next Sunday 328 00:19:15,360 --> 00:19:16,320 they'll throw him up in the pulpit. 329 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:19,200 And try to let him preach. There shouldn't be. 330 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:20,880 So there should be that time of vetting. 331 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,600 There should be that time of proving Paul's giving his 332 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:25,800 credentials, he's saying to the church, because he knew more 333 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:27,840 than Timothy would read this letter if Timothy was going to 334 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:31,520 do what he was supposed to do. And he's laying out those 335 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:35,400 credentials. He's saying, I'm coming to you 336 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,200 with authority. I'm coming to you with the 337 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:42,640 authority to write this epistle and to give you these 338 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:47,840 instructions on behalf. Of what I have received from 339 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,960 Christ himself. And I'm going to pass these 340 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:55,200 things on to the pastor there who I left there, Timothy. 341 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:59,160 And then he in turn is going to teach what Christ told me to 342 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,520 that congregation there. It's very important. 343 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:05,480 That you see how this works in the life of an apostle. 344 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:09,760 Since there are no apostles in the true sense of the word left, 345 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:13,240 we have to go all the way back to the apostles who who they 346 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:16,440 have established their credentials as having authority 347 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,680 in Christ as an apostle. I don't care what people try to 348 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,640 tell you, there is no more. Apostles. 349 00:20:23,120 --> 00:20:27,080 When the final one, John, passed from this earth, the office was 350 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:29,560 closed. And so in the true sense of the 351 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,880 word, there's no one who can even meet the criteria. 352 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,640 And Acts gives us four of the apostles, Paul here simply 353 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:38,920 giving his credentials, saying that I am coming to you in 354 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:45,200 authority, and my authority is my apostleship in Christ Jesus. 355 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:49,360 He's coming for a reason. Why would an apostle write to 356 00:20:49,360 --> 00:20:52,920 the church? Well, first to equip Christ 357 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,000 Church. That was their duty. 358 00:20:55,240 --> 00:21:00,640 The duty of the apostle was to equip the Church of Christ, to 359 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:05,840 build for them a foundation, and he establishing his Apostolic 360 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,840 authority then qualifies him to give instructions that would 361 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:13,720 equip the Church. He's giving them what we know is 362 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:18,640 Apostolic insight. He received insight from Jesus 363 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:23,440 Christ himself. He received this insight. 364 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,840 Those scholars debate and scholars argue somewhere in 365 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:30,920 Arabia when it was a period of time, 9 to 11 years, where the 366 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:35,880 apostle Paul was not seen nor heard from, and he testifies 367 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,560 that he was receiving teaching and instruction from the Lord. 368 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:39,760 I know what your next question is. 369 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:41,120 How does that work? I don't know. 370 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:44,600 I'm not going to get up here and speculate about that. 371 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:48,040 I know if it's God's will, God's going to provide the means for 372 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:49,720 it to happen. Paul said that it happened under 373 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:50,960 the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 374 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,560 I'm going to just accept that it happened and so it happened that 375 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:56,680 way. And now he's in a position to 376 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:58,800 equip Christ Church as an apostle. 377 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:03,440 In fact, Ephesians 2 verse 19 where Paul is reminding the 378 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:06,720 church at Ephesus. That their relationship as 379 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,360 Gentiles and Jews, that there is no longer this barrier there, he 380 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:12,200 says in 19. Consequently, you are no longer 381 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,800 foreigners or aliens speaking to the Gentiles, but fellow 382 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:16,440 citizens with God's people members. 383 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,560 Of God's household. But watch what he says next. 384 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,920 He says built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets 385 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:27,200 with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 386 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:31,040 Paul is teaching the church at Ephesus the role of the apostle 387 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:33,680 and the role of the apostle is much like the role of the 388 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:37,360 prophet, and that is to establish the foundation that is 389 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:40,440 built on the chief cornerstone of Jesus Christ. 390 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,200 And he says in verse 21, in him the whole building is joined 391 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,480 together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 392 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,720 And in him you 2 are being built together to become a dwelling in 393 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:52,960 which God lives by His Spirit. And so the foundation of the 394 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:56,480 apostles to those in the New Testament would carry 395 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:00,120 substantial weight. So when Paul says I'm an apostle 396 00:23:00,120 --> 00:23:03,480 of Christ Jesus, he comes with the weighty claim. 397 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,320 Their ears are going to perk up. They are going to realize that 398 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:11,600 he is writing this to equip the church for that which Christ 399 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:16,160 wants to equip the church. Again, Paul passing on to 400 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:19,400 Timothy what he has received from the Lord. 401 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:25,840 He's letting the readers of this letter, along with Timothy know 402 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:28,680 exactly where his insight came from. 403 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:31,920 He's not saying that he read something in Reader's Digest 404 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:36,080 Christianity Today. He's saying I am an apostle of 405 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:38,680 the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as John testified that he 406 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,680 was an eyewitness of the Lord and that's what gave him his 407 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,600 authority. We saw him, we lived with him, 408 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:48,640 we touched him, he touched us. This is real, Paul, letting them 409 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:50,400 know this is real. These instructions that I'm 410 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,520 giving you real. And I have authority to give you 411 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:55,240 these instructions so that you will be equipped. 412 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,640 As a church, as the foundations of the Church now are being 413 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:02,240 built since Christ has ascended into heaven and the Church was 414 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:03,920 born there on the day of Pentecost. 415 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:07,400 Now we see the foundation being established by Apostolic 416 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:11,240 insight, that which Christ gave to the apostle to give to this 417 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:15,080 pastor, who would then give it to those congregants in that 418 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:19,320 local body of believers so that the Church would be equipped. 419 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:24,440 Equipped to do what? Exactly what the church should 420 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:31,320 be equipped to do, that is as we see in Ephesians chapter 4, we 421 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,640 see it. He says this and talking about 422 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:37,200 the speaking gifts in the church in verse 11, he says it was he 423 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,840 who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be 424 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:42,160 evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers. 425 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:44,880 And here's the reason why we have those speaking gifts in the 426 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:49,240 church to prepare God's people for works of service so that the 427 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:51,560 body of Christ may be built. Up. 428 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,080 Here we have Paul doing just that. 429 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:59,560 What is he doing as an apostle? He's equipping the pastor, who 430 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:03,200 will then teach what the apostle has equipped him with to equip 431 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,840 the church for what? To serve in ministry. 432 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:09,600 It's a cliche that we used to hear a lot. 433 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:11,600 You don't hear it very often anymore. 434 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:16,760 The church is saved to serve, and that's what we ought to be 435 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,160 doing. And if these offices that we see 436 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,640 in the church, the apostles, the pastors, the teachers, the 437 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,560 evangelists, if they're doing their job in equipping the 438 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:29,360 church, the church will know exactly what they are supposed 439 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:32,520 to do. But because we have so many 440 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:39,120 people who are posing as pastors in churches and apostles and 441 00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:42,680 evangelists, the church is ill equipped. 442 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:47,760 Because these people are not properly suited to do this job. 443 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:50,920 Paul simply not the case for him. 444 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,160 Yes, I am suited to do this job because Christ has suited me to 445 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:55,760 do this job. And what I am doing is I'm 446 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,080 building a foundation. I'm building a foundation on the 447 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:01,720 truth of the Word of God. I'm giving you Apostolic insight 448 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:05,640 in order that the Church would be equipped, and I'm giving you 449 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:07,240 Apostolic instruction. Why? 450 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:09,240 Because that is my job, to teach the Church. 451 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,480 And how is he doing this? He's teaching directly to this 452 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:14,680 pastor, and he's teaching to that pastor who is then going to 453 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:18,000 directly teach to those in that local body. 454 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:22,600 That's how it works. That is God's design so that the 455 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,520 church will be equipped. Timothy then passing on the 456 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:29,000 instructions that he received from Paul, encouraging the 457 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:33,280 people to serve in ministry, preparing them for the good 458 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:37,880 works of service that Christ died for us to fulfill. 459 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,200 In fact, first Peter. Peter says this in chapter 4, 460 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:42,720 verse 10. He says each one should use 461 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,640 whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully 462 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,720 ministering God's grace in its various forms. 463 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:51,720 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one, speaking the very 464 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:53,400 words of God. If anyone serves, he should do 465 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,000 it with the strength God provides, so that in all things 466 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:58,920 God may be praised through Jesus Christ and him be the glory and 467 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,720 the power forever and ever. Amen. 468 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,880 What do we learn there? And none of you were saved so 469 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:09,200 that you can sit in a chair on a Sunday morning and just soak up 470 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:10,680 air conditioner with the rest of us. 471 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,160 And we're all saved to serve. And it is the duty of the 472 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:19,720 pastor, as has been taught to him through the instruction of 473 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:25,280 the apostles, that you serve the Lord with diligence, that you 474 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:27,880 give your strength and you give your energy and you give your 475 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:30,520 time and you give it your resources, and you give your 476 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,600 giftedness to the Lord in the local body. 477 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:35,240 I don't apologize for telling you that. 478 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,680 I'm not saying that to beat you up or to get on you in any way. 479 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:43,000 I'm saying this is part of the reason that Paul is writing to 480 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:46,880 Timothy, who is the pastor at Ephesus, to tell him, equip the 481 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:50,640 church and equip the church with the things that I am going to 482 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:54,720 give you as an apostle that I have received from Jesus 483 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,360 himself. So that the church will serve, 484 00:27:57,360 --> 00:28:00,720 but not only so the church will serve, but also so that the 485 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:03,760 church can stand. They can stand. 486 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:08,240 They can stand in maturity, not tossed to and fro from every 487 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:10,880 wind and doctrine, from everything that comes along. 488 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:13,360 I don't really have enough things coming along these days 489 00:28:13,360 --> 00:28:16,320 in the church. In fact, when I go back to a 490 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:20,720 2000 year old letter and I just start reading it, people look at 491 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,160 me as if I'm obscure, right? Because what I'm supposed to do 492 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:25,760 is I'm supposed to pull something out of here that I 493 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:29,480 give some kind of personal insight to that will somehow 494 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:31,320 entertain you, make it interesting. 495 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:35,000 Well, you know why this is very interesting? 496 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:37,240 Because this is not a fairy tale. 497 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:40,720 This is not a movie. This is not Hollywood. 498 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:44,040 This is real life. This is Paul riding to this 499 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,880 young pastor saying here you're you're given the responsibility 500 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:51,800 by me, an apostle, to equip the church, to equip them, to serve 501 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:54,640 in ministry, to equip them to stand and sound doctrine. 502 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:57,920 I'm giving you this responsibility because it's a 503 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,920 serious responsibility. I don't want them to be. 504 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:06,400 Tossed to and fro, in fact, what I want, I want you to teach them 505 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:08,480 so that unity will happen in that church. 506 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,960 In fact, Ephesians chapter 4 verse 13, he says, until we all 507 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:16,640 reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God 508 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:19,120 and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the 509 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:22,720 fullness of Christ, he says, then we will no longer be 510 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:26,200 infants tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and 511 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:29,760 there by every wind of teaching. Here we have Paul again riding 512 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:33,600 to the church at Ephesus. We're looking at First Timothy, 513 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:37,760 the letter written to the pastor of the church at Ephesus. 514 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:42,320 He's saying the same thing, that we have a duty that is to equip 515 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:45,040 Christchurch. Paul taking the responsibility 516 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:47,920 that he's been given by Christ, passing that responsibility on 517 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,600 to the leadership in the church, the leadership in the church, 518 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:54,600 then passing that on to the sheep so that they will be 519 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:58,440 equipped, equipped to serve and equipped to stand against 520 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,360 unsound doctrine, quick to stand against all the lies that are 521 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:06,640 being cast out of pulpits even in this time that we live in. 522 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:10,280 In fact, I'll just stop for a minute and just give a shameless 523 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:13,600 plug to our men's Bible study on Thursday nights because a lot of 524 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:15,920 what we're going to be looking at in the Pastoral Epistles is 525 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,480 going to go hand in hand with what we're looking at in our 526 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:20,320 men's Bible study. That was not my intention. 527 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:24,000 It just happens that way. Isn't it interesting how the 528 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:25,440 Spirit always works those things out? 529 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:29,920 On Thursday night Bible study, the men are looking at ancient 530 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:33,200 heresies and how they still exist today and how we can stand 531 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:35,240 up against them. What is the truth in regard to 532 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:37,560 these things and why it's important to stand up against 533 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:42,240 them? Paul giving this Commission here 534 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:45,360 as an apostle to the church. The Apostle Jesus Christ 535 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:50,880 pointing Timothy to do just that, Equip the people to stand, 536 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:55,040 to grow up in the faith, to be mature, not give in to unsound 537 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:58,800 teaching. The reason, the first reason 538 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:00,840 that we see is to equip Christchurch. 539 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,040 The second one is this, to encourage Christchurch. 540 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,480 You can bet on this. Every time the Apostle Paul 541 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:09,760 spoke it was to encourage. Now I want to help all of you 542 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:12,120 Americans here today. To encourage does not mean to 543 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:15,080 ingratiate. Y'all know what ingratiate means 544 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:17,440 right? Or you tell someone what they 545 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:20,400 want to hear. Sometimes they refer to your 546 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:23,920 nose as a certain color that would be brown. 547 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:27,920 We've gotten mixed up in our culture. 548 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:30,360 We think that to encourage someone you, you have to 549 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:32,760 ingratiate and, and, and just tell them what they want to 550 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:34,480 hear. That's not what Paul does. 551 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,640 He gets real encouragement. Real encouragement is the truth 552 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:38,760 in love. Don't forget that. 553 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:41,360 When you get the the truth in love, then you understand 554 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:42,880 accountability. You understand what real 555 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:44,760 encouragement is. And you can bet he is 556 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:49,480 encouraging Christ Church because that's what Paul did. 557 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:51,400 That was what his life was all about. 558 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:53,800 And we see his words of encouragement here. 559 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:56,600 Don't miss them. Don't think that Paul is just 560 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:59,920 chaining a bunch of Christianese together like we see so often 561 00:31:59,920 --> 00:32:03,080 and and and so-called pulpits and so-called preaching, right 562 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:06,200 where they just chain things together, though, talking about 563 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:09,360 faith and glory and and it's like, stop, say something. 564 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:11,400 You're just saying words. It's a big word salad. 565 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:13,520 He's not giving us word salad here. 566 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:15,040 There's a point to every word that he. 567 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:17,840 Says Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. 568 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:24,480 By the command of God our Savior, he is encouraging these 569 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:27,200 people at Ephesus, first to Timothy, so that he can then 570 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:31,720 encourage the other believers there to remember the source of 571 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:34,160 their salvation. Isn't there great encouragement 572 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:36,240 in that? That's why I don't understand 573 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:39,080 how someone, someone who claims to be a Christian, gets 574 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:41,120 irritated if you preach the gospel all the time. 575 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:42,800 I just want to hear something different. 576 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:46,240 Why? Because every time we hear the 577 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:48,000 gospel doesn't mean we get saved again. 578 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,920 What we do, we rejoice in the fact that what God saved us, he 579 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:56,040 didn't have to save us. Paul here reminding Timothy and 580 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:59,560 then in essence reminding all those at Ephesus to remember the 581 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:02,720 source of salvation, and he names him properly God. 582 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:07,200 Our Savior, he's agreeing with what Isaiah documented there in 583 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,800 Isaiah 4311 when he when he says this and quoting the Lord, I 584 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:15,320 even I am the Lord, and apart from me there is no Savior. 585 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:19,000 He's giving them encouragement. You have the right Savior. 586 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,360 In fact, you have the only Savior. 587 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:24,040 Trust in him. Trust in him alone. 588 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:27,040 You need not go anywhere else. Why is this important? 589 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:31,280 Because they're in Ephesus and there is paganism rampant in 590 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:35,320 Ephesus, all kinds of idols and false gods and false goddesses 591 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:39,360 being shoved down their throat. And Paul here reminding Timothy, 592 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,560 stand firm. Stand firm in the one true God 593 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:44,800 who saves. He's the only one who saves. 594 00:33:45,840 --> 00:33:51,320 Hosea agreeing with Isaiah. He says this in Hosea 13-4 But I 595 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:53,600 am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. 596 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:59,000 You shall acknowledge no God but me, no savior except me. 597 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:03,840 It's important that we be encouraged by the fact that 598 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:08,600 those of us who have been saved by God, that is the only 599 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:13,000 salvation for man. He is the only one who saves. 600 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:17,280 You did not save yourself. A preacher did not save you. 601 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:21,760 You walking an aisle, praying a prayer, none of those things 602 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:23,840 will save you, or Paul would have said that. 603 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:27,800 But in giving encouragement to Timothy and to the church, he 604 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:31,760 says of God. Our Savior. 605 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:35,480 It is God who saves. Let us not forget that. 606 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:40,639 Let us be encouraged by that. And He graciously saves. 607 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:46,920 He saves us by the gracious gift of salvation. 608 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:53,560 First Peter chapter 1 verse 3, it says praise be to the God and 609 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:59,520 Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given 610 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:03,440 us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of 611 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:06,760 Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can 612 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:09,800 never perish, spoiled or fade, kept in heaven for you who 613 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:13,200 through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of 614 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:14,760 the salvation that is ready to be. 615 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:17,240 Revealed in the last time. What a glorious thing. 616 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:20,760 But let us not forget who gives that salvation graciously. 617 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:25,240 It is God the Father. For Himself sovereignly gives us 618 00:35:25,240 --> 00:35:32,200 by his grace salvation. In fact, Jesus himself said, No 619 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:39,160 one comes to me, John 644 unless the Father who sent me draws 620 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:41,720 them, Paul. Encouraging, Timothy. 621 00:35:41,720 --> 00:35:43,440 Encouraging. The Church here with those very 622 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:45,960 words. To remember the source of 623 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:47,480 salvation. It does us good. 624 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:50,560 It is very encouraging for us to stop sometimes and remember the 625 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:53,360 source of salvation. Please know this key Life 626 00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:55,640 Fellowship didn't save you. Kirk Hall didn't save you. 627 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:57,440 None of the pastors on this staff save you. 628 00:35:57,560 --> 00:36:00,200 Your works don't save you. Your church attendance doesn't 629 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:01,880 save you. Your baptism doesn't save you, 630 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:05,960 Only God save. Let that be an encouragement. 631 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,400 Why? Because what God does last, it's 632 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:11,240 eternal. And if God has saved you, your 633 00:36:11,240 --> 00:36:14,520 salvation is eternal. You have an inheritance that is 634 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:18,120 kept in heaven for you that will never perish, spoil, or fade. 635 00:36:18,720 --> 00:36:20,760 That's why it's important that we see the source. 636 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,600 Paul here in this greeting, giving the source of salvation, 637 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:26,480 reminding them that, reminding them of that so that they will 638 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:31,080 be encouraged, encourages them to remember the source of 639 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:34,200 salvation and then to rest in the hope of Christ. 640 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:40,120 He says by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus 641 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:44,600 our hope. Let's just stop and talk about 642 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:48,160 that for a second. Christ Jesus our hope. 643 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:55,360 If we don't have Christ, we have no eternal hope. 644 00:36:56,600 --> 00:36:59,880 None. There is no other name given 645 00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:02,960 under heaven whereby men must be saved. 646 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:06,320 Jesus himself said, I am the way, the truth and the life, and 647 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:09,280 no man comes to the Father but by me. 648 00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:12,760 So I want you to understand, though the Father is the giver 649 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:15,640 of salvation, drawing you out of darkness and in delight, it is 650 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:17,240 Christ who paid for your salvation. 651 00:37:17,240 --> 00:37:21,520 And it is through Christ that we are saved and we have eternal 652 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:24,440 hope. Paul reminding him of that. 653 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:27,480 What an what an encouragement to them who are in Christ. 654 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:30,800 As they read these letters, yes, yes, I know that God is my 655 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:32,880 Savior. And then they hear that Christ 656 00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:34,880 is our hope. Yes, Christ is my hope. 657 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:39,640 In fact, without Christ I'm completely hopeless. 658 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:47,560 I have nothing to rest in. Hebrews 4 refers to Christ as 659 00:37:47,560 --> 00:37:51,240 our Sabbath rest. It isn't interesting. 660 00:37:51,240 --> 00:37:54,160 While Jesus was here on this earth, he gave this invitation. 661 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:55,760 Come unto me. All you who are weary and heavy 662 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:59,800 laden, I will give you rest. I'll give you rest. 663 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:02,680 They're resting from what? They're resting from the burden 664 00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:06,000 of the law, never being able to attain righteousness no matter 665 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:11,520 how hard they tried. Paul reiterating that to Timothy 666 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:14,520 so that he can reiterate that to the church to just rest in the 667 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:17,080 hope of Christ. I don't know what many of you 668 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:18,600 say because I've heard it from some of you. 669 00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:21,000 Well, there's got to be something more I can do. 670 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:24,000 No, there's not. Christ has already done it all. 671 00:38:25,160 --> 00:38:30,120 Rest in the hope of Christ. He's encouraging Timothy to 672 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:32,640 teach the church that. And because I see that, I'm 673 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:36,080 going to in turn teach what the apostle has taught Timothy. 674 00:38:36,240 --> 00:38:39,120 And I have received from Him, and I say to you, rest in the 675 00:38:39,120 --> 00:38:40,800 hope of Christ. That's the only hope you have. 676 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:44,280 What He did for you 2000 years ago through His death, burial 677 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:46,360 and resurrection. That is the only hope that you 678 00:38:46,360 --> 00:38:48,440 have. That is the only hope that you 679 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:50,280 have of forgiveness of sin. That is the only hope that you 680 00:38:50,280 --> 00:38:52,200 have of eternal life. That is the only hope that you 681 00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:54,320 have of a right relationship with your Creator. 682 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:57,200 It is only in Christ that we have hope. 683 00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:02,920 He's encouraging them. Remember as He wrote to the 684 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:05,960 Romans, in this hope we are saved. 685 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:11,920 Romans 824 the hope of Christ. He wants them to never return to 686 00:39:12,720 --> 00:39:19,400 the curse of the law resting in their useless and feudal works, 687 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:23,120 but to rest in the hope in Christ, in Christ alone. 688 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:25,920 Who, Peter declares, is our living what? 689 00:39:26,080 --> 00:39:30,320 Our living hope. So in Christ we see that we are 690 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:35,560 to never return to the hopelessness of our sin. 691 00:39:35,560 --> 00:39:37,240 We don't have to. Why? 692 00:39:38,120 --> 00:39:41,800 Because we have hope in Christ. What do I mean by that? 693 00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:46,680 When you fully trust in the work of Christ alone, you have hope. 694 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:51,560 When you try to insert any of your efforts or any of your 695 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:54,480 deeds in that, you're going to fall extremely short. 696 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:59,560 But when you rest in the hope of Christ, knowing you've got 697 00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:03,320 nothing to bring to the table, isn't there great encouragement 698 00:40:03,320 --> 00:40:07,400 for that or in that? I remember as I was growing in 699 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:10,880 the Lord, unfortunately around a bunch of people who promoted 700 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:13,920 legalism not by intention but but just by ignorance. 701 00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:18,520 I remember from the pages of Scripture where I finally 702 00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:23,440 realized that I am instructed to just rest in the hope of Jesus 703 00:40:23,440 --> 00:40:27,920 Christ for my righteousness. That was the most encouraging 704 00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:30,200 news that I had ever received. Why? 705 00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:32,600 Because you know what I thought? Like many of you unfortunately 706 00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:36,280 think, yeah, Jesus saves me, but I got to keep helping him out 707 00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:40,320 for this thing to stick. That's not hoping in Christ. 708 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:44,640 That's hoping in you. And if you're anything like me, 709 00:40:44,720 --> 00:40:47,160 I'm going to let myself down and I'm going to let myself down a 710 00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:49,440 lot. And so are you because you're 711 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:53,960 imperfect and Christ is perfect. And so when we place our faith 712 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:56,800 in Christ, we've placed our faith in perfect hope. 713 00:40:57,000 --> 00:40:59,680 Paul's reminding them and encouraging them of that, 714 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:03,280 reminding us of what the hymn writer said when he said my hope 715 00:41:03,280 --> 00:41:06,120 is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. 716 00:41:06,600 --> 00:41:09,880 I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus 717 00:41:09,960 --> 00:41:14,280 name. Paul desires that the church 718 00:41:15,160 --> 00:41:19,240 that Timothy they understand to wholly lean on Jesus name. 719 00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:22,320 Their only hope. The holy lean on that. 720 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:24,960 I do not trust in anything else. In fact, he's going to address 721 00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:27,560 the law and what these Judaizers were actually attempting to 722 00:41:27,560 --> 00:41:32,400 teach in just a moment, but he begins with the reason that 723 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:34,840 reason is to quit Christchurch and to encourage Christchurch. 724 00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:37,640 Secondly, let's look at the relationship. 725 00:41:38,320 --> 00:41:40,400 It's a very important relationship in verse 2 that we 726 00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:46,680 see to Timothy, he says, my true son in the faith, grace, mercy 727 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:49,360 and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 728 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:51,640 A very common greeting that Paul used. 729 00:41:51,640 --> 00:41:54,120 But again, we're going to see that it's not just thrown out 730 00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:57,440 there uselessly. There's a point in it, but it 731 00:41:57,440 --> 00:42:00,280 begins by revealing to us this relationship. 732 00:42:00,280 --> 00:42:04,040 He says to Timothy my. True son, my true son. 733 00:42:06,240 --> 00:42:09,200 Again, in Philippians chapter 2, he says I have no one else like 734 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:13,080 him who takes a genuine interest in the welfare of the church. 735 00:42:13,480 --> 00:42:17,320 No one like him, he says, my true son, Now I know this 736 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:18,480 because I've studied the Scriptures. 737 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:19,560 I pray that you would do the same. 738 00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:22,320 But if you study any of Paul's writings, usually at some point 739 00:42:22,320 --> 00:42:25,840 in those writings he's going to name members of those churches 740 00:42:25,840 --> 00:42:28,960 specifically by name, and he names many of them. 741 00:42:28,960 --> 00:42:31,160 In fact, in Romans he goes and he gives a laundry list of all 742 00:42:31,160 --> 00:42:33,560 the people at the end there. Greet them, greet them, greet 743 00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:36,880 them. But there are very few that we 744 00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:40,480 see in Scripture who received the title son from Paul. 745 00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:47,760 The three, of course, is this one being Timothy Titus. 746 00:42:48,440 --> 00:42:51,280 We'll be covering him. We'll get to the next part of 747 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:54,640 this. And then Onissimus, who we 748 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:57,560 talked about just a few weeks ago, who was a slave to 749 00:42:57,560 --> 00:43:00,720 Philemon, and he calls them all his son. 750 00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:04,160 Many scholars believe, and I would happen to agree with this, 751 00:43:04,160 --> 00:43:07,000 that he calls them true sons because I think he was probably 752 00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:09,440 involved in sharing the gospel at their conversion. 753 00:43:09,960 --> 00:43:12,520 I don't know that to be factual information, but I find it 754 00:43:12,520 --> 00:43:17,000 interesting that he refers to them as his true son. 755 00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:20,280 Now we know that that doesn't mean that Paul was his actual 756 00:43:20,280 --> 00:43:22,520 earthly father because he had an earthly father who was an 757 00:43:22,520 --> 00:43:28,040 unbelieving Greek and actual mother refers to him as true 758 00:43:28,040 --> 00:43:31,640 son. It's hard for us to understand 759 00:43:31,640 --> 00:43:33,520 in this generation of Christianity. 760 00:43:33,520 --> 00:43:38,040 And unfortunately, and the reason that it's hard for us to 761 00:43:38,040 --> 00:43:42,280 understand this statement that he's making is because with this 762 00:43:42,280 --> 00:43:46,680 generation that is coming up, there seems to be no thought 763 00:43:46,680 --> 00:43:49,280 need for these kinds of relationships in the church. 764 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:52,960 The father teaching the Son spiritual things and the son 765 00:43:52,960 --> 00:43:55,520 maturing and growing in the spiritual things until he's 766 00:43:55,520 --> 00:43:58,480 raised up to be a man who would then disciple others and he 767 00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:01,000 would become the Father and then have other sons. 768 00:44:01,320 --> 00:44:02,920 We don't see a need for that in the. 769 00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:04,920 Church any longer, unfortunately. 770 00:44:04,920 --> 00:44:07,040 Because we have all these YouTube experts. 771 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:12,960 The sad thing about these YouTube experts that all these 772 00:44:12,960 --> 00:44:15,720 Christians are following these Christian celebrities. 773 00:44:17,680 --> 00:44:19,680 People follow them and they don't even know who they are. 774 00:44:21,240 --> 00:44:22,920 They never sat down. They've never had a meal with 775 00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:25,400 them. They've never had a real 776 00:44:25,400 --> 00:44:28,440 conversation with them. They've never had these guys who 777 00:44:29,720 --> 00:44:32,440 they follow on all these social media platforms ever come over 778 00:44:32,440 --> 00:44:34,280 to their house and pray with them when they're going through 779 00:44:34,280 --> 00:44:38,400 a difficult time. They don't know the names of 780 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:42,160 their family members, nor have they ever held one of their 781 00:44:42,160 --> 00:44:47,000 children or joined in the Lord's Supper together. 782 00:44:48,360 --> 00:44:51,120 Baptized one another, they don't know these people at all. 783 00:44:51,120 --> 00:44:53,720 And so in our generation, it's really foreign to us to see a 784 00:44:53,720 --> 00:44:56,480 father son relationship spiritually in the church. 785 00:44:56,480 --> 00:44:59,240 And I say that's sad. It's sad. 786 00:44:59,960 --> 00:45:01,680 Well. Part of that reason is because 787 00:45:01,680 --> 00:45:04,640 of this idea that all these people on YouTube are experts 788 00:45:04,640 --> 00:45:06,520 and we can just trust everything that they say, even though we 789 00:45:06,520 --> 00:45:08,800 don't know who they are, only to find out that there's always 790 00:45:09,240 --> 00:45:12,120 some real person there and we just don't know. 791 00:45:14,720 --> 00:45:18,400 But also, I think it has to do with the fact that we don't see 792 00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:22,280 this father and son relationship in the church any longer because 793 00:45:22,280 --> 00:45:26,080 it's not important to us. We don't see the importance of 794 00:45:26,080 --> 00:45:30,440 what's going on here when Paul and his father son relationship 795 00:45:30,440 --> 00:45:35,760 refers to Timothy as his true son, Paul being the older and 796 00:45:35,760 --> 00:45:42,160 wiser mentor, teacher and that son submitting to his leadership 797 00:45:42,160 --> 00:45:44,880 and his instruction, right. We, we can't see that in today's 798 00:45:44,880 --> 00:45:47,440 church because people think that when they're 23 years old, they 799 00:45:47,440 --> 00:45:50,360 know everything. They got it all figured out. 800 00:45:50,360 --> 00:45:52,680 It's interesting to me that these guys who come right out of 801 00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:54,600 seminary, man, they, they know everything. 802 00:45:57,120 --> 00:45:58,920 They've never had a father in the faith to teach them. 803 00:45:58,920 --> 00:46:00,920 They, they just know because they've got all this head 804 00:46:00,920 --> 00:46:04,600 knowledge is what a father does that's different than just head 805 00:46:04,600 --> 00:46:08,800 knowledge. Doesn't he teach by example and 806 00:46:08,800 --> 00:46:12,680 Timothy respects? Paul as a father because he took 807 00:46:12,680 --> 00:46:15,600 him alongside of him. He taught him how to share the 808 00:46:15,600 --> 00:46:17,480 gospel. He taught him how to minister to 809 00:46:17,480 --> 00:46:19,760 other people. He taught him how to suffer for 810 00:46:19,760 --> 00:46:22,000 the Lord and to do it with joy in your heart. 811 00:46:23,640 --> 00:46:29,120 This was a real relationship. And it's sad that we've reduced 812 00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:35,200 relationships into the church, to social media and live feeds. 813 00:46:36,640 --> 00:46:38,000 You know, it's about doing live together. 814 00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:41,480 It's Paul being that older and wiser mentor, pouring into that 815 00:46:41,480 --> 00:46:44,560 young man, that young man being willing and passionate to learn 816 00:46:44,560 --> 00:46:47,240 from his leadership and his experience and his knowledge. 817 00:46:47,600 --> 00:46:51,640 Not being boastful or prideful or arrogant about it, but simply 818 00:46:51,800 --> 00:46:54,480 learning from those who God puts in their path. 819 00:46:56,960 --> 00:46:59,080 Let me just say this. I've had both in the faith, 820 00:47:00,880 --> 00:47:05,960 fathers and sons. I'm so thankful for those 821 00:47:06,480 --> 00:47:10,840 relationships. I'm going to say this at the 822 00:47:10,840 --> 00:47:15,440 expense of all of you gasping. Those relationships to me are 823 00:47:15,440 --> 00:47:19,080 more important than even my relationships with my earthly 824 00:47:19,080 --> 00:47:22,280 family. Go ahead and gasp. 825 00:47:23,960 --> 00:47:25,360 But I know for the American. Church that's hard to. 826 00:47:25,360 --> 00:47:27,920 Understand, because we accept the temporal over the eternal, 827 00:47:27,920 --> 00:47:33,480 we shouldn't be. So Paul is valuing this eternal 828 00:47:33,480 --> 00:47:37,120 relationship that these two share in Christ, knowing that 829 00:47:37,120 --> 00:47:40,120 God put them together, knowing that God put them together to 830 00:47:40,120 --> 00:47:43,680 accomplish gospel work and it means something to him. 831 00:47:43,960 --> 00:47:48,280 This wasn't a guy who just was alikes and subscriptions to his 832 00:47:48,280 --> 00:47:51,200 YouTube channel. He did Christian life with this 833 00:47:51,200 --> 00:47:54,320 young man. And he meant something to him. 834 00:47:55,640 --> 00:47:57,120 The same went from the other side. 835 00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:03,760 You see this as a father and son relationship that develops later 836 00:48:03,760 --> 00:48:06,040 into Co laboring together for the gospel. 837 00:48:10,840 --> 00:48:14,160 I'm going to try to hold it together here, but I have the 838 00:48:14,160 --> 00:48:17,000 privilege of working with sons in the Lord constantly. 839 00:48:18,520 --> 00:48:22,640 We're like minded and like hearted and we pour into each 840 00:48:22,640 --> 00:48:25,520 other and we Co labor in Christ together. 841 00:48:27,080 --> 00:48:29,080 There is no jockeying for position. 842 00:48:29,080 --> 00:48:31,560 We are doing the work of the Lord together. 843 00:48:32,320 --> 00:48:34,920 Yes, I have been given a greater responsibility. 844 00:48:34,920 --> 00:48:36,040 You think that's cool, don't you? 845 00:48:36,040 --> 00:48:37,800 But that means I'm going to give a greater account. 846 00:48:37,800 --> 00:48:42,920 It's not that cool. I'm thankful for the sons that I 847 00:48:42,920 --> 00:48:47,600 have in the Lord and I can spend my life pouring into them so 848 00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:51,000 that the next generation. That we taught properly the word 849 00:48:51,000 --> 00:48:54,520 of God how important the gospel truly is. 850 00:48:55,280 --> 00:48:57,720 So this relationship that you see on this page is not just 851 00:48:57,720 --> 00:48:59,280 something that you just passed up. 852 00:48:59,280 --> 00:49:01,440 Oh Timothy, my true son in the faith. 853 00:49:01,600 --> 00:49:05,520 No, Paul meant this. There was a bond and there was 854 00:49:05,520 --> 00:49:10,040 love in Christ. Paul, the cycling, this young 855 00:49:10,040 --> 00:49:14,760 man, just as Christ commissions us to do now, this young man 856 00:49:16,360 --> 00:49:19,000 leading that congregation there at Ephesus, you know what? 857 00:49:19,000 --> 00:49:20,680 He didn't tell Paul when he got this letter. 858 00:49:20,720 --> 00:49:22,520 I don't need to hear from Paul anymore. 859 00:49:22,680 --> 00:49:24,880 I'm the senior pastor of Ephesus. 860 00:49:28,120 --> 00:49:34,760 No, that spiritual, familial relationship was continual. 861 00:49:34,800 --> 00:49:39,160 Again, it's eternal. God put Paul into Timothy's life 862 00:49:39,280 --> 00:49:41,840 so that Timothy could pass. I mean, Paul could pass on to 863 00:49:41,840 --> 00:49:45,000 Timothy that which was passed on from Christ to Paul. 864 00:49:46,640 --> 00:49:48,520 John Owen said it best when he said it like this. 865 00:49:48,760 --> 00:49:52,280 Paul gave instruction unto Timothy that he might teach 866 00:49:52,280 --> 00:49:54,800 others also, and therein the. Rule. 867 00:49:54,800 --> 00:49:59,760 Of the ministry is established for all generation, I said it's 868 00:49:59,760 --> 00:50:01,800 a shame that we don't see it in the church any longer. 869 00:50:03,640 --> 00:50:06,720 Fathers are pouring into sons and mothers pouring into 870 00:50:06,720 --> 00:50:09,760 daughters. Did you know that's the way that 871 00:50:09,760 --> 00:50:13,000 it's supposed to be? That's by design how God wants 872 00:50:13,000 --> 00:50:17,160 the church to be. Family who's pouring Christ into 873 00:50:17,160 --> 00:50:19,280 one another. Relationships that are beyond 874 00:50:19,280 --> 00:50:24,720 even our earthly family. Again, to which I'm very 875 00:50:24,720 --> 00:50:30,800 thankful for those fathers who took me under my wing when I was 876 00:50:30,880 --> 00:50:35,920 ignorant and immature, who were patient with me, and who taught 877 00:50:35,920 --> 00:50:39,880 me the word of God, who lived it before my very eyes. 878 00:50:42,840 --> 00:50:46,680 And we'd be the same to others. You see, this relationship is 879 00:50:46,680 --> 00:50:49,840 father and son, but of course, it's founded upon God the Father 880 00:50:49,840 --> 00:50:51,920 through faith in Christ. Paul doesn't leave that out. 881 00:50:52,520 --> 00:50:54,720 He says to Timothy, my true son in the faith. 882 00:50:55,400 --> 00:50:57,600 He's not his true son in the faith just because he likes him. 883 00:50:57,600 --> 00:51:01,360 It's because he met him in Lystra, became familiar with the 884 00:51:01,360 --> 00:51:05,880 family. He's his true son in the faith 885 00:51:05,880 --> 00:51:08,280 because the relationship was founded upon God the Father 886 00:51:08,280 --> 00:51:11,360 through faith in Christ Jesus. This is my true son in the 887 00:51:11,400 --> 00:51:14,640 faith, the only faith, the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. 888 00:51:14,640 --> 00:51:17,880 He says grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ 889 00:51:17,920 --> 00:51:20,600 Jesus our Lord. Again, he's not just chaining a 890 00:51:20,600 --> 00:51:22,160 bunch of Christian words together. 891 00:51:24,520 --> 00:51:27,480 He's giving the reason that their whole relationship exists. 892 00:51:28,960 --> 00:51:33,040 Says you're my son in the faith. And we're in the faith because 893 00:51:33,040 --> 00:51:36,360 of grace and mercy and peace. That we received. 894 00:51:36,360 --> 00:51:40,080 From God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord, that's the bond 895 00:51:40,080 --> 00:51:42,640 that holds us all together. Did you know that in a Father 896 00:51:42,640 --> 00:51:46,080 and a Son relationship, right? In our earthly relationships, 897 00:51:46,200 --> 00:51:48,440 the bond that holds us together is the fact that we're blood 898 00:51:48,440 --> 00:51:51,000 kin. And that can be broken, right? 899 00:51:51,000 --> 00:51:52,520 We can just say, you know, we're blocked in, but I'm never 900 00:51:52,520 --> 00:51:53,960 talking to you again in the church. 901 00:51:53,960 --> 00:51:55,200 You know what? A father and son, you know how 902 00:51:55,200 --> 00:51:58,120 this happens. We're bound together not by our 903 00:51:58,120 --> 00:51:59,400 own blood. We're bound together by the 904 00:51:59,400 --> 00:52:01,840 blood of Jesus Christ according to the will of God. 905 00:52:02,520 --> 00:52:05,000 That's a bond that can't be broken and should never, ever 906 00:52:05,000 --> 00:52:07,640 even be thought of as something that we would enjoy breaking. 907 00:52:09,320 --> 00:52:11,600 So he's reminding him of this, that that relationship is 908 00:52:11,600 --> 00:52:14,520 founded upon God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ, 909 00:52:14,520 --> 00:52:16,600 and that alone, the basis for all of our Christian 910 00:52:16,600 --> 00:52:22,160 relationships should be on this. Love for Christ, love for one 911 00:52:22,160 --> 00:52:25,760 another in Christ. Is that what Jesus said, that 912 00:52:25,760 --> 00:52:28,360 the outsiders will know us because of our love for one 913 00:52:28,360 --> 00:52:30,800 another? They'll know that the love that 914 00:52:30,800 --> 00:52:33,560 we have, the bond that we have, is deeper than just a regular 915 00:52:33,560 --> 00:52:35,680 family bond that you see in any family. 916 00:52:37,320 --> 00:52:39,520 It's deeper than that. It's the bond of Christ. 917 00:52:40,160 --> 00:52:43,800 You see this in the life of Paul toward Timothy here as this is 918 00:52:44,120 --> 00:52:48,440 revealed, but it be the model for all of us to be the basis of 919 00:52:48,440 --> 00:52:50,320 all of our Christian relationships. 920 00:52:51,800 --> 00:52:55,000 Paul says to the Corinthians and 1st Corinthians chapter one 921 00:52:55,000 --> 00:52:56,960 verse 9. God who has called you into 922 00:52:56,960 --> 00:52:58,640 fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ. 923 00:52:58,640 --> 00:53:01,160 Our Lord is faithful and I appeal you brothers in the name 924 00:53:01,160 --> 00:53:03,600 of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with one 925 00:53:03,600 --> 00:53:05,280 another. He's calling for unity. 926 00:53:07,040 --> 00:53:10,880 He's calling for unity in the body of Christ, not based on 927 00:53:10,880 --> 00:53:13,560 whether you agree with someone, but based on Christ. 928 00:53:15,040 --> 00:53:19,640 Paul and Timothy agreeing on Christ, the foundation of this 929 00:53:19,640 --> 00:53:23,520 relationship and the foundation of all good and true Christian 930 00:53:23,840 --> 00:53:27,080 relationship. Reminding Timothy simply of 931 00:53:27,080 --> 00:53:29,120 this. The blessings that God has given 932 00:53:29,120 --> 00:53:34,760 to all of us who are in Christ, grace, mercy, and peace. 933 00:53:35,560 --> 00:53:38,800 I'll make note of this. God did not have to give you any 934 00:53:38,800 --> 00:53:44,320 of those things, but in Christ He gives you all those things. 935 00:53:45,800 --> 00:53:47,440 Please reminding Timothy of this, that that's what this 936 00:53:47,440 --> 00:53:50,120 relationship is built upon. You're my son in the faith, that 937 00:53:50,120 --> 00:53:52,360 faith that is made-up of grace, mercy, and peace that comes from 938 00:53:52,360 --> 00:53:54,480 God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 939 00:53:55,440 --> 00:53:59,000 How important it is that we remember those things. 940 00:54:01,680 --> 00:54:03,720 We all need to have these relationships in our Christian 941 00:54:03,720 --> 00:54:08,040 walk, don't we? Those mentors, those leaders, 942 00:54:09,360 --> 00:54:16,440 those who spur us along, those who teach us because we love us. 943 00:54:18,120 --> 00:54:22,360 So let us intentionally cultivate relationships like we 944 00:54:22,360 --> 00:54:24,600 see Paul intentionally cultivating here. 945 00:54:25,600 --> 00:54:29,440 Let us enjoy those kinds of relations because it's by the 946 00:54:29,440 --> 00:54:31,800 precious blood of Jesus Christ that those relationships were 947 00:54:31,800 --> 00:54:34,320 paid for. That's why we exist. 948 00:54:34,560 --> 00:54:36,640 How many of you come in every Sunday morning, you sit in the 949 00:54:36,640 --> 00:54:38,920 same chair and you never talk to a single soul? 950 00:54:42,160 --> 00:54:45,320 It may not be, so I would just encourage all of you under the 951 00:54:45,320 --> 00:54:49,040 sound of my voice today, find someone here today that you 952 00:54:49,040 --> 00:54:51,720 don't know and at least go introduce yourself to them. 953 00:54:51,840 --> 00:54:54,680 They may actually be over here in the South side. 954 00:54:54,680 --> 00:54:57,560 You can't come over from the OR the north side. 955 00:54:58,600 --> 00:55:01,760 Yeah, you can come over. You can come over and you can 956 00:55:01,760 --> 00:55:03,880 shake their hand and you can introduce yourself. 957 00:55:05,360 --> 00:55:07,280 You don't know, there may be this lasting friendship, there 958 00:55:07,280 --> 00:55:09,640 may be this great discipleship that happens because of that 959 00:55:09,640 --> 00:55:12,640 relationship. It's never going to happen. 960 00:55:12,640 --> 00:55:15,400 If you don't see the importance of it, Paul is seeing the 961 00:55:15,400 --> 00:55:17,680 importance of it. You see that relationship, that 962 00:55:17,680 --> 00:55:21,320 father and son relationship founded upon God the Father 963 00:55:21,320 --> 00:55:25,160 through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the model that we have 964 00:55:25,160 --> 00:55:27,200 been given in the church. That's how you make disciples. 965 00:55:27,200 --> 00:55:29,360 You don't make disciples on YouTube. 966 00:55:30,480 --> 00:55:33,160 You hear me? You don't make disciples on 967 00:55:33,160 --> 00:55:34,600 YouTube. You don't make disciples on 968 00:55:34,600 --> 00:55:36,600 Facebook, you don't make disciples on TikTok. 969 00:55:36,720 --> 00:55:39,000 You know how you make disciples? You invite somebody over and you 970 00:55:39,000 --> 00:55:41,040 open up the word of God and you start talking about the great 971 00:55:41,040 --> 00:55:44,040 things that God has done. You invite somebody to lunch and 972 00:55:44,040 --> 00:55:46,680 you sit there after lunch, not talking about how bad my sermon 973 00:55:46,680 --> 00:55:48,480 is, but maybe there's one. Good thing that you could get 974 00:55:48,480 --> 00:55:50,640 out of this today. Talk about that one good thing. 975 00:55:52,240 --> 00:55:55,320 Encourage one another with it. Before you know it, you have 976 00:55:55,320 --> 00:55:57,080 these relationships spring up in the church. 977 00:55:57,080 --> 00:56:02,280 Fathers and sons, mothers, daughters, the church becomes 978 00:56:02,280 --> 00:56:03,240 what the church is supposed to be. 979 00:56:03,240 --> 00:56:05,520 Oh, we'll talk more about that as we uncover the pastoral 980 00:56:05,520 --> 00:56:08,040 epistles. So we see the relationship. 981 00:56:10,080 --> 00:56:12,760 Thirdly, lastly, responsibilities. 982 00:56:13,560 --> 00:56:15,760 What were the pastoral responsibilities that Paul is 983 00:56:15,760 --> 00:56:18,600 giving to Timothy here? What are they? 984 00:56:19,000 --> 00:56:20,800 Now, the reason that this is interesting to me because I 985 00:56:20,800 --> 00:56:22,040 don't think those things have changed. 986 00:56:23,160 --> 00:56:26,160 I think that whatever Paul told Timothy as a pastor he is 987 00:56:26,160 --> 00:56:28,000 supposed to do. I am supposed to do the same 988 00:56:28,000 --> 00:56:29,400 thing. And the pastoral staff here at 989 00:56:29,400 --> 00:56:31,000 Key Life Fellowship is to do the like. 990 00:56:32,520 --> 00:56:34,960 I don't think it's changed. In fact, you're going to see 991 00:56:34,960 --> 00:56:37,040 there are lots of things in these writings that I'm going to 992 00:56:37,040 --> 00:56:38,880 cover that many people think they've changed. 993 00:56:38,880 --> 00:56:40,960 But God hasn't changed anything that he said in his word. 994 00:56:44,520 --> 00:56:49,480 What are the responsibilities? He says this in verse three. 995 00:56:49,480 --> 00:56:54,480 If you're still here, say Amen. He says this as I urge you. 996 00:56:54,480 --> 00:56:57,720 When I went into Macedonia, Stay there in Ephesus so that you may 997 00:56:57,720 --> 00:57:01,200 command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer in 998 00:57:01,560 --> 00:57:04,360 order to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. 999 00:57:04,360 --> 00:57:07,520 These promote controversies rather than God's Word, which is 1000 00:57:07,520 --> 00:57:09,360 by faith. I want to take those first 2 1001 00:57:09,360 --> 00:57:11,240 verses, and I want to look at those real quick before we move 1002 00:57:11,240 --> 00:57:13,440 to the next. But I want us to do that so that 1003 00:57:13,440 --> 00:57:15,440 we can see His first responsibility. 1004 00:57:15,520 --> 00:57:17,120 His first responsibility is this. 1005 00:57:17,160 --> 00:57:21,400 Serve the local church. Don't miss that in this. 1006 00:57:22,680 --> 00:57:26,120 He didn't say, Timothy, go wherever you send out a resume. 1007 00:57:26,160 --> 00:57:29,920 Go wherever you want to go. If you get tired of doing things 1008 00:57:29,920 --> 00:57:32,360 in Ephesus and things don't go your way, or the deacons vote 1009 00:57:32,360 --> 00:57:35,440 against you or the elders vote against you, pack up your stuff 1010 00:57:35,440 --> 00:57:37,480 and move somewhere. But just don't put up with that 1011 00:57:37,480 --> 00:57:40,200 stuff. That's not what he says. 1012 00:57:41,360 --> 00:57:44,000 He says I left you there for a purpose, and that purpose is to 1013 00:57:44,000 --> 00:57:46,000 serve the local church. You know how he's how I know 1014 00:57:46,000 --> 00:57:48,880 he's telling him to serve the local church because he names 1015 00:57:48,880 --> 00:57:51,720 it. Because I left you there. 1016 00:57:51,720 --> 00:57:58,880 Stay there in Ephesus. Why do I hammer this point that 1017 00:57:58,880 --> 00:58:02,280 we're to minister where we're sovereignly planted and we are? 1018 00:58:03,080 --> 00:58:06,560 You're never going to bloom if you're being uprooted all the 1019 00:58:06,560 --> 00:58:09,880 time. I say this to young ministers. 1020 00:58:09,880 --> 00:58:13,480 I say this to the church members who hop from church to church to 1021 00:58:13,480 --> 00:58:15,480 church. Please listen to this. 1022 00:58:17,400 --> 00:58:23,360 You need to root where you have been sovereignly planted, and 1023 00:58:23,360 --> 00:58:26,920 the only reason that you should ever leave a church is if they 1024 00:58:26,920 --> 00:58:32,120 become unsound doctrinally or if they distort the gospel and will 1025 00:58:32,120 --> 00:58:37,640 not repent of those two things. But I don't like that Lady in 1026 00:58:37,640 --> 00:58:40,520 that third Pew because when I was pulling in, she got my 1027 00:58:40,520 --> 00:58:44,920 parking place. That's not a reason. 1028 00:58:45,920 --> 00:58:50,800 In fact, all that does is reveal that you're immature and God 1029 00:58:50,800 --> 00:58:55,320 needs to deal with your heart. You need to humble yourself and 1030 00:58:55,320 --> 00:58:57,120 stop being so petty about things. 1031 00:58:59,120 --> 00:59:01,840 There's bigger things at stake. He says. 1032 00:59:02,000 --> 00:59:04,040 Stay there in Ephesus. Don't bounce from church to 1033 00:59:04,040 --> 00:59:07,040 church. Now, I can tell you this, I can 1034 00:59:07,040 --> 00:59:09,960 speak from experience. I'm the guy who got mad at my 1035 00:59:09,960 --> 00:59:12,920 first pastor. I didn't understand anything 1036 00:59:12,920 --> 00:59:14,480 about being a pastor. I only thought I did. 1037 00:59:15,960 --> 00:59:17,520 I thought I knew a whole lot. You know what I realized? 1038 00:59:17,520 --> 00:59:21,040 I know nothing. I got upset with him. 1039 00:59:21,040 --> 00:59:21,880 So what did I do? What? 1040 00:59:21,880 --> 00:59:24,480 What all good Southern Baptist boys do in that situation? 1041 00:59:25,920 --> 00:59:28,680 Put out my resume, right? My resume. 1042 00:59:28,680 --> 00:59:30,600 I've been at one church for like 7 months. 1043 00:59:30,600 --> 00:59:34,600 What kind of resume do I have? But oh boy, I'm God's gift to 1044 00:59:34,600 --> 00:59:39,320 ministry. God sentenced me to Arkansas 1045 00:59:42,120 --> 00:59:48,560 doing something that's stupid, you say, Kirk? 1046 00:59:48,560 --> 00:59:49,800 Would you really admit that you were wrong? 1047 00:59:49,840 --> 00:59:51,760 Yeah, I was wrong in that I was where I was. 1048 00:59:51,760 --> 00:59:55,160 Supposed to be, he said. Why don't you believe that God 1049 00:59:55,160 --> 00:59:56,640 worked it out in the grander scheme of things? 1050 00:59:56,640 --> 00:59:57,960 Yeah, God wasn't surprised about it. 1051 00:59:57,960 --> 01:00:00,920 He knew that he was going to teach me a huge lesson that the 1052 01:00:00,920 --> 01:00:03,600 next time I plant you somewhere, you bloom right where I plant 1053 01:00:03,600 --> 01:00:05,680 you and you don't leave until I move you. 1054 01:00:09,680 --> 01:00:10,920 Some lessons learned the hard way. 1055 01:00:12,200 --> 01:00:17,480 I can testify to that. Stay there in Ephesus. 1056 01:00:17,640 --> 01:00:19,080 Don't bounce around from church to church. 1057 01:00:19,080 --> 01:00:21,920 Don't become dissatisfied. Don't go looking for greener 1058 01:00:21,920 --> 01:00:23,960 pastures. Because he knew. 1059 01:00:23,960 --> 01:00:26,040 He knew Timothy's going to face the same thing everywhere he 1060 01:00:26,080 --> 01:00:27,360 went. Paul had already established 1061 01:00:27,360 --> 01:00:28,920 most of the churches that he writes to. 1062 01:00:28,920 --> 01:00:31,440 You know what he knew? People are fickle. 1063 01:00:32,640 --> 01:00:36,240 People are mean. You got true believers in the 1064 01:00:36,240 --> 01:00:38,840 church and you got only professors who are really false 1065 01:00:38,840 --> 01:00:41,760 believers in the church. You're constantly being attacked 1066 01:00:41,760 --> 01:00:43,240 from the enemy. You're constantly being attacked 1067 01:00:43,240 --> 01:00:47,520 from heretics. It's work to pastor church. 1068 01:00:47,760 --> 01:00:50,000 And so, Timothy, don't think for a second that you can go 1069 01:00:50,000 --> 01:00:52,360 somewhere else and it not be as difficult as it is there in 1070 01:00:52,360 --> 01:00:54,280 Ephesus where everybody's inundated with paganism. 1071 01:00:54,960 --> 01:00:57,680 Stay there. Stay there and be faithful. 1072 01:00:58,240 --> 01:01:00,360 That's what Paul is teaching Timothy, faithfulness and 1073 01:01:00,360 --> 01:01:04,640 ministry. Minister where you sovereignly 1074 01:01:04,640 --> 01:01:09,480 planted, but also minister with purpose, minister with a 1075 01:01:09,520 --> 01:01:12,240 purpose. He gives him purpose here. 1076 01:01:12,320 --> 01:01:15,200 He went on just flouncing around, just doing whatever he 1077 01:01:17,200 --> 01:01:21,880 had a purpose. Defend the true gospel, teach 1078 01:01:21,880 --> 01:01:25,400 town doctrine. I know we have forgotten that in 1079 01:01:25,400 --> 01:01:27,680 our day and age, right? Where the pastor's job is to 1080 01:01:27,680 --> 01:01:29,640 entertain the people so that they'll stay, so that we'll have 1081 01:01:29,640 --> 01:01:31,240 more people, we'll have more money, we can build a new 1082 01:01:31,240 --> 01:01:36,920 building. No, his responsibility was to 1083 01:01:36,920 --> 01:01:38,920 stand for sound doctrine, to teach the Word. 1084 01:01:38,920 --> 01:01:41,440 We're going to see that very clearly when we get to Paul's 1085 01:01:41,440 --> 01:01:47,680 last address to him. Stand for sound doctrine, teach 1086 01:01:47,680 --> 01:01:49,360 the word of God, preach the gospel. 1087 01:01:49,440 --> 01:01:52,040 Stand for sound doctrine, preach the Word of God, preach the 1088 01:01:52,040 --> 01:01:53,160 gospel. Every day. 1089 01:01:53,400 --> 01:01:55,960 Same thing over and over and over and. 1090 01:01:55,960 --> 01:01:58,560 Over again. Sometimes, Timothy, it is going 1091 01:01:58,560 --> 01:02:02,960 to discourage you. You stay right there in Ephesus. 1092 01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:07,280 You keep doing what you're supposed to do as long as God 1093 01:02:07,280 --> 01:02:10,120 has you there. Stay there in Ephesus, minister 1094 01:02:10,120 --> 01:02:12,520 where you have sovereignly been planted planet and minister with 1095 01:02:12,520 --> 01:02:14,080 the purpose that I'm giving to you. 1096 01:02:14,680 --> 01:02:19,640 Don't lose sight of that. Defend the true gospel, teach 1097 01:02:20,040 --> 01:02:22,560 the Scriptures and the whole counsel of the Word of God. 1098 01:02:22,800 --> 01:02:27,560 Defend against unsound biblical teaching and shepherd. 1099 01:02:27,560 --> 01:02:30,040 Christ flocked faithfully, he tells Titus. 1100 01:02:30,480 --> 01:02:33,080 Very similar thing as as we're going to get to that he says in 1101 01:02:33,080 --> 01:02:36,160 Titus chapter one verse 9. We he talking about the pastor 1102 01:02:36,200 --> 01:02:38,960 must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has 1103 01:02:38,960 --> 01:02:41,560 been taught, so that he can encourage other by others by 1104 01:02:41,560 --> 01:02:44,280 sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 1105 01:02:45,720 --> 01:02:48,680 Many times I get accused of just beating up the heretics. 1106 01:02:50,000 --> 01:02:52,960 Why does he always have to talk about unsound doctrine? 1107 01:02:53,200 --> 01:02:58,360 Because the world is inundated with false teaching, there are 1108 01:02:58,360 --> 01:03:01,360 movements in this country that call themselves Christian. 1109 01:03:01,360 --> 01:03:04,440 In fact, most movements that call themselves Christian are 1110 01:03:04,440 --> 01:03:09,200 heretical in this country. And again, a shameless plug you. 1111 01:03:09,200 --> 01:03:10,280 Want to find out more about that? 1112 01:03:10,280 --> 01:03:11,800 You come on Thursday nights and you'll see the truth. 1113 01:03:14,080 --> 01:03:21,520 That's what the real men are on Thursday nights. 7:00 We'll be 1114 01:03:21,520 --> 01:03:26,280 right here. Take your wife to eat Chinese 1115 01:03:26,280 --> 01:03:27,560 food and get her nails done another night. 1116 01:03:29,400 --> 01:03:35,280 So Fridays are 4. Gives them the responsibility to 1117 01:03:35,280 --> 01:03:39,080 serve the local church. Straighten out false doctrine. 1118 01:03:39,200 --> 01:03:43,320 He says that in verses 5 and 6 as we continue to read, he says 1119 01:03:43,320 --> 01:03:45,560 the goal of this command is love. 1120 01:03:45,560 --> 01:03:48,360 The command to do what? Straighten out their false 1121 01:03:48,360 --> 01:03:49,760 teaching. But here's the goal of it. 1122 01:03:49,960 --> 01:03:53,160 Love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and 1123 01:03:53,160 --> 01:03:55,560 a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from 1124 01:03:55,560 --> 01:03:57,360 these and turned to meaningless talk. 1125 01:03:57,880 --> 01:04:00,720 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what 1126 01:04:00,720 --> 01:04:04,760 they're talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 1127 01:04:05,680 --> 01:04:08,640 He's telling Timothy to straighten out out false 1128 01:04:08,640 --> 01:04:11,520 doctrine, to stand for the true gospel, but he's going to tell 1129 01:04:11,520 --> 01:04:15,200 him how to do. This he says the goal of the 1130 01:04:15,200 --> 01:04:18,120 command. The goal of the command to 1131 01:04:18,120 --> 01:04:21,880 straighten out those who would believe all these false myths 1132 01:04:21,880 --> 01:04:24,200 that he's mentioned in the prior verses and all these 1133 01:04:24,200 --> 01:04:29,200 controversial things, all these conspiracy theories, says the 1134 01:04:29,200 --> 01:04:31,640 golden straighten these out is love. 1135 01:04:34,000 --> 01:04:35,760 Right. It's not to chop off the head of 1136 01:04:35,760 --> 01:04:37,960 the heretic or to burn them at the stake. 1137 01:04:39,640 --> 01:04:44,440 It is to lovingly come alongside of them and to teach them sound 1138 01:04:44,440 --> 01:04:49,840 doctrine, Not to berate them or belittle them for the unsound 1139 01:04:49,840 --> 01:04:52,760 doctrine that they have believed, but to simply say. 1140 01:04:52,760 --> 01:04:55,040 This You know that's not quite true. 1141 01:04:55,640 --> 01:04:57,680 Isn't that a nice way to say you've believed a lie? 1142 01:04:57,760 --> 01:05:02,240 That's not quite true. Let me show you what the word of 1143 01:05:02,240 --> 01:05:07,800 God has to say about that. Have you ever contemplated this? 1144 01:05:08,680 --> 01:05:12,600 And then lovingly began to teach them the truth. 1145 01:05:13,800 --> 01:05:15,280 Why? Because he says that's the goal 1146 01:05:15,280 --> 01:05:19,080 of this. The goal is to find out maybe 1147 01:05:19,080 --> 01:05:21,520 these people who are teaching these false things are true 1148 01:05:21,520 --> 01:05:24,280 believers, but they're just in ignorance teaching false things. 1149 01:05:25,440 --> 01:05:27,560 Well, you definitely don't want to do what's contrary to the 1150 01:05:27,560 --> 01:05:29,200 ministry of Christ. And what was the ministry of 1151 01:05:29,200 --> 01:05:31,280 Christ? It said that Christ would not 1152 01:05:31,280 --> 01:05:36,440 snuff out the smoldering flats, nor would He crush the bruised 1153 01:05:36,440 --> 01:05:37,680 Reed. What does that mean? 1154 01:05:37,760 --> 01:05:39,560 That Christ would use enough wisdom to say this. 1155 01:05:39,680 --> 01:05:44,200 If there is any hope at all to blow on that smoldering flax, 1156 01:05:44,320 --> 01:05:48,000 and that Wick would then ignite to a flame, I'm going to gently 1157 01:05:48,120 --> 01:05:51,080 blow on that Wick so that the flame happens. 1158 01:05:51,240 --> 01:05:55,040 And if there's any hope for that bruised Reed to stand up again 1159 01:05:55,120 --> 01:05:58,320 and to flourish, I'm going to prop that bruised Reed up 1160 01:05:58,440 --> 01:06:01,840 lovingly and I'm going to pour the truth into that bruised Reed 1161 01:06:01,960 --> 01:06:04,320 so that one day it can stand on its own. 1162 01:06:05,840 --> 01:06:08,880 As to what is Paul doing here? He's telling Timothy, look, I'm 1163 01:06:08,880 --> 01:06:10,760 telling you to confront these people, but I want you to 1164 01:06:10,760 --> 01:06:18,720 confront them in love. Love and we know love is what an 1165 01:06:18,720 --> 01:06:23,320 external action. It's an external action that is 1166 01:06:23,320 --> 01:06:26,920 stimulated by the internal, isn't it? 1167 01:06:26,920 --> 01:06:30,880 Our internal stimulates the external. 1168 01:06:30,960 --> 01:06:33,960 That's why you can't never do anything for your wife and 1169 01:06:33,960 --> 01:06:35,480 expect her to know that you love her. 1170 01:06:35,480 --> 01:06:39,400 Love is something that we see, but Paul is going to say this. 1171 01:06:40,800 --> 01:06:46,320 That this love that is external, and that is the goal of this 1172 01:06:46,320 --> 01:06:50,280 command. It comes from the inside. 1173 01:06:52,840 --> 01:06:57,720 It is propelled by what Christ has done in your life. 1174 01:06:57,720 --> 01:06:59,520 Pay attention. He says the goal of this command 1175 01:06:59,520 --> 01:07:02,240 is love, which comes from a pure heart. 1176 01:07:02,240 --> 01:07:04,000 You don't have a pure heart unless Christ doesn't work in 1177 01:07:04,000 --> 01:07:06,440 you. He said love that comes from a 1178 01:07:06,440 --> 01:07:07,840 pure heart and a good conscience. 1179 01:07:07,880 --> 01:07:09,720 You don't have a good conscience unless there's an internal work 1180 01:07:09,720 --> 01:07:11,240 of God in you through regeneration. 1181 01:07:13,320 --> 01:07:16,120 He says in a sincere faith, you don't have sincere faith. 1182 01:07:16,120 --> 01:07:19,560 Unless God has wrought a work of faith in you, your faith is in 1183 01:07:19,560 --> 01:07:22,680 vain. So what is he telling Timothy? 1184 01:07:23,040 --> 01:07:25,880 He's saying, yes, Timothy, I want you to stand for sound 1185 01:07:25,880 --> 01:07:28,400 doctrine, and I want you to straighten out these false 1186 01:07:28,400 --> 01:07:33,240 teachers. But I want you to do it with 1187 01:07:33,240 --> 01:07:39,640 love that comes from the fact that you have been changed by a 1188 01:07:39,640 --> 01:07:42,600 work of Christ. And in doing it like that, 1189 01:07:42,600 --> 01:07:45,440 you're going to point others to Christ. 1190 01:07:46,520 --> 01:07:50,720 They're going to see that your love comes from the right place. 1191 01:07:51,800 --> 01:07:55,280 Your love comes from the fact that you have been changed 1192 01:07:55,840 --> 01:07:58,720 internally. He says that's the goal of this 1193 01:07:58,720 --> 01:08:03,160 command, that you be motivated by love for others. 1194 01:08:03,160 --> 01:08:05,920 Again, that's what Jesus said we would be known by. 1195 01:08:08,000 --> 01:08:11,000 So he's saying you stay in Ephesus, you confront these 1196 01:08:11,000 --> 01:08:13,920 false teachers who are teaching myths and genealogies and 1197 01:08:13,920 --> 01:08:17,840 controversies, but you confront them, yes, with the truth, but 1198 01:08:17,840 --> 01:08:21,000 always in love. You make sure that they know 1199 01:08:21,200 --> 01:08:22,560 that you're doing this out of love. 1200 01:08:22,560 --> 01:08:23,920 Why? Because of our Scripture reading 1201 01:08:23,920 --> 01:08:25,560 today. You remember what it said, 1202 01:08:25,680 --> 01:08:27,600 right? If I speak in tongues of men and 1203 01:08:27,600 --> 01:08:30,720 of angels but have not love, I'm only a resounding gong or a 1204 01:08:30,720 --> 01:08:32,880 clanging symbol. If I have the gift of prophecy 1205 01:08:32,880 --> 01:08:35,800 and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and I have a 1206 01:08:35,800 --> 01:08:37,920 faith that can move mountains, but have not love. 1207 01:08:38,240 --> 01:08:41,479 I am nothing if I give all I possess to the poor and 1208 01:08:41,479 --> 01:08:43,720 surrender my body to the flames, but have not love. 1209 01:08:43,720 --> 01:08:48,840 I gain nothing if I correct unsound doctrine with a mean 1210 01:08:48,840 --> 01:08:52,479 attitude and a mean spirit, not from a good conscience and a 1211 01:08:52,479 --> 01:08:55,319 pure heart. True faith. 1212 01:08:57,600 --> 01:09:01,000 I'm not doing anybody any good. You know what I come across as? 1213 01:09:01,439 --> 01:09:03,040 I know it all. Who has all the answers? 1214 01:09:03,040 --> 01:09:04,439 Who thinks everybody else is stupid? 1215 01:09:04,439 --> 01:09:06,640 And boy, haven't we seen enough of those guys in churches? 1216 01:09:09,120 --> 01:09:11,319 No, he's reminding Timothy there's a way to approach this. 1217 01:09:11,319 --> 01:09:13,120 The goal of this is love. Why? 1218 01:09:13,120 --> 01:09:14,760 Because love covers a multitude of sin. 1219 01:09:15,640 --> 01:09:19,439 Perhaps by lovingly persuading them and teaching them, you will 1220 01:09:19,439 --> 01:09:22,600 bring them back to the truth, correcting their error. 1221 01:09:25,040 --> 01:09:32,640 We can have all the sound doctrine in the world, but if 1222 01:09:32,640 --> 01:09:40,920 our goal in living it and in teaching it is not love, useless 1223 01:09:40,920 --> 01:09:44,800 knowledge. I've met many theologians who I 1224 01:09:44,800 --> 01:09:46,680 wonder, do they love anyone at all? 1225 01:09:48,720 --> 01:09:53,120 They're harsh, they're brash, mean, condescending. 1226 01:09:54,360 --> 01:09:56,320 That's not what Paul tells Timothy to do. 1227 01:09:57,360 --> 01:10:00,880 He says correct them lovingly and then he leaves him with 1228 01:10:00,880 --> 01:10:11,400 this, his last responsibility. Verses 7 through 11, he says 1229 01:10:11,400 --> 01:10:13,640 they want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what 1230 01:10:13,640 --> 01:10:16,080 they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 1231 01:10:16,080 --> 01:10:18,000 He said these people, these Judaizers coming in, they want 1232 01:10:18,000 --> 01:10:19,440 to be teachers of the law, but they're not. 1233 01:10:19,440 --> 01:10:21,120 They don't know what they're saying. 1234 01:10:21,880 --> 01:10:24,680 He says we know that the law is good, one uses it properly. 1235 01:10:25,960 --> 01:10:28,200 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous, but 1236 01:10:28,200 --> 01:10:30,720 for the law Breakers and rebels, the ungodly, the sinful, the 1237 01:10:30,720 --> 01:10:33,400 unholy, the irreligious, for those who kill their fathers and 1238 01:10:33,400 --> 01:10:36,440 mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for 1239 01:10:36,440 --> 01:10:39,760 slave traders and liars and perjures, and for whatever else 1240 01:10:39,760 --> 01:10:42,920 is contrary to sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious 1241 01:10:43,120 --> 01:10:45,800 gospel, the blessed God which he entrusted to me. 1242 01:10:46,120 --> 01:10:48,160 What is Paul telling Timothy to do? 1243 01:10:48,160 --> 01:10:51,640 He's telling him to secure the sacred gospel, the glorious 1244 01:10:51,640 --> 01:10:53,800 gospel. He uses that term, the gospel of 1245 01:10:53,800 --> 01:10:57,240 God's glory, his glorious gospel, and he's saying secure 1246 01:10:57,360 --> 01:10:59,720 this gospel. And how do we secure the gospel 1247 01:10:59,720 --> 01:11:03,320 from these Judaizers that he's talking about? 1248 01:11:03,520 --> 01:11:08,280 Well, first we have to, as he's instructing here, we have to 1249 01:11:08,280 --> 01:11:12,760 define and to distinguish the law from the gospel. 1250 01:11:13,560 --> 01:11:15,960 And so we take the gospel and we distinguish it from the law. 1251 01:11:15,960 --> 01:11:18,960 What I mean by that is many people think that the 10 1252 01:11:18,960 --> 01:11:22,280 commandments are a set of rules, that if we just live by this set 1253 01:11:22,280 --> 01:11:26,840 of rules and we get it right, then we're going to, in the end, 1254 01:11:26,880 --> 01:11:30,200 inherit eternal life. That is the farthest thing from 1255 01:11:30,200 --> 01:11:32,920 the truth. Please pay attention to me 1256 01:11:33,320 --> 01:11:35,840 because this is part of my job and I will do this every time I 1257 01:11:35,840 --> 01:11:39,160 stand in the pulpit because someone this week heard someone 1258 01:11:39,160 --> 01:11:41,920 who claimed to be a Christian tried to teach them that our 1259 01:11:41,920 --> 01:11:46,560 salvation is based on our own works keeping the law, whether 1260 01:11:46,560 --> 01:11:49,080 that be keeping the law of God or some man made law that you've 1261 01:11:49,080 --> 01:11:51,440 created in your mind. What I mean by this is some of 1262 01:11:51,440 --> 01:11:53,280 you think you're in good standing with God because you 1263 01:11:53,280 --> 01:11:54,720 came to church on Sunday morning. 1264 01:11:56,400 --> 01:11:59,000 You coming to church or you staying in bed does not affect 1265 01:11:59,000 --> 01:12:02,640 your standing with God one iota. If you need an English 1266 01:12:02,640 --> 01:12:05,200 translation for that, that means it doesn't affect it at all. 1267 01:12:07,560 --> 01:12:10,920 Paul is distinguishing and wants Timothy to distinguish for the 1268 01:12:10,920 --> 01:12:13,480 church the difference between the gospel and the law. 1269 01:12:14,560 --> 01:12:17,640 And to do this, he's defining and he's teaching the good 1270 01:12:17,640 --> 01:12:19,920 purpose of the law. What does Romans 7 tell us the 1271 01:12:19,920 --> 01:12:23,520 good purpose of the law is? You'll turn over there in your 1272 01:12:23,520 --> 01:12:24,600 Bible. We'll see this. 1273 01:12:25,120 --> 01:12:26,640 We'll see. In Romans 7 verse 7 it says, 1274 01:12:26,640 --> 01:12:28,760 what shall we say then? Is the law sin? 1275 01:12:29,120 --> 01:12:30,680 Talking about the commandments of God? 1276 01:12:30,680 --> 01:12:34,240 He says, certainly not. Who would dare say that the 10 1277 01:12:34,240 --> 01:12:37,360 commandments are sinful? Indeed, I would not have known 1278 01:12:37,360 --> 01:12:39,040 what sin was. Except through the law. 1279 01:12:39,280 --> 01:12:40,920 Oh, now we're seeing the purpose of the law. 1280 01:12:41,800 --> 01:12:43,920 Jesus for for I. Would not have known what 1281 01:12:43,920 --> 01:12:46,960 coveting really was if the law had not said do not covet. 1282 01:12:47,160 --> 01:12:50,920 He's saying the law let me know that I am a law breaker, that I 1283 01:12:50,920 --> 01:12:52,840 am a Sinner. That's why the law is for all 1284 01:12:52,840 --> 01:12:55,400 that laundry list of sinners that we just read a moment ago 1285 01:12:55,600 --> 01:12:58,720 in First Timothy, he said, but sin's seizing the opportunity 1286 01:12:58,720 --> 01:13:00,880 afforded by the commandment produced to me every kind of 1287 01:13:00,880 --> 01:13:04,160 covetous desire for apart from the law, sin is dead. 1288 01:13:04,640 --> 01:13:06,560 And once I was alive apart from the law. 1289 01:13:06,640 --> 01:13:09,440 But when the commandment came, sin spring to life and I died. 1290 01:13:09,440 --> 01:13:11,360 What is he saying? When I heard the truth of the 1291 01:13:11,360 --> 01:13:14,560 Word of God about His commands, I realized that I am dead in my 1292 01:13:14,560 --> 01:13:16,520 sin and I'm dead in my transgression. 1293 01:13:16,600 --> 01:13:19,400 I wasn't alive at all. Verse 10, he says, I found that 1294 01:13:19,400 --> 01:13:21,760 the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually 1295 01:13:21,760 --> 01:13:23,720 brought death. That is God's purpose in the 1296 01:13:23,720 --> 01:13:26,720 law, to show you just how dead you are in your sin and in your 1297 01:13:26,720 --> 01:13:29,520 transgression. He says for sin, seizing the 1298 01:13:29,520 --> 01:13:31,760 opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me and 1299 01:13:31,760 --> 01:13:33,080 through the commandment put me to death. 1300 01:13:33,520 --> 01:13:36,520 So then the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous 1301 01:13:36,520 --> 01:13:38,720 and good. Did that which is good then 1302 01:13:38,720 --> 01:13:40,720 become death to me? By no means. 1303 01:13:40,840 --> 01:13:44,680 But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced 1304 01:13:44,680 --> 01:13:47,320 death in me through what was good, so that through the 1305 01:13:47,320 --> 01:13:50,760 commandment sin might become utterly sinful, Paul said. 1306 01:13:50,760 --> 01:13:54,920 The law shows me how despicable I really AM, and that's the 1307 01:13:54,920 --> 01:13:59,080 purpose of the law. It shows me that I am a person 1308 01:13:59,080 --> 01:14:02,520 who covets and steals and lies and commits adultery and 1309 01:14:02,520 --> 01:14:04,920 murders. It shows me exactly who I am 1310 01:14:05,160 --> 01:14:09,040 and, and so that in seeing that, I can see my great need for the 1311 01:14:09,040 --> 01:14:12,120 gospel. However, what has happened in 1312 01:14:12,120 --> 01:14:15,000 this church at Ephesus, what they were doing is they were 1313 01:14:15,000 --> 01:14:18,080 taking the law, they were taking the gospel. 1314 01:14:18,080 --> 01:14:20,240 And we see this so many times in the New Testament and they're 1315 01:14:20,240 --> 01:14:25,280 trying to intermingle the two. Paul is teaching Timothy to 1316 01:14:25,280 --> 01:14:27,480 distinguish the gospel from the law. 1317 01:14:28,600 --> 01:14:30,680 By defining and teaching the good purpose of the law. 1318 01:14:30,680 --> 01:14:31,960 What's the purpose of the 10 commandments? 1319 01:14:31,960 --> 01:14:35,080 To show you God's standard. You look at God's standard, 1320 01:14:35,240 --> 01:14:37,600 right? I make it to like 1. 1321 01:14:39,680 --> 01:14:41,640 Don't have any gods other than me. 1322 01:14:44,080 --> 01:14:46,280 I've done it. I'm guilty. 1323 01:14:47,280 --> 01:14:49,400 Well, if I'm guilty of that one, I'm guilty of the other 9. 1324 01:14:49,400 --> 01:14:52,040 So we need not go down the list to know that I'm a transgressor. 1325 01:14:53,480 --> 01:14:54,840 He says that's the purpose of the law. 1326 01:14:55,360 --> 01:14:57,600 The purpose of the law is not to give you a set of rules to which 1327 01:14:57,600 --> 01:14:59,760 you can try to attain salvation by. 1328 01:14:59,760 --> 01:15:02,680 You know, there are many people who are doing that, many people 1329 01:15:02,680 --> 01:15:04,600 in this room who do that. If I, if I were to ask you, are 1330 01:15:04,600 --> 01:15:06,520 you going to make it to heaven when you die, you would say, 1331 01:15:06,640 --> 01:15:09,000 man, I hope so. I'm doing my best. 1332 01:15:09,040 --> 01:15:10,640 Well, your best won't cut it, Jack. 1333 01:15:12,120 --> 01:15:13,360 Your best is not going to cut it. 1334 01:15:13,480 --> 01:15:16,400 You won't make it to heaven doing your best because at your 1335 01:15:16,400 --> 01:15:19,600 best, God's word says it's still filthy rags. 1336 01:15:20,600 --> 01:15:22,360 It's not acceptable to a holy God. 1337 01:15:23,320 --> 01:15:25,200 That's where we insert the gospel. 1338 01:15:25,800 --> 01:15:27,920 But we have to distinguish the gospel from the law. 1339 01:15:28,040 --> 01:15:30,200 We have to define the good teaching and the good purpose of 1340 01:15:30,200 --> 01:15:31,280 the law. The good teaching, the good 1341 01:15:31,280 --> 01:15:32,920 purpose of the law, is that we are all. 1342 01:15:33,000 --> 01:15:35,560 Sinners and we are in need of a righteousness that is greater 1343 01:15:35,560 --> 01:15:37,560 than any righteousness that we can produce on our own. 1344 01:15:39,200 --> 01:15:41,760 Paul goes on and he teaches us in Romans chapter 3 that there 1345 01:15:41,760 --> 01:15:47,280 is a righteousness that comes from God, righteousness that is 1346 01:15:47,280 --> 01:15:50,320 apart from the law. It was made known. 1347 01:15:52,560 --> 01:15:54,040 The law and the prophets testify. 1348 01:15:54,760 --> 01:15:57,960 This righteousness comes from God through faith in Jesus 1349 01:15:57,960 --> 01:16:00,160 Christ to all who believe. You know what Paul's teaching 1350 01:16:00,160 --> 01:16:02,080 there? Grace alone through faith alone 1351 01:16:02,080 --> 01:16:05,360 in Christ alone. That your works won't save you. 1352 01:16:05,680 --> 01:16:07,760 That observing the law won't save you. 1353 01:16:08,560 --> 01:16:11,320 That observing a law that you create in your mind won't save 1354 01:16:11,320 --> 01:16:13,640 you. The only one who can save you is 1355 01:16:13,640 --> 01:16:16,400 the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the true gospel. 1356 01:16:16,400 --> 01:16:18,720 Grace alone through faith, alone in Christ alone. 1357 01:16:18,840 --> 01:16:21,280 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. 1358 01:16:21,640 --> 01:16:25,840 This is not of yourself. It is a gift of God and not of 1359 01:16:25,840 --> 01:16:27,720 work. So that no man can what? 1360 01:16:27,720 --> 01:16:30,800 Boast. This is all God's grace. 1361 01:16:30,880 --> 01:16:35,680 He's reminding Timothy to stand for the gospel, to secure the 1362 01:16:35,680 --> 01:16:42,040 glorious gospel. You do that by dismantling the 1363 01:16:42,040 --> 01:16:45,720 idea and the possibility of works based salvation 1364 01:16:45,800 --> 01:16:50,520 constantly. Why do men and their depravity 1365 01:16:51,720 --> 01:16:54,720 continue to gravitate toward work salvation? 1366 01:16:55,200 --> 01:16:57,160 Well, it takes on various shapes and forms. 1367 01:16:57,160 --> 01:16:59,560 You know why? Because at the end of the day, 1368 01:16:59,560 --> 01:17:05,280 you want to take credit for it. And if it's grace, no one can 1369 01:17:05,280 --> 01:17:08,040 boast. But the sad news is what Paul 1370 01:17:08,040 --> 01:17:09,920 says in Galatians chapter 2 verse 16. 1371 01:17:09,920 --> 01:17:13,840 Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by 1372 01:17:13,840 --> 01:17:17,800 faith in Jesus Christ, because by observing the law, no one 1373 01:17:17,800 --> 01:17:19,000 will. Be justified. 1374 01:17:19,000 --> 01:17:22,400 You were justified by grace through faith in Christ and that 1375 01:17:22,480 --> 01:17:25,960 alone you say, yeah, pastor, we know that you preach it every 1376 01:17:25,960 --> 01:17:28,800 week, and I'm going to continue to preach it week after week 1377 01:17:28,920 --> 01:17:32,320 after week because some of you have forgotten since last week. 1378 01:17:34,520 --> 01:17:39,960 So I remind you again, why? Because the pastor has the duty 1379 01:17:40,600 --> 01:17:45,520 to secure the sacred gospel, to never let you think that there 1380 01:17:45,520 --> 01:17:49,800 is one ounce of good in you that will somehow attribute to your 1381 01:17:49,800 --> 01:17:53,320 salvation, but to know that it is only the grace of God through 1382 01:17:53,320 --> 01:17:56,480 the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ that saves the Sinner, 1383 01:17:56,680 --> 01:18:00,160 and to put your complete trust and faith in that and that 1384 01:18:00,240 --> 01:18:04,240 alone. Paul's telling Timothy, defend 1385 01:18:04,240 --> 01:18:09,200 the gospel, secure it, defend it against all who falsely teach 1386 01:18:09,200 --> 01:18:13,400 it, all who would corrupt this glorious truth that we have been 1387 01:18:13,760 --> 01:18:15,680 entrusted with. You know why that's not 1388 01:18:15,680 --> 01:18:17,800 important to so many pastors nowadays. 1389 01:18:19,200 --> 01:18:23,920 They don't see the gloriousness of the gospel and what we have 1390 01:18:23,920 --> 01:18:28,480 truly been entrusted with. We have been entrusted with 1391 01:18:28,480 --> 01:18:34,000 delivering the only message that brings forgiveness and 1392 01:18:34,000 --> 01:18:37,480 righteousness to sinners from the hand of God through the 1393 01:18:37,480 --> 01:18:41,560 sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We have the only message of true 1394 01:18:41,560 --> 01:18:43,920 hope. So Paul charges Timothy with 1395 01:18:43,920 --> 01:18:45,880 these great responsibilities, doesn't he? 1396 01:18:49,560 --> 01:18:54,240 Do not let these people be burdened with the law again, but 1397 01:18:54,240 --> 01:18:57,680 to keep reminding them of the glorious gospel. 1398 01:18:57,840 --> 01:19:01,480 Why? Because Romans 8 says this. 1399 01:19:01,480 --> 01:19:04,280 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are 1400 01:19:04,280 --> 01:19:06,440 in Christ Jesus. Well, there's always 1401 01:19:06,440 --> 01:19:10,360 condemnation for those who try to attain salvation by the law, 1402 01:19:10,800 --> 01:19:12,360 he says. Because through Christ Jesus, 1403 01:19:12,360 --> 01:19:15,200 the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin 1404 01:19:15,200 --> 01:19:17,400 and death. What the law was powerless to 1405 01:19:17,400 --> 01:19:20,040 do, and that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by 1406 01:19:20,040 --> 01:19:22,800 sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a 1407 01:19:22,800 --> 01:19:24,920 sin offering. And so he condemns sin and 1408 01:19:24,920 --> 01:19:27,960 sinful man in order that the righteous requirements of the 1409 01:19:27,960 --> 01:19:31,360 law might be fully met in US who do not live according to the 1410 01:19:31,360 --> 01:19:33,560 sinful nature, but according to the Spirit. 1411 01:19:33,760 --> 01:19:37,360 That is the true gospel, he says. 1412 01:19:37,360 --> 01:19:39,360 Remind them of that glorious gospel. 1413 01:19:41,360 --> 01:19:46,600 Why is it important? Because Paul knew that if 1414 01:19:46,600 --> 01:19:52,720 Timothy failed to do this as the pastor of that church, that 1415 01:19:52,720 --> 01:19:59,800 church would fail. And we see the responsibilities 1416 01:20:01,200 --> 01:20:03,560 and we embrace the glorious gospel and sound teaching. 1417 01:20:03,920 --> 01:20:05,760 We wrap up with this. I told you we would answer these 1418 01:20:05,760 --> 01:20:09,040 questions. I told you we were going to go 1419 01:20:09,040 --> 01:20:10,560 along. There's been no dishonesty here 1420 01:20:10,560 --> 01:20:14,080 today. I hope that it's worth it to 1421 01:20:14,080 --> 01:20:17,560 you. I told the men prior to the 1422 01:20:17,560 --> 01:20:19,560 service, I asked them the same question every week. 1423 01:20:19,560 --> 01:20:21,920 I say, you know what today is? They answer back and 1 accord 1424 01:20:21,920 --> 01:20:23,880 the Lord's Day. I said, aren't you thankful that 1425 01:20:24,640 --> 01:20:26,240 the answer is not the Lord's hour? 1426 01:20:26,240 --> 01:20:33,920 I would be in big trouble and we take this first day of the week. 1427 01:20:35,840 --> 01:20:39,320 Maybe we give him the whole day, this first fruits for all the 1428 01:20:39,320 --> 01:20:42,280 grace that he has given us. It's not going to hurt you. 1429 01:20:42,280 --> 01:20:44,800 Talk about him all day long. Share the gospel with others who 1430 01:20:44,800 --> 01:20:46,920 are in need. What's the reason for this 1431 01:20:46,920 --> 01:20:50,280 letter to equip and to encourage to produce biblical ministers 1432 01:20:50,280 --> 01:20:53,760 and biblical ministries. What's the relationship between 1433 01:20:53,760 --> 01:20:58,200 Paul and Timothy? The importance of this so that 1434 01:20:58,200 --> 01:21:01,080 we would see the importance of using deep Christ centered 1435 01:21:01,080 --> 01:21:07,280 relationships. We see those relationships as 1436 01:21:07,280 --> 01:21:09,920 valuable. We would seek those 1437 01:21:09,920 --> 01:21:12,000 relationships among other believers, and we would 1438 01:21:12,000 --> 01:21:14,960 appreciate what God does through those relationships and 1439 01:21:14,960 --> 01:21:17,560 sharpening us as iron sharpens iron. 1440 01:21:19,680 --> 01:21:22,280 What were his responsibilities? Serve the church. 1441 01:21:23,920 --> 01:21:26,760 Straighten out false doctrine, Secure the gospel. 1442 01:21:26,760 --> 01:21:28,960 You know why I like that? It makes my job simple, doesn't 1443 01:21:28,960 --> 01:21:31,560 it? Not easy simple. 1444 01:21:33,320 --> 01:21:36,080 I know all of you have your idea about what my job is. 1445 01:21:37,240 --> 01:21:40,520 Doesn't really matter what you think matters what the word of 1446 01:21:40,520 --> 01:21:44,560 God says. And Paul teaching Timothy, I see 1447 01:21:44,760 --> 01:21:46,760 even more clearly what my job is. 1448 01:21:50,120 --> 01:21:52,760 May you see yours. May you understand the 1449 01:21:52,760 --> 01:21:54,080 responsibility that you've been given. 1450 01:21:55,520 --> 01:22:00,440 May you emulate those who have been placed in your life to 1451 01:22:01,120 --> 01:22:05,080 reflect Christ to you, as Timothy does in his relationship 1452 01:22:05,080 --> 01:22:07,320 to Paul. He's the unbeliever. 1453 01:22:07,320 --> 01:22:11,440 As I close, I say this to you. None of this applies to you. 1454 01:22:13,160 --> 01:22:16,400 In fact, it doesn't make any sense to you. 1455 01:22:16,400 --> 01:22:18,440 The natural man doesn't understand the things of the 1456 01:22:18,440 --> 01:22:21,000 Spirit. Everything that we have read 1457 01:22:21,000 --> 01:22:23,040 from Scripture today has been breathed by God. 1458 01:22:23,320 --> 01:22:24,800 You're not Privy to this information. 1459 01:22:25,080 --> 01:22:26,560 I don't say that to be mean to you. 1460 01:22:27,040 --> 01:22:30,200 I say that just to simply tell you the cold, hard facts. 1461 01:22:30,800 --> 01:22:32,200 You're not a part of Christchurch. 1462 01:22:33,080 --> 01:22:36,800 These things don't apply to you. You have no eternal hope that we 1463 01:22:36,800 --> 01:22:38,960 talked about in Christ. You have no grace, you have no 1464 01:22:38,960 --> 01:22:40,040 mercy. You have no peace. 1465 01:22:40,040 --> 01:22:46,800 You have no hope. Now remind you of that, because 1466 01:22:46,800 --> 01:22:48,800 you're dead and your sin, you're dead and your transgressions. 1467 01:22:48,800 --> 01:22:52,320 You're dead and your unbelief. You were outside of 1468 01:22:52,320 --> 01:22:53,560 Christchurch. I know you came through the 1469 01:22:53,560 --> 01:22:57,560 doors and you're in the walls, but you're outside of 1470 01:22:57,560 --> 01:23:01,480 Christchurch, the unseen church, and you're outside because of 1471 01:23:01,480 --> 01:23:03,280 your rebellion and your sin and your unbelief. 1472 01:23:03,280 --> 01:23:06,040 And I would encourage you today to repent of your sin, repent of 1473 01:23:06,040 --> 01:23:11,400 your unbelief. Turn to Jesus Christ, a loving 1474 01:23:11,400 --> 01:23:14,240 Savior who rescues all who come to Him. 1475 01:23:15,280 --> 01:23:21,040 Come to Him today, broken and humble, crying out to Him as 1476 01:23:21,040 --> 01:23:25,240 your only hope to rescue you from your sin, to wash you, to 1477 01:23:25,240 --> 01:23:27,600 remove your despair, and to grant to you forgiveness and 1478 01:23:27,600 --> 01:23:31,840 eternal life, to remove the wrath of God that is already 1479 01:23:31,840 --> 01:23:35,560 upon you, that you deserve to free you from the wrath that is 1480 01:23:35,560 --> 01:23:37,160 to come. Let's pray together. 1481 01:23:37,160 --> 01:23:39,120 Father, in the name of Jesus, we come to you now, thanking you 1482 01:23:39,120 --> 01:23:42,520 for your word, thanking you that it is true. 1483 01:23:42,520 --> 01:23:47,240 Lord, may we be spurred, may we be encouraged, may we even be 1484 01:23:47,240 --> 01:23:49,720 ignited by these truths that we've seen today. 1485 01:23:51,680 --> 01:23:56,000 God, I pray that I would be exactly what Your Word declares 1486 01:23:56,680 --> 01:24:00,720 me to be, that I would do this by your strength. 1487 01:24:02,400 --> 01:24:04,200 I would do this propelled by your love. 1488 01:24:07,320 --> 01:24:11,400 It's pure motives, pure heart, clear conscience. 1489 01:24:12,880 --> 01:24:15,560 This is dear faith. God, I pray for those who are 1490 01:24:15,560 --> 01:24:18,200 lost today that you would spare them by your mercy, as only you 1491 01:24:18,200 --> 01:24:22,440 can draw them unto yourself for salvation, bringing them to 1492 01:24:22,440 --> 01:24:24,360 repentance and faith today. And we pray and we ask these 1493 01:24:24,360 --> 01:24:26,200 things in Christ. Amen. 1494 01:24:27,360 --> 01:24:30,240 You've been listening to Key Life Fellowships Pulpit Ministry 1495 01:24:30,240 --> 01:24:33,000 podcast. Join us each week for more 1496 01:24:33,000 --> 01:24:34,640 teaching from God's Word.