1 Timothy 1

1:1-5

1:1

Who was Paul?

In what way is God our Savior?

In what way/how is JC our hope?

Is there someone in your life that you could be Paul-Timothy, or Timothy-Paul?

1:2

Who was Timothy?

What is Grace?

What is mercy?

What is peace?

How do we obtain these things?

1:3

What kind of "different doctrine" do you think these "certain persons" were teaching?

1:4

Rather than being devoted to myths and etc what should we be devoted to?

And how does this manifest itself?

1:5

According to this verse what is the goal of all teaching/preaching?

What affect does teaching/preaching have in your life?

Can you tell a story of a time when it did significantly impact your faith?

Do you have a Doctrine in mind that really stirs you up?

1:6

Paul here makes the assertion/observation that false doctrine leads to vanity. How can we ensure that we don't "swerve away" like they did?

How do we keep our speech from being "fruitless"?

1:7

Let us not be like these "certain persons"; what does the law say/teach?

Pray.

Intent of study: to know God and grow together in honest discussion of the word.

Recap/summary: last week we discussed the first half of 1 Timothy 1, where we saw Paul strongly encouraging Timothy, his spiritual son and pastoral apprentice, to continue believing and teaching the church the doctrine (teachings) that was handed down to them through the Apostles and to do so out of a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith.

Tonight we will see Paul’s heart explore in worship/gratitude to God for his salvation with the aim of our heart’s to do likewise.

1:8-11

1:8

In what way is the law "good"? And how should it be used?

The law was a harsh taskmaster under the old covenant that was meant to show us our need for salvation from God but showing us how impossible it is for us to meet God’s standard of righteousness on our own. The law leads us to rely, or trust, on God for salvation and everlasting life. The law leads us to God. In this manner it is good.

1:9

Given that we have been made righteous in JC does the law have any purpose in our lives right now?

We are now under grace and not the law of the OT. Meaning that, now, the law serves as our guide to righteous living. We live out, or obey, the law now out of gratitude toward God for our salvation in Christ. Not as a means to obtain blessing/favor. The law is our friend or guide in Christian living rather than a harsh taskmaster as it was under the old covenant/OT. This is a proper use of the law in the life of the Christian.

1:10

You gotta love Paul’s wording, “any other contrary to sound doctrine”. Just to ensure that no one would try and wiggle there way out of lovingly obeying God.

What is "sound doctrine"?

Sound” refers to that which is healthy and wholesome. It is the kind of teaching that produces spiritual life and growth, which implies that false doctrine produces spiritual disease and debilitation.

I discussed this briefly last week, but I’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts, do y’all think Doctrine is important to the Church today? And if so how?

Doctrine is the means by which we learn God. It is a means to the end of knowing God for who He is. If He is to be known then He must be known rightly/accurately. The clearer, more consistent, and Christ-centered our doctrine is the more we will love, trust and cherish Our Father and our relationship with Him.

Do you have a favorite doctrine?

There are many to choose from but I’d have to go with the Sovereignty of God. Knowing that God “ordained whatsoever comes to pass” (WLC 12) and that all things are for His glory and our good and joy is of the greatest comfort in all of life.

Do you have any doctrine(s) that you feel like you don't understand/want to study more?

How do we know our doctrine is "sound"?

It agrees with scripture and leads us to righteous living as well

1:11

How would you define "gospel"?

The Gospel is good news and the good news is this: Christ took on my just punishment from The Father for sinners like me that I would be totally forgiven and be forever with Him in true/eternal life & enjoy Him for all of my days.

The Gospel is done. NOT do. “Love God, love neighbor” is not the Gospel but an effect thereof. The gospel is about God and His work through JC. Not what you should do.

How would you define "God"?

God is the most supreme, perfect, holy, and happy being in all existence. And this God is my God.

How is the Gospel "of the glory" of God?

The Gospel is the fullness, or total, of God in display for the world to see. At the cross of Christ we see:

The wrath of God against sin

The justice of God restoring our relationship with Him

The wisdom of God in the plan of salvation

The grace of God in Christ taking on our sin

The peace of God by making peace, literally ending the war between me and Him.

The mercy of God by withholding my own punishment

And the love of God for sinners like me in that Christ died for me.

in all of this: God is glorified, honored, by His Son’s work to be given/applied to us here and now.

You’ll also notice the “according to” in 1:11; thus, connecting 1:10 and 1:11. Our doctrine is to lead us back to the glorious Gospel of God and for us to behold and treasure it in our hearts and heads and honored in our body.

In your heart of hearts do you hold the Gospel in high regard (treasure it) as Paul does here?

Do you hold as high of regard/care/love for doctrine as Paul does in 1:3-11? Why or why not?

Do you think the Church should hold doctrine in high regard and great love as Paul did?

1:12-17

1:12

What does it mean to be a "strong" Christian?

Godly strength is not like worldly strength. WS is “look at me and how much I can do under my own power”. While Godly strength is our great reliance on God- “look at God and see how much He can do thru me”. It is more of an endurance, or holding fast to God rather than a stubborn hard heartedness. See Romans 15:25, Phil3:14.

What does it mean to be "faithful" to JC?

To be obedient, or full of trust in Christ. Again, not relying on our efforts but on God’s effort flowing thru us in our love, service and obedience.

What is the point, or summary, of the Christian life?

Loving Service. Or literally ministry. Not all are called vocationally to minister. But all children of God are to loving serve those whom they can with what they have been given by God. And when we do serve it is to be with proper motive: IE In remembrance of Christ and all that He has done for us and all that we are in Him.

Is there anyone you can service in your life? If so, who and how?

1:13

Here, Paul states how he sees himself before his conversion and in light of God's gospel. Part of what makes the gospel so sweet to us now is understanding how wretched, sinful we were before.

Do you view yourself in a similar manner? Or do you see yourself as just needing a little bit of help/push in the right direction?

You'll also notice it was "mercy" that changed him. He understood the law and its condemnation of him as well as the good news of Christ's death. The full gospel is needed to regenerate a dead sinner; not just the "love" of God.

1:14

Another doctrine of the faith that makes the gospel sweet to our souls is knowing that Christ died for me. Do you believe this? Or do you sometimes think that you're too sinful, or too much for God?

As Christ said, “it is finished”. The work of salvation is complete. And it to be taken up, or applied to all sorts of sinners. No sinner is more powerful than the blood of Christ.

1:15

According to this verse, what was the purpose of Christ's coming into the world?

To save sinners. And so is the work of every Christian. It is quite well and good for a Christian to work hard for his business, or work for social change, or any other Myriad of issues. But the chief priority of the Christian is the salvation of sinners. All work, business and prayer should be viewed thru this, eternal and ever important, lens.

1:16

So Paul's states here that God saved Him so that JC would display His perfect patience/grace thru Paul. So it is with us. What attributes of God can you display (literally: let shine forth thru you) in your daily life?

We are called to live a godly life. Literally a life like God. You can display many, but not all, His attributes. These are known as the Communicable attributes of God. Things like, hatred of sin, love to sinners, grace, mercy, and peace.

Vs His Incommunicable attributes. Things like Omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, infinity, self-existence (aseity) those attributes of our Creator that He does not share with His creatures.

What do y’all think Paul means when he says, perfect patience/long suffering?

By this Paul meant that His patience is a "perfect" patience. God will save His people at His timing, not a moment too late or too soon. We do not know whom God shall save. But we know that He will save some. Therefore we can keep working for the Gospel knowing that we will be successful no matter what because the effort depends on God and not ourselves.

1:17

Our testimonies are indeed important. But they should never stop at our conversion but should continue forth/overflow to praise to God.

If you, or someone you know, is more "why so downcast oh my soul?" rather than "rejoice in the lord" what could you say to them to help/encourage/uplift them in their struggle?

Paul shows us here that when we have our eyes upon ourselves we should immediately cast them up to God in gratitude for His grace toward a gross sinner as me. In this age, it is easy for us to keep our eyes fixed on ourselves; I have never known a joyful, happy christian who stares at their own beauty/excellencies in the mirror all day long. But I have known many joyful Christians who look much to God and little to themselves at all. The downcast soul of a Christian should not fix their eyes on themselves or their troubles, but on God who saves and deliveries and cares for all His child.

1:18-20

1:18

You will notice how Paul describes the Christian life, or ministry, as a warfare. Do you agree with his description? Why or not?

It is absolutely a war. It’s a fight to tell the gospel to ppl who are ungodly-without love, thought, or care for God. And a great love for sin. It is a fight we fight for and with God. It is a hard fight b one that is not fought alone but with the grace of God. Graces such as, His word, prayer, as well as the Church-which is God visible means of grace to us for day to day living.

1:19

What are some ways we can ensure we don't shipwreck our faith?

Ships have lookouts for lighthouses and sand bars or great storms. In the same way they have a lookout for their ship to ensure they make it safely to their destination so should we. If something bothers our conscience, we should take action to resolve our conscience. If something pollutes our hearts, it should be cut off and avoided, if something causes us to be insincere, or unfaithful, to our God it should be repented of quickly. While we know our salvation is from God and cannot be lost it should nevertheless be protected and preserved thru the thorns and thickets of the world and our own flesh.

Or positively, nurture/grow your trust in God and avoid that which diminishes your faith in God so that we might not my shipwrecks of our salvation.

1:20

What does it mean to “blaspheme”?

To break the 3rd commandment; to take the name of the Lord our God in vain.

Does someone have to say “God d*** it” to break this commandment? Or is it something more?

Indeed this command does speak to what we say about God. Things like careless “Oh my God” or “God dang it”, or various variations thereof.

It also would include anything that takes lightly His character or attributes IE “Holy Cow” or variations thereof.

it would also more broadly speak to anything that brings dishonor to Him in our thoughts and actions and attitudes. A cross necklace is useless when one does not live under the reality of the death of Christ; IE wear all the Christian gear you want but we must do so reverently, or lovingly toward God when we do so least we dishonor Him and break the third commandment.

Basically ex-communicated, where they are outside the blessing of God and His people, the Church. Paul here shows us the Church practicing church discipline. Part of discipline is to make us more humble or reliant on God.

How would you summarize this chapter?

How can you live out/live in light of this passage?

Questions. Comments.

Pray.