(307) 733-3706
HomeVisitAboutMinistriesEventsMessagesGive Sign in

Messages

Godliness Is of Value in Every Way

May 27, 2018 · 1 Timothy

Scripture referenced 14 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

  • Psalm 63 quoted at the opening of worship: 'because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you'

    1 God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.

    2 So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory.

    3 Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.

    4 So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name.

    5 My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,

    6 when I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches.

    7 For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.

    8 My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.

    9 But those who seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

    10 They shall be given over to the power of the sword. They shall be jackal food.

    11 But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.

    World English Bible · Read it in another translation

    Keep this verse

1 Corinthians 1:18-19

the message of the cross is power of salvation to those being saved but foolishness to those perishing

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Romans 1-2

cited alongside 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 on the power of salvation for those being saved

1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,

1:2 which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

1:3 concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh,

1:4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

1:5 through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;

1:6 among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ;

1:7 to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.

1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,

1:10 requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you.

1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established;

1:12 that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

1:13 Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.

1:14 I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.

1:15 So, as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.

1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.

1:17 For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”

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

1:19 because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them.

1:20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.

1:21 Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.

1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

1:23 and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.

1:24 Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves;

1:25 who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

1:26 For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.

1:27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.

1:28 Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,

1:30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

1:31 without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful;

1:32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

2:1 Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.

2:2 We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.

2:3 Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

2:4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

2:5 But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God;

2:6 who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:”

2:7 to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;

2:8 but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,

2:9 oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

2:10 But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

2:11 For there is no partiality with God.

2:12 For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

2:13 For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified

2:14 (for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,

2:15 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)

2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of…

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

1 Timothy 1:15

trustworthy saying: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost'

15 The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

1 Timothy 4:4-10

main passage: bodily training of some value, godliness of value in every way, hope set on the living God savior of all especially those who believe

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving.

5 For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.

6 If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed.

7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.

8 For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come.

9 This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.

10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

John 14:6

cited to show Christ is the only way: 'no one comes to the Father except through me'

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

John 3:16

cited on universal offer: 'whosoever believes in him' does not mean all without condition

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Acts 4:12

cited on exclusivity: 'there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved'

12 There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

1 Timothy 2:5

cited on one mediator: 'one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom'

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Ephesians 4:4-6

cited on unity: one body, one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

John 10:9

Jesus said 'I am the door; if anyone enters by me he will be saved and will go in and find pasture'

9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

John 10:10

Jesus said 'I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly'

10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

John 11:25-26

Jesus said 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me though he may die he shall live'

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.

26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

John 8:12

Jesus said 'I am the light of the world; whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life'

12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

The pastor opened 1 Timothy 4 and worked through Paul's instructions to Timothy on what it means to be a good servant of Christ Jesus. The message centered on the relationship between the content of the gospel and the conduct of the believer, with a direct challenge to the idea that Jesus saves people regardless of what they believe.

What was said

Paul tells Timothy that if he puts "these things" before the brothers and sisters, he will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. Those things are two: being trained in the words of the faith, meaning the actual gospel, and following good doctrine, meaning a life shaped by that gospel. The pastor framed it as content and conduct working together. You can say the right things and not live them, and that costs you credibility. You can try to live well without knowing the gospel, and that has no eternal foundation.

Paul then tells Timothy to train himself for godliness rather than getting tangled up in "irreverent, silly myths." The pastor used the analogy of physical training to explain the comparison Paul makes. Bodily training has some value in this life, and he said he wasn't dismissing it, but godliness holds promise for both this life and the life to come. It is valuable in every way, and that is the "trustworthy saying" the pastor argued Paul is flagging in that passage.

The phrase "savior of all people, especially of those who believe" came up next, and the pastor acknowledged plainly that it sounds like universal salvation. He said he understood why someone would read it that way, but that you have to weigh it against the whole of scripture. The "especially" does the work there: people who believe have no doubt about their savior, and the word "whosoever" throughout the rest of scripture is a real condition, not a formality.

From there he addressed universalism and its softer version, inclusivism, directly. Inclusivism holds that sincerity of belief in any direction is enough, and Jesus saves on that basis even without a person ever hearing or accepting his name. The pastor called it convenient and said flatly that it is not scriptural. He read a string of passages in which Jesus identifies himself as the way, the truth, the life, the door, the resurrection, and the light, each time making the claim exclusive. He also read a quote attributing to Al Mohler the point that if all you need is a teacher, a lawgiver, or inspiration, other options exist, but if you need a savior, only Jesus will do.

Paul's instruction to Timothy to watch his conduct and his content, and to persist in both, closed out the passage. The pastor pointed out that Paul opens with content then conduct, and closes with self-watch then teaching, which is conduct then content, a reversal that puts the center of the passage on the living God as savior of all who will ever believe. He said the way believers love and treat other people affects whether anyone will listen when they speak the gospel, and that writing someone off as deserving their fate is a destructive frame of mind. The call was to bring people in, not to keep score.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

  1. The pastor talked about the connection between content and conduct, saying that what you believe shapes how you act. Where have you seen that to be true, or not true, in your own life?
  2. Paul tells Timothy to have nothing to do with 'irreverent, silly myths' and instead to train himself for godliness. What does that kind of training actually look like day to day, and what makes it harder to pursue than physical training?

and 3 more questions in the guide

Open the study guide

Read the full transcript 6,526 words
0:00 Good morning, church family. How are you? It's good to see you. It's a gorgeous day. We're here together.
0:06 What do you say we stand and we worship God? From Psalm 63, because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Great verse. So true. Alright.
1:41 From the top, your love is your love is
1:47 like radiant diamond
3:39 Alright. Y'all can have a seat? And I'm going to borrow my Carl's mic here. We've got announcements and they're up there. Click away.
3:52 There we go. We are off tomorrow night. So, Monday nights at first be are not happening the way that they always do. It's Memorial Day. So, we are going be remembering being with family and we're working on that but Monday nights at First B is not happening tomorrow in the normal way.
4:08 I'll be here if somebody shows up, they show up. That's great. We always kind of have somebody catch that because we do want to be a service that's ongoing but it's not going to be the regular meal, music, and message tomorrow. Youth group is happening on Tuesday night and Tuesday night is also the night of the Bar J fundraiser and that's what they're going to go do. So, it's going to be a little bit earlier than normal.
4:28 Mike asked me to make that announcement. He says, his phone number is in the paper bulletin this week and so, if you or your student want to go to this, you can call him. He'll get the tickets for youth group is going to meet for the Barjay Chuck Wagon. It's going be Turning Points fundraiser. So, that's happening Tuesday, May 29.
4:47 That's this Tuesday. They started. I went, saw the show Friday night. It was great as it always is but that'll be fun on Tuesday. Come on out.
4:55 It's going to make the announcement again. We still have open amnesty for tables and chairs to be returned. So, we would like to have those back. If you see em around, we don't know exactly what's happened to em but some of our tables and chairs have gone missing. If you've got some of em, please bring em back in.
5:09 No questions asked. Church photo day. So, June 3, that's next week and June 10, that's the following week. Bring a smile with you. Dress up however you want to dress.
5:19 This is Jackson. Dress how you want to dress. We're not saying you gotta dress up. Trust me. Church photo days though are happening.
5:25 I have the best photo that I want to bring and put up there for dress up church photo of me. It is really really bad from a long time ago. So, dress like you dress. Come on, plant. We're going to take your picture next few weeks and so we'll be able to put it up in the bulletin and also, I mean, on the bulletin board down the hall and we'll also put em in the directory.
5:47 Rolling River Rampage VBS is happening. There's a volunteer meeting happening Tuesday, the twenty ninth at 10AM. So, that's here at the church, 10AM, May 29 and that's talking about June 25 through the twenty seventh. Those three days, we're going to have Vacation Bible School, Rolling River Rampage. If you want more information, talk to Liz Owings about that and this weekend is Memorial Day weekend.
6:11 Tomorrow is Memorial Day. My dad was a veteran. He was drafted in to Vietnam and I he served. I don't, he wouldn't have signed up but he did serve. And he served with distinction and he gets together with his buddies now every year, once a year, at least and that group, that little band of brothers is an amazing, amazing thing for his life and in the life of this country because there's so many that served when they were called.
6:41 So, I just want to say thank you. If you served in the military, would you mind standing up and letting everyone else appreciate you? I know that Memorial Day is for those who have fallen. I know that but I wanted to thank y'all because y'all are the ones who know the ones who fail. So, would you pray with me?
7:08 God, for the sacrifice that so many have made so that we may be free so that we may express our opinions on either side of the political spectrum. They fought for this blessed country, blessed of God, for this great idea, American idea. So, God, I pray that you would comfort the families of those who have lost loved ones. In securing the freedom that we have. In Jesus name, lord, we ask that you would bless and draw them into your great peace and comfort.
7:40 In Jesus name, again, we pray. Amen. Y'all can, is that the last one, Blake? Yes. No, there's one more.
7:47 Jump on up here. There are two more, actually.
7:54 Every quarter, we have a literature that is printed. So if you want a daily wow. If you want a daily devotion book, this one has a yearly read through
8:06 the Bible plan and a daily devotion. The secret place is a daily devotion book, and it also comes in
8:13 a large print as well.
8:17 Thank you. And Dave, you want to come up? David Gilmore.
8:23 Good morning. So recently, I got married, as some of you know. Anyways, we'd love to celebrate with you. We'd love to see you. We're having a party next Sunday, the third, at Camp Creek, which is down near Hoback, three three miles down towards Pinedale.
8:43 I'd love to see you. It's from 01:00 to 05:00, and anyone's invited.
8:48 Alright. Thank you very much. So, Diane, is there one more announcement? Amanda, would you come on up? Amanda is interning with us.
9:04 Here you go.
9:06 So one of my big projects is to put the history of the church together and, if you have any stories about the history of this church, just please contact me and we can meet up and I can get your story and put it in and, it's kinda hard to find a lot about the history of the church. So if you have any information, it'd be really helpful. So thank you.
9:30 Thank you. Communications is your project. Now, would y'all mind standing and y'all can greet one another? We'll bring you back together with a peppy tune.
10:16 And even though walk
11:11 every time, every door. Oh, no. You never let go alone. You never let go of me.
11:24 And I can see the light that is coming for the heart that holds on, a glorious light beyond all compare. And there will be a man to these troubles,
12:29 Let's sing that again.
16:12 Let's pray together. Shall we? Father, when I consider that you have taken on the sins of the whole world, even just the the sin of all of us in this room is just too too numerous to count. I think of Paul saying, sinners of whom I'm the worst, I think, yeah. Yeah.
16:32 That's what you did for for us. You went to the cross for us, for our mistakes, for our errors, and you took that on yourself. So thank you, God. You say, you canceled the record of the charges against it and took it away by nailing it to the cross. That's what you have done.
16:52 Don't let us forget. Don't let us forget the grace that you extend, the mercy that you extend, the forgiveness that you extend. But, Lord, your mercies are new each day. Each morning, they're new. We need to ask for them each morning, not living off yesterday's grace or yesterday's mercy, but each day, a continued ongoing relationship and a and a dependence with you.
17:18 Would you teach us that, God? Remind us when our feet hit the floor in the morning to depend on you daily, to depend on you for your love, for your grace, for your mercy, for your forgiveness, but also for your joy. There is joy, there is life in you. Don't let us forget. Amen.
17:54 Without you, I fall apart. You're the one that guides my heart. Let's pray together. God, do thank you for your righteousness in us. We we, just say once again that it is yours and not our own.
20:53 Thank you, God, for extending every blessing, every spiritual blessing, every physical blessing, everything that we could possibly have or want, that's what you give. But we take time to acknowledge you, to give back to you, to say thank you, to say thank you that we trust you, that we're grateful. God, would you use these gifts, these resources to do your will, your way, and your world? Thank you for letting us be a part of it. In Jesus' name, amen.
21:21 You can have a seat.
22:15 Of what I've done, but because of who you are.
24:28 We're just going to jump right into it today. If you put these things before the brothers and sisters, brothers can be either brothers or brothers and sisters, context determines but he's speaking to groups. Timothy will be speaking to groups of men and women. So, here we go. If you put these things before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus.
24:48 Paul, speaking to his true son in the faith, right? Timothy, he knows that Timothy was brought up by his grandmother and his mother to believe in the scriptures. He knows the scriptures. Paul has been training him for a good long while and he knows that Timothy is a saved believer and Jesus, no doubt about it. He's a Christian and he fits the qualifications that we went over in chapter three and he's telling them that if you put these things before the brothers and sisters, you'll be a good servant of Christ Jesus.
25:21 Now, these things is pure, unadulterated, good scripture, and good doctrine and he goes on to say that, being trained in the words of the faith. That is the gospel. The words of the faith, the Christian faith, actual Christian faith, not a pseudo Christian faith but actually putting faith and trust in Jesus Christ and in his paid payment for sin. Accesses you all of the incorruptible hope of glory. Heaven and an abundant life until then.
25:56 Does that make sense? That's the words of the faith is really the message of the cross. It is the power unto salvation for all who believe and says in Romans, it is it is the power of salvation for those who are being saved but it is foolishness to those who are perishing. That's first Corinthians one eighteen and nineteen and Romans one and two. Being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.
26:26 He said, not only do you know good doctrine but you actually live by it. Does that make sense? So, it's content of the gospel and conduct of your life after the gospel has begun transforming you. You are changed and you follow after Christ. Being trained in the words of faith and the good doctrine that you have followed.
26:44 If you put these things before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant to Christ Jesus. So, being trained in the words of the faith is important. It really does matter what you believe. The content of the gospel is important. And of a good doctrine.
27:00 Your conduct matters and what you read and how you interpret scripture and how you live it out matters. That you have followed says, how you live it out but that good doctrine, good doctrine, what you believe makes a difference in how you act. Do you believe that? Yes. Do you always live up to your beliefs?
27:20 No. But the gospel says, as you surrender your will to God's will, as you submit your will to God's will, he will transform you. Amen. Message of the cross. It's the power of God.
27:38 Unto salvation or for those who are being saved. It is progressive. We've talked about several times. You are either lost or found. You are either a non Christian or you are a Christian.
27:50 We've talked about that before but in practice, how we practice it out? You can be a Christian. And still sin. Does that make sense? I don't think you could be happy there.
28:02 Thank you, Blake. I don't think you can live happy in that place. The Holy Spirit will be convicting and if you ignore and ignore and ignore, ignore it, you'll hear it less and less. That's a bad position to be in. It is not an abundant life.
28:20 Being trained in the words of the faith and the good doctrine that you have followed, Paul saying to Timothy, this is another one of those stamp of approval messages where he's saying, Timothy has not just my blessing but these are the good things about Timothy that he should be able to help set up church. He should be able to help lead y'all in the way that you should go, Ephesus. He says then, to Timothy, have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. At the beginning of the book of Timothy, he says, there are certain persons who are teaching about endless genealogies and ridiculous fables or irreverent silly myths. He says, having nothing to do with those irreverent, irreverent, silly myths that are just made up but rather train yourself for godliness and the train, some of your Bibles say nourish.
29:06 Actually, might not say nourish right here. It'll say it in the next sentence but rather train yourself for godliness. He's saying, undertake this. I know there are couple of guys in here are training for a triathlon right now and their life is different right now because they're training for a triathlon. They're considering what they need to do.
29:23 If I were to train for a triathlon, it would be a long path. From the couch to the triathlon would be a pretty good run for me. But training yourself for godliness. Oh, y'all are not supposed to laugh that hard at that. Vertical stripes, not horizontal stripes.
29:40 It doesn't help a bit. I'm a start. Train yourself for godliness. The next thing says, while bodily training or physical exercise is of some value. I need to hear that.
29:54 It is of some value. It is and it doesn't say it's not of value or I don't do this. It says, do this. It's some value. While bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way and the way he says it's in every way because it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
30:17 Bodily training does hold some promise in this life, right? We know from years and years of studying the human body that if you eat right and you exercise that you tend to live longer, right? And as much as you can control it, it is of some value to eat right, exercise, to train your body, to do whatever exercises for whatever it is you want to accomplish. It'll make you stronger. It'll give you more stamina.
30:43 It'll make you actually teaches a lot of lessons. Did you play Little League where you learn the lessons from being on a team and trying to make things work? Bodily training is of some value but godliness is a value in every way. It's a value in this life but it also carries on into eternity. Physical training.
31:05 Some value temporal teaches life lessons, increases strength, or stamina, and it may extend, may extend this temporal life because as as they say with driving, you can drive a car and you can be the perfect driver but you can't control what's coming towards you. You have to drive defensively in a way. You don't know what life is going to throw at you. There are people who have been, this week, actually, I I I fellow that I know well had a kidney stone and that'll stop life for you. I had a kidney stone.
31:36 It take the rest of the hour for me to tell you all all about it and I'm not going to do that. You don't know what life is going to throw at you. You can do everything right and it's still, it has some value but it's not extended value but training and godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for both temporal and eternal. It also helps other people and we know that because Paul is saying this to Timothy who is trying to help other people.
31:59 That make sense? This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. Now, there's some question as to why that saying is there right there. We've seen him say, this saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came in the world and saved sinners. This is one fifteen.
32:17 First Timothy one fifteen. Christ Jesus came in the world to save sinners of whom not I am the foremost. He's also said that hey, there's a another one. The goal of command is love which comes from pure heart. I've been saying this one over and over again.
32:32 There's another one in chapter two where he says, this is worthy of full acceptance. Here's a trustworthy saving. Deserves full acceptance. Christ Jesus came in the world to save sinners of whom? I'm the worst.
32:46 So, the saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. I'm going to go with godliness is of value in every way. That's what Paul is saying. This is a trustworthy saying because it's a quip, it's a saying. It's something that can be said.
33:01 It probably preceded Paul. He used it in this analogy of bodily training is of some value but godliness is a value in every way. Maybe it extends as far as as it holds promise to present life and also for the life to come. It's a little long for a quip, you know, but he's saying this saying or this quip is trustworthy, deserving of full acceptance. The reason I put that out there is because grammatically, it could go with the next sentence.
33:25 The next sentence is, for to this end, we toil and strive because we've set our hope on the living God. That's good too and worthy of full acceptance. It's scripture and proclaiming that. We do toil and strive after bodily exercise, obviously not, sorry. But toil and strive because I've set my hope on the living God.
33:49 I really do seek to live my life. I don't always do it perfectly but I seek to live my life in accordance with that. He is the living God and he has given us his word. He is the savior of all people. Now, if you stop right there, it go, oh, that sounds so universal.
34:05 It sounds like everybody's going to get saved. He's the savior of all people and then it kind of makes it worse. The rest of the senate says, especially of those who believe. Y'all remember, well, everybody remembers November 2016. When the election happened and then Trump won and that was not an expect expected by a lot of people.
34:26 And there was a hashtag that came out and the hashtag was not my president. Y'all remember that? Yeah. Not my president. Well, the truth is if you're a US citizen, he's your president.
34:37 Like him or don't, doesn't matter. Hashtag not my president. No, that's not true. That is not the way it is with Jesus, okay? He has given us the will to exercise and he is the savior of all who are saved.
34:54 He is the savior of all who will be saved especially of those who believe, throw it in there. The people who believe, there's no doubt he's their savior. Paul speaking to this audience and he is saying, Jesus is the only way but the way it comes out to us looks like, wow, if I were a universalist, I'd hang my hat on that. He's the savior of all. He is the savior of all who are saved.
35:21 Especially those who believe. So, this is the other side of that. This says, trustworthy, deserving, and full acceptance. You could go with that if you want to but I think that it makes more sense since that's not a quip either. It's not a real tight saying.
35:36 I think that it makes more sense to go with this. Godliness is of value in every way. If in your normal everyday life, you are thinking about, should I do that or should I not do that? And the temptation is to eat the jelly donut. And you think of physical training, I'm saying, it's obvious that that's not really good for me, right?
35:57 But if I see there's there's this possibility of doing the right thing, doing the wrong thing, y'all know. Usually, you know, the difference. If you get to that point and you think, godliness is a value in every way. Godliness is a value in every way and then, withstand the temptation and move on. There are a lot of people in the room who are struggling which which is the greater good.
36:22 What's the best thing that I can do right now with my time? Godliness is a value in every way. Lean towards him and say, God, please help show me the way. Right now, I feel completely lost. Will you please help show me your way?
36:39 Godliness is a value in every way. In this life and in the next. For this end, we toil and we strive because we have set our hope on the living God who is the savior of all people especially of those who believe. Now, that looks like universal salvation. I realize that.
36:55 You have to take the whole weight of scripture and I will come back in a minute and I'll read you some scripture, okay? Flat out just read it straight up. It is not. It looks like it. I'll admit it looks like it but it's not.
37:11 Command and teach these things. Jesus is lord of all. Jesus paid it all as we sang. Command and teach these things. Which things?
37:23 The words of the faith, the actual gospel, it is by the blood of Christ that we are saved. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. No one comes to the father except by him.
37:33 John fourteen six, the gospel. God so loved the world that he gave us only begotten son so that whosoever believes in him, whosoever believes in him doesn't sound like all, does it? Are there people who deny Christ? There are. The words of the faith is Christianity, Christ is the only way.
37:55 There's one name that's given under heaven whereby we must be saved. And of good doctrine. Reading that and knowing that you have followed makes your life one that carries the word of the faith with more oomph, okay? Because you can say and say and say and say and not do and people will not listen or they'll have a better excuse for not listening to anybody else but if you live it out, then, your words have more. Let no one the oomph.
38:31 Let no one despise you for your youth but set the believers an example in speech and in conduct and in love and in faith and in purity. Let no one despise you for your youth. I was figuring, I think I mentioned that I think at the beginning of the study by my figuring, Timothy would have been a little bit younger than me, 40. Most commentators that I've read and I've been trying to keep up say he was very late twenties up through thirties probably. That to us seems like, oh, thirties.
39:02 That's the problem. That's that's right there. That's not somebody that anybody's going to despise for their youth. That's not even young anymore but in that day, in that time, especially with a bunch of guys that Paul had brought and introduced to Christ. Those guys would have been older than Timothy by quite a bit.
39:20 They've been olders, elder, right? More mature in their life and so Paul is saying, yes, you are younger than they are and when you go in, don't let them despise you for your youth. It seems odd that the the contrary rather or the but there is, let no one despise you for your youth but instead, set them an example in speech and conduct and love and faith. Show your Christian maturity by the way that you act. Set them an example in speech.
39:53 Don't go into the endless arguments over those endless genealogies and don't get around those silly myths and just keep on going with it in the way that you act, in your conduct, and in the way that you love because if you divide yourself, if you divide yourself as an us and them, theological disputes, and you're not doing it in love, nobody's going to listen to you. You're going to be the other side. In faith, putting your faith in God, really, trusting in him directly and in purity. At this time, you've got a Jewish background set of believers in the same body with a pagan background set of believers in this body and when you mix those two super conservative and pretty dog on liberal together, you're going to get some friction, right? Purity, he's saying, absolutely, be pure but he's talking about personal holiness, you know?
40:55 Love, faith, and purity. Some of the other stuff that we've seen about how people dress, modesty, and that sort of thing. He's pointing towards, watch yourself. In fact, he goes on to say that later. Until I come, Timothy, devote yourself to the public reading of scripture.
41:12 The public reading of scripture. I try to always put the words up here so you can see that these little numbers and these are it's the Bible. I'm trying to project to you is that scripture is really really important. If it's just willy nilly however you feel, that's not much of a a foundation to be resting on but the teaching of the apostles and prophets, the law is in scripture. So, until I come devote yourself to the public reading of scripture and the exhortation.
41:43 Some of your versions will say preaching and the teaching. So, I put the scripture up there. I want you to hear it. At the same time, I want to explain it if it doesn't seem to make sense and to encouraging you in it, encouraging you to live it out. That's what Timothy's job was.
42:02 There. Do not neglect the gift that you have, Timothy. What is the gift? I'd say it's the to do this, to do the public reading of scripture, and to preach, and to teach. I'm sure that there was some counseling individual teaching that was going on too but don't neglect the gift that you have which was given to you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
42:27 So, he had the authority that was placed on him. Now, there's another way to read this through the laying on of hands and there are a lot of churches that follow that tradition and I think that that's fine. It is God had you selected for this job. Other people agreed on it in the in the spirit, laid their hands on you, put their seal on you that you're the guy to do this job. It was given to you by the proclamation that God is good.
42:57 He is blessed in this way. He has you here to do this job. Timothy, now, do it. Don't neglect the gift. The when the council of elders could be through.
43:08 I just wanted to highlight that. Through when the when they laid hands on you. Now, he says, practice these things. Keep on going. Practice these things over and over and over again.
43:19 Practice these things. Immerse yourself in em. It literally says, be in them. Abide in them. Abide in the scriptures.
43:28 Abide in the exhortation of the scriptures. Teach them. Practice them. Immerse yourself in them. So that all may see your progress.
43:40 He knew Timothy was going to be in a role where people were looking. He didn't want for Timothy to do anything that would cause harm to the gospel or to the name of Christ or to that church individually and he knew that in a visible role so that all may see your progress, immerse yourself in em, abide, be there. Don't neglect it. Don't run away from it. Stay in it.
44:06 Then he says here, keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching, on your self conduct and on the teaching, the content. So, persist in it. Keep on going. I told you a couple weeks ago, sometimes it's hard for me or for Carl to just get up here and keep saying the same thing. Faith, hope, love.
44:24 Faith, hope, love. God's grace, his mercy. But but it's on every page and if we're going to progress and we're going to read scripture publicly, then, we're going to need to persist in that because that's the message of almighty God. Keep a close watch on yourself and on this teaching. Persist in it.
44:41 Both conduct and content for by so doing, you'll save both yourself and your hearers. So, the universal thought that we had in the middle of this message that I said it points to it. I understand it sounds like it but he's saying that you'll save both yourself and your hearers. Does that not imply that there will be those who will not be saved? There will be those who will not be saved.
45:08 It will be because they deserve it and that is hard truth but it is truth. Keep a close watch on your conduct and your content. He said, at the beginning or at the end right there, your conduct and your content but it made me think of this, at the beginning, he said, if you put these things before your brothers, you'll be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you followed, it was the opposite order. When you see something that's repeated twice but it's opposite order from Paul or from anybody that's trained in Hebrew and Greek. A lot of times, they do that.
45:46 Being trained in the words of the faith, your content, the gospel, and being trained in the good doctrine that you have followed, your conduct. He said, you got that and at the end, he says, keep a close watch on yourself that's conduct and the teaching that's content. He said, if you do both of these things, you'll be a good servant of Christ Jesus and persist in it. Does that make sense? Are you with me?
46:08 It also says if they're in opposite order like that, that there's something between those that's the absolute center point, the kiosk construction and so, looking through it, the middle part of that is we have set our hope on the living God who is the savior of all. He is the savior of everyone who will ever be saved in all ages especially those who believe or particularly of those who believe. The whosoever is a whosoever that is really real. Whoever believes will be saved. Command and teach these things.
46:42 Now, I have a few things here. I I usually, when I mention the prosperity gospel, I always say out loud, it's hogwash and when I mention heresy, I hardly ever go for any other heresy except for prosperity gospel because I think it's the most damaging to the gospel but there's a more subtle one that's also incredibly convenient and it's called universalism and universalism or inclusivism. Inclusivism is a kind of a branch off of universalism and the temptation is to believe that Jesus is the savior of all no matter what they believe as long as it's sincere. That's inclusivism. They could believe whatever they believe as long as it it's sincere and it seeks after the good of all.
47:27 Then, it's okay and Jesus is going to save him for that. Whether they heard his name, whether they knew his name, whether they called on his name, whether they believe in his name. Even if they've outright rejected it, flatly, okay? And that's just not scriptural. It's convenient but it's not scriptural.
47:48 It leads to a very lax practice. Dude, everything's cool, man. Going all up in the same place anyway. Chill. Why are you so upset about it?
47:59 For that matter, why do we have missionaries? Why did God ever send anybody anywhere at all? That make sense? Okay. Public reading of scripture nor is there salvation in any other for there's no name under heaven given among which by which men or we must be saved.
48:21 There's one God, there's one mediator between God and man, the man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom. There's one body and one spirit, one lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father, of all who's above all and through all and in you all. He's speaking to Christians right there. Jesus said to him, I'm the way. I'm the truth.
48:43 I'm the life. No one comes to the father except through me. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and he will go in and find pasture. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.
48:58 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection. I am the life. He who believes in me though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. And spoke to them again.
49:09 I'm the light of the world who follows after me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life. Some of these are about your salvation and some of these are about your sanctification and it says that it's found in Christ alone. That's the repeat. I've got several more pages of this. I've got several other pages which I'm not going to read right now but I will hand them off to you if you want to see em.
49:34 Just for time's sake. That go into the other option. There is heaven and there is hell and if you try to remove hell from your value system which several high prominent names in leadership, different denominations have said recently that there's no such thing. It's just they cease to exist. Poof.
49:56 Annihilation. Others leave space for postmortem conversion. Postmortem conversion. I'm not joking. There is an everlasting torment and that's hard, but it's true.
50:16 And right now you have a chance. Al Moller, I've got a quote here If we don't need a savior Here it is. Here's the quote. If all we need is a teacher of enlightenment then Buddha will do. If all we need is a collection of gods for every occasion and need and hope, then Hinduism will do.
50:48 If all we need is a tribal deity, then any tribal deity will do. If all we need is a law giver, then Moses will do. If all we need is a set of rules and a way of devotion, then, Muhammad or Joseph Smith will do. If all we need is inspiration and insight into the sovereign self for crying out loud, Oprah will do. But if we need a savior, only Jesus will do.
51:20 So, Heaven requires pre registration Jim Watt. Okay It's an uncomfortable truth but the truth it is, alright? It's uncomfortable because of the society we live in right? Do you get that? That's why.
51:45 But if we watch our content, if we watch our conduct, we have a greater capacity to be able to help those who are perishing, rescue the perishing, care for the dying, right? Bring em in. Bring em in. The way that we love, the way that we treat other people makes a difference. If you get in your mind that I'm saved and he's not and he deserves it.
52:11 That's a bad, bad frame of mind. Would you stand up? I'm gonna invite the band back up. And I'm gonna give an invitation. Now we don't do this every week, but I'm doing it this week.
52:27 So, if you feel like I have never trusted Jesus before or if you flat out know, I have rejected him outright. I've been playing the game, just coming to church, doing what people do when they go to church. If that's you, then please, take the opportunity. It doesn't have to be right now during this song at the front. You don't have to come up here, Neil.
52:50 You don't have to tell me right now but would you contact me this week? Let me know, please. One of our elders be great too. Would you come in and say, I need Jesus because truth is you need Jesus. God, would you help us?
53:05 Would you help us live out a life that glorifies you, that we enjoy you on this side with abundant life. And that we carry forth a content and a reason when people ask for a defense of the faith that is within us that we have it because we know the content of the gospel. Sinless savior died so that we might be set free. That might is there because it depends on what we do with that news. In Jesus name, amen.
56:37 Amen. And now, Lord, would you take us out of this place and shine your light through us, lord? I pray that it'd be unrestricted, that it would just be the bright glory of God that is shining through the way that we live which is based on the way that we believe. Would you change our hearts and our minds from a human mindset in this day, in this age, to a godly mindset which is good for all eternity, both directions. In Jesus name, amen.
57:42 Hey, everybody. Before you get too far away, that Vacation Bible School meeting is today. It's right now. The date was wrong on the slide, so if you're gonna be involved in Vacation Bible School, the meeting for Vacation Bible School is right now, 10:00 today, right now.

Share this message

Every word on these came out of the message. Download one and post it anywhere.

Scripture

Written up from the message given at First B Jackson. If something here reads oddly, the recording is the record.

Come find us

90 West Kelly Ave, Jackson, WY 83001 · Sundays at 9:00 and 11:00 am

Sign in to save messages and keep notes

Written up by Recap Sunday