1 Timothy 6:11-16. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on January 17, 2021.
For the next six weeks, we are going to put a pause on our study through the Gospel according to Mark. We have reached chapter 15 which details the crucifixion and then chapter 16 details the resurrection of Jesus. We will pick them up so as to ramp up to our Easter service.
Today, we will go to First Timothy. I want to talk about making the good confession in the modern world. We are in a spiritual battle that requires faith in Jesus, in his teachings, and his actions.
Jesus came into the world to testify to the Truth. All others before him could really only confess what the Holy Spirit had told them. Jesus is unique in that he is the only one who is an eye-witness of the Truth and who actually came from heaven to give that witness to the world. He has told us the truth about the world’s plight, about each of our sin, about the way that it can be fixed, and about the only one who can do the fixing (Jesus himself).
If the Christ had a true testimony that all Christians are to confess before the whole world (that is, speak the same testimony as he) then know this. The antichrist system of this world has a false testimony that it pressures and forces all to confess. It is the anti-confession in regards to Jesus, and it will find its climax in the whole world worshipping the Beast through taking a mark, a loyalty pledge that is just as much a confession as it is an economic choice.
Let’s look at our passage.
In this passage, we have an older minister, Paul, making sure that a younger minister, Timothy, has a full understanding of how to teach the believers in the churches that were under his care. Paul was not sure when he would be able to visit Timothy again.
Thus, Timothy is not a new convert and most likely the words here are not new to Timothy either. Paul actually addresses him as “man of God” in verse 11. These words are the encouragements and commands of a general to those fellow solders under him in the midst of battle. We too must understand that we are on a battlefield that has progressed for millennia. What is the pursuit of my life? If I am truly a man or woman of God then I will hear the commands of the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul and respond in kind.
Before Paul reminds Timothy of his pursuit, he reminds him of what he must flee. It is hard to go after something when another thing, or things, has our hearts. Thus, Satan has filled this world with philosophies and lies that seduce our hearts into false pursuits. He leverages the desires of our flesh against the call of the Holy Spirit. They are things such as: riches, power, pleasure, fame, pride, and the list goes on. We must flee these things because our lives depend upon it, and the lives of those we influence. It is not that these things should not be had, but that they can never be the pursuit of our life.
The anti-confession of this world draws us into these anti-pursuits. In this passage, Paul has been warning against the teaching of those who think that godliness is a means of gain (vs. 5). He says that they think this way because they are full of corrupt desires and their minds are destitute of the truth (vss. 4-5). It is in this context that we are given the statement, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (vs. 10).”
Godliness is not a means of obtaining riches, it is gain in and of itself. You cannot obtain anything greater than being more like God, like Jesus. The Gospel is not about making us rich and powerful in this world, but rather about taking on the image of our Father in heaven. We do not live godly in order to get salvation, or natural blessings in this life. No, we pursue a godly life because He has already saved us, while we were yet sinners, and has blessed us beyond belief. We just couldn’t see it before we believed in Him. Just as we are to flee sexual immorality, so we are commanded to flee the love of riches, and those who would pervert the Gospel into a means of riches.
With our hearts free from false-pursuits, we are then enabled to pursue what is true, God Himself, His image, and His character. In truth, we cannot accomplish this on our own. We cannot even accomplish it with the help of well-meaning believers who come alongside of us. Without the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we would be lost to the seduction of The Lie, the lie that we don’t need God, or Jesus, to satisfy our hearts and minds.
Paul lists righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. These are all fruit, or evidence, of the Holy Spirit within us. Yes, we are to pursue them, but our obtaining of them to any measure is enabled by His presence. This world cannot obtain true righteousness because it lacks the Spirit of God. It can only redefine righteousness to match exactly what it wants to do. We have seen over the decades the raising up of a false-righteousness that is now being used to condemn those who cling to the righteousness of God found only in Jesus Christ. Christian, never forget that we are not called to pursue the desires of the flesh, but rather to pursue the image of God in our life.
In verse 12, Paul then commands Timothy, and us, to fight the good fight. It involves a battle in which we will face enemies and contestants that desire to defeat us. Some of them are sentient (spirits and humans), and some of them are abstract such as our internal weaknesses. The false pursuits are the “bad fight.” Too many people are fighting the wrong battles, and thereby, they are being used by Satan to become useful idiots in his plan to destroy God’s people and the Truth to which they cling.
It is called in the passage, “the good fight of faith.” Eternal life is offered to all who will fight the good fight of faith. In fact, the fight of faith is all about “laying hold of eternal life.” When we believe upon Jesus, eternal life takes up residence within us through the Holy Spirit. This eternal life continues to work within us to make us fit to dwell in the direct presence of God in eternity. However, our faith will be tested in this world. Just like love is tested by our experiences with others, so our faith is tested by the things we face in life. This battle, both to keep believing and to agonize over what faith should do now, does not end until we finish this life. It is in that day of resurrection that we will once and for all lay hold of eternal life. Each difficulty begs the question, “Will you continue to believe and follow Jesus now?”
Yes, it is a battle, but the battle is worth it. We have been called to eternal life! Sin has put us under a death sentence, but Jesus came that we might have eternal life, and life more abundantly. Jesus told his disciples to take possession of their souls by faith, and in so doing, we strengthen our grip upon eternal life. No one can take it from you, but you can surrender it by shipwrecking your faith in Jesus. May our faith be strengthened in Jesus, and not just a redefined Jesus that the world can accept. No. It must be the same Jesus that this world crucified 2,000 years ago, and would crucify all over again if he appeared again. Can the world see the true Jesus in me?
Paul reminds Timothy that he had made the good confession before many witnesses (vs. 12). All faith is expressed and is activated through confession. We believe in our heart and confess with our mouths (hands, and feet) that Jesus is Lord. Paul most likely has Timothy’s initial statement of belief in Jesus. The many witnesses were other believers who are rejoicing in his confessing the truth of Jesus. However, life always leads us to places where we must confess before witnesses who are hostile. Just like Jesus before Caiaphas, and Peter before the servant girl, we will be faced with the opportunity to deny or confess Jesus, and thus the Father, before all men. We must do the spiritual work now so that we are prepared for those moments. Otherwise, we will crash and burn just as Peter did.
In verse 13, Paul reminds Timothy and us that Jesus testified the good confession before Pilate. Most Gospels only have the question, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus then answers, “It is as you say.” However, John 18 adds that his kingdom is not of this world, now, which implies that it will be one day. Jesus came from heaven to testify to the Truth so that we can confess, agree with and stand by, his testimony, and thereby participate in his victory. This sounds wonderful until you are face to face with a hostile enemy challenging you to deny Jesus.
Paul ends this part with a charge, a statement of strong urging, to believers. We must hold fast to these things. Paul reminds Timothy that he is in the presence of God and Jesus Christ. In fact, everything that we do and hear is in the presence of God. The Latin phrase is, coram deo. How careful we should be of the things we flee and the things we pursue. He who will judge all men looks upon us now. How will we choose and how will we respond now? The past is important, but the present is always what matters now. Yes, I had faith yesterday. Praise God! But, what will I do today, now that I face this, whatever this may be?
When Jesus testified before Pilate, he was going before us blazing the way. Jesus testified to the Truth as in a legal witness. He knows the truth as an eye-witness because he is from heaven. However, he knows the truth because he is Truth and one with Truth. He went before us as a great captain of our salvation. And, so, we must learn to follow him and agree with his testimony with our own confession before the people and powers of this world.
Ultimately, we are to keep this command to pursue the image of God and fight the good fight of faith without spot and blameless (vs. 14). This is not about never making a mistake, but taking responsibility for our mistakes through repentance and turning back to Christ. The daily maintenance of faith is a daily cleansing of our lives before our Lord Jesus.
We are not released from this command until Christ appears at the Second Coming. Paul’s description of the Lord as the Potentate, or Sovereign over all things, is to encourage us. We are on the right side when we stand with Jesus. It may not look like it in this world, but all other sides, even those of the “new and improved Jesus,” will fail.
What truths of Christ are being contested today and in what way? Over and over again, we see the Scriptures being re-interpreted and obvious meanings cast aside for more modern, acceptable ones. Will we stand with Jesus, or will we fold like an adulterous spouse? O friend, hang on to your faith and go to work strengthening it, because you are going to need it in the days ahead!