1 Timothy 1

Chapter 1 KEEPING THE SOUND

A. The sound doctrine. 1:1-11

B. The sound minister. 1:12-20

1 Timothy 1:1-11

I. Paul’ s past charge to Timothy. 1:1-11

II. Christ’ s past charge to Paul. 1:12-17

A. Sound docrine. 1:1-11 V1 a) Call of Paul - A sound ministry listen to God and obey. I. Send out one.

A. Apostle (Gr. apostolos) means a messenger and one sent forth. B. The apostolic ministry is present in the body of Christ today.

The apostles will first be removed from the Church when the body of Christ is fully united. Eph.4:13 C. 3 levels of the apostolic:

1. The Father ordained Christ as the chief Apostle. Heb.3:1

2. Christ ordained 12 apostles. Matt.10:1-5

3. The Holy Spirit ordains all other apostles. Acts 13:1-3; 14:14; 1.Cor.15:7; 2.Cor.8:23; Gal.1:19; Eph.4:11-13; 1.Thess.1:1; 2:6; 1.Tim.1:1 D. The apostolic ministry has to be tested. Rev.2:2 E. There are certain qualifications of an apostolic ministry in Scripture:

4. The apostle’ s ministry is confirmed by the Holy Spirit and by established elders. Acts 9:15; Acts 13:2-4; 22:21

5. The apostolic ministry are sent ones. Rom.10:15 3. The apostolic ministry are pioneers and start new work. 2.Cor.10:16 4. The apostolic ministry is a planting ministry. 1.Cor.3:6 5. The apostolic ministry lays foundations. 1.Cor.3:10

6. The apostolic ministry establishes Fully Functioning churches containing Five-Fold ministers. Acts 14:23; 1.Cor.9:2

7. The apostolic ministry has an ambassador’ s ministry. 2.Cor.5:20 8. The apostolic ministry are equipped to train the saints. Eph.4:12 9. The apostolic ministry establishes biblically based doctrines. Acts 2:42; 15:19-30

8. The apostolic ministry has a ministry of revelation. Eph.3:5 11. The apostolic ministry builds his own foundations. Rom.15:20 12. The apostolic ministry are wise master-builders. 1.Cor.3:10 13. The apostolic ministry is a sign and wonders ministry. Acts 2:43; 5:12; 2.Cor.12:12 a. Spiritual impartations. Rom.1:11; 1.Tim.4:14; 5:22; 2.Tim.1:6 b. Spiritual revelations. Acts 10:9-22; 18:9-10; 1.Cor.11:23; 2.Cor.12:1-7; c. Healings and miracles. Acts 3:1-10; 5:12-16; 9:32-35; 14:3, 8-10; d. Deliverance from demons. Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:16-18; 19:12 e. Divine judgment. Acts 5:1-11; 13:8-11 f. Raising the dead. Acts 9:36-43; 20:7-12 F The different functions of the apostolic ministry:

9. Church planting ministry. Acts 14:23; 1.Cor.9:2

10. Leadership developing ministry. Acts 14:23; Eph.4:11-12; 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus.

11. Overseeing ministry. Acts 15:36; 2.Cor.11:28 a. Guarding ministry.

b. Structuring ministry.

4. Coordination ministry. Acts 16:1-4; Phil.2:19-20; Col.4:7-12 a. Administrative ministry.

b. Delegating ministry.

5. Networking ministry. Acts 13:4-15:34 Paul was connected to the Jerusalem church and all those he had established. a. Relationship between ministries and churches.

b. Team ministry. 6. Problem solving ministry. Acts 4:34-37; 5:1-11; 11:29-20; 15:1-6; 1.Cor. Ch.5; 11:34; 2.Cor.2:5-11 a. Ministry of order.

b. Ministry of discipline. G. The Authority of the Apostolic ministry:

1. Ranks of Apostleship. 1.Cor.15:9; 2.Cor.11:5; 12:11
2. Reach of Authority. Rom.11:13; 2.Cor.10:13-16; Gal.2:8 II. Saviour that sent Paul. A. This is the only place in his epistles Paul says he was commanded by God to be an apostle. B. Paul did not sent himself but was a man that waited for God. V.2 b) Care of God and Paul - Sound ministry raise disciples. I. Believing son. Acts 14:6; 16:1 A. Paul was a man that not only produced believers but sons - Disciples.

B. The difference between a believer and a disciple:

1. A believer is basically only ready to gain.

2. A disciple is basically ready to loose. C. This is the first of 19 references to faith in this epistle. II. Blessing of God. A. Not believers but disciples.

B. How the carnal mind measure success in the ministry:

The 3 b’ s:

1. Box - How Much Money they have annually.

2. Bricks - How Big Building they have.

3. Body’ s - How Many Members they have. III. Grace - The epistle begins and ends with grace. 6:21 It’ s all by grace. 1.Cor.15:10 IV. There are 4 levels of God’ s grace: A. Common grace - Provision and talents to all man.

B. Saving grace - New birth.

C. Special grace -Ministries and gifts. 1.Peter 4:10 D. Great grace - Acts 4:32-33 V. How do we walk in the Great Grace of God? A. God-ward - Faith and dependency. B. Man-ward - Brokenness. Jam.4:5-6 1. The closer we come to God the more broken we will be because of the awareness of our darkness in His light. 2. Are we better? Rom.3:9-12 a. Selfish seeking is not seeking at all.

b. Why are we in the ministry? To show what we can, to make a name, to be famous, to be the greatest, or because of a true search for God.

VI. What does Scripture says about our sin?

It’ s the stench of excrement. Zech.3:1-4 VII. What does the Scripture says about all our righteousness? The best we have ever done! It’ s the stench of a used menstrual cloth. Isaiah 64:6 VIII. That’ s why we need grace.

IX. The difference between grace and mercy: A. Grace is getting what you do not deserve.

B. Mercy is not getting what you do deserve. X. When the Levites removed the mercy seat and looked into the Ark of the Covenant, judgment began. 1.Sam.6:15, 19 V.3 c) Charge to Teach - A sound ministry is based upon Scripture. I. Request to Timothy. To stay in Ephesus to teach and correct. II. Reason of Timothy’ s stay in Ephesus. III. Why teachers are needed:

A. Teaching is a feeding ministry.

B. Preaching is a stirring ministry. C. Jesus said to Peter “ feed my lambs and sheep” John 21:15, 17 D. Every wind of doctrine. Eph.4:11-14 E. Leaders have to know Scripture well. 2.Tim.2:15 IV. “ Some” are probably elders of house churches that taught:

A. Other doctrine than revealed in Scripture. 1:3, 10-11

B. Immature teachers of the law. 1:7

C. Selfish prosperity teachers. 6:3-10

1. Wrong use of the law. v.4-7

2. Right use of the law. v.8-11

A teacher of the law should: A. Keep the teaching within the law. v.4 - Method.

B. Keep love the primary motive. v.5 - Motive.

C. Keep the law as God intended. v.8-10 - Meaning.

V.4 d) Caution against disputes - A sound ministry edifies. I. Heed not arguments - A. Rebuking the 2 great disputes that destroys faith:

1. Fables - Man’ s doctrine and commandments, culture that disagrees with Scripture, Apocryphal books, books outside of Scripture.

How to defend the 66 books of Scripture to Christians.

a. The 66 ornaments on the golden lampstand in the tabernacle of Moses. Ex.25:31-40 b. The 6 by 6 bread that stood side by side on the showbread table in the tabernacle of Moses. Lev.24:5-6; Ex.25:23-30 c. The 66 chapters of Isaiah that is divided into 39 chapters that speaks of judgments and 27 chapters that speaks of glory. 2. Genealogies - Social status, who is worthy and who is not, Jesus came from a despised region. II. Holy edification - All pure doctrines lead to edification.

V.5 e) Commandment to love - Heart issue. A sound ministry is moved by love. I. Purpose of the commandment.

The commandments of God orbit around one word and act: Love.

II. Pure heart.

A. Pure heart. 1. Why are we in the ministry? Success, a name, be known, recognized, achievement, competition.

2. A pure heart in the ministry is: Desire for God, burden for the lost and people, longing to serve. B. Good conscience. 1. What does our conscience testify within us concerning these.
3. Great Goods:

a. Good conscience. 1:5, 19

b. Good works. 2:10; 3:1; 5:10, 25; 6:18

c. Good testimony. 3:7

d. Good standing. 3:13

e. Good creature. 4:4

f. Good minister. 4:6

g. Good doctrine. 4:6 h. Good to repay. 5:4 i. Good fight. 6:12

j. Good confession. 6:12-13

k. Good foundation. 6:19

I II. Sincere faith. A. Is our faith real or is it for selfish gain? B. 16 Facts of Faith.

1. Faith edifies. 1:4

2. Faith is sincere. 1:5

3. Faith is abundantly in Christ. 1:14

4. Faith can be shipwrecked. 1:19

5. Faith has its teachers. 2:7

6. Faith should be continual. 2:15

7. Faith is a mystery. 3:9

8. Faith produces boldness. 3:13

9. Faith can be departed. 4:1

10. Faith nourishes. 4:6

11. Faith has its examples. 4:12

12. Faith can be denied. 5:8

13. Faith can be cast off. 5:12

14. Faith can be strayed from. 6:10

15. Faith can be pursued. 6:11

16. Faith is to be fighting. 6:12 V.6 f) Corrupt speech - Tongue issue.

I. Erroneous way. If our Christian life and ministry is not fully based upon love to God, to the lost and to the saints, then we have strayed. II. Empty talk. If our ministry becomes selfish, then our talks and sermons will as well. We ought not to fleece the sheep but feed the sheep.

V.7 g) Confusion of mind - Mind issue. A sound ministry understands the Old Testament. I. Desire to teach. A. Many Christians like to be teachers and interpreters of Scripture but they are not willing to pay the many thousands of hours in studying.

B. Billy Graham was once interviewed and he was asked the question:

If you could change something in your life what would it be? Billy responded - Preach less and study more. II. Dull understanding. A. As leaders we have to affirm Scripture with a deep understanding.

B. The difference between knowledge, understanding and wisdom:

1. Knowledge is Possession of Truth.

2. Understanding is Interpretation of Truth.

3. Wisdom is Application of Truth.

V.8 h) Carefulness in using the law - A sound ministry uses the law lawfully. I. Goodness of the law. II. Guarding ourselves from misusing the law. Using the Law lawfully:

A. Using the Law to bring man to Christ.

1. Using the law to exhort love for God and for one another.

2. Preaching the love of God is not enough to bring man’ s heart completely to God. Gal.3:23-24.

3. A doctor first makes a check up and tells the patient what is wrong with him before he gives the medicine

4. The law when used lawfully is to give a diagnosis of the sinner to bring man to the grace of God.

B. Using Scripture lawfully.

1. Exegesis - What does the text says.

2. Exposition - What does the text means.

3. Homiletics - How is the text applied in our life.

4. Hermeneutics - Theories of interpretation. a. Verse context.

b. Passage context.

c. Book context.

d. Covenant context.

e. Bible context.

f. Christ context.

Hermeneutics ought to be Him-eneutics.

g. Examples of verses taken out of context.

1. Judgement Day interpreted as Rapture. Matt.24:36-44

2. Forgiving interpreted as giving. Luke 6:37-42

3. Christ poverty to gain material riches. 2.Cor.8:9 in context notice v.2-7 and 13-15

4. Defending interpreted as attacking in spiritual warfare. Eph.6:10-17 Notice the words: Able to stand v.11, 13 and able to quench. V.16

5. Pulling down thoughts interpreted as casting out demons. 2.Cor.10:3-6 V.9-10 i) Cause of the law -

I. The law not made for the Righteous.

II. The law used Right.

A. Condemn sinners.

B. Convict sinners.

C. Sound doctrine - Sound (Gr. hugiaino) means to be healthy, sound and well. The English word hygienic comes from this Greek word.

1. Viruses survive in places where the hygienic is poor.

2. Infection increases in places where the hygienic is poor.

3. Sickness multiplies in places where the hygienic is poor.

4. Hygienic doctrine cleans the atmosphere in the Church from spiritual uncleanness.

5. 8 things concerning doctrine:

a. Doctrine that is sound. 1:10

b. Doctrine of demons. 4:1

c. Doctrine that is good. 4:6

d. Doctrine to receive attention. 4:13

e. Doctrine to be heeded. 4:16

f. Doctrine is to be laboured in. 5:17

g. Doctrine can be blasphemed. 6:1

h. Doctrine of godliness. 6:3

V.11 j) Contrary to the Gospel -

I. Glorious Gospel.

The Gospel is good news that is glorious because it brings many to glory.

II. Given by God.

A. Paul was Commanded to be an apostle. 1:1

B. Paul was Committed with the Gospel.

1 Timothy 1:12-20

B. The sound minister. 1:12-20 A sound ministry is faithfully depending on God.

V.12 a) Enabling of God - What God did.

I. Ability of God.

Can be likened to the hand of God upon our life.

A. Grace - Little finger. (We lean our hand upon that finger)

B. Presence - Tomb.

C. Gifts - Pointing finger.

D. Strength - Index finger. E. Fruit - Ring finger.

II. Accountability of Paul.

A. Faithful aspect is not sinless or faultless but:

1. Pure motives of heart.

2. Patience of heart.

3. Presence of God. B. Knowledge, gifts or communication skill is not the first requirement for ministry but faithfulness. 1.Cor.4:2 Paul reminds Timothy based upon his own testimony that no one is too hard to Convert and Correct.

V.13 b) Ex-unbeliever obtained mercy - When God did it.

A sound ministry knows he is a sinner that has received mercy.

I. Raged man.

A. Blasphemer - Words.

B. Persecutor - Ways.

C. Insolent (Violent) - Works.

II. Receiver of mercy.

Paul didn’ t know what He was actually doing against God through His persecution. Luke 23:34 V.14 c) Exceeding grace of Christ - Sufficient grace.

A sound ministry does ministry through grace, faith and love.

The 3 keys to a breakthrough ministry:

I. Exceeding grace - You get freely what you do not deserve.

II. Establishing faith - You get freely what you can believe God for.

III. Enduring love - You give freely what you have been given.

V.15 d) Elevate Saviour and Sinner - Saving grace.

A sound ministry is humble.

I. Christ came to save Sinners. All man has sinned therefore Christ came to save all who would receive His salvation. II. Chief sinner.

A. When Paul had been a Christian for about 18-20 years he said -

“ I am the least of the apostles” 1.Cor.15:9 B. When Paul had been a Christian for about 23-26 years he said -

“ I am the least of all the saints” Eph.3:8 C. When Paul had been a Christian for about 26-28 years he said -

“ sinners, of whom I am chief ” 1.Tim.1:15 D. Not was chief but am chief - Present tense.

E. Was Paul presently in his time the chief sinner on the earth!

The closer we come to the light of God the more dirt we will see.

V.16 e) Example of Christ’ s longsuffering - Why God did it.

A sound ministry is a pattern.

I. Purpose of receiving mercy.

To become a pattern.

II. Pattern of longsuffering.

A. Enmity - God’ s greatest enemy can become His greatest servant.

B. Sin - There is no sinner to sinful to convert.

C. Patience - God may be patient with anyone since He was patient with Paul.

V.17 f) Exaltation of the Eternal God -

A sound ministry gives always God the glory.

I. Attributes of the King.

A. Eternal - God existed before He created time, He has always existed. B. Immortal - God has no beginning therefore no end. C. Invisible - God is not a created being and therefore can be invisible to all creation. Invisibility has to with the capacity to see, God is the Creator of sight and has chosen not to create sight that can see Him all the time.

II. Adoration of God.

Any ministry should be focused upon giving God the glory for what He does for them and through them.

V.18 g) Exhortation to fight -

A sound ministry is serious with the prophetic call.

I. Former prophesies. 1.Tim.4:14; 2.Tim. 1:6 A. God desires to speak into every man’ s life His Will, Way and Work.

B. To ways that prophesies is uttered:

1. Foretelling - Revealing the future in advance.

2. Forth telling - Revealing the God’ s voice in the present.

II. Future warfare.

Prophesies gives us insight into what will of the Lord is and thereby we can fight for the right things. Heb.10:36 V.19 h) Error of some ministries -

A sound ministry is guarding the faith and conscience.

I. Sincere faith and conscience.

In spiritual warfare 2 things are vital to protect:

A. Faith - It’ s the shield by which we can quench arrows of demons. If the shield of faith is wrecked we will be defeated. B. Conscience - It’ s the voice that convicts us when we sin.

If the voice of conscience is wrecked we will remain defeated in sin .

II. Shipwrecked faith.

If the faith goes under so does the man.

V.20 i) Extermination of false teachers -

I. Examples of shipwrecked men.

Hymenaeus and Alexander lost their faith. 2.Tim.2:17; 4:14 This two were perhaps former leaders, teachers or elders.

II. Extermination of shipwrecked men.

1. Shipwrecked men are delivered to the one that also once where shipwrecked and their they learn not to blaspheme. 1.Cor.5:5
2. Some men needs to be cast off the ship (church) like Jonah to realize their backsliding. The book of Jonah