1 Timothy 4 - Keep Training, Gain Understanding
While we still have breath on this earth, we can continue to grow and gain understanding. That is why God gave us His Scriptures. We can get into endless debates about what the early church fathers thought about such and such, and what Wesley and Spurgeon and Lewis and Luther said. That’s all good and fine. But what did Jesus say! And what did those under His direct command say and write down for us in the first century. That is our standard.
It is remarkable how early the entire New Testament was written. And how consistent it is with the entire Old Testament. Paul died at the direction of evil Nero before Nero died in AD 68. All of the letters from Mark, Matthew, Luke, Paul, Peter, John, Jude, and James were written early. Most before AD 50, just twenty years before the holocaust of AD 70. The Jewish historian Josephus tells us that in 63 AD the Roman General Pompey captured Jerusalem and after early success, the Jews then revolted requiring Nero to send General Vespasian to Jerusalem in AD 66. In AD 70 Roman General Titus (Vespasian’s son) encircled Jerusalem with approximately 60,000 men. Josephus wrote that over 1.1 million inside Jerusalem were killed in the siege (amplified by those present due to the Passover celebration). I’ve been in Baptist circles for decades. We need to do a much better job teaching and preaching about this terrible slaughter prophesied by Jesus. We need to train well and ensure our standard is God's word.
This is what Jesus said would happen within one generation of His crucifixion, “Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation" (Luke 19:43-44).
It happened just as Jesus said it would. Jesus’ judgment on Jerusalem came to pass. God’s judgment. There was no doubt a consequence for their lack of faith and stubborn unwillingness to understand the “way to peace” that Jesus made abundantly clear (Luke 19:42). Never be ashamed of the Gospel. It is God’s salvation. Eternally powerful for everyone who believes. First, it had to be preached to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. There is only one way to be saved and that is belief in Jesus before His return to earth (Romans 2:28-29).
Be on guard. 1 Timothy 4 tells us there will be false teachers in the first century. Likewise, there are many false teachers today. Men who make up doctrines, whose first love is money, and those who give lip service to the inerrancy of Scripture while making up man-made religions that follow deceptive spirits and demons.
We have the God-given ability to think. To think critically and clearly. And we have the Holy Spirit who teaches us “in the last times some will turn away from the true faith” (1 Timothy 4:1). The false teachers today will deceive many. They say it is impossible to turn away from God (exactly the opposite of what the Bible teaches), they put up barriers to Jesus and to His way (Roman Catholics don’t let their leaders enter into the holy sacrament of marriage), and they are legalists opposed to the freedom of Christ (this food is bad, this drink is wrong, etc.). Continue to love and pray for these people, earnestly, but reject their false teaching.
Each of us has a responsibility to train for godliness (4:7). I can’t eat for you, and you can’t sleep for me. In the same way, I can’t do your training for godliness. Now, of course, we can go to the YMCA together, and that’s a lot more fun. But I cannot go to the Y for you. The earlier we learn this the better.
Going from 200 lbs and chubby to 170 and stronger takes training. Likewise training for godliness takes time, discipline, consistency, perseverance, resilience, commitment, and good habits that become enjoyable and beneficial.
The godly man believes the Holy Spirit when He says that people will turn away from the true faith. There are many false teachers They are greedy frauds. We know it well. Their consciences are dead. Make it a resolution this year to keep your conscience clear and alive. People with dead consciences have shipwrecked their faith. They will lie and deceive and scheme and convey and it won’t bother them at all. In fact, they can’t go to bed at night until they have done an evil deed. Beware of them.
These greedy men of the church are prolific. Stay away from them. Don’t envy them or seek their company.
Start training when you are young and keep training until you are only young at heart.
Be an example every day in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Purity has become a dirty word. A mockery. A slanderous accusation. It is not. We are called by God to live pure lives for our consciences are alive. May our hearts be pure and look deeply into the Law of Christ that sets us free.
We focus on the Scriptures. We take responsibility to be a good example - every day. Lead. Do not shirk or delay. Take action.
Training takes time. Be patient with yourselves and those you are mentoring. Let everyone see your progress by how hard you work - but never brag or show off. If you lose say little, if you win say less.
How we live matters. Staying true and committed to the true faith. It matters, for our own salvation and the salvation of those who hear us (4:16).
Lord Jesus, thank you for this day, and this new year. And the opportunity to trust you and stay on your good path. May we never turn away from the true faith. Please help us today to give the example You and Your disciples set for us. Amen.
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