Five Characteristics Of A True Son In The Faith
1Ti 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
A. Saving Faith.
1. It is obviously impossible to be a true child in the faith without experiencing genuine salvation. 2. Throughout this letter Paul testifies to the geniuses of Timothy’s salvation.
a. In verse one he says, "God our Saviour".
b. In (1 Tim 4:10) "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."
c. In 6:11, Paul says "you, man of God". Then he says in verse 12 to "fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called".
3. Unmistakable evidence of his salvation comes in 2 Tim. 1:5 where Paul speaks of Timothy’s "sincere faith".
B. Continuing Obedience.
1. The N.T. teaches repeatedly that the hallmark of a true believer is a life-pattern of obedience.
a. (John 14:15) "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
b. (John 8:31) "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"
c. (Eph 2:10) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
d. Good works are not the basis of salvation, but they are the evidence of it.
2. The pattern of Timothy’s life was obedience.
a. (1 Tim 4:6) "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."
C. Humble Service.
1. A true child in the faith is a servant.
a. Paul described the conversion of the Thessalonians in these words (1 Th 1:9) "For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;"
b. The Christian life is to be lived as a stewardship of service to the sovereign Lordship of Jesus Christ.
c. The disciples left everything to follow and serve Jesus.
d. True salvation is marked by a servant’s heart.
c. Humble service characterized Timothy’s life.
D. Sound Doctrine.
1. Timothy was a student and teacher of sound doctrine; he was "brought up in the truths of the faith" (4:6).
2. A good minister must be doctrinally sound!
E. Courageous Conviction.
1. Those who make an impact for the cause of Christ must have courage to stand for their convictions.
2. Any dead fish can float downstream. It takes a live one to fight the current.
3. Strong conviction comes from spiritual maturity and knowledge of the Word, and is essential in any effective ministry.
4. Timothy was to be a fighter.
a. Paul put him in Ephesus to "instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines" (1:3).
b. He was to "fight the good fight". (1:18).
c. He was to "keep that which is committed to his trust” (6:20).
1. It is obviously impossible to be a true child in the faith without experiencing genuine salvation. 2. Throughout this letter Paul testifies to the geniuses of Timothy’s salvation.
a. In verse one he says, "God our Saviour".
b. In (1 Tim 4:10) "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."
c. In 6:11, Paul says "you, man of God". Then he says in verse 12 to "fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called".
3. Unmistakable evidence of his salvation comes in 2 Tim. 1:5 where Paul speaks of Timothy’s "sincere faith".
B. Continuing Obedience.
1. The N.T. teaches repeatedly that the hallmark of a true believer is a life-pattern of obedience.
a. (John 14:15) "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
b. (John 8:31) "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"
c. (Eph 2:10) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
d. Good works are not the basis of salvation, but they are the evidence of it.
2. The pattern of Timothy’s life was obedience.
a. (1 Tim 4:6) "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."
C. Humble Service.
1. A true child in the faith is a servant.
a. Paul described the conversion of the Thessalonians in these words (1 Th 1:9) "For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;"
b. The Christian life is to be lived as a stewardship of service to the sovereign Lordship of Jesus Christ.
c. The disciples left everything to follow and serve Jesus.
d. True salvation is marked by a servant’s heart.
c. Humble service characterized Timothy’s life.
D. Sound Doctrine.
1. Timothy was a student and teacher of sound doctrine; he was "brought up in the truths of the faith" (4:6).
2. A good minister must be doctrinally sound!
E. Courageous Conviction.
1. Those who make an impact for the cause of Christ must have courage to stand for their convictions.
2. Any dead fish can float downstream. It takes a live one to fight the current.
3. Strong conviction comes from spiritual maturity and knowledge of the Word, and is essential in any effective ministry.
4. Timothy was to be a fighter.
a. Paul put him in Ephesus to "instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines" (1:3).
b. He was to "fight the good fight". (1:18).
c. He was to "keep that which is committed to his trust” (6:20).
1 comments:
Inclusion or Exclusion
Some people have an Idea that God is inclusive for mans eternal destiny, that all religions and all people will be saved. That God will allow all of mankind to enter into heaven because everybody is good so God must be fair and include everyone! It is true God does love the whole world but God is exclusive about mans eternal destiny without the Savior. To keep this simple man has a problem called sin in which man refuses to believe that there are eternal consequences for having sin, which is a one way ticket to hell. God is holy and he will not allow anyone with sin to enter into heaven. God is hurt and angry about our sin, we have broken his laws. But God is just and good and he knows our need so he provided a solution to our problem. His solution to our problem is to have our sins removed by having our sins placed on someone else, a sacrifice for us; paying for the penalty of the sin we have in our lives. So that someone else would get the penalty of Gods wrath and separation on him that was meant for us. So God sent his son Jesus on a mission from heaven to earth as our sacrifice to die on the cross on our behalf after this happened three days later Jesus came back from the dead, alive. But that’s not all remember I wrote that God is exclusive about mans eternal destiny without the Savior? The only way that Gods promise can be applied to your life is for you to turn from your way of thinking and know that your sin offends and hurts God and call on the Lord Jesus who’s alive to save you. Your sins are then transferred to Jesus for what he did at the cross, dying and being abandon by God because of your sins, for you and because Jesus arose from the dead he is alive you can now enter into a relationship with God. Will you call out to Jesus to save you? It’s your choice to enter in exclusively with God’s grace for you. Where will you want to spend eternity after hearing Gods promise for you?
If the answer was yes that you do want Jesus as your sin bearer, Savior, and you do believe God raised Jesus from the dead you can pray with your voice.
“Dear Lord Jesus save me.”
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
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