Communauté et discipulat

The Good Fight of Faith (1 Timo. 6:3~12)

2019.02.10P. Kwon

A disciple is called to fight the good fight of faith by guarding against incorrect teaching, guarding against impure motives, and guarding the good deposit by the Holy Spirit.

Guard against incorrect teaching (vv. 3-5)

A disciple is simply someone who is learning who Jesus is, and discipleship means being accountable to God and to one another. Paul warns about teachers of a different doctrine at the beginning and again at the end of 1 Timothy, which shows how important it is. You are all people of influence, so your life, your words and your walk teach those around you. People get a glimpse of Jesus through you. Hymenaeus and Alexander made a shipwreck of their faith and caused others to stumble.

Know God's word and test the fruit (vv. 4-5)

Paul says incorrect teaching is puffed up with conceit, which is being blinded by pride. It understands nothing, meaning a lack of spiritual knowledge of God's word and his promise of reconciliation. It craves controversy and quarrels about words. These produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions and constant friction, all of which damage relationships. The guard is to know your Bible, the sound words of Jesus, and the teaching that aligns with godliness, which shows in visible fruit like gentleness, patience and self-control.

Godliness with contentment is great gain (vv. 6-8)

Some traveling teachers of that day used eloquence to win followers and fees, and perhaps abused knowledge of Jesus for their own gain. Paul answers that godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out of it, but do we live as if that were true? Jonathan admits he tends to hoard things, and that a moving truck had to make a second trip. We are called to be satisfied with food and clothing, the basic necessities of life.

The desire to be rich leads to ruin (vv. 9-10)

Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, then a snare, then ruin and destruction, like a bear drawn by the smell of meat, then trapped, then killed. Scripture does not condemn the wealthy, but those fixed on gaining more and more. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and some have pierced themselves with many pains. We were created to live eternally and are exiles on this earth. When Jonathan's mother lost her jewelry to thieves, she was reminded of Jesus' words to store up treasures in heaven. We are called to live Christ-sufficient lives, not self-sufficient ones.

Guard the good deposit by the Spirit (vv. 11-12)

Paul tells Timothy to flee these things, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness, and fight the good fight of the faith. In 2 Timothy Paul says to guard the good deposit by the Holy Spirit, because we cannot keep the faith by our own power. A story of a skylark shows how small compromises, two feathers for worms, cost it the ability to fly. It could not buy its feathers back, for only God can restore what we lose.

God restores and makes us whole

Many turned away from Paul when he was imprisoned and suffering, because they could not understand a God who allows suffering. John Mark, who had once parted ways with Paul, was with him again at the end of his life. He guarded his heart against incorrect teaching and saw that God is the God of hope, reconciliation and restoration. God wants his people united and blessing one another. Wherever we are, we can turn to him again. He has paid the price for our sin and shame, and he says, come to me and I will make you whole.

Apply to Life

  • Let us remember that we are people of influence and consider how our words and our way of life point others to Jesus.
  • Let us know God's word and his promises well, so that we can recognize incorrect teaching and measure it by its fruit.
  • Let us examine our hearts for quarreling, pride and the craving for controversy, and pursue gentleness, patience and self-control.
  • Let us be content with what we have and live as Christ-sufficient people, not chasing after more.
  • Let us look at where we have traded away our feathers, and turn to God, who restores, and guard the good deposit by the Holy Spirit.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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