1 Timothy 4:6-10 says,...
Today's verses are 1 Timothy 4:6-10, which read,
v.6 - In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you are following.
Paul has been giving Timothy a warning about false teachers and false converts who are within the body or the faith but are not of the faith. They are following other teachings that contradict the gospel of grace of God through faith alone in the cross of Christ. They are tying their own works to the mix of how to get saved rather than what you do after you are saved. Timothy is to point out this error and he is able to because he is being constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which he is following.
Timothy is getting a good diet of the Word of God and he is also exercising it through living it out with sound doctrine. Diet and exercise, isn't that the phrase said so much by the fitness culture? Paul is saying the same to Timothy. "Timothy, you need to watch what you eat spiritually and you need to get off the couch and move to be spiritually healthy!"
v.7, 8 - But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
When we have a steady diet of God's Word and the exercising of that sound doctrine in real life then we not only recognize things that are just fables but we also don't have time or room for them. As I said last Sunday, if you are going to pick up your Bible and study it, you will probably have to eliminate some things in your life to do it. This will take discipline but it is something that will benefit you for eternity.
Physical diet and exercise will bring you benefit here and I encourage you to take it seriously but I would say to you like Paul that spiritual diet and exercise you need to take even more seriously. Spiritual diet and exercise is profitable for all time and holds the promise that doesn't fade away. Its benefits extend from life on earth to life in heaven with our Lord.
v.9, 10 - It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
Paul labors and strives with physical exertion to spread the gospel of grace. He wants others to know of the truth in the midst of a land of fables. His eyes are on the Lord and his heavenly home with Him. It is trustworthy statement to be on this steady diet of God's Word and acting out His sound doctrine.
It may sound like Paul is preaching a type of universalism when he says, "who is the Savior of all men" but he then gives a distinction on the end of the sentence, "especially of believers." How can Jesus be Savior of all men but then have a preference spot to believers? It is called "common grace" that we all have been given even to live on this planet. Because of God we have been given life and we enjoy the benefits of this life while we are here. We also benefit from the teachings of Christ and the actions of His people. What would the world be like if there were no Christians reading and following the Word of God? Because of the impact of truly converted Christians, God's common grace is experienced by all. This is not a saving grace but a common grace that benefits us now.
The "especially" comes in because the believer not only has common grace but also saving grace. The believer knows of the redemption by the blood of the Lamb. We read that all will bow at the name of Jesus but all will not be saved. Some will bow to the Savior because they have to but some will bow because they know Him already as their Savior. Paul has been speaking to Timothy about those in the body of faith but not of the faith. Those who are not of the faith receive the benefits here of the Savior and His people but those who are of the faith receive the benefits here and beyond of the Savior who opened their eyes of faith to focus on Him.
How is your spiritual diet and exercise going? Are you on the couch on this? I encourage you to get up and get moving in the area of your spiritual life. Get back into that church service. Get back up early to specifically read the Word of God. If you really want to get back into the swing, go to the least attended service of the week, Wednesday prayer meeting. Put yourself in a place to grow in God seriously. Get to the gym with God this weekend. Let's pray.
"Lord, we can get flabby on You. We can put on some extra pounds by listening to sweet things the world offers and sitting back on the comforts of ease and self-pleasure. Help us to see the benefits of being a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank You for common grace of life but it is so much more to know of the saving grace of the cross. May we strive so others may know of this grace. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.6 - In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you are following.
Paul has been giving Timothy a warning about false teachers and false converts who are within the body or the faith but are not of the faith. They are following other teachings that contradict the gospel of grace of God through faith alone in the cross of Christ. They are tying their own works to the mix of how to get saved rather than what you do after you are saved. Timothy is to point out this error and he is able to because he is being constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which he is following.
Timothy is getting a good diet of the Word of God and he is also exercising it through living it out with sound doctrine. Diet and exercise, isn't that the phrase said so much by the fitness culture? Paul is saying the same to Timothy. "Timothy, you need to watch what you eat spiritually and you need to get off the couch and move to be spiritually healthy!"
v.7, 8 - But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
When we have a steady diet of God's Word and the exercising of that sound doctrine in real life then we not only recognize things that are just fables but we also don't have time or room for them. As I said last Sunday, if you are going to pick up your Bible and study it, you will probably have to eliminate some things in your life to do it. This will take discipline but it is something that will benefit you for eternity.
Physical diet and exercise will bring you benefit here and I encourage you to take it seriously but I would say to you like Paul that spiritual diet and exercise you need to take even more seriously. Spiritual diet and exercise is profitable for all time and holds the promise that doesn't fade away. Its benefits extend from life on earth to life in heaven with our Lord.
v.9, 10 - It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
Paul labors and strives with physical exertion to spread the gospel of grace. He wants others to know of the truth in the midst of a land of fables. His eyes are on the Lord and his heavenly home with Him. It is trustworthy statement to be on this steady diet of God's Word and acting out His sound doctrine.
It may sound like Paul is preaching a type of universalism when he says, "who is the Savior of all men" but he then gives a distinction on the end of the sentence, "especially of believers." How can Jesus be Savior of all men but then have a preference spot to believers? It is called "common grace" that we all have been given even to live on this planet. Because of God we have been given life and we enjoy the benefits of this life while we are here. We also benefit from the teachings of Christ and the actions of His people. What would the world be like if there were no Christians reading and following the Word of God? Because of the impact of truly converted Christians, God's common grace is experienced by all. This is not a saving grace but a common grace that benefits us now.
The "especially" comes in because the believer not only has common grace but also saving grace. The believer knows of the redemption by the blood of the Lamb. We read that all will bow at the name of Jesus but all will not be saved. Some will bow to the Savior because they have to but some will bow because they know Him already as their Savior. Paul has been speaking to Timothy about those in the body of faith but not of the faith. Those who are not of the faith receive the benefits here of the Savior and His people but those who are of the faith receive the benefits here and beyond of the Savior who opened their eyes of faith to focus on Him.
How is your spiritual diet and exercise going? Are you on the couch on this? I encourage you to get up and get moving in the area of your spiritual life. Get back into that church service. Get back up early to specifically read the Word of God. If you really want to get back into the swing, go to the least attended service of the week, Wednesday prayer meeting. Put yourself in a place to grow in God seriously. Get to the gym with God this weekend. Let's pray.
"Lord, we can get flabby on You. We can put on some extra pounds by listening to sweet things the world offers and sitting back on the comforts of ease and self-pleasure. Help us to see the benefits of being a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank You for common grace of life but it is so much more to know of the saving grace of the cross. May we strive so others may know of this grace. Amen."
Pastor Adam
Comments
Post a Comment