22 I Timothy 6:11-16 - Eyes on the Prize

January 24, 2021

Christopher C. Freeman

Title: Eyes On The Prize Text: I Timothy 6:11-16 FCF: We often struggle getting caught up in unChrist-like behavior. Prop: Because we have been called to pursue Christ until He returns for us, we must pursue Christ-likenss. Scripture Intro: NASB [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to I Timothy chapter 6. Last week we saw Paul expand on the false teachers’ motivation a little. He revealed that they desired to be godly so they could become rich. From that Paul did say that godliness with contentment is a means to great gain. But not riches in earthly things. Rather treasures in heaven. Then Paul warned about the dangers of loving money. How it can lead to all kinds of evil practices including even a rejection of the faith. Applying the text we found it very difficult for us to live. With our affluent culture and having so much more than simply food and covering – it truly is a trial for us to be content. Nevertheless, we know that our focus must be, now more than ever, on pursuing God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. This week, Paul will turn his attention directly to his protégé. He will give the guiding command for the whole letter, as he attempts to wrap up his final thoughts to Timothy. I am in verse 11 of chapter 6. I will be reading from the NASB but you can follow along in the pew bible starting on page 1340. Transition: Unlike last week, this passage is more difficult to understand, but it also provides us with a lot of hope and insight into our mission here on earth. That message needs to be heard loud and clear today. I.) We are called and set apart unto God, so we must pursue Christ-likeness. (11-12) a. [Slide 2] 11 – But flee from these things, i. The first question we have to ask is “what things?” ii. Specifically, he is to flee from the love of money. iii. Because of the expectation of gain by the false teachers, they have been puffed up with pride, desiring to be teachers of the law even though they do not understand it. iv. All they say adds to, denies, or undermines the power of the gospel. v. So, flee, run away, avoid as if you life depended on it… the love of money. b. [Slide 3] You man of God i. Man of God is a title given in the old testament to prophets. ii. Is it good for all believers to flee the love of money? ABSOLUTELY! iii. Did you see what the love of money does to someone? Do you remember what we said last week? They pierced themselves through with great sorrow… iv. Yeah – you don’t have to be any one in particular for it to be good advice for you to flee the love of money. v. But, for a man of God – for a man dedicated to God – for a man leading, teaching, preaching, exhorting, demonstrating, and shepherding God’s people… it is absolutely imperative. vi. In fact, this is the first of 5 imperatives or commands that Paul gives to Timothy in verses 11-14. vii. So, Paul has told Timothy what to flee… namely the things that these false teachers have pursued. viii. But the man of God must also… c. [Slide 4] And pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. i. Instead of pursuing money or loving money, Timothy ought to love and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. ii. But what are meant by these words? Are they just a random Christianese buzzwords? iii. No. Rather they are Christian virtues. They are guaranteed fruit from a gospel-formed person. iv. A gospel-formed person will pursue these things, for that is what the gospel does in them. 1. Righteousness - This word speaks of justice. This word speaks of making something right that was previously wrong, or the act of fighting for what is right. There is a particular adherence here to the law of God. Both positively in obedience, and negatively in cessation of sin. 2. Godliness – this word speaks of character and attitude. It speaks to the worldview and focus of a person being in the heavenly. It speaks to a Christ-like view of life and the moral connection to holiness lived out. 3. Faith – this is not the faith in a set of confessed doctrines or teachings, although that is certainly a component of it. It is rather and enduring trust. A dependance. A submission. A faith that grows, deepens, and expands, holding fast even though shaken. 4. Love – Pursuing this as a fruit of the Spirit is without object, although we know the primary object of this pursuit is God. Closely knit to this is other believers. And tangentially to this we have a love for unbelievers and even our enemies. So, pursuing a life that is exercised in all points with the motivation of love is one of the highest if not the highest Christian virtue. 5. Perseverance – or patience. Pursuing this is perhaps one of the hardest things a man of God could do. Because patience or perseverance is only achieved by enduring trial and trouble. Enduring is a mark of a gospel-formed person. 6. Gentleness – or meekness. As a curious combination of strength and love, this is an interesting thing to pursue. Certainly, we ought to be unshaken and stand firm in truth, but not at the expense of love toward others and a soft and gentle spirit. v. And so, with this list, Paul effectively says – pursue everything the false teachers are not. Be a God’s law lover and keeper, trust God fully, let love control you, endure, and be gentle. vi. And in that gentleness and meekness remember to… d. [Slide 5] 12 – Fight the good fight of faith i. Paul has instructed Timothy to do this before. In fact, chapter 6 is unfolding similarly to chapter 1. Here Paul instructs Timothy to fight the good fight again… but adds… of faith. ii. So what does it mean? iii. Compete, battle, fight! iv. It is a good and worthy fight to be had. Which one? v. The fight of faith. vi. We’ve talked about this before. When we say “of something” it can be difficult to know what it means. Love of God – is that our love for God, His love for us, or His love He has given us? vii. So we are left to wonder is this a fight for faith, a fight waged with or through faith, or a fight that faith puts in us? viii. It seems that the best interpretation is to match chapter 1. The fight there was perseverance in the gospel task that Timothy was given. And he was to do that by holding fast to faith. ix. And so the fight remains somewhat undefined but we can infer Paul is referring to specifically his gospel ministry there in Ephesus with regard to the false teachers – but even more broadly to the work of the gospel in the world. x. And how is Timothy to do that? By clinging to not just doctrinal truth, but trust and dependence on Christ. xi. And what else does Paul say? e. [Slide 6] Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, i. This seems to be the sum of all that he has said so far. ii. Pursuing all he has said to pursue, fighting the fight that is worthy to be fought through faith, all of these added together is Timothy taking hold of eternal life. iii. So often we see salvation as a checkbox item. Said the prayer, called on the name of the Lord, been there done that. iv. But throughout the scripture our salvation is a process. In one sense it is done, but it is also still happening, and in another sense it has not yet happened. v. The scripture speaks this like a riddle, but it is not one that is impossible to grasp. vi. You see a soul that is God’s, whom He has predestined before the foundation of the world, is a soul that cannot escape the final end of glorification. Whom He predestines He will glorify. vii. But… how do you know you have been predestined? There are tares among the wheat. There are good soils and bad soils. There are good fish and bad fish. viii. How do you know which one you are? ix. In that way then, salvation is an ongoing pursuit. Not that we strive with our works to attain it – but that we prove it to be true of us when we are pursuing it. x. Paul tells Timothy – YOU WERE CALLED TO ETERNAL LIFE! It is not something you chose, but something you were called to. So… xi. Sit back and wait for it? NO! xii. TAKE HOLD OF IT! f. [Slide 7] And you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses i. This clause is directly related to the eternal life to which, he was called. ii. Not only WAS – past tense – he called to this eternal life iii. But he also made – past tense – a good confession. In the presence of many witnesses. iv. This could either be Timothy’s baptism or his ordination. v. It seems that ordination fits better because of Paul calling him a “man of God” but certainly at baptism we all confess that we have been called to eternal life and that we are pursuing the gospel-formed life. g. [Slide 8] Passage Truth: So, what is Paul teaching to Timothy in these first two verses? Timothy has been called to eternal life and has made a good confession before many. His identity is a man of God. So, what does that mean? h. Passage Application: Timothy must flee the lifestyles of the false teachers, and instead pursue every Christian virtue so as to attain the prize of his high calling. WHY? So, he can fulfill his mission there in Ephesus. i. [Slide 9] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out to all of scripture we find this to be abundantly true of all believers. We have been called according to His purpose. We have been given faith to believe the truth and to depend on Christ alone for our salvation. We have been called, and we will be glorified. j. Broader Biblical Application: So, for us at CBC, if you are indeed a follower of Christ, if that calling has come to you and you have believed and continue to believe, then you must take hold of eternal life. You must pursue these Christian virtues. And from all of scripture we see that this list is not exhaustive, but it serves rather as a character summary. The exhaustive description of Christian virtue is Christ Himself. If we were to generalize this… it would be – you who have been called and confessed Christ and Him Crucified – LIVE LIKE CHRIST! Love and obey God’s law. Trust God. Fight for His Kingdom and glory but do so gently with love and keep on fighting through faith in Christ. Transition: [Slide 10(blank)] So, this is the motivation for Timothy to continue on there in Ephesus. Because He has a high calling from God, he is a man of God, so he must continue to persevere there in Ephesus. But how long? How long Lord until this fight, this pursuit, this race, this challenge is over? That is what Paul addresses next. II.) Our fight is only until Christ returns, so we must pursue Christ-likness. (13-16) a. [Slide 11] 13 – I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, i. Again, chapter 1 is the last place that we saw Paul charge Timothy. ii. In that chapter, Paul’s charge was to shepherd his flock. It was to preach the gospel. It was to suppress the false teachers. It was to fight the good fight by holding firmly to the faith. iii. We’ll hold out for now to see what the charge of Paul is here… iv. But before Paul mentions that charge, he calls on Timothy to stand before witnesses and commit to this charge. v. Much like he made a public confession of his faith and pursuit of the calling of eternal life – he is now being called to confess his intent to keep this charge from Paul. But the witnesses Paul mentions are not men. vi. The first party to his commitment is God the triune, who gives life to all things. vii. Spiritual life surely, but even physical life. He is sovereign over life and death. b. [Slide 12] And of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate i. Timothy is also called to this charge before the God-Man Christ Jesus. ii. Who with two natures human and God did in one person and being perfectly obey the whole law of God and suffer the punishment for human sin. iii. In his public appearance before a would-be governor, Pontius Pilate, he did testify to another kingdom that is not of this world. Yet He being this king’s King, did submit to the cross for us. iv. In other words – Christ Jesus knows what it means to do what Paul is asking Timothy to do. He has done it. v. He completed His mission, despite the cost. vi. So what is the charge? c. [Slide 13] 14 – That you keep the commandment without stain or reproach i. Well, that was a let down wasn’t it? ii. Paul doesn’t say. iii. And context doesn’t really help us to determine which command Paul is talking about. iv. Why? v. Because Paul has given 8 commands in the last 4 verses. So which command is it? 1. Pursue righteousness 2. Pursue godliness 3. Pursue faith 4. Pursue love 5. Pursue perseverance 6. Pursue gentleness 7. Fight the good fight of faith 8. Take hold of eternal life vi. So, we are left with a rather difficult interpretational challenge here. But the secret to interpretation here is that chapter 1 is woven to chapter 6 and all of it is woven to the entire letter of I Timothy. vii. So what was Paul’s charge to Timothy in chapter 1? 1. To smother false teaching 2. To preach the gospel 3. And to shepherd His flock to live gospel-formed lives. viii. Indeed, such a message is consistently applied in every chapter from chapter 1 through chapter 6. And since this letter was not meant to be studied over the course of several months