THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE ADVANCED BIBLE STUDIES SERIES “THE PASTORAL EPISTLES”
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The following is an excerpt from the Advanced Bible Studies Series course on The Pastoral Epistles, which is available from Way of Life Literature. (It is best to order them by phone at 866-295-4143, but they can also be ordered from the newly redesigned online order form at the Way of Life web site, http://www.wayofife.org.)

There are currently 20 titles in the series, and any of them can be special ordered in large print and in ring coil binding. We don’t believe that you will find better quality, more truly life-changing Bible courses from any other source. They are based strictly upon the King James Bible and the powerful word studies assist in the understanding of the KJV but never cast doubt upon it. They are thorough and comprehensive. They are very practical and have the objective of producing well-equipped Christian soldiers that have a solid understanding of the Bible. They stress holy and obedient Christian living and separation from worldliness and error, exalt evangelism and the New Testament church, and promote world missions. They emphasize the crucial differences between law and grace and positional and practical sanctification, and they continually fortify the student’s understanding of the life-changing doctrines such as justification, substitutionary atonement, and eternal security. The courses are non-Calvinistic and interpret Bible prophecy literally. The student will be prepared to stand against the wiles of the Devil and to refute the major theological heresies of our day. One pastor said the books “are extremely helpful for any Christian, no matter where they are spiritually; the practical application is extremely helpful and edifying.”

The Advanced Bible Studies Series can be used as private study guides for the individual Christian, as Sunday School lessons, as textbooks in Bible colleges, as part of a home schooling curriculum, as study material in jails and prisons, for discipling new (or older) Christians, and as refresher study material for Bible College graduates.

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INSTRUCTION ABOUT FALSE TEACHERS WHO MISUSE THE LAW (1 Timothy 1:3-20)

1. The teaching of the apostles is the standard of truth (1 Tim. 1:3).

a. The standard is not extra-biblical tradition or the writings of the “church fathers” from later centuries after the apostles or popes or church councils.

b. The standard is also not extra-biblical visions and prophecies and mystical experiences.

2. Churches are to be very strict about doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3). Timothy was not to allow any doctrine that was contrary to that of the apostles. This is the very highest possible standard for doctrine. The believer who has the “no other doctrine” mentality will never be careless about doctrine or slight doctrine for the sake of unity.

3. Preachers must deal with false teaching and not ignore it (1 Tim. 1:3 -- “charge some”).

4. False teachers have a heart problem (1 Tim. 1:5-6). False teachers are not those who teaching error out of ignorance; they are willfully committed to error.

5. There are different types of false teachers.

a. Some teach fables (v. 4). Paul was probably referring to Jewish and Greek fables which false teachers attempted to incorporate into Christianity, but it applies to any fictitious teaching purported to be Christian. A modern example is Rome with its many fables, such as purgatory and Mary the Queen of Heaven. These originally were pagan fables that Rome “borrowed” and incorporated into its teaching. When truth is mingled with error, it ceases to be truth and loses its power.

b. Some dealt in genealogies (1 Tim. 1:4). Paul was referring to the Jewish custom of tracing their lineage, because it was important to know what tribe they were from; but this applies to any such teaching among Christians. A modern example are the Mormons, who use genealogies for their baptism of the dead. The believer does not trace his genealogy according to the flesh, for each believer must be personally born again by the Spirit of God (John 1:12).

c. Some misuse the law (1 Tim. 1:7).

(1) They made the law a means to salvation; whereas the right use of the law is to reveal sin and lead to Christ (1 Tim. 1:8-10). The law is a schoolmaster (Gal. 3:24).

(2) Any other teaching about the law is contrary to the gospel (1 Tim. 1:11). The Seventh-day Adventists commit this error. They teach that law and grace work together for salvation.

(3) The law shows men that they are lost and the gospel converts them so that they have a pure heart and a good conscience (1 Tim. 1:5). God does not want mere external obedience but sincere obedience from the heart, and that only comes when men are born again through faith in Jesus Christ.

6. Teaching produces fruit (1 Tim. 1:4).

a. Truth produces settled faith and godliness. Truth results in the conversion of souls and the fruitfulness of believers and the edifying of the churches. “No point of controversy is worth much trouble, which, if it were settled one way or the other, would not tend to convert the soul from sin, or to establish some important principle in promoting true religion” (Barnes).

b. Error produces unanswered questions, endless debating, confusion, doubt, uncertainty, sensual living.

7. Paul says that he was accountable to God for his ministry; he looked upon his ministry as a solemn trust committed to him by God (1 Tim. 1:11). See 1 Cor. 9:16. Each believer is likewise accountable and will give an answer for his Christian life and ministry at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:11-15).

8. Paul uses himself as an example of what the gospel can and should do (1 Tim. 1:12-16).

a. He was thankful that God had called him to the ministry (1 Tim. 1:12).

(1) He did not look upon the ministry as something to draw back from or to be afraid of but to embrace wholeheartedly and joyfully. Though it be attended with difficulties, the call of God will always be the greatest blessing and joy to one’s life. “If there is anything for which a good man will be thankful, and should be thankful, it is that he has been so directed by the Spirit and providence of God as to be put into the ministry. It is indeed a work of toil and of self-denial, and demanding many sacrifices of personal ease and comfort. It requires a man to give up his splendid prospects of worldly distinction, and of wealth and ease. It is often identified with want, and poverty, and neglect, and persecution. But it is an office so honourable, so excellent, so noble, and ennobling; it is attended with so many precious comforts here, and is so useful to the world, and it has such promises of blessedness and happiness in the world to come, that no matter what a man is required to give up in order to become a minister of the gospel, he should be thankful to Christ for putting him into the office. A minister when he comes to die, feels that the highest favour which heaven has conferred on him has been in turning his feet away from the paths of ambition, and the pursuits of ease or gain, and leading him to that holy work to which he has been enabled to consecrate his life” (Barnes).

(2) Likewise, the perfect will of God apart from the full-time ministry is to be embraced earnestly. The believer should never be afraid of surrendering to God’s perfect will wherever that leads. Those who draw back from surrendering to God’s will do not understand how blessed His will is and how rewarding both in this present life and in the one to time. The believer who refuses to surrender to God’s will always comes to regret his decision and to see the emptiness of a life lived for self.

b. God enabled him for the ministry (1 Tim. 1:12). We do not serve God in our own strength and provision. God provides everything. All we have to do is appropriate that which He supplies.

c. God’s call is accompanied by His foreknowledge (“for that he counted me faithful” 1 Tim. 1:12). Compare God’s confidence in Abraham (Gen. 18:19).

d. Faithfulness is the greatest requirement for the Lord’s service (1 Tim. 1:12). Compare 1 Cor. 4:2.

e. Paul was deeply sorrowful about his former wicked life and false ways (1 Tim. 1:13). He uses the strongest language to describe how evil his actions were.

(1) For example, the term “injurious” is very strong, meaning more than the fact that he hurt the Christians. “It does not mean merely doing injury, but refers rather to the manner or spirit in which it is done. It is a word of intenser signification than either the word ‘blasphemer,’ or ‘persecutor,’ and means that what he did was done with a proud, haughty, insolent spirit. There was wicked and malicious violence, an arrogance and spirit of tyranny in what he did, which greatly aggravated the wrong that was done” (Barnes).

(2) This attitude toward one’s former ways is the fruit of true repentance. Those who justify their old ways or make excuses for what they did or go back to the old things have not truly repented (2 Cor. 7:10; 2 Pet. 2:22).

f. To oppose Jesus Christ is to blaspheme (1 Tim. 1:13).

(1) As a staunch religious Pharisee committed to obeying the externals of the law, Paul did not use the name of God in vain or openly blaspheme the name of God, but he blasphemed by opposing the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 26:9). This is another evidence that Jesus Christ is God.

(2) Any false view of Jesus Christ is a great evil before God. It is impossible to be right with God while being wrong in one’s doctrine of and relationship with Jesus Christ. Compare 2 John 9. Examples are false doctrines of Christ taught by the Roman Catholic Church (Jesus is the wafer of the mass), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, theological Liberals, Unitarians, and Muslims (Jesus is not God and did not die on the cross).

g. Persecution against others is never God’s will (1 Tim. 1:13). It is always the mark of a wolf. Sheep do not persecute and destroy. In church history many professing Christians have persecuted others, but this has always been contrary to the Word of God. During the Reformation, anabaptists were persecuted both by the Roman Catholics and the Protestants.

h. There is a difference between sinning ignorantly and sinning presumptuously (1 Tim. 1:13). Jesus said the same thing in Lk. 23:34.

(1) Presumptuous sin is knowingly and willfully sinning against the clear and direct command of God (Deut. 1:43). It is a self-willed spirit that refuses to be ruled by God (2 Pet. 2:10).

(2) Ignorant sin is done by those who are deceived, thinking that they are right with God and that they are pleasing Him, when in reality they are disobeying His Word.

i. Salvation is of God (1 Tim. 1:14). Faith is both a gift of God and a duty of man. God invites men to believe on Christ, and it is obvious therefore that they can do so but in so doing they have nothing to glory in. A person who receives a gift has nothing to boast about.

j. God’s grace is “exceeding abundant” (1 Tim. 1:14). God provides more than enough for our salvation. Compare Rom. 5:15, 17, 20.

k. The two greatest evidences of salvation are faith and love (1 Tim. 1:14). Faith is confidence in what Christ did for me on the cross, and love is charity toward men.

l. The gospel is faithful and sure (1 Tim. 1:15). Nothing in this world is more certain.

m. Jesus Christ came for the purpose of saving sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).

(1) This is therefore the theme of the Gospels. Some read the Gospels and see Jesus merely as a great example of morality or as a revolutionary leader of some sort or as a great religious teacher. To the contrary, Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh to die for man’s sins.

(2) That is Christ’s greatest desire still today and is why He has commanded His followers to go into all the world and preach to every creature (Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8).

(3) That He came into the world tells us that He pre-existed before His birth. This means He was not an ordinary man. Micah 5:2 says that the babe born in Bethlehem is an eternal Person.

(4) Christ willingly came to lay down His life.

n. Paul called himself the “chief” sinner (1 Tim. 1:15).

(1) Here we see how great the sin of persecution against Christ is. Paul was not an immoral man or a thief or an idolater. He was a morally upright, very religious Jew who sought to keep God’s law in every point. But he was an enemy of Jesus Christ and the cross, and for this he is called the chief of sinners.

(2) Every true Christian has the same feeling about himself and his wickedness. This is the evidence of true repentance.

(3) Paul spoke of himself as the “chief” sinner in the present tense. The sin nature remains after salvation. Compare Rom. 7:18.

(4) The closer we draw to Christ, the more we see our sinfulness.

o. The gospel must be accepted (1 Tim. 1:16). Though Christ died to make it possible for all sinners to be saved, only those who believe, who accept the gift of salvation, are saved.

p. By saving Paul, God showed that He would save any sinner (1 Tim. 1:16). No person is too great a sinner to be saved. “Let no one then despair of obtaining mercy because he feels that his sins are too great to be forgiven. Let him look to the past, and remember what God has done. Let him remember the case of Saul of Tarsus; let him think of David and Peter; let him recall the names of John Newton and John Bunyan--and thousands like them, who have found mercy; and in their examples let him see a full proof that God is willing to save any sinner, no matter how vile, provided he is penitent and believing” (Barnes).

q. All sinners who believe on Christ have everlasting life (1 Tim. 1:16). It is a “whosoever will” gospel that provides eternal salvation.

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The previous is an excerpt from the Advanced Bible Studies Series course on The Pastoral Epistles, which is available from Way of Life Literature. (It is best to order them by phone at 866-295-4143, but they can also be ordered from the newly redesigned online order form at the Way of Life web site, http://www.wayofife.org.)

There are currently 20 titles in the series, and any of them can be special ordered in large print and in ring coil binding. We don’t believe that you will find better quality, more truly life-changing Bible courses from any other source. They are based strictly upon the King James Bible and the powerful word studies assist in the understanding of the KJV but never cast doubt upon it. They are thorough and comprehensive. They are very practical and have the objective of producing well-equipped Christian soldiers that have a solid understanding of the Bible. They stress holy and obedient Christian living and separation from worldliness and error, exalt evangelism and the New Testament church, and promote world missions. They emphasize the crucial differences between law and grace and positional and practical sanctification, and they continually fortify the student’s understanding of the life-changing doctrines such as justification, substitutionary atonement, and eternal security. The courses are non-Calvinistic and interpret Bible prophecy literally. The student will be prepared to stand against the wiles of the Devil and to refute the major theological heresies of our day. One pastor said the books “are extremely helpful for any Christian, no matter where they are spiritually; the practical application is extremely helpful and edifying.”

The Advanced Bible Studies Series can be used as private study guides for the individual Christian, as Sunday School lessons, as textbooks in Bible colleges, as part of a home schooling curriculum, as study material in jails and prisons, for discipling new (or older) Christians, and as refresher study material for Bible College graduates.