QT 30 Jun 16, 1 Tim 4:16, Value of good teaching

1 Tim 4:16 (ESV) Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

NOTE: This is one of those cases where "save" is not "salvation" but rather a temporal save with eternal ramifications. The world pulls at believers and has destroyed the earthly lives of many who claim Jesus as their savior. The problem is not their saving faith, but their consequent obedience. We are called to walk with God and the Lord has provided teachers to help us to walk with Him. Teachers, by exercising our gift, can teach people how to walk in obedience and how to avoid the trap of the evil one and the temptations that he brings. There are two additional benefits. One, teaching helps the teacher, probably more than those he teaches, because immersion in the word is a true key to success in the Christian life. Secondly, obedience in this life has rewards in our future life. A lot of people don't like the concept of rewards but it is clearly taught in the word. Works never earn our salvation and can do nothing to help us to have eternal life, but they do secure rewards in our eternal life. What are those rewards? Scripture mention crowns and responsibilities but are generally vague. Still, good teaching pays off for the teacher and his hearers.

QT 29 Jun 16, 1 Tim 4:11-16, Spiritual gifts: it is not enough just to find them out, need to find out how to grow them

1 Tim 4:11-16 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

NOTE: Paul exhorts Timothy to "not neglect" his gift. He says "practice these things" and "immerse yourself in them" so that others see "your progress." He continues, "keep a close watch" and "persist," all of which suggests that our gifts, in this case his gift of teaching, is not static. It is something that he needs to work upon and grow deeper in, or in other words, get better at. We mistakenly assume that we just use our gift, but Paul is saying that we are to grow our gift. It is not enough to just discover our gift, the next step is to use our gift and to grow our gift. For myself, my gift of teaching is enhanced through bible study. As I teach certain sections of scripture, my knowledge of other sections, helps me to present a well-rounded explanation of truth, that ties all of scripture together. For myself, teaching enhances my teaching, because it forces me to study more scripture. So, in my case, use begets growth.

QT 16 Jun 16, 1 Tim 3:16, The mystery of godliness

1 Tim 3:16 (ESV) Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

      He was manifested in the flesh,
      vindicated by the Spirit,
       seen by angels,
      proclaimed among the nations,
      believed on in the world,
       taken up in glory.

NOTE: There are a select number of mysteries in the New Testament. By definition, they are things revealed fully in the New Testament, but only hinted at in the Old Testament. This mystery here is the incarnation. Why? Six major clues. One, he was manifested in the flesh, not just born but manifested, meaning he existed before he was born. Two, he was vindicated by the Spirit. Any normal person would not require a vindication, but the Spirit descended upon him as a dove during his public baptism, and God spoke saying "this is my Son." Third, he was seen by angels. That would not be important unless it was something that they were waiting for in realization of prophecies. Fourth, he was proclaimed among the nations. This was no simple individual, but someone the world needed to hear. Fifth, he was believed on in the world. His message was believed. When he says "I am the way, the truth, and the life, NO ONE comes to the Father except through me," he states an exclusive statement that if believed is the most important statement a person can ever hear. Sixth, as evidence of everything else, he was taken up in glory, a term reserved for God himself. And actually seven, the mystery of godliness is that God-likeness is defined by this person--his name is JESUS.

QT 15 Jun 16, 1 Tim 3:14-15, Are we so blind as to be beyond saving?

1 Tim 3:14-15 (ESV) I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

NOTE: Nowadays, even professing believers do not see the church or even worse, the word of God, as a buttress of the truth. I have listened to young believing adults who have bought the lies of our culture. They do not believe there is absolute truth or that the bible is authoritative. They believe that it is outmoded and doesn't apply to them. And so they must find themselves in an intellectual hell hole. Who then decides what is right and how does one decide what is right? Is it really the individual or the society? And how can anyone say anything is right or wrong, if it will change in 20 years? Who defines who God is? Is it the same persons or groups that decide on right and wrong now? Society once pronounced God dead and yet this culture sees some spiritual side of new age mumbo-jumbo that they feel they must pursue. Could it really be so much easier, that is, the bible is still authoritative and relevant in every age and time; and the God of the bible does not change, but is still the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? People will immediately jump up and say the bible is full of errors and contradictions, but I have to yet to hear one of those supposed errors or contradictions that stands up to scrutiny. Geisler has written an excellent book on his collection of so-called errors that he has gathered during his lifetime. And the most important fact is the resurrection, a historically factual event -- if any historical event could be fact -- the resurrection of a person who DID claim to be God and who accepted everything written in the bible. A man who taught of hell more than any other person in the bible. We need to wake up to the fact that the answers to life are right before us.

QT 10 Jun 16, 1 Tim 3:11-13, Deacon's spouses, why the emphasis?

1 Tim 3:11-13 (ESV) Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

NOTE: It is interesting that no mention is made of the conduct of wives for the overseers, but they are mentioned for the deacon. Two possibilities emerge. One, the requirements of deacon, since minimal, would be also assumed for the overseer. Two, the requirements for the deacon being less, require a deeper inspection of the family, since the overseer must manage his own household well, the deacon is likewise under some lesser requirements, primarily that their wives not be slanderers, but sober-minded. In other words, not gossips nor blowing things out of proportion. A deacon is an honorable position in the church. It is not the most visible, especially when they are serving well, but it is seen by God and it is very honorable in the eyes of the church.

QT 9 Jun 16, 1 Tim 3:8-10, Deacons, unseen but extremely important

1 Tim 3:8-10 (ESV) Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

NOTE: The list for Deacons is less focused on the spiritual aspect and more focused on the life aspect. They too, like overseers, should be viewed well by others, dignified. The must be respectable and truthful, seen in the requirement to not be double-tongued. It is okay to drink, but not to be addicted to wine. It is okay to accumulate money, but not greedily nor engaging in dishonest practices. They must truly hold to the truths of the faith with honest faith. This is not to say there may not be doubt, which is wholly common, but they believe there doubts revolve around things that they may not understand. They have to be tested, so they cannot be new believers to the faith. And finally, verse 10 says to "let them serve as deacons," in other words, a deacon is not a calling, nor does it require gifts of teaching or pastoring as an elder requires. A deacon is a person who desires to serve God in the body in a specific role. It is supremely important to the functioning of the church, as seen in Acts, for it allows the overseers or elders to focus on the spiritual needs of the body. Deacons are one of the unseen components of the body that the body could not function without, else the eyes or mouth would have to do the walking as well--not a pretty picture.

QT 6 Jun 16, 1 Tim 3:1-7, Do we pick the right people for church leaders?

1 Tim 3:1-7 (ESV) The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

NOTE: In the qualifications for an Elder (or overseer), there is a lot to consider. One thought stand out to me on first blush. The idea of respectability, as it is mentioned repeatedly in different contexts. An elder is someone that others look up to as a good example of a godly man. I did not say a religious man, for a man who exudes religiosity is the worst type of many for an elder or church leader. It has to be the internal nature that is seen: a gentle, hospitable, un-quarrelsome, and humble man. He must not be works-oriented or dogmatic, for then he could not be the type man described here. In fact, he must be well-thought of by outsiders (unbelieving persons), and most men characterized by religiosity and over-emphasis on rules and works are not considered well by outsiders. They are considered harsh, cruel, pompous, and usually a hypocrite as well. The devil is mentioned twice because he tries to get the wrong person into the position. Satan wants to destroy the witness of the church. He does it in many ways, but one way is to exalt the wrong type of character in the church. He exalts the prideful religious man. God exalts the humble and gently godly man.