Something Greater

Unholy Prayer What has gone before... Paul asserts his appointment by God, emphasizing that God did the placing, realizing that his life would be lain down for sacrificial service . He affirmed his honesty and sincerity, knowing that his reputation for violence and rigid religion still dogged his steps. Although still very much Jewish in pracice, Paul felt himself more and more drawn to ministry to the Gentiles, knowing that God had chosen for His own, people from every race, every ethnicity, every language. Moving on... Paul now returns to the theme with which he began this chapter: "I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling." 1 Timothy 2:8 (ESV) What led Paul to emphasize prayer without anger or quarreling? Paul's initial motivation for prayer was that "we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Timothy 2:2) Immediately following this exhortation Pa...

Christ Is All, And In All What has gone before... Jesus Christ is appointed by God to be the mediator between God and Humanity , God's representative, sent by God to bring reconciliation with sinful, ruined creatures. At just the right time He gave Himself as a ransom for all, taking upon Himself God's wrath that we rightfully deserved for our sin. Moving on... Paul asserts his appointment by God: "For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." 1 Timothy 2:7 (ESV) "This" refers to " the testimony given at the proper time ". Some might see Paul as being defensive, desiring to emphasize his right to advise Timothy. His self-endorsement is an echo of earlier, similar statements: "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus...I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judg...

The Price Of Sin What has gone before... Sin makes shipwreck of our lives on earth, destroying joy and peace, ruining relationships and stealing wealth and property. But sin also reaches beyond our natural life, condemning us to a spiritual death , eternity apart from God and His goodness. Sin - disobedience and dishonor, adoration for creatures and things rather than the Creator - ruins our heart for God . We become His enemy. Our only hope is being saved: delivered and protected by God from the effects of our sin. God desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, but the word "all" has a condition: all who are called by God , all who have their spiritual eyes opened by God, all who desire to be saved. "All" means all people who seek Jesus Christ as their Deliverer. Moving on... "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is...

Being Saved What has gone on before... Paul has urged Timothy to remain at Ephesus as pastor, warning him to expect opposition from some in the church who use the Law of God unlawfully, swerving away from love, searing their consciences and controlling others. The first priority, according to Paul, was to pray: in supplication, with discipline, as intercession, and with thanksgiving . "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4 (ESV) "This" refers to a peaceful, quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. "This" is salvation. Being saved means knowing the truth about ourselves and God . This knowledge brings peace, freedom from conflict and fear. It allows quiet meditation and contemplation without fear of rejection or punishment. Salvation creates the desire to adore goodness. Salvation restores human dignity, worthy of re...

Politics and Prayer Paul has warned Timothy to expect opposition from two specific leaders in the church of Ephesus: Hymenaeus and Alexander. Far beyond giving Timothy a simple heads-up, Paul handed the two men "over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme." (1 Timothy 1:7) Paul's spiritual battle with these two men was not vindictive, at least not on Paul's part. Paul remembered that he was, not long ago, a worse sinner than even Hymenaeus and Alexander. He called himself a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent of Christ . For his transformation from sinner to saint, Paul credited God alone. "I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:16-17 (ESV) Closely following Paul's giving over, ...

Stranded and Forsaken Timothy was made a leader of a war, a good war, a war based on the love of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ . His ministry was a part of God's plan, a component of the overall strategy that envisions thousands of churches, millions of Christians filled with the knowledge of God's love, controlled by God's Spirit, displaying the power and mercy of God in Jesus Christ. Spiritual warfare fights for something positive. The battle is not ultimately to defeat evil, but to uphold good, thereby defeating evil. Paul's charge to Timothy began with a call to love , expressed with a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. Now, at the end of this first chapter, Paul again recalls this over-reaching goal, exhorting Timothy, to hold to faith and a good conscience. Paul had two men specifically in mind when he entrusted this charge to Timothy: "By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and A...

Good Warfare Paul called himself the foremost of sinners , the most important...not the most important sinner, but the one with the most important sin. His blasphemy, persecution and insolence, above all other sins, deserved punishment from God. But God, through Jesus Christ, displayed perfect patience and mercy. In that moment, Paul saw Jesus as King of his life, his sovereign Ruler , deserving honor and glory forever. Paul now returns to the primary reason for writing this letter: "This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience." 1 Timothy 1:18-19 (ESV) "This charge" refers to three specific errors that were undermining the faith and love of Christians in the Ephesian church: Different doctrine (using heresy to control others) Myths (using fantasy to control others) Endless genealogies (using lineage to ...