September 1, 2019
Evening Service

This morning we finished chapter 1 as Paul shared his gratitude for the journey the Lord had led him through his lifetime.  He considered himself the “chief of sinners” as he looked back at his former life of persecuting the church.  He, like us, did not deserve the wonderful gift of grace and mercy that Christ Jesus freely offered to him and he rejoiced in receiving it.  Christ, however, used his dark past to be an example for all of us of just what a change can occur when we meet Jesus.  We finished this morning with Paul’s charge to “wage the good warfare” encouraging Timothy and us to get into the battle and fight.  We were not created to sit on the sidelines, we are His “masterpiece created in Christ Jesus for good works.”  Paul begins his teaching to Timothy about the things that pertain to church, beginning with a quick note on church discipline at the end of chapter 1.

1Ti 1:19-20 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, (20) of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

        Commentators are not sure about Alexander, but do know that Hymenaeus’ was falsely teaching that the resurrection had already occurred.  This information comes from 2^nd Timothy 2:17-18.

 

2Ti 2:17-18 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, (18) who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

            Paul mentions that he had “delivered him to Satan,” which meant he had removed him from fellowship of the church; thus preventing him from partaking of the communion table.  This was done with the hope and purpose that he would acknowledge his error of false teaching and repent and then reinstated to the fellowship.  This was a sin that was a deliberate choice to openly disobey the scriptures and had to be confronted.  This discipline would be intended to strengthen, purify, train, correct and perfect those involved.  It should not be done with attitude of condemnation, suspicion, unforgiveness, or abandonment.  The problem we face in today’s church is that there is a fellowship on every corner of the town and if we would discipline someone removing them from partaking, another church may welcome them to come worship with them.  Church discipline is done out of love not judgment in order to bring those in error back into a right and pleasing relationship with God.  As we begin chapter 2 Paul begins his teaching on prayer.

 

1Ti 2:1-3 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  (3)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

            Prayer moves the arm of the One who holds the world.  Paul commands for us to offer supplications (asking or pleading for something earnestly and humbly), prayers and intercessions (praying in behalf of another person) for all men.  We are to be “prayer warriors” lifting up our brothers and sisters to the Lord earnestly and humbly pleading to God to intervene for needs that arise.  This is something each of us do individually and also together as a body of believers.  It is an important part of each time we meet together to lift the needs of our fellowship in obedience trusting that God will hear and move.  In my limited understanding, I cannot explain to you the details of exactly how that works, but only that it does.  Prayer changes things, and we are commanded to pray for all men.

            Paul also instructs us to pray for “kings and all who are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”  This may sound difficult for us now with some of the people who govern us, but at Paul’s writing of this Nero was the emperor of Rome holding authority over the Christians.  Nero was a very cruel leader who persecuted Christians killing many as a public spectacle or even just in sport.  That being said, we should never complain that it is difficult to pray for a certain leader because we do not like their policies or attitudes; that excuse is gone.  We are commanded to pray for those who have authority over us to give us opportunity to live a peaceable life of serving our Lord.  Paul says this is “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”  That certainly makes me want to do it faithfully!  Let’s all recommit to make praying for our leaders as a priority in our prayer lives; it please God to do so as well as calling Him to action.  Paul next quickly mentions a wonderful truth about God our Savior that is very comforting.

 

1Ti 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

            It is God’s desire that all men come to the knowledge of the truth and accept the free gift of salvation.  This does not mean all men will be saved, as it is a free will choice that each of us make, but the offer is to “whoever believes.”  That is extremely comforting to me and is revealed in the scripture we quoted this morning as well form John 3:17.

 

Joh 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

        Peter also reinforces this fact in his 2^nd letter.

 

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

            We have been exposed to the true heart of the God we serve.  He does not want anyone to perish, but wants us all to come to repentance before Him.  He loves us so much that He sent His Son to pay the price for our sins and pave the way for us to freely attain salvation.  Paul now goes deeper into that fact.

 

1Ti 2:5-7 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, (7)  for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

This is one of the fundamental non-negotiable facts that our faith stands upon; there is one way to God and it goes through Jesus Christ.  He is the Bridge that connects us to the Father and is our supplier of the Holy Spirit which grants us eternal life.  Jesus said in what Jeremy read from John 14 this morning:

 

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

        Jesus is not only our Savior, but also our Mediator between us and God.  He paid the full price for our sins by giving His life for us.  He is our only path to salvation and eternal life.  The Hebrew writer tells us this:

 

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

        We earlier were commanded to make intercession for our brothers, but how comforting is it to know that Jesus, sitting at the right hand of God, is making intercession (asking on our behalf) for us!  Jesus is pursuing a relationship with us and desires to know us and be known by us.  He wants everyone to be saved and to enjoy and flourish in this fellowship with the Father through Him.  That is comforting for me to know and accept about the God I serve.  The deeper I dig, the sweeter He gets.

 

Paul touched on church discipline tonight as well as commanding us to pray for all men especially those who have authority over us.  Our hearts were then opened to the true will of God that He wants all men to be saved and the way that will happen is through Jesus Christ His Son.

 

Heavenly Father use these words tonight to draw us to a closer walk with You.