I can't do two blogs at once very well.

In case you have not noticed, I've been tied up at my other blog. I am too old and too focused to work on two blogs at the same time.

False prophets and profits

False Prophets and Their Profits
1 Tim 6:3-5

Ø Back on this again—Why is this such an area of stress for Paul to Timothy
o First, the false teachers were plentiful
o Second, in reading the two letters to Timothy, one gets the impression that he needed to be encouraged to stand up and fight the false teachers
o It is always an option, (though a wrong one, to let it slide—with disastrous consequences
o But fighting against error has its costs

1. The First Problem With False Prophets—They Oppose the Truth—1 Tim 6:3) "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness…”

a. Language analysis

(1) If—is a first class condition, which assumes that whatever is being addressed is going to happen—So, SINCE there are false teachers…

(2) “…Teaches otherwise…” is heterodidaskalei—the word “hetero” we should be familiar with—it means “…of a different kind…”, and is in the present active tense, indicating a habit of life.

b. The False Prophets taught lies as a matter of habit

(1) They were teaching Strange doctrines— heterodidaskalon—“…a doctrine of a different kind…”, one that does not match with the teachings of the Bible. What are some of these teachers and teachings?

(a) Paul speaks in Galatians of “another Jesus” taught by false prophets—Gal 1:6-9—this “other” gospel, which Paul condemns as a perversion of the truth, teaches that believers much obey the OT dietary and ceremonial laws in order to be a Christian—we still have this set of false teachings today, in the leftovers of the Armstrong Cult, and in the 7th Day Adventists heresy

(b) Jesus, in Matthew 24, warns of false Christs and false prophets that will arise to deceive many

(c) Peter in 2 Pet 2:1-3, warns of false prophets who bring in destructive heresies, teaching people that they can live any old way they want to live, and still claim to be a believer. See 2 Pet 2:18-22.

(d) Peter makes the point that the Old Testament saints had to deal with them too.

(2) The False Prophets rejected “…Sound Doctrine…” “….Sound Doctrine…”Literally means “healthy teaching, or (1 Tim 6:3) “wholesome teaching.” “Sound…” refers to good health, soundness, not in need of a doctor. It is where we get our word “hygiene.” —

1 Tim 1:10 "for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,"

1 Tim 6:3 "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,"

2 Tim 1:13 "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."

2 Tim 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;"

Titus 1:9 "holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict."

Titus 1:13 "… rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,"

Titus 2:1-2 "But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;"


(3) First, they rejected the words of Jesus Himself! “…even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness…”

(a) This could be referring to the earliest Gospels written
(b) Or it could refer to collections of Jesus’ sayings which had been gathered as Luke and the other writers were preparing and being prepared to write by the Holy Spirit
(c) Or it could refer to the True Doctrine about Who Jesus Is and What He Has Done (i.e., the Gospel)
(d) Either way, they rejected the Truth about Him!

(4) Then, they rejected the Truth about godliness itself.

(a) Godliness (Eusebia) refers to living for God and in accordance with God’s will
(b) Godly people have some of it
(c) Lost people don’t.

(5) They reject Sound Doctrine about salvation—Eph 2:8-10—By Grace, Through Faith, Unto Good Works

(6) The False teachers taught and lived NOT in accordance with sound doctrine

(7) There are those today who are unsound, and who believe that a consistent lifestyle is not required of believers. That idea is a distortion of Grace, it stands against “sound doctrine,” it is literally unhealthy spiritually

(i) God wants His people to live in a Godly fashion—it was, after all, Ungodliness that unleashed His wrath against sin to begin with—Rom 1:18

c. Key verses (Mac)

(1) The Fruit of a Christian’s life is not the number of people they have led to the Lord
(2) The Fruit of a Christian’s life is moral excellence produced by the indwelling Spirit of God—Gal 5:22-24
(3) The False prophets produce bad fruit—Mat 7:15-20


2. The Second Problem With False Prophets: They are ignorant and proud of their ignorance!—“… 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions 5 useless wranglings …”

a. The False Prophets have false Pride (which implies conceit and arrogance.)

(1) Pride—Mac—The attitude of false teachers can be summarized in one word: pride. It takes an immense ego to place oneself as judge of the Bible. Such egotism blatantly usurps the place of God…[conceit] is from a Greek slang word which means puffed up like a cloud of smoke. In English slang, we would describe such a person as “blowing smoke,” or “full of hot air…”

(1 Cor 4:6) "Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other."

(1 Cor 4:18-19) "Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power."

(1 Cor 5:2) "And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you."

(Col 2:18) "Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,"

(1 Tim 3:6) "not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil."

(2) The word can also refer to a person who is arrogant enough to believe that their views and opinions are superior to the Word of God.

b. Knowing Nothing –This is a present particple

(1) The false teacher is habitually ignorant, and proud of it—what an indictment!

c. They are addicted to stupidity—They are hooked on the debate, the argument, the “Gotcha”

(1) Now, it is not always wrong to debate—Jesus did it with the Pharisees, etc.,
(2) But this is talking about fruitless debate:

d. What are the results of these pointless and fruitless false teachings? “...envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions 5 useless wranglings…”


3. The Third Problem With False Prophets—They are listening to the wrong people— “…of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain…”

a. If a man is paying attention to false doctrines, and if he is not grounded, he may be drawn in to them.

b. Who writes this stuff?
(1) Men of Corrupt minds
(a) The depraved mind is a powerfully ignorant thing
(Rom 8:7) "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."

(1 Cor 2:14) "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

(Rom 1:28) "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;"

(Eph 4:17-19) "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."

(2) Destitute of Truth—“deprived” of Truth (NASB)

(a) They had been presented with the Truth
(b) But the false prophet had robbed it from them before it could take root, like parable of the soils.

(3) Men seeking profits for the Prophets .and they get their cut too)—
(4) Even in Paul’s day there were those who used religion to rip people off—2 Tim 3:1-9



4. The Cure For False Prophets— Doctrine. and Quarantine –(from 6:2)— “…Teach and exhort these things…” “…From such withdraw yourself." (present tense imperative verbs)

a. Doctrine“…Teach and exhort these things…” “teach and exhort—present imperative—teach the Truth, exhort the believers, and keep it up.

(1) The first, most desirable and best outcome is that no one would fall under the spell of false doctrines and false teachers—Jude 1:20-21 "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

(2) The second most desirable outcome is for the false prophet and those deceived by the false prophet to see the Truth and be saved.

Jude 1:22-23 "And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh."

(James 5:19-20) "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."

b. Quarantine—Church Discipline—“…From such withdraw yourself."

(1) Leaven in the lump—sin in the camp—the church must be prepared to quarantine the infection of false teachings.
(2) This is not the first alternative, but it is a valid one.
(3) There are steps to follow, and there are direct instructions and examples given, but the fact is that discipline is one of the marks of a true New Testament church.

(Titus 3:10-11) "Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned."

(2 Th 3:6) "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us..”

c. A church, like the Corinthians in 1 Cor 5, that refuses to obey the command to discipline its members is rejecting this specific command.

d. Examples

(1) 1 Cor 5
(2) Rev 2

Mat 5:17-18

Sermon on the Mount 11
Jesus’ View of The Bible
Mat 5:17-18

Introductory Thoughts:

· The Sermon on the Mount—The King’s instructions for the Kingdom of Heaven
· The Beatitudes: The inward attitudes result in outward behavior:

· These are the character traits of all true believers
· The Inward attitudes (3-6)
· Outward to people (7-9)
· Outward touching the world around us (10-16)
· Context—how we are to respond to a hostile world.
· Persecution is inevitable in a lost world
· Our attitude to persecution
· Salt and Light

· Now we move into a new section of the sermon






1. Various Views on The Law and the Gospel

a. Continuity (cultic version)

(1) The Law applies today just as in the OT
(2) Salvation is by works/grace combination
(3) Invalid for obvious reasons

b. Continuity (regular churches): a mixed approach

(1) No distinction between the covenants

(2) Most OT laws apply today just as before
(3) Infant baptism replaced circumcision
(4) The ministry replaced the OT priesthood
(5) Ceremony and ritual are important

(6) The New Covenant is a continuation of the Mosaic Law, just as the Mosaic Law was a continuation of the Abrahamic Covenant.
(4) Invalid: the covenants are not lined up that way

c. Selective continuity—
(1) take the parts of the Law that you like and ignore the rest—
(2) invalid: There must be a way to discern what of the Law is still in effect and which is not!

d. Total Discontinuity—There is no Law at all today, there is no ethical standard.

e. (Finally, the True way) The Doctrines of Promise and Fulfillment—

(1) The Larger Context to follow—Christ is going to begin to give the Laws of the New Covenant, and He first gives the relationship of New and Old.

(2) Key phrase: “But I say unto You…” (12 times total in Mat) Mat 5:22, Mat 5:28, Mat 5:32, Mat 5:34, Mat 5:39, Mat 5:44.

(a) What Christ is doing—
(b) Correcting the Jewish leaders’ misunderstanding of the Old Law
(c) Changing the Law to reflect the coming New Covenant.

(3) What this passage (17-20) teaches us about the Bible
(a) It is one Bible
(b) It has total authority, to the letter
(c) It is the Standard for all things
(d) The Source of the Authority is the Author

2. Jesus Relationship to the Old Testament : “…17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill…”

a. The first Statement is a mouthful. “…Think not that I am come to destroy…”


(1) He Could! He has the authority to dismantle what He Himself has established.
(2) What a claim of authority to even admit the possibility!

b. The Law and the Prophets—the entire OT.

(1) (Mat 7:12) ""Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

(2) (Mat 22:40) ""On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.""

(3) (Luke 16:16) ""The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it."

(4) (John 1:45) "Philip found Nathanael nd said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote; Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.""
(5) (Rom 3:21) "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,"

(6) (Luke 24:44) "Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.""

c. The definite statement—I am NOT come to destroy

(1) In the Greek, the statement is emphatic—NOT,

(2) In the Greek, it reads like this: “… NOT for a moment should you think that I have come to destroy…


3. What about the Law?
a. First, the Law is good—in its place—1 Tim 1:8 "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;" (See 1 Tim 1:9-11)
d. The purpose of the Law
(1) To set God’s moral standards
(2) to demonstrate His will for morality
(3) to convict men of their need of a Savior. (Rom 3:19-20).
(4) The Law cannot save, nor can it keep one saved; the Law convicts and shuts up. but, the LAW is an expression of God’s righteousness.
(5) Second, many of the same things will be in the New Covenant—God’s moral code does not change.

e. The fulfillment of the Law by Christ—“…but to fulfill…”

make come true, bring about (of Scripture); fill, make full; bring to completion, complete, accomplish, finish; make fully known, proclaim fully (Rom 15:19; Col 1:25); supply fully (Php 4:18, 19

(1) There is some scholarly disagreement as to what “fulfill” means.
(a) Fulfill the prophecies about Him?
(b) Complete the Law and the Prophets?
(c) Fulfill them and culminate them as the New Covenant comes in.
(d) My position is… “Yes!”

(2) First, Jesus taught the Law fully (and correctly) Mat 7:28-29

(a) The Scribes and Pharisees knew the Law, but they did not know the Law giver, nor were their interpretations correct.

(b) They ignored the most important matters Mat 23:13-26

(c) They were religious to cover up their evil

(d) They gained converts to their position, not to God

(e) They argued about meaningless matters: 23:16-22

(f) They majored on minors and ignored the majors—Mat 23:23

(3) Christ Lived the Law fully—

(a) John 8:46 "Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?"
(b) Heb 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

(c) In His personal character, He WAS The Law fully.

(d) The Law was God’s statement on ethics and morality written in stone; Christ Jesus was God’s statement on ethics and morality written in flesh and bone—1 Pet 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

(4) Christ fulfilled the Judicial provisions of the Law—He became the sacrifice for sinners. Gal 3:13, 2 Cor 5:21, Rom 5:6-8, 3:31

(5) Christ fulfilled the Ceremonial provisions of the Law—Heb 9-10

4. The Bible Stands On The Authority of Christ— “…For, Verily I say unto You…”

a. Verily—“Amen…” – indicates strong affirmation

b. Jesus’ Personal Authority Stands Behind The Bible—“…I say…”

c. Context—the inaugural address of the King of Kings

(4) His Authority is Eternal—Rev 1:8 “… I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty…”
(5) His Authority is absolute—Mat 9:2-6, Mat 28:18-20

(6) Jesus’ Personal Reputation is Staked on the Bible—He affirms the Truth of the following

(a) Moses—Mk 12:26
(b) Adam and Eve—Mat 19:4,
(c) Jonah—Mat 12:39-41
(d) Satan— Luke 10:18 "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."
(e) Abraham—Jn 8:56
(f) Sodom, Lot’s Wife—Lk 17:9
(g) Abel—Lk 11:51
(h) The Genesis Creation account—Gen 1:26-28—Mat 19:1-11
(i) Noah—Mat 24:38-39

(7) The Bible is Permanent—“…till heaven and earth pass…”

(a) God’s Word is eternally settled—Ps 119:89
(b) Jesus’ Word is permanent—Mat 24:35
(c) God’s Word is relevant—Heb 4:12
(i) Relevant as to morality, law, ethics, society
(ii) Relevant as to man’s nature
(iii) Relevant as to sin and its consequences
(iv) Relevant as to our need of salvation
(v) Relevant as to the way of salvation
(vi) Relevant as to the coming end

5. The Extent of The Inspiration Of The Scriptures— “…One Jot or One Tittle Shall in No Wise Pass From the Law…”

a. The Theology
(1) Verbally inspired
(2) Fully inspired
(3) Fully authoritative
(4) Without error

(5) Jot and tittle—smallest parts of the Hebrew Alphabet

(6) Pass From—be annulled.

(7) The Certainty of the Bible—till all be fulfilled

b. First, we see all will be fulfilled

(1) All Has been so far (examples)
(a) Mat 12:15-21
(b) Mat 27:9
(c) Mat 27:35
(d) Acts 13:25-35

(2) All Will be fulfilled
(a) Acts 1:11
(b) 1 Cor 15:21-25
(c) Rev 17:15-17

c. Second, we see the principle of promise and fulfillment—The OT is promise, the NT is fulfillment.

d. Third, we see promises guaranteed by the character of God—Heb 6:13-18

5. Applications

a. The Lordship of Christ requires inerrancy
(1) A Bible with errors means a Savior who was wrong.
(2) He ties His Words to the Word – if it is not true, He is not true
b. Our attitude to the Word
(1) We are to honor the Word in our lives—Titus 2:1-8
(2) We are to be diligent in its study—2 Tim 2:15
(3) We are to defend the Bible—Jude 3-4
(4) We are to be ready to answer—1 Pet 3:15

Sermon on the Mount 11

Introductory Thoughts:

· The Sermon on the Mount—The King’s instructions for the Kingdom of Heaven
· The Beatitudes: The inward attitudes result in outward behavior:

· These are the character traits of all true believers
· The Inward attitudes (3-6)
· Outward to people (7-9)
· Outward touching the world around us (10-16)
· Context—how we are to respond to a hostile world.
· Persecution is inevitable in a lost world
· Our attitude to persecution
· Salt and Light

· Now we move into a new section of the sermon






1. Various Views on The Law and the Gospel

a. Continuity (cultic version)

(1) The Law applies today just as in the OT
(2) Salvation is by works/grace combination
(3) Invalid for obvious reasons

b. Continuity (regular churches): a mixed approach

(1) No distinction between the covenants

(2) Most OT laws apply today just as before
(3) Infant baptism replaced circumcision
(4) The ministry replaced the OT priesthood
(5) Ceremony and ritual are important

(6) The New Covenant is a continuation of the Mosaic Law, just as the Mosaic Law was a continuation of the Abrahamic Covenant.
(4) Invalid: the covenants are not lined up that way

c. Selective continuity—
(1) take the parts of the Law that you like and ignore the rest—
(2) invalid: with the Law, it is all or nothing. Gal 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"

d. Total Discontinuity—There is no Law at all today, there is no ethical standard.

e. (Orthodox and True) The Doctrines of Promise and Fulfillment—The Larger Context to follow—Christ is going to begin to give the Laws of the New Covenant, and He first gives the relationship of New and Old.

(1) Key phrase: “But I say unto You…” (12 times total in Mat) Mat 5:22, Mat 5:28, Mat 5:32, Mat 5:34, Mat 5:39, Mat 5:44.

(a) What Christ is doing—

(b) Correcting the Jewish leaders’ misunderstanding of the Old Law
(c) Changing the Law to reflect the coming New Covenant.

(2) What this passage (17-20) teaches us about the Bible
(a) It is one Bible
(b) It has total authority, to the letter
(3) It is the Standard for all things
(4) The Source of the Authority is the Author

2. Jesus Relationship to the Old Testament : “…17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill…”

a. The first Statement is a mouthful. “…Think not that I am come to destroy…”


(1) He Could! He has the authority to dismantle what He Himself has established.
(2) What a claim of authority to even admit the possibility!
(3) But He was not going to do so at THAT time

b. The Law and the Prophets—the entire OT.

(1) (Mat 7:12) ""Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

(2) (Mat 22:40) ""On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.""

(3) (Luke 16:16) ""The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it."

(4) (John 1:45) "Philip found Nathanael nd said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote; Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.""
(5) (Rom 3:21) "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,"

(6) (Luke 24:44) "Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.""

c. The definite statement—I am NOT come to destroy

(1) In the Greek, the statement is emphatic—NOT,

(2) In the Greek, it reads like this: “… NOT for a moment should you think that I have come to destroy…”

(3) First, the Law is good—in its place—1 Tim 1:8 "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;" (See 1 Tim 1:9-11)

(4) The purpose of the Law
(a) To set God’s moral standards
(b) to demonstrate His will for morality
(c) to convict men of their need of a Savior. (Rom 3:19-20).
(d) The Law cannot save, nor can it keep one saved; the Law convicts and shuts up. but, the LAW is an expression of God’s righteousness.

(5) Second, many of the same things will be in the New Covenant—God’s moral code does not change.

d. The fulfillment of the Law by Christ—“…but to fulfill…”

make come true, bring about (of Scripture); fill, make full; bring to completion, complete, accomplish, finish; make fully known, proclaim fully (Rom 15:19; Col 1:25); supply fully (Php 4:18, 19

(1) There is some scholarly disagreement as to what “fulfill” means.
(a) Fulfill the prophecies about Him?
(b) Complete the Law and the Prophets?
(c) Fulfill them and culminate them as the New Covenant comes in.
(d) My position is… “Yes!”

(2) First, Jesus taught the Law fully (and correctly) Mat 7:28-29

(a) The Scribes and Pharisees knew the Law, but they did not know the Law giver, nor were their interpretations correct.

(b) They ignored the most important matters Mat 23:13-26

(c) They were religious to cover up their evil

(d) They gained converts to their position, not to God

(e) They argued about meaningless matters: 23:16-22

(f) They majored on minors and ignored the majors—Mat 23:23

(3) Christ Lived the Law fully—

(a) John 8:46 "Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?"
(b) Heb 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

(c) In His personal character, He WAS The Law fully.

(d) The Law was God’s statement on ethics and morality written in stone; Christ Jesus was God’s statement on ethics and morality written in flesh and bone—1 Pet 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

(4) Christ fulfilled the Judicial provisions of the Law—He became the sacrifice for sinners. Gal 3:13, 2 Cor 5:21, Rom 5:6-8, 3:31

(5) Christ fulfilled the Ceremonial provisions of the Law—Heb 9-10

3. The Bible Stands On The Authority of Christ— “…For, Verily I say unto You…”

a. Verily—“Amen…” – indicates strong affirmation

b. Jesus’ Personal Authority Stands Behind The Bible—“…I say…”

c. Context—the inaugural address of the King of Kings

(1) His Authority is Eternal—Rev 1:8 “… I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty…”
(2) His Authority is absolute—Mat 9:2-6, Mat 28:18-20

(3) Jesus’ Personal Reputation is Staked on the Bible—He affirms the Truth of the following

(a) Moses—Mk 12:26
(b) Adam and Eve—Mat 19:4,
(c) Jonah—Mat 12:39-41
(d) Satan— Luke 10:18 "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."
(e) Abraham—Jn 8:56
(f) Sodom, Lot’s Wife—Lk 17:9
(g) Abel—Lk 11:51
(h) The Genesis Creation account—Gen 1:26-28—Mat 19:1-11
(i) Noah—Mat 24:38-39

(4) The Bible is Permanent—“…till heaven and earth pass…”

(a) God’s Word is eternally settled—Ps 119:89
(b) Jesus’ Word is permanent—Mat 24:35
(c) God’s Word is relevant—Heb 4:12
(i) Relevant as to morality, law, ethics, society
(ii) Relevant as to man’s nature
(iii) Relevant as to sin and its consequences
(iv) Relevant as to our need of salvation
(v) Relevant as to the way of salvation
(vi) Relevant as to the coming end

4. The Extent of The Inspiration Of The Scriptures— “…One Jot or One Tittle Shall in No Wise Pass From the Law…”

a. The Theology
(1) Verbally inspired
(2) Fully inspired
(3) Fully authoritative
(4) Without error

(5) Jot and tittle—smallest parts of the Hebrew Alphabet

(6) Pass From—be annulled.

(7) The Certainty of the Bible—till all be fulfilled

b. First, we see all will be fulfilled

(1) All Has been so far (examples)
(a) Mat 12:15-21
(b) Mat 27:9
(c) Mat 27:35
(d) Acts 13:25-35

(2) All Will be fulfilled
(a) Acts 1:11
(b) 1 Cor 15:21-25
(c) Rev 17:15-17

c. Second, we see the principle of promise and fulfillment—The OT is promise, the NT is fulfillment.

d. Third, we see promises guaranteed by the character of God—Heb 6:13-18

5. Applications

a. The Lordship of Christ requires inerrancy
(1) A Bible with errors means a Savior who was wrong.
(2) He ties His Words to the Word – if it is not true, He is not true
b. Our attitude to the Word
(1) We are to honor the Word in our lives—Titus 2:1-8
(2) We are to be diligent in its study—2 Tim 2:15
(3) We are to defend the Bible—Jude 3-4
(4) We are to be ready to answer—1 Pet 3:15

I Thirst
John 19:28

Ø Have YOU ever been really thirsty?
Ø Have you ever had, or nearly have had, heat prostration or heat stroke?

1. Context, Background, and Theologyè “28…Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said*, “I am thirsty.”

a. Why was it necessary for Jesus Christ to Die? There are many reasons, but here are five categories of answers which perhaps sum it all up.

(1) To bring glory to God the Father and receive Glory from the Father

(John 17:1) "Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,"

(John 17:4) ""I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do."

(2) To satisfy the Law of God

Rom 3:31 “…Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law…”

(3) To turn aside the wrath of God

(Rom 1:18) "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,"

(Rom 5:9) "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."


(4) To Destroy Satan and his works

(1 John 3:8) "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."

(Gen 3:15) "…He shall crush your head….”

(5) To be substitutionary Sacrifice for sinners è

(Isa 53:5) "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed."


b. God’s plan of redemption was decided, determined, designed, declared (in prophecy) and decreed before the world began—Rev 13:8, 17:8, 1 Pet 1:18-21, Titus 1:1-2

c. Jesus was no helpless victim, nor was He an unwilling participant in this event

(1) He possessed within Himself the power to destroy all His enemies, as He demonstrated when they came to get Him (John 18:4-6
(2) He had the power to lay His life down and to take it up again (John 10:15-17)
(3) He poured out His own life, He “gave up the ghost…”

d. So, each word said there on Calvary needs to be understood in the light of all that was going on there, as Jesus hung on the Cross..

e. Biblical Context—this is the fifth word from the Cross, and it is uttered by One who could see the finish line in sight.

2. What Jesus Knew —(John 19:28) "…, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said*…”

a. Jesus Knew

(1) The word for “to know” here is εἰδὼς, Innate knowledge

(2) And as a perfect participle, it indicates sure and complete knowledge

b. Why Jesus Knew all things were accomplished—He had accomplished them

(1) “All things” included everything to do with His mission on Earth, not just His crucifixion

(2) All was done—the word here is tetelestai, which Jesus was about to say to the world. Before He said it, He knew it was true, because He had accomplished His mission.

(3) His statement in John 17:1 indicates that even before entering the depths of His Passion, Christ Jesus had a definite and certain knowledge of the outcome

c. The paperwork was not yet done—“…to fulfill the Scripture…”

(1) Part of His mission was to fulfill the Scriptures—Mat 5:17-20

(2) His fulfillment of prophecy was and IS one of the most important parts of His ministry

(a) During His ministry on Earth, there were literally hundreds of prophesies that were literally and directly fulfilled.

(i) His Virgin Birth—Is 7:14
(ii) His ancestry, through Abraham, David, etc.
(iii) His birth place—Micah 5:2

(b) And on and on, hundreds of literal fulfillments

(3) Here the statement is plain

(a) He was aware of fulfilling the scriptures,
(b) He was consciously dealing with this issue, so that in everything, the Glory of the Father would shine through

(4) What scriptures were being fulfilled in this one statement of thirst?

(Psa 22:15) "My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death."

(Psa 69:21) "They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."

3. “I Thirst”

a. Language—this is in the present tense, expressing continuity

b. Why, of all of the physical sufferings of the Cross, did Jesus highlight this one for special attention?

(1) He did not say, “my feet and hands hurt,” in spite of the nails
(2) He did not say, “my back is in agony,” from the scourging He received.

(3) He did not say, “my forehead is in agony,” from the crown of thorns they forced upon His brow

(4) He did not say, “My face hurts,” from where they plucked out hunks of His beard.

(5) He said, “I am thirsty.” Why?

(6) Because thirst is one of the greatest desires, and dehydration is an extremely painful and dangerous condition

c. Facts About Thirst

(1) Thirst is dangerous painful: Symptoms of severe dehydration include:

(a) Muscle spasms
(b) Vomiting
(c) Racing pulse
(d) Shriveled skin
(e) Dim vision
(f) Painful urination
(g) Confusion
(h) Difficulty breathing
(i) Seizures
(j) Chest and Abdominal pain

(2) Thirst is immediate—you can live for a long time without food, but not long at all without water.

(3) Thirst is deadly—for many it is the immediate cause of death, however it is brought on—10% fluid loss and above can be fatal.

(4) Given that Jesus had begin sweating drops of blood in the Garden, and given the beatings, the bleeding from the scourging, the dragging of a Cross through the streets, and given His extreme distress from the position in which He was hanging, His thirst just have been beyond imagination.

d. He Said “I” thirst—imagine that!

(1) The Creator of water had none
(2) The one who was the giver of the water of life was seeing His poured out

4. All Human Beings Thirst

a. Saved people have thirsted and have been filled

(1) For righteousness—(Mat 5:6) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled."

(2) For the Water of life—John 4

(John 4:13-15) "Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." 15 The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.""

(John 6:35) "And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."

(Rev 7:16) ""They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;"

b. Ah, but the Lost!

(Luke 16:22-24) ""So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'"

For This, You Will Answer

The Only Thing
2 Tim 4:1-5

Introductory Notes

· Dangerous Times—2 Tim 3:1-13
· God’s Man and God’s Word—2 Tim 3:14-17

1. The Charge—2 Tim 4:1 “…I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 preach the Word…”

a. The Word Meanings

(1) “…Charge…”—This is a legal word, having to do with testifying in a court of law or ordering someone else to testify truthfully. It is like the judge charging the jury to do their duty, or a military man being given orders to carry out.

(2) “…before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom…” The young preacher, Timothy, is placed face to face with Jesus, to whom he will answer for every word preached.

(3) “…Preach the Word…”—that means to proclaim the Word of God, not to preach about it, at it, around it, or from it, but to preach the Word itself!

(4) This word is an imperative, which means it is a command.

b. The illustration:

(1) As a Christian, I will answer to Christ Jesus someday for how well I lived for Him. How well did I fulfill Ir role as husband, father, and Christian man. But as a man of God, I have a much greater responsibility for which I will also answer.

James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

(2) I will stand one day, at the Judgment Seat of Christ. I will not be looking up into the face of some preacher, but into the Face of God.
(3) I will stand there in front of the Lord Jesus Himself and answer for every word I preach, every sermon and every lesson I bring out, everything that I studied in God’s Word.
(4) I will not answer for whether or not I made every meeting.
(5) I will not answer for whether or not I made people feel good about themselves
(6) I will not answer for whether or not I was popular, socially acceptable, or affectionately thought of by the people.
(7) I will not answer for whether or not I took care of every errand someone in the church thought the preacher ought to do.
(8) I will answer to God for what God has called me to do—to preach His Word.
(9) Everything in this passage is a finger pointing to me and to every preacher of the Gospel.

· The Holy Spirit says, through Paul, a simple command—preach the Word.

2. What is preaching the Word?

a. What it is not

(1) Hobby horses
(2) Entertainment
(3) Emotional exercises in search of a meaning
(4) Speeches intended to make you feel good.

b. Preaching the Word is proclaiming the Word

(1) The OT examples—3800 times—“thus saith the LORD,” “God said…” or words to that effect!
(2) The clearest OT Example—Neh 8
(a) They read the Word publicly, and the people stood for this reading.

(b) Neh 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

(i) They read distinctly—that means they read in such a way as to make the words clear and understandable.
(ii) They gave the sense—that is, they gave the meaning of the words they were reading
(iii) They caused them to understand—that is, they explained the words and the meaning in such a way that the people could make application to their own lives.

(3) The NT Examples—

(a) John the Baptist—The prophets prophesied him, and he preached them!

(b) Jesus—taught, preached, everywhere. Jesus did not teach simply and sweetly, but He preached the deep things of the Word, often having to explain what He said to His disciples afterward.

(c) Luke 24—Christ exposited the OT!

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Luke 24:32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

(d) The Apostles—declared the Word, preached the Word—examples, Peter, Stephen, Philip—they gave clear exposition of the Old Testament history, showing that Christ was the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

(e) Paul’s teaching and preaching

Acts 17:2 "Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,"

Acts 19:8 "And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God."

(f) Paul’s instructions

Rom 1:15 "So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also."

Rom 10:13-15 "… "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!""

Rom 16:25 "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ…”

1 Cor 9:16 "… woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!"

1 Cor 15:11 "Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed."

Titus 1:1-3 "… God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, …"

1 Tim 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

3. Necessary Questions:

a. Why preach the Word?

(1) God commands His man to do so.
(2) The example has been set

(a) Prophets and patriarchs of the OT
(b) The Lord Jesus
(c) The Apostles and Prophets of the NT
(d) The Great Godly men of history.

(3) Only preaching the Word Saves Sinners—

1 Cor 1:17-18 "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

1 Cor 1:23 "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;"

1 Pet 1:23-25 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. …: 25… the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

(4) Only preaching the Word grows saints

Eph 4:11-12 "… pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”

(5) Only preaching the Word prepares warriors—every part of the Gospel armor is related to the Word.

b. Who preaches the Word?

(1) Those qualified (by God’s standards)

(a) 1 Tim 3:1-7 “…A bishop then must be…”

ü blameless
ü the husband of one wife
ü vigilant
ü sober
ü of good behaviour
ü given to hospitality
ü apt to teach
ü Not given to wine
ü no striker
ü not greedy of filthy lucre
ü but patient, not a brawler,
ü not covetous
ü One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
ü 6 Not a novice…”
ü 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; …”

(c) Titus 1:9 “…Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers…”

(2) Those called (by God’s Spirit)—Gal 1:15-16 "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen…”

4. When, and How Preach the Word?

a. In season…Out of season—

(1) When it is convenient, when it is not convenient.
(2) When it is popular, when it is not popular.
(3) When times are good, and when they are bad.
(4) It is like your marriage covenant—for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health…

b. Reprove (with all longsuffering and doctrine)

(1) This is to rebuke by making convincing arguments, through preaching and teaching, by giving evidence in the Bible.

(2) This word means to convince or convict. It is the same word used of the Holy Spirit’s convicting ministry in John 16:8— “… And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:…”

(3) It means to challenge people with the Word of God, that they might be convicted of the sin in their life.


c. Rebuke (with all longsuffering and doctrine)—This is beyond reproof and conviction. This is a plain old reprimand, a sharp rebuke. The argument has been given, now it boils down to standing up and rebuking those who will not listen.

(1) This is the word used when Jesus rebuked the sea

Mat 8:26 "A…Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

(2) This is the word used when Jesus cast out demons

Mat 8:26 "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

d. Exhort (with all longsuffering and doctrine)—This is positive, this is the encouragement given.

e. With all longsuffering and doctrine.

(1) The preacher-teacher must be patient
(2) The preacher-teacher must always be willing, ready, and prepared to teach.
(3) The preacher-teacher must always undergird all messages with the doctrines of the Bible, not the ideas of men.

5. Why Preach the Word in this manner? (4:3-4)

a. The season will come when most people in most churches won’t want to hear sound doctrine!—the hard times we talked about Wednesday evening. Now is such a time.

(1) Note, this doesn’t talk about the totally non-religious!
(2) The unchurched lost man or woman does not care what the preacher preaches—they are not there!

(3) This is talking about lost religious folks, who have a form of religion, but deny the power thereof, and who won’t endure sound doctrine!

b. The Hypocrites won’t endure sound doctrine, so they will become apparent.

(1) Sound doctrine will smoke out lost church members. They will either get right or get out.
(2) Sound doctrine will challenge weak Christians and strengthen them.

c. The Hypocrites, the Lost religious people, will find teachers they like, who will preach what they want to hear.

(1) First, they will gather, heap, to themselves teachers and preachers who will teach and preach what they want to hear.

(a) Why are there so many heretics on the airwaves and so many preachers willing to compromise to draw a crowd?

(b) Because demand creates supply.

(2) Itching ears—Their ears want to be tickled, be soothed. They don’t want to hear anything that will challenge their beliefs or convict them of their sins.

d. The hypocrites will listen to fables, myths. They will be perverted from (turned from) the Truth to myths.

(1) Myths about who God is and what He is like.
(2) Myths like the carnal Christian theory, which says people can have eternal life, but show no evidence of eternal life within them.
(3) Myths like the ridiculous idea that there is any significance whatsoever to a name on a church roll when the person matching the name has no interest at all in the things of God or in that local church.
(4) Myths like emotional shaggy dog stories which make us laugh, cry, or get stirred up, but which mean nothing biblically.
(5) Myths about Truth, which says that God has changed His rules for nearly everything, that any lifestyle is acceptable to God.

e. Biblical preaching is offensive to the natural mind, to the lost man or woman, and to some degree to the undiscipled Christian.

(1) Biblical preaching inflames the opposition of the proud.
(2) Biblical preaching offends the merely religious
(3) Biblical preaching does not please those looking for a positive, ego-comforting, feel-good message.

6. How is the preacher to Conduct His Ministry in the light of all this?

a. Watch In ALL Things—The ministry is not conducted on autopilot. You must continually be on guard and watchful in all areas.

(1) Watch yourself

Acts 20:28 ""Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers…

1 Cor 10:12 "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."

1 Tim 4:16 "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you."

(2) Watch out for the sheep—God places His men on guard over the sheep of His pasture; you are to guard against dangers from without and from within.

Acts 20:28 ""Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

(3) Take heed to the mission you have been given. God has given His men a mission in life, and each man’s mission is not the same, but the overall goal of all the missions is the same goal.

1 Cor 3:10 "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it."

Col 4:17 "And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.""


b. Endure hardships—There are many trials and hardships in the ministry. The Man of God must endure them. 2 Tim 2:3 "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ…”

c. Evangelize—you must be ever ready to evangelize, to speak the Word to all you encounter.

d. Prove—to completely carry out and finish—God has given you the ministry of the Word, and you are to carry out and finish that ministry completely.

The Good Minister

The True Preacher and His Duties

1 Tim 4:6-11



1. A Good Minister: "If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

a. A True Preacher Is A Teacher “"If you instruct the brethren in these things…”

(1) If you instruct—in this case, a rare Greek word that means, “to put under.”
(2) this is one of the key tests of the true preacher, does he teach the people?

(3) There are some who seem to think that one can be a preacher without being a teacher—there are no Bible verses to support such a thing—preaching and teaching must go together.

(4) The very definition of pastor, in the only time the noun form is used to describe the New Covenant preacher, is wrapped up in the gift of God to the church in the form of teaching pastors (plural)—(Eph 4:11) "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,"

(5) The heart of the great commission is not to make converts, but to make disciples by teaching them.

(6) Examples of the verb form of “shepherd”

(a) (John 21:16) "He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep.""
(b) (Acts 20:28) ""Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."
(c) (1 Pet 5:2) "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;"
(7) Bottom line—it is hard to imagine a New Testament preacher who was not only a preacher but a teacher.

b. A Good Minister is a Good student—“…[constantly] nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine…”

(1) The word “…constantly…” expresses that this is a present participle, which refers to continuity, a lifestyle habit—the true preacher never stops learning
(a) Example—Bro. Charles Dinkins
(b) Example—William Tyndale, waiting to be martyred, requested a Hebrew Bible and Hebrew dictionary that he might study
(c) And of Course, Paul…(2 Tim 4:13) "Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come; and the books, especially the parchments."

(2) Nourished is the word “entrepho,’ which is a rare word. The philosopher Plato used the word to describe the education of a lawyer—“nourished in the laws…”

(3) The nourishment is in the words of the faith, [tois logois tēs pisteōs] not some magic-like “faith word,” but as so many other times, THE faith is in view, the doctrines and teachings of “the faith once delivered to the saints.”

(4) “Sound Doctrine” goes beyond the basic teachings of the faith, to the deeper things (1 Cor 2:6 ff), and to the practical implications and applications of our faith.

(5) There is such a thing as bad doctrine

(a) False theories about Who Jesus Is
(b) False teaching about salvation
(c) Denial of the full sufficiency of God’s Word
(d) Denial of the Lordship of Christ
(e) Human traditions set over and against the Word of God
(f) “Prophecies” by modern day “prophets”
(g) Gnostic “secrets”

c. A Good Minister is a careful student —“…which you have carefully followed…”

(1) This no doubt refers to the discipling that had occurred when Paul taught Timothy

(2) The word means “to walk alongside of,” indicating perhaps even the manner of the instructions Timothy received while traveling with Paul.

(3) The verb is in the perfect tense, which tells us that for Timothy, the study and personal application were an established and settled habit—2 Tim 2:15

d. A Good Minister Rejects Ignorance—“…7 But reject profane and old wives' fables…”

(1) Reject—turn away from

(2) Profane—the word refers to godless things

(3) Old wive’s fables—the word for “fable” is a word that talks about fictional stories that are not true and have no basis in Truth

(1 Tim 1:4) "nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith."

(2 Tim 4:4) "and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."

(Titus 1:14) "not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth."

(2 Pet 1:16) "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty."

(4) The True Preacher does not buy the lines of the heretics, nor does he believe in human traditions and legends

(5) The theology of the Gnostic heretics was fanciful, mystical, and ridiculous—here Paul compares it to the ghost stories, scary stories and legends that a pagan grandmother might tell her grandchildren

2. A Good Minister Stays in Spiritual Shape— “…and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance …”

a. A Spiritual Workout

(1) The word “exercise” is “gymnasia,”.

(2) He is not saying that bodily exercise is of no account, just that it is not of much worth, since it is not about eternity.

(3) Instead of being a physical athlete, the true preacher is to be a spiritual athlete, worked out and prepared for the contest by rigorous instruction and hard work—

(2 Tim 2:15) "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

(Col 1:29) "To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily."

(1 Tim 5:17) "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine."

(4) What a true preacher does, by way of preparation and spiritual training, is to study the Word and allow God to work in his life to create godliness, and to grow in prayer and in experiential knowledge of God.

b. The Spiritual Fitness Goal: Godliness

(1) Godliness refers to that character trait which is serious and reverent about the things of God

(2) The True Preacher has the same mindset as the Lord.

(Col 3:2) "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

(Phil 2:5) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,"

(1 Cor 2:16) "For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ."

(3) The True Preacher has set his mind on God and His ways—Mat 6:33

c. Pain Brings Gain “…godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come…”

(1) There is no area of our lives which godliness will not go

(2) The life now—living for Christ
(3) The Life To Come—living with Christ for all eternity.

d. Paul’s Amen—“…9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance…”


3. Why the Good Minister Does What He Does è (1 Tim 4:10) "For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe."

a. Two battles fought by every man of God

(1) Labor—(Col 1:28-29) "Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily."

(2) Suffer Reproach—strive, agonizomai, agonize

b. What makes it worth it all, and then some

(1) Our Faith—“…we trust…”
(2) The Object of Our Faith “…in the living God…”
(3) The Goal of the ministry “… the Savior of all men…” Available for all, but it is only effective to those who believe.
(4) The Family of Faith “…especially of those who believe…”

4. A Good Minister Preaches With Authority—“…11 These things command and teach…”

a. These things—everything brought up, chiefly “the Faith” and the various instructions having to do with the apostates.

b. Command—

(1) Paraggello—a word almost always identified with authority, often with the authority of Jesus

(2) Some examples

(Acts 1:4) "And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;"

(Acts 16:18) "…Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour."

(Acts 17:30) ""Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,"

c. In Authoritative preaching, the preacher takes into account the following things

(1) The Authority of the Writer—2 Pet 1:18-21, 2 Tim 3:16-17

(2) The Accuracy of the Text—Mat 5:17-20, Jn 17:17


(3) The Example of the Savior—(Mat 7:28-29) "And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."

d. And Teach—covered already, but a reminder that if preaching contains no teaching it is not real preaching

Apostasy

Apostasy

1 Tim 4:1-5

1. Preliminary Thoughts

a. The chapter division does not help here—Chapter 4 is definitely a continuation of the thoughts of chapter 3.

(1) The church is the pillar and ground of the Truth
(2) The heart of the Truth is Who and What Jesus is.
(3) Chapter 4 is largely concerned with continuing the defense of the faith first mentioned in chapter 1—why is this theme repeated again and again? Because this was then (as it is now) a major problem,
(4) In general these verses deal with the idea of apostasy, and in particular with one specific group of false teachers that were apparently in Ephesus.



b. What does the word “apostasy”mean?

(1) There are actually two terms used that m mean the same thing, apostasia, and aphistemi

(2) Very simply, apostasy means to depart. Most of the references to this word merely mean that, to depart from this place, etc.

(3) Twice, it refers to believers departing from sin, or pulling away from false teachers

(4) But in this passage and other places, it refers to leaving the faith, and in one riveting use, the Holy Spirit tells us a very important fact about things to come.

2 Thes 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

(5) Just before the rapture, there is going to be the greatest apostasy in the history of the church—and there have been some great ones already.

(6) Jesus talks about this apostasy in Mat 24:23-28

(7) And after the Rapture, when the church is gone and the restraining hand of the Spirit of God is drawn back, THE Apostasy (Greek) will be complete.

(8) But, until then, apostasy has been and will be a problem.

(Acts 20:28-31) ""Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."

2. What Does This Passage Teach Us About Apostasy? (1 Tim 4:1-5) "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons…”

a. Apostasy is a certainty—it will happen “…the Spirit expressly says…”

(1) First, there is no doubt that the Holy Spirit has told Paul this, and that Paul has been inspired by God to write this.
(2) But there have also been warnings about apostasy throughout the ministry of Jesus and in the ministries and writings of the other apostles, and elsewhere in Paul’s writings

(Mark 13:22) ""For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."

(Acts 20:29) ""For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock."

(3) Latter Times—can mean any time from the time Jesus came until now.

(4) the last days began when Jesus came the first time—(Heb 1:1-2)

(5) Pentecost was part of the “last days”—(Acts 2:17) "'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…”

b. False Doctrines and heresies will multiply as the last days grows on
(2 Tim 3:1) "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:"

(2 Pet 3:3) "knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,"

c. Apostates will depart from the faith

(1) From “the faith once delivered…”

(2) There is a body of doctrinal beliefs that the Bible calls “the faith.” It is The Faith to the exclusion of other beliefs, and it is to be believed in and practiced by every believer—Mat 28:19-20

d. Facts about the faith

(1) The Faith is something we must obey (Rom 16:26)

(Acts 6:7) "… a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith."

(Rom 1:5) "Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,"

(2) We can become stronger in the faith

(Acts 14:22) "strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.""

(Acts 16:5) "So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily."

(3) One can be weak in the faith and still be in the faith

(Rom 14:1) "Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things."

(4) The Faith is a place to take a stand

( (1 Cor 16:13) "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."

(5) Every person in the church is supposed to be built up, established, and unified in the faith
(Eph 4:13) "till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;"

(Col 2:7) "rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."

(1 Tim 3:9) "holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience."

(6) The Faith is something we must fight for

(2 Tim 4:7) "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

(1 Pet 5:9) "Resist him, steadfast in the faith…”

(Jude 1:3) "…contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

(a) Church is no game, nor a country club, nor a place to come in to be made to feel good.

(b) Church is about witnessing “the faith” to the lost, and teaching “the faith” to those who get saved, and helping people learn to walk and live “the faith”

(c) We may differ as a church, and between churches, as to non-essential points of understanding—Romans 14—but on matters of life and death (The Christian Worldview, The Bible, Salvation by Grace through Faith, The Trinity, the Person and Work of Christ, the Lordship of Christ, the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, and the need for a consistent Christian life, etc., on those doctrines that constitute the faith, there can be no compromise

c. Facts about apostates

(1) The apostate has no root

(a) The Parable of the Soils (Luke 8)
(b) The Context—Jesus is explaining to the disciples that which is hidden from the crowd

(Luke 8:13) ""But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away."

(2) The Apostate has no real fruit—Mat 7:13-20 (Mat 7:15-16) ""Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. …"

(3) The Apostate teaches doctrines of demons

(1 Tim 4:1) "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,"

(1 Cor 10:20-21) "Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons."

(a) False religions are demonic in origin
(b) False religions are demon-inspired as to teachings
(c) False religions are utterly false

(4) The Apostate has an evil heart of unbeliefè (Heb 3:12) "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;"

(5) The Apostate participates in, excuses, or ignores Immoral behavior. Rev 2:14, 2:20-23

(6) In other words, an apostate is someone who claimed to be born again, who claimed to be saved, but was never saved and who proved it by departing, morally and doctrinally, from “…the faith once delivered to the saints…” (Jude 3)

3. Why Does Apostasy Happen?

a. The Apostate is listening to the wrong voices è he has been deceived “…giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons...”

(1) Here is the problem—without discernment, there is no ability to recognize a fake teaching è Lost people have no discernment,

(2) The second problem is that they are drawn away and deceived, not by persuasive men (though they may be the tools), but they are led away by satanic forces, the demonic hordes, who are always looking for someone to devour.

(3) In opposing apostasy, we are not opposing men and women—this is not about winning an argument or convincing someone by logic—there is no logic with an apostate, for they are under demonic influence.

(Eph 6:11-12) "… 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

b. The bottom line is that the lost church member who departs from he faith is deceived by deceiving spirits, and then begins to believe, support, and teach doctrines of the Devil and his crew.

c. What are the effects of Apostasy in an apostate? “…speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…” They become so intent that they lose all sense of reality and truth, and they are ready to lie, cheat, steal, and personally attack true believers. They are so insensitive to sin, that they blaspheme God and harass His people and His church.

4. The Nature of and Truth About This Particular apostasy “…3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods…”

a. First, note the illogical and blatantly false nature of this false teaching—God instituted marriage in Genesis, and the Bible holds marriage to be “the institution which God loves (Mal 2) and in the NT, the New Covenant abolishes all dietary laws.

b. Forbidding to marry—

(1) there were several cult groups in Paul’s day which forbade marriage—and this has continued in various forms.

(2) The Cathars, in France in the 1100s and 1200s practiced a form of this, by not allowing relations between husband and wife after baptism.

(3) The Shaker religion forbade marriage

(4) Some denominations do not allow their ministers to marry, which has resulted in centuries of great problems that result from forcing men to live in that abnormal state.

(5) Abstaining from foods
(a) In the OT, there was a ceremonial set of laws about what one could and could not eat—observant Jews follow these codes today.
(b) But in the NT, the Law has been fulfilled and superseded—(See Acts 10, Acts 15, Gal 2-3)

(c) Again, several cult groups restrict the diets of their members in some ways.

5. The Answer, simple, direct, and biblical—“…from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

a. The Answer to This Heresy

(1) Those who believe and know the Truth will understand
(2) God created these foods to be thankfully consumed
(3) God created no bad creatures
(4) The Word, and Prayer
(a) The Word tells us that the dietary laws are fulfilled and no longer in use
(b) Prayer dedicates the food to God.

b. How does this relate to illegal drugs, etc.? It does NOT relate—those are not food items.

c. A model for the last of the last days

(1) We live in an age lacking discernment

(2) We live in an age when many leaders in so-called Bible-believing churches give in to every trend and fad instead of preaching the Truth.

(3) We live in an age when doctrinal accuracy and precision, even about the most vital doctrines, is lacking

(4) We live in a time when the making of distinctions is considered ill-mannered and rude.

(5) We live in the age of itching ears
(a) 2 Tim 3:1-13
(b) 2 Tim 4:1-5

b. We live in an age when (in America anyway) like that of Laodecia (Rev 3:14-22)

1 Tim 3:16, part 1

I’m Glad I Know Who Jesus Is
Part 1
1 Tim 3:16

1. Analysis of the Passage

a. This is an ancient hymn of the church, one inspired by the Holy Spirit

(1) In the original, there is a natural rhythm to it
(2) It is meant to give a theological definition to the Truth delivered to the saints, and preserved and defended by the church—3:14-15

b. Each line is organized the same way in the original, with a verb in the aorist tense followed by a noun

(1) The aorist tense is a snapshot, a moment in time.
(2) But these things did not all happen at a moment in time as man sees it—but to God, each one was a done deal before He made the worlds.

c. Each line tells a different doctrine about Who and What Jesus is
d. Each line is vital for our salvation, for Christ’s mediation, for our reconciliation
(1) God was revealed in flesh
(2) The Holy Spirit vindicated Christ’s Ministry
(3) The Angels witnessed everything
(4) Christ was preached
(5) People believed
(6) Christ Ascended

e. Why are these events so important?

(1) Christianity is a fact-based faith
(2) Our faith is not about religious feelings and being uplifted
(a) The purpose of church is not to make you feel good about yourself and to give you some words of comfort.
(b) The purpose of the church is to attack the gates of Hell and rescue the perishing.
(c) The purpose of church is to be the training ground for people equipped to take the Gospel to every corner of this town, this county, this region, this sate, this nation, and this world.

(3) Our faith, first and most of all, is about real things that happened in real time to real people—and the apostles and other early church leaders are constantly telling us this in the Bible.

(4) Two examples
(a) Stephen’s sermon—Acts 7—here is a man on trial for his life, and he gave them a HISTORY lesson!
(b) Paul’s declaration of faith—1 Cor 15:1-11
(5) So, an attack on the facts is an attack on salvation
(6) This is why every cult group winds up with some kind of works salvation

2. The Great Mystery: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness…”

a. First, What is a Mystery in the Bible?

(1) It is something that was concealed, but is being or is going to be revealed (Mark 4:11) "And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,"

(2) The Gospel is a mystery since eternity past—

(a) (Rom 16:25) "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began"

(b) (1 Cor 2:7) "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,"

(c) (Eph 3:9) "and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;"

(3) The New Testament contains several of these mysteries—things previously concealed that are now being revealed.

(4) Resurrection and rapture is a mystery revealed by Paul—(1 Cor 15:51-52) "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

(5) Part of the mystery is that Christ dwells in us through the Holy Spirit (Col 1:26-27) "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

(6) There is also a mystery of Evil—the development of the kingdom of the antichrist. (2 Th 2:7) "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way."

b. Context: 3:14-15

(1) The “faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) has in it “some things hard to understand…” 2 Pet 3:15, indeed it includes deep teachings which are for mature believers (1 Cor 2:6-16)

(2) The basic facts that one must believe to be saved, however, are very simple: Rom 10:8-9 "But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

c. But, believers are not to remain babes—Heb 5:12-14

(1) The list of deep doctrinal truths found in 1 Tim 3:16 is thought by most commentators to be from an early confession of faith, or perhaps from an early hymn of the faith
(2) This list of facts about Who and What Jesus is constitutes the outline of what we call Christology

d. There is no argument about one thing, this is a great mystery
(1) What is a mystery? A mystery is something which was unknown before and which is now being made known, such as God’s revelations to Paul concerning the nature and meaning of the New Testament Church.

(2) “Godliness” the idea that God became flesh is a great (mega) mystery—but the point is, that it has all been revealed.

e. Jesus the Revelator!
(1) John 1:14-18
(2) Rev 1:1-2
(3) Heb 1:1-2
(4) The point—Jesus, in His Life, Person, and Work, has revealed the great mystery of the Gospel, and the church, the pillar and ground of the Truth, is supposed to be the bulwark, the fortress, the defender of the Truth.

3. God was manifested in the flesh

a. He, Jesus, the Messiah, was manifested in flesh

“…The verb is used by Paul elsewhere of the incarnation (Romans 16:26; Colossians 1:26) as well as of the second coming (Colossians 3:4). ..” A. T. Robertson

b. The incarnation, the Son of God coming in human flesh, has these key elements, each of which cult groups and liberal theologians attack.
(1) He was pre-existent, in fact, He is eternal, the Alpha and the Omega—Mal 5:2, John 8:58, Rev 1:8
(2) He was and is God—John 1:1
(3) He did not cease to possess His Deity while on Earth, but He took on something extra—humanity—Phil 2:5-11

(4) He came into this earth as a real man, from the moment of conception in the virgin’s womb, what is really striking about Him is that physically, there was nothing striking about Him.

(5) He was made in all points like us—but without sinè He had no sin, He did no sin, He knew (personally) no sin—Heb 4:15-16


c. This is a key doctrine of the Bible, and has been much abused and attacked. The basic areas of attack have been:

(1) Attack #1èTo say that Christ was only a man, though with a special relationship with God (Ebionism). In this version of the Gospel, as in the false teachings of Joel Hemphill, there really is nothing special about Jesus but that He had faith.

John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."

John 8:24 ""Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.""

John 8:58 "Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.""

John 20:28 "And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!""


(2) Attack #2èTo say that Christ was not a man, that He did not come in the flesh, but that He was an illusion, a totally spiritual being who only appeared to be human—Docetism –Heb 2:17-18 "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted."

(3) Attack #3èTo say that Christ was less than fully God, that He was created—Arianism—(John 1:3) "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."

(4) Attack #4èTo say that Christ was a man who became God—adoptionism –Micah 5:2 ""But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.""

(5) Attack #5èTo say that Christ had a sin nature—Heb 4:15-16 "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

d. Why have these attacks been launched against the doctrine of Christ’s Person?

(1) Because the mystery of lawlessness (2 Thes 2:2) has also been revealed and is working to keep men and women, boys and girls, from Salvation in Christ.

(2) The spirit of Antichrists is already in the world—1 John2:18-23—attacking our Faith

(3) And because if He is not who the Bible says He is, He cannot do what the Bible says He can.

Must, Part 2

Must, Part II


Readings: Acts 6:1-7, 1 Tim 3:8-15

Ø A great need in churches today—Biblical leadership
Ø Tradition has left us a confusing mess, and few churches follow the Biblical leadership model
Ø But those who do usually prosper above their contemporaries

What is a Deacon? He is a man with:\
(1) A servant’s heart, feet, and hands
(2) A calling of God to serve
(3) A heart to ease the burden of the eldership
(4) A man who meets the qualifications of Acts 6 and 1 Tim 3

1. Where Deacons Came From: The Background—Acts 6:1-2

a. The Dispute in the Church—

(1) The “Grecians:”
(a) The Greek-Speaking Jews were Jews who had adopted much of Greek culture, including the language.
(b) Some of the more proper Jews looked down upon them almost as much as they did Gentiles.
(2) The Hebrews: These were Jews who had been raised in Palestine, and who spoke the native Aramaic dialect and followed Jewish culture.
(3) The Greek-Speaking Jews were complaining that the Hebrew-Speaking Jews were not taking care of the Greek-speaking widows.

b. The Situation Was Difficult and Dangerous
(1) This threatened the unity of the church.
(2) It was causing so much trouble that the apostles, who were the elders of this first church, had no time to pray, study, or disciple new believers—and, this was not their gifting nor their calling

c. The Solution Given by the Apostles to the people—6:2b-4
(1) It is not that they were too good to serve tables, nor that the serving of the tables was of no importance.
(2) But their calling was to the Word and prayer, and to be faithful to that calling requires total dedication.
(3) The decision of the church, and the task of the deacons— Acts 6:3 The church picked out qualified men which the apostles approved, ordained, and set to the task.


2. What were the Tasks of the Seven? Acts 6:3

a. To release the men of God to be able to devote themselves to the Bible and Prayer

b. To serve tables
(1) Of the Widow
(2) Of the poor
(3) Of the missionary
(4) Of the elders

c. Who were the supervisors of the deacons? The apostles, who were operating as the pastoral team, using shared leadership

d. However, the deacon is not limited in ministry—two of the greatest early evangelists, Stephen and Philip, were of the seven original deacons.

e. It is not required that deacons be preachers, teachers or exhorters—they are workers. But it is also not forbidden for them to exercise the gifts God has given them.

3. Biblically, what are the Deacon’s Qualifications?

a. The First List of Qualifications—Acts 6:3

(1) They must be “…men…”—the word in the original is the Greek word used only for males.

(2) They must be of “…honest report…” The literal meaning in the original is “complete witness,” and it refers to a man with a good reputation.

(3) They must be “…full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom…” this speaks of a man controlled by the Holy Spirit who is also wise and prudent, a man who can be trusted spiritually and practically.

b. The Second List of qualifications—1 Tim 3:8-12

(1) A Deacon must be a reverent man who loves and fears the Lord.“…grave…”.

(2) A Deacon must be a man with a reputation for honest speech—“…not doubletongued…”.

(3) He must not be a drinker—“…not given to wine…”,

(4) He cannot be a money-grubber—“…not greedy…”.

(5) He must be a man who knows and believes the doctrines of the faith, and whose conscience is clear—“…9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience….”

(6) He must not be new to the congregation, but someone whose character has been tested over time, and whose character is continually tested.

(7) The Greek verb in verse 10 has a tense which indicates continued action—“…10 And let these also first be proved;…”

c. The Deacons’ Wives

(1) Why are there no instructions for the wives of elders (pastors)? Because they have a full time job just taking care of their man.

(2) A Deacon’s wife must be serious, not a back-biter, a sober-minded, and a spiritual woman: "…Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things."

(3) The deacon’s wife must be reverent and God-fearing. She should be a godly woman of prayer and a woman of the Book.

(4) The Deacon’s wife cannot be a slanderer. A woman who is a slanderer and a back-biter is not the wife a deacon should have.

(5) If a man has a wife who is a slanderer and a back-biter, he is as unqualified to be a deacon as is a divorced and remarried man.

(6) The Deacon’s wife must be sober-minded and trustworthy

(7) Why all of these concerns?

(a) The Deacons will be dealing with serious personal things
(b) The Deacons will be dealing with money, needs, and business
(c) The last thing needed is for their wives to hinder the process…

4. The results: Effective Church Leadership

a. The first result—Greater Publication—“…Then the word of God spread…”.

(1) The Preachers, the eldership were able to devote themselves to the Word and Prayer. This made the preachers mightier in the Word. Their time alone with the Lord made them better servants of God. Their time discipling people caused rapid progress in discipleship

(2) The People, being well-taught, spread the Word (see Eph 4:12-16).

(3) Because of the power of the pulpit when bathed in prayer and steeped in the Word, the lost were convicted.

(4) Because of the power of the pulpit, the saved people were growing faster.

(5) Because of the preaching and prayer, the members became doctrinally mature and stable.

(6) Because of the preaching and prayer, the members became better able to speak the Truth in love as mature believers should.

(7) Because of all of this, the church grew in numbers and in spiritual and moral power.

b. The Second Result–Greater propagation

(1) Eph 4:11-16 True Church Growth is Biblical growth.

(a) Man’s program is all about methods and cotton candy preaching.

(b) God’s program of church growth is not based on catchy phrases and special days, nor is it based on the pastor cajoling people to attend church who really don’t want to be there.

(c) God’s program of church growth is: For the church to major on four things,

(i) The Apostle’s Doctrine
(ii) Fellowship (koinonia, not dinners),
(iii) the Breaking of Bread
(iv) Prayer.
(d) God’s program is for the men of God to preach, teach, and lead.
(e) God’s program is for the people to grow in grace because of powerful teaching and preaching.
(f) God’s program is for spiritually mature Christians to naturally spread the Gospel through their witness.

c. The Third Result of a Biblical deacon ministry was—greater penetration a deeper reach “…and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith."

5. Finally, we see the Deacon’s Reward—(1 Tim 3:13) "For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."

a. If a man serves well as a deacon, he will be appreciated and loved by the chuch

b. If a man serves well as a deacon, God will make him bolder and stronger in faith, so that he can serve even more and even better.

How to Run the Church

Ought:
How To Do Church

(1 Tim 3:14-15)

1. A Side Point—Divine Providence Makes Our Plans: "These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed…”

a. Paul had intended to return to Ephesus at this point—he never did

b. Divine Providence is that characteristic and power of God by which He controls the course o f human history and individual human lives

(1) Human History—Acts 17:24-27, Is 42:8-11
(2) Individual Lives—Ps 139:13-16, Gal 1:13-15

c. Paul, at this time, does not realize that he will never be in Ephesus again


2. How To Conduct Yourself In Church—“…I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God…”

a. Some peoples claim that there are no normal forms of organization, leadership, or polity (organization) for the NT church—this gives them the leeway to set up the church according to their tastes—this verse destroys that entire idea

b. The purpose of this letter, supplemented by other passages in other books, is to show us how the Apostles organized the local church, so that we might follow their example.

c. This entire book is dedicated to telling us how we are to do church!

d. Here is what we have looked at so far in our study of Timothy:

(1) How to fight against false teachers

(a) Given the amount of time the New Testament spends telling us how to deal with false teachers, this must be very important
(b) Examples

(i) 1st Corinthians in part, dealt with false teachers who had denied the bodily resurrection of Jesus

(ii) 2nd Corinthians dealt with “super-apostles” who were teaching false doctrines and deceiving believers

(iii) The entire book of Galatians was about defending salvation by Grace against false teachers who denied it

(iv) The Ephesian letter teaches about spiritual warfare, because in that city of pagan religion, fighting against demonic forces was all too common.

(v) In Colossians, they were fighting against a false teacher who had organized his own cult religion

(vi) In 1st Thessalonians, there was confusion about the end times

(vii) In 2nd Thessalonians, a cult group that had broken off from the true church and were forging letters as if from Paul, teaching that the Lord had already returned and the Thessalonians had missed it.

(viii) In 1st and 2nd Timothy, here before us, there were several different kinds of false doctrine being dealt with

(ix) In Titus, there were false teachers in the churches in Crete which Titus had to take on head on and deal with.

(x) In 2 Peter and Jude, a dangerous cult was spreading through several churches

(xi) In 1, 2, and 3 John, a group we now know as the Gnostics had penetrated several churches

(xii) In the seven churches of Asia in Rev 2 and 3, there were problems with false teachers in five of the seven churches.

(xiii) And, there is more to come!


(2) 1 Timothy tells men and women how to worship and serve?

(a) There are distinct, overlapping, and complementary ways of Serving God in the church
(b) All are to serve, but not in the same way


(3) 1 Timothy tells us How to organize the government of the local New Testament church

(a) Paul names two offices, elder/overseer/pastor, and deacon

(b) Paul gives qualifications for those offices

(c) Titus 1 and Acts 14, 15, 20 suggest to us that these were regular and widespread practices

(d) Since Paul was the man through whom the Lord had decided to reveal church Truth—Eph 2:11-3:21, these things are seen to really fit together well, and belong to his ministry.

(4) Several things yet remain to be studied, and among the mosts vital are

(a) How pastors are to serve

(b) How pastors are to be treated by the church

3. What the church is—“…the Household of God…”

a. Not a physical building—“God’s House…” is not brick and mortar, but is flesh and blood. The congregation does not meet at the church—wherever the congregation is, that IS the church.

b. The Assembly, the ecclesia, is the congregation gathered together for conducting church—Mat 16:17-20

c. “In the household…” refers to your relationship to other believers when you meet together.

(1) We are little stones (1 Pet 2:1-5)
(2) He is the chief corner stone—Eph 2:20

4. What the Church is To Be, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

a. The church of the LIVING God

(1) God spoke of this often in the OT

(2) The Church is the Church of The Living God

(a) In the OT, it is a phrase that emphasizes the falsehood of the dead “gods” of the pagans—(Jer 10:1-10) ***
(b) In the NT, it is a confession of faith

(Mat 16:16) "Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.""

(John 6:69) ""Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.""

(2 Cor 6:16) "And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.""


b. The Church is The bulwark [pillar and ground] of Truth

(1) In Ephesus and other places, the pagan temples had large columns with stone bases, which not only were beautiful but also functional, in that they held the building together

(2) Paul is using that architectural form to illustrate the centrality and importance of the Word, and of the importance of the church protecting and preserving the Word of God.

(a) 2 Tim 1:13-14
(b) 2 Tim 2:1-2

c. The Word of God is the Only authority the church has

(1) God holds His Word in such esteem, that He puts it over His own Name—Ps 138:2—"I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name." Why?

(a) First, because God truly loves the Word of Truth that He ordained before the ages (1 Cor 2), which has eternally been settled in Heaven (Ps 119:89)

(b) Second, because the Word of God is an objective standard by which to measure everything—it is easy to claim to be serving in the Name of the Lord, but the only way that can be tested and measured is by reference to God’s Word—see Mat 7:21-23, 1 John 2:18-23, 4:1-3, Is 8:19-20

(2) The Word of God tells us how be saved—Romans 10:9

(3) The Word of God tells us Who Jesus Is—

(Mat 16:16) "Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.""

(John 8:58) "Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.""

(John 20:28-29) "And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.""

(4) The Word of God tells us What Jesus Has Done

(Mat 1:21) ""And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.""

(5) The Word of God tells us How we are to respond to Him

(Acts 16:30-31) "And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.""

(Rom 10:9-10) "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

(6) The Word of God tells us how to live for Him

(Mat 28:19-20) ""Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."

(John 10:27) ""My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

(7) The Word of God tells us what True New Covenant worship is


(8) The Word of God tells us what is right and wrong behavior for a believer

(9) The Word of God gives us that sure and certain hope of the return of the Lord and our going to be with him.

(10) And the church is supposed to be the bulwark, the fortress of the Truth, the repository of the Truth, the legacy-keeper, the succession of Truth preachers and Truth teachers that have safeguarded and who still safeguard this Holy Word