1 Timothy 6:2-5

Teach and urge these things.  If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

A minister of the Gospel must be committed to teaching the truth because false teachers are not.  The reason they are called false teachers is because they reject Christ and His teachings.  One of the greatest difficulties and dangers in ministry is dealing with the impact and influence of false teachers.  Paul calls Timothy to be dedicated, persistent and courageous in performing this all-important task of confronting these evil men.  In this passage, he describes these false teachers in no uncertain terms.

FALSE TEACHERS ARE CONTRADICTORY: By definition, a false teacher will contradict the truth.  They teach a doctrine that is different from the teaching of Scripture.  They turn from the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Ministers of the Gospel are commissioned to teach the truth, defend the truth, and stand up to false teachers.  There is an urgency to call people to commit to the truth of the Word of God and to follow the teachings of Christ.  Those who contradict these things must be silenced in the church and confronted with the truth in hopes that they will understand and repent.

FALSE TEACHERS ARE CONCEITED: Unfortunately, false teachers are not only wrong in their believes and teachings, but they are proud of it.  There are really only two types of teaching: true and false.  There are really only two types of religion: God centered, and man centered.  Obviously, one of the errors of false teachings is that they will be focused on man.  One of the byproducts of man-centered teaching is pride.  The purpose of life is the glory of God.  False teachers will promote their own glory and be conceited in their posture before both God and man.

FALSE TEACHERS ARE CONTENTIOUS: Controversy and division will always stand in the wake of false teachers.  God calls us to love one another and unite around the truth of Scripture in our worship of the Lord Jesus.  One of Satan’s strategies is to divide the church as a means of distracting us from the mission that God has given us.  If we are so busy fighting one another, we will do little to reach the world in which we live.  When we begin to argue about deep theological words and make debating the focus of our ministry, we take on the characteristics of false teachers.  We will have some disconnects as we finite creatures strive to comprehend an infinite God.  These debates must not be our focus.

FALSE TEACHERS ARE CONTEMPTABLE: Paul describes these false teachers as contemptable because they have depraved minds, and they are deprived of the truth.  They see the glorious Church for which Christ gave His life as an opportunity to exploit for their own personal gain.  It is contemptable to exalt oneself over God and exploit the followers of Christ to become wealthy or famous.  God calls us to be His servants, to deny self, and to follow Him in bearing suffering to advance the cause of Christ.  If we are truly followers of Christ we will love one another in humility, grace, and simplicity while being fully committed to the truth of God’s Word and the glory of God.

APPLICATION: Love the Word of God and live according to the truth.  Walk humbly with God and for the glory of God.  Serve others in a spirit of love and unity instead of being divisive, subversive, and contentious.  Don’t allow the Gospel to become a means for simply making money or gaining popularity.  Suffer and serve in the promotion of God’s glory.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows into our lives.  These blessings from God are always available to us as long as we remember the
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.    By the Holy Spirit   who dwells within us, guard   the good deposit entrusted to you. There is nothing more important th
Read more