Last words. Paul is faced with thoughts of imminent death and he is impressing on Timothy and us some very important instructions and warnings.
Strong words. He starts out, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus . . . .” The word “charge” has the sense of witnessing, declaring solemnly, even testifying under oath to us. He is not just saying, “These are the things you should do if you want to be effective.” He is saying, “This is your mission! This is urgent! Do these things! Everything depends on it!”
So what does Paul call this young pastor to do? Preach the Word. Be ready. Reprove – that is show people their errors and sin. Rebuke. Exhort – that is encourage people to do what is right. Be patient. Teach. As God’s people this work belongs to all of us. It is the pastor’s job to do this publicly in worship, but each of us bears God’s Word into the world and confronts sin, testifying to the salvation that God offers to everyone who will believe in Jesus.
Teaching was important to Paul. He cared deeply about the doctrine that was passed on from generation to generation. He knew that everything depended on clinging to God’s message and revelation, and not human ideas or earthly perspectives. He warns; “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” Even when Paul was alive, this was the case. Legalism, Gnosticism, and a host of heresies regarding Jesus’ divinity were popping up.
The moralistic therapeutic deism of today is another piece of evidence that people will not stand for sound doctrine. In the face of the clear message of God’s judgment against our sin, mercy in Jesus’ death and resurrection, and intervention in our lives people continue to call for messages that build our self-esteem, and make us feel good. People reduce the message of God’s eternal law to a sissified, “Be nice.” And people want to hear that all we have to do is live a life that is mostly good, and then we’ll go to heaven when we die.
Lest we get on our high horse regarding what others do, we need to examine our lives and see where we have tolerated, and even encouraged these kinds of teaching. It is time for the people of God to know what God says, to believe it and teach it. We need to repent of our weak commitment to God’s Word, and our willingness to accept “feel good religion” and cheap grace.
Paul was ready to die for the faith he professed. He was ready to face the Righteous Judge and take hold of the crown of righteousness that Jesus had won for him. He believed that God would keep his promises, and he faced life and death the same way we do; by faith.
What about us? What place does the message of Jesus’ cross hold in our lives? Do we have hope in the face of troubles because of the empty tomb? Have we been deserted and harmed by those we considered friends? Can we leave those things in God’s hands, even extending grace to them? Do we need to repent for times we’ve let our itching ears drive us to different teachings?
Take some time to pray about these things. Ask God’s Spirit to show you where you have fallen, but also to help you understand how deeply you are loved and the power of Jesus’ forgiveness.
Strong words. He starts out, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus . . . .” The word “charge” has the sense of witnessing, declaring solemnly, even testifying under oath to us. He is not just saying, “These are the things you should do if you want to be effective.” He is saying, “This is your mission! This is urgent! Do these things! Everything depends on it!”
So what does Paul call this young pastor to do? Preach the Word. Be ready. Reprove – that is show people their errors and sin. Rebuke. Exhort – that is encourage people to do what is right. Be patient. Teach. As God’s people this work belongs to all of us. It is the pastor’s job to do this publicly in worship, but each of us bears God’s Word into the world and confronts sin, testifying to the salvation that God offers to everyone who will believe in Jesus.
Teaching was important to Paul. He cared deeply about the doctrine that was passed on from generation to generation. He knew that everything depended on clinging to God’s message and revelation, and not human ideas or earthly perspectives. He warns; “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” Even when Paul was alive, this was the case. Legalism, Gnosticism, and a host of heresies regarding Jesus’ divinity were popping up.
The moralistic therapeutic deism of today is another piece of evidence that people will not stand for sound doctrine. In the face of the clear message of God’s judgment against our sin, mercy in Jesus’ death and resurrection, and intervention in our lives people continue to call for messages that build our self-esteem, and make us feel good. People reduce the message of God’s eternal law to a sissified, “Be nice.” And people want to hear that all we have to do is live a life that is mostly good, and then we’ll go to heaven when we die.
Lest we get on our high horse regarding what others do, we need to examine our lives and see where we have tolerated, and even encouraged these kinds of teaching. It is time for the people of God to know what God says, to believe it and teach it. We need to repent of our weak commitment to God’s Word, and our willingness to accept “feel good religion” and cheap grace.
Paul was ready to die for the faith he professed. He was ready to face the Righteous Judge and take hold of the crown of righteousness that Jesus had won for him. He believed that God would keep his promises, and he faced life and death the same way we do; by faith.
What about us? What place does the message of Jesus’ cross hold in our lives? Do we have hope in the face of troubles because of the empty tomb? Have we been deserted and harmed by those we considered friends? Can we leave those things in God’s hands, even extending grace to them? Do we need to repent for times we’ve let our itching ears drive us to different teachings?
Take some time to pray about these things. Ask God’s Spirit to show you where you have fallen, but also to help you understand how deeply you are loved and the power of Jesus’ forgiveness.
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