The Dangers of Different Doctrine • 10.30.22
Nick Lees   -   October 30, 2022

The Dangers of Different Doctrine
1 Timothy 6:3-21

Living in light of the truth

  1. Evaluate what doctrine drives you
  2. Take immediate action to pursue sound living

 

As I’ve said throughout this series in 1 + 2 Timothy, it is a privilege to be a part of God’s church. How incredible to walk through life together as part of the family of God! To have the weighty responsibility and privilege of representing Him to the watching world around us. Praying for one another is one of the ways we get to live out that privilege. Studying and applying His Word is another, and that’s what we’re turning our attention to now.

Dismiss 4th + 5th graders.

Ushers + Bibles (1 Tim. 6; page 1179)

Today we have the opportunity to finish out the first letter from Paul to Timothy. Throughout this letter we have heard the importance of the church in supporting, defending, and promoting the truth. As you all surely know and have memorized by now… Paul wrote this letter, in part, so that the church would allow the truth to inform the way that they live. We reviewed that week after week in 1 Timothy 3:14-15. Our simple way of putting it has been – “Sound doctrine ought to/must lead to sound living.” There is no disconnecting our beliefs from our practice. They are directly connected. What you believe will inevitably influence how you live. And if the way you live is contradictory to what you say you believe… well then you need to evaluate what you truly believe!

Today we’re going to be reminded that everyone lives by some standard of “truth”. I say “truth” in quotes because truth by its very nature is exclusive, so there is only One truth – God’s Word. But people like us live and act as if there are all kind of other “truths” out there and we shape our lives around them.

Your standard of “truth” will inevitably influence how you live. The values you have inform the thoughts you think, the way you speak, the decisions you make, and the subsequent actions you take. Which is, in part, why your doctrine matters. Just as sound doctrine ought to lead to sound living, unsound/false doctrine will lead to unsound/sinful living. And, as Paul has already warned, following false teaching/unsound doctrine will lead you to shipwreck your faith and have no hope of eternal life. These are not small matters we’re discussing in these letters! We’re talking about the difference between a life well-lived with the hope of heaven and a life wasted with the hope of God’s judgment.

With that in mind, let’s read our text for today.

1 Timothy 6:2b–21 (ESV)

Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

Grace be with you.

Would you bow your heads with me as I pray over our study of this text?

Lord, there is so much truth to consider here. Please give us ears to hear and hearts to believe. May we not sit here today and study this passage and walk away unchanged. Do a work in each one of us. Where there is unbelief, bring faith. Where there is weak faith, strengthen us. Where there is disobedience, help us to confess and turn to pursue godliness. Where there is obedience, help us to humbly praise your glorious grace. May we be found pleasing in your sight. Thank you for your patience and steadfast love towards us. Amen.

You just heard Paul explain to Timothy that the type of doctrine you believe and teach matters! And everyone is in the business of believing and teaching some sort of doctrine. Doctrine means a set of beliefs or principles held and taught. If you’re a human, you have doctrine, whether you realize it or not. Everyone has beliefs and principles that they hold and live by. The questions we need to ask are “What doctrine do I have? Is it a different doctrine that does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness?”

As we wrap up our study of this first letter to Timothy, we’re going to spend our time this morning discussing…

Living in light of the truth

As you can imagine, as the church of Jesus Christ, we want to believe and teach sound doctrine. That’s what God has called us to do. And we don’t want to stop there. We also want our lives to be transformed by this sound doctrine! We must live in light of the truth that we hold so dear. I hope none of us has the aspiration of being a hypocrite – saying one thing but living completely contrary – or a false teacher – willingly leading others away from the truth!

How can we stay far away from these dangerous paths and pursue living in light of the truth? As we apply our text today, it starts as you…

  1. Evaluate what doctrine drives you

That’s where we must begin. Evaluate what you believe in light of what Jesus and the rest of Scriptures teach.

Paul clearly tells Timothy that sound doctrine is determined by what Jesus taught and affirmed as true and by the teachings that accords with godliness. To put it plainly, Paul is saying that sound doctrine is the teachings of what we now know to be the Old and New Testaments. The Word of God is the source of sound doctrine.

How incredible is it that you are able to have this source of truth in a compact, easily accessible format?! Either in print or electronically! In our country, in our day and age, there is every opportunity to be able to know and study the truth. To be able to know what God says and how He designed us to live for a joyful, productive life.

So, I’m assuming you are all experts in the Bible, right? Because it is so readily accessible to you, you make time to study it and live it… right? Let’s think about this…

Do you believe the truth of Jesus?

  • God, Man, Christ, Response

Or some other “truth”?

Now, realize, that when Paul is writing to Timothy, he’s writing to address the false teachers that had risen up in the church in Ephesus. There are real men teaching different doctrines in that community. Men who had heard the teachings of Jesus and willfully chosen to go a different way. To pervert and warp the truth into something else. This should be a chilling warning to us. Just because you “go to church” and “read your Bible” does not mean you are somehow exempt from the need to evaluate what doctrine drives you. These men “went to church” and “read their Bibles” yet they walked away from the faith as they gave themselves over to false teaching.

How does that happen!? We heard about it at the beginning of the letter in chapter 1. These men devoted themselves to myths and endless genealogies. They set their focus on wrong things and then spent their time/talent/treasure pursuing something other than God. This could happen to any one of us! Who’s to say you won’t get swept up in the latest conspiracy theory or political intrigue as the midterm elections come due!? How many well-meaning Christians have been swept away into the sea of social justice and political correctness? So many have been led astray by the desire for worldly success – “I just want to achieve financial independence so I can retire in comfort!” – or the approval of others – “I just want people to appreciate and care for me” or a variety of other desires.

Clearly the false teaching in Ephesus was compelling to some degree, otherwise people wouldn’t have been led astray by it. We must be on the lookout for different doctrine that does not line up with the teachings of the Word and yet entices us to follow it anyways!

Will you commit to knowing God and His Word so that you can hold fast to the truth and refute lies? Don’t just say “Yes!” Have a plan for how you’re going to commit to knowing God and His Word! What will you read in the Word? When will you read it? How will you seek to apply it?

Going back to the situation in Ephesus, Paul says those who teach different doctrine are arrogant and understand nothing. They were obsessed with debating and quarreling about words. They got fixated on the wrong things and this led to a certain type of ungodly behavior. The fruit of such a lifestyle is envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and friction between people in that community. Paul says they are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth! They can’t think correctly – they’re corrupted in their minds – and thus they cannot understand or arrive at the truth. The fruit of their “doctrine” is clear, and it is UGLY.

One of the specific bad fruits was that they believed godliness was a means of gain. Meaning they believed that the practice of their “religion” ought to provide them a cushy lifestyle. They were in it for the money and the benefits it brought them, NOT for the advancement of the Gospel and the protection of the sheep!

This is a first century version of our modern-day health, wealth, and prosperity gospel! If you have faith, God will give you what you want! They were taking the things of God and twisting the focus to be all about THEM and THEIR BENEFIT.

Paul refutes and rebukes their lie in vv6-10 by reminding us of the truth that godliness with contentment is great gain. We didn’t bring anything into this world with us and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. The famous saying is “you’ll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse” because everyone knows that you can’t take it with you when it is your time to die.

Paul says that it is better to be satisfied with the basic provisions of life that God has given you than to continually clamor and strive to have more. Look again at verses 9-10 with me:

1 Timothy 6:9–10 (ESV)

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Really Paul!? Even the DESIRE to be rich is a problem!? I can’t desire to win the lottery (even though I don’t play it)?! The truth of the matter is that your desires rule you. If you desire to be rich, it will lead you into temptation and into many other harmful desires that plunge you into ruin and destruction. It’s a gateway desire! Loving money leads to all kinds of other evils – greed, idolatry, selfishness, immorality, lying, stealing, slandering – you name it, if what you love is money, you’ll cut any corner to get it! Paul testifies that through this craving some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Walking away from the faith is a high cost for temporary, fleeting riches. And they did it to themselves! They chose to value riches over godliness, and it produced godlessness and death. That is the consistent end of the path of pursuing different doctrine than the truth of God’s Word. Whereas God’s path is contentment, godliness, and life.

So, I ask you again…

“What doctrine do I have? Is it a different doctrine that does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness?”

You need to evaluate the beliefs and principles you hold and live by as it determines the course of your life, both here and now and for all eternity!

After evaluating the doctrine that drives you, we see from verses 11-21 that it is essential to…

  1. Take immediate action to pursue sound living

1 Timothy 6:11–21 (ESV)

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

Grace be with you.

Paul loads up this last portion of his letter with all kinds of commands to action for his protégé and the church at Ephesus. Let’s put them on the screen so we can consider them.

It starts with the command to flee false doctrine/ways of living. There are things that must be put off in a Christian’s life. You have to say, “NO! I’m not going to live this way anymore. I’m not going to think or believe or value these things over obedience to Christ!” There is a real change in a Christian man or woman. We are to actively run away from temptation and sin. This means we have to take it seriously. We can’t play around with change. What steps are you taking this week to FLEE from ungodliness in your life?! (Repeat) Realize this requires you to know truth so you can identify what is not pleasing to God in your life in order to change it!

In addition to fleeing, Paul lays out a variety of commands that fall under the call to pursue sound doctrine/ways of living. This really is the culmination of all that Paul has been writing to Timothy. He has warned and exhorted and here he has done it again. After warning in verses 3-10, now he is exhorting again. Live this way! Here is the good life that pleases God! And what is it comprised of?

  1. Fight the good fight of the faith

This is a call to daily perseverance. If you’ve been walking with Christ for any length of time and seeking to flee from temptation and sin, then you know that a faithful life isn’t easy. There are many real battles in this life, whether spiritual, physical, emotional, or otherwise. I’m sure there are many of you who have walked through extended seasons of trials or suffering. I know you’re out there, because I’ve had the privilege of walking with you. The same is true for your small groups, if you’re letting them in. This is how the Christian life is meant to be done – in community – fighting the good fight of the faith together. There is a reason the New Testament letters are written to COMMUNITIES of believers. There is no such thing as lone-ranger Christianity. Fight the good fight of the faith TOGETHER. You’re stronger for it.

I am so thankful for my brother Jack Flaherty and my dear wife, Micaela. Both of these people have been used of God in my life over the past several years to help me fight the good fight of the faith. When I’ve been discouraged or despairing, they’ve been there to remind me of truth and to point me to Christ. That’s not to mention my small group guys, our pastor team, and Tim Pasma, a senior pastor from Ohio who ministered to me in a time of need. These are the primary people whom God has used in my life to help me persevere in the faith lately! And I’m so thankful for them. Who are those people for you? Please open up to your small group. Have a trusted friend and mentor within the church to help you fight the good fight! We know for sure that Timothy had Paul and Paul had Barnabas. They both had many traveling companions who helped them persevere in the faith.

Directly connected to this command is the next…

  1. Take hold of the eternal life

This is again about perseverance. Take hold or grasp the outcome of your faith – eternal life. This is the eternal life Paul says,

  1. To which you were called

This is a statement directly about God’s election of believers. The Bible clearly teaches that God knows His people and calls them to be His before the foundation of the world. God calls us to salvation and those whom He calls respond in faith. Yet we are still called to cooperate with God in the perseverance of our faith. Our lives need to be marked by ongoing obedience in this Christian race. Paul goes on to say…

  1. About which you made the good confession
    1. In the presence of many witnesses

This is likely referring to Timothy’s conversion/baptism. Where he stood before the world and publicly proclaimed that he was a follower of Christ. One of the first steps of obedience in your faith journey with Jesus ought to be a public confession of that faith in believer’s baptism. It is a public commitment that you are following Jesus and no longer living for yourself! If you’ve never taken that step of obedience, I’d love to talk with you about it after the service.

So far, two commands about persevering in the faith, the next is a different call to action…

  • Keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach

In verses 13-16, Paul charges Timothy to follow in Jesus’ example by keeping the faith and having a holy witness during his lifetime. Unlike the false teachers in Ephesus, Timothy is not to bring reproach on the gospel message by his life and conduct. This faithfulness to the gospel and teachings of Scripture is a life-long calling for every Christian! We are to be about the Lord’s work until he returns. The doxology  (praise of God) that Paul launches into in verses 15-16 is a beautiful reminder of who we serve and how incomparably great He truly is. He is the God who is in control. The highest authority. The One who has eternally existed. The Uncreated Creator. Whose very essence is holiness and brilliant glory.

How could Timothy… How could we… not count it our joy to represent and serve such an amazing God?! Why would we not pour out our life in humble obedience to Him day-by-day!? There is no one more worthy of your allegiance and obedience. No matter what treasures or pleasures this life or false teachers may offer you, they pale in comparison to the glory of God and entering into his joy for all eternity.

Keep the command unstained and free from reproach in this life. Timothy, do everything you can to faithfully follow Christ! (Repeat with names of folks in our congregation) *Pause*

Which includes the task of discipling others. In verses 17-19 Paul charges Timothy to disciple a specific group of people in Ephesus, the rich. As Christians we are called to…

  1. Charge the rich to set their hopes on God, not wealth

I don’t know if you paid attention, but Paul uses wordplay to drive his point home here. Charge the RICH not to set their hopes on the uncertainty of RICHES, but on God, who RICHLY provides… They are to be RICH in good works…

Paul warns about the temptations of riches in this present age (meaning money, possessions). They can easily become a source of pride. Look no further than King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon…

Daniel 4:28–30 (ESV)

28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

As he walked along the roof of his royal palace (pretty impressive right, who here has a royal palace!? He was doing pretty good for himself…) he looks around and begins to boast. Look at what I have done by my might and for my glory! If you’re familiar with this part of history, you know that what happens next is God humbles him by driving him from among men to make him become like an animal who eats grass. Riches are a real temptation to pride and boasting! “Look at what I’ve done!”

It will also be tempting, if you’re rich, to set your hope in your riches! This is a false hope that will disappoint you. Your riches can be taken away from you and where will your hope be then!? This is the very thing Jesus warned about in his parable of the rich man:

Luke 12:16–21 (ESV)

16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

The rich man foolishly put his hope in his plentiful crops. He was rich and believed he was secure. He did not realize that God would come calling that very night and he would be held accountable for where his hope was being found.

As Jesus’ parable declares, so Paul also says, “It is better to have your hopes on the God who richly provides.” Sound living is having your hope in God because you realize the fleeting nature of worldly riches. When you are thinking rightly about riches, you realize that they are a tool, not a source of hope. And, as a tool, they can be used rightly as worship of God and for the good of others.

Paul gives specifics of what this looks like in verse 18 of 1 Timothy 6.

  1. Sound living while rich includes:
    1. Doing good
    2. Being rich in good works
    3. Being generous and ready to share

The picture being painted is of a man or woman who is on the lookout for ways to use their wealth to bless others! You might say, “That’s for the rich. I’m not rich!” If you live in America, you’re rich. You have access to more resources and wealth than much of the rest of the world! *Pause*

A man or woman who pursues godliness while rich is aware that the primary calling on their life is to be an ambassador of the Gospel and their riches are just one more resource to accomplish that calling. Another word for this type of lifestyle is stewardship. 😊 In case you didn’t realize, it is almost November, which is our church’s annual Stewardship Month. It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on all that God has entrusted to us (hint: EVERYTHING) and how we can wisely steward/manage it for His glory and the good of others.

How timely that many of the primary takeaways in this text for living in light of the truth has to do with stewardship. Stewardship of time/talent/treasure to flee false doctrine and to pursue righteousness/godliness. We are being called to be good stewards of the Gospel and our earthly resources. One of the ways this plays out, as we’re hearing in verse 18, is by being rich in good works and being generous and ready to share.

Is that how you seek to live your life? I was sitting down for coffee with a brother in Christ last week and he is a great example of obeying this principle. I know for a fact that this man and his family have in their cars little Bibles with $50 and an explanation of the Gospel ready to hand out. When they see a person in need, they seek to stop and give them these resources and talk to them about faith in Christ. That’s good stewardship! They’re giving generously of their time and treasure.

I’ve shared this previous example before, but it’s such a powerful one in my own life that I want to share it again. In my previous church in Indiana, there was a doctor by the name of Robert Smith. He and his wife Leona were some of the most generous people I knew. Doc, as he was known, passed away a few years ago at 94.

Doc was a M.D. by training, but that’s not how I knew him. Doc was one of the hardest working, most sacrificial men that I know. Earlier in his life he was convinced that he needed to start a biblical counseling ministry with a pastor friend of his, Bill Goode. These two men began what was known at that time as NANC (National Association of Nouthetic Counselors) and now is known as ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors) – a worldwide biblical counseling training and certifying agency.

Doc and his wife, Leona, decided early on in their marriage that they were going to work hard to serve others. One way that they did this was by living a capped lifestyle. That means they capped their standard of living at a particular amount. So, let’s say a M.D. made $100,000 a year. Doc and Leona decided they were going to live as if they made far below that – I don’t know the exact number, but that’s not what’s important. What’s important is that they lived on less so that they could give more! What’s important is that they worked hard, but not to store up treasures for themselves, they worked hard to turn around and give it to help others. Doc and Leona poured countless hours and dollars into building a ministry that would help others apply God’s Word to their lives and see true change. Up to his passing, Doc was still overseeing new counselors in their training! What a testimony! What a legacy! Our own counseling ministry at Harvest is a result of Doc and Leona’s investment in people like me. Doc and Leona were rich in good works, generous and ready to share. This is only one of countless stories like this that I could share. If only we had the time…

Paul says the result of this kind of generous lifestyle is that you are storing up treasures in eternity. Paul is not saying that you EARN your way to heaven. Rather, generosity and godliness in this life is a foundation for eternal life. You are taking temporary treasures in this life and transferring them to eternity. These choices please your Creator and you will have the privilege and pleasure of hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” What a wonderful day that will be!

As Paul says, by your generosity you are taking hold of that which is truly life. You have demonstrated that you value eternal riches over fleeting pleasures/treasures. Such a man or woman is a powerful witness for the Gospel! And a sharp contrast to the false teachers in Ephesus who sought to gain monetarily from their efforts. *Pause*

Finally, Paul closes this letter with two commands in v20.

  1. Guard the deposit entrusted to you
  2. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions

Do you hear the twin calls to put off and put on? Put off the irreverent babble/contradictions for by professing it some have swerved from the faith! Indulging in these things will shipwreck your faith! Instead, put on guarding the deposit, the Gospel entrusted to you. Watch over it. Protect it. Follow it. Timothy, you are a steward of the Gospel! Be a wise steward!

Can you imagine a world where Christians stopped pursuing wealth and the temporary pleasures/treasures of this life and instead pursued wise stewardship of the Gospel? How might our work-weeks change? How might you use your time differently? Where would you stop spending money and start giving it instead? What might you have more time for? (Your family, the church, reaching the lost!)

So many are willing to endure jobs they dislike or work long hours to the detriment of their health, their relationships, and their life… What if instead of pursuing wealth you pursued righteousness/godliness/faith/love/steadfastness/and gentleness with that kind of commitment? I have to imagine your life, your marriage, your family, our church, and, eventually, our community would look a whole lot different. There are big things to consider out of this study today of 1 Timothy.

Let’s pray and ask God for help.