Lesson 6 Pastoral Epistles (Part 2)

Introduction: This brings us to:

1. The servant’s responsibility to His master.
2. The preacher’s responsibility to the flock.
3. The proper response to those that reject the words of God.

(Slide 3)

1 Timothy 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

(Slide 4)

1. “they that have believing masters”
   1. Servant/Slave towards saved master: Colossians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

(Slide 5)

1. Ephesians 6:5-6 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

(Slide 6)

• “let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service”
  • Don’t hold them in contempt, nor abhor them
    • This would be natural from man’s standpoint.

(Slide 7)

• In place of that attitude:
  • Serve them.

(Slide 8)

• “because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit”

(Slide 9)

1. The benefits are going to be revealed
   1. Of the slave for faithful service

(Slide 10)

1. Of the master for just and equal treatment: Colossians 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

(Slide 11)

• When: Colossians 3:24-25 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

(Slide 12)

• “These things teach and exhort”
  • Preacher’s responsibility
    • Teach and Preach this message.
      • Far cry from our thinking today.
      • What are we to say of those that disagree with this message?

(Slide 13)

1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

            (Slide 14)

1. “If any man teach otherwise”
   1. Watch out for what’s coming!

(Slide 15)

• Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
  • Other doctrine: men’s opinions

(Slide 16)

1. We are to avoid those that contradict God’s doctrine:
   1. They are pleasing fables: 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

(Slide 17)

• Then God says he is proud, knows nothing, hung up on strife and railing: 1 Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

(Slide 18)

• “If any man…consent not to wholesome words”
  • “Wholesome words” give good health
  • Are good for us: Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
  • Are not to be resisted, but surrendered to.

(Slide 19)

• “If any man…consent not to…even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ”
  • Wholesome words are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ

(Slide 20)

• 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

(Slide 21)

1. Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

(Slide 22)

• “If any man…consent not… to the doctrine which is according to godliness”
  • The doctrine is that which comes from godliness.
    • Consenting not is a rebellion against God.
  • What we are to do: Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

(Slide 23)

1 Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

(Slide 24)

1. Here’s man’s problem: “He is proud, knowing nothing”
   1. Proverbs 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
   1. Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

(Slide 25)

• Proud in own ignorance.

(Slide 26)

• “doting about questions and strifes of words”
  • Doting: Excessive fondness
    • About questions
    • About Strifes over words

(Slide 27)

• God’s command concerning:
  • 2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

(Slide 28)

• Marks of the carnal man:
  • 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

(Slide 29)

• Results of: “whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings”
  • Man’s pride breeds.
    • Envy: looking with hatefulness at others
    • Strife: contentious behavior
    • Railings: insulting behavior and speaking
  • These are spoken towards masters by unfaithful servants/slaves, preachers, teachers.

(Slide 30)

1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

(Slide 31)

1. “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds”
   1. These have turned from the right to the wrong
      1. Use God’s words to teach what God’s words don’t say: 1 Timothy 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

(Slide 32)

• Their minds are corrupt; filled with errors: Titus 1:15-16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

(Slide 33)

• “destitute of the truth,”
  • Forsaken and deprived of the truth
    • There is no truth in them: John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
      • Like unto their father the devil.

(Slide 34)

• “supposing that gain is godliness”
  • Point to how many believe them, what great reputation among men they have, or possessions.
    • Think all of this points to the fact that they are godly.
  • Newer bibles: ESV, ASV, NKJV: “godliness is a means to gain”; Living Bible: “a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy”; changes message!

(Slide 35)

• So, what are we to do? “from such withdraw thyself”
  • RUN AWAY! These are people we are to stay away from.
  • Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

(Slide 36)

• Romans 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

(Slide 37)

• 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

(Slide 38)

Conclusion: So, we have seen:

1. The servant’s responsibility to His master:
   1. To obey
   1. To serve
   1. To honor
2. The preacher’s responsibility to the flock.
   1. Preach this message.
3. The proper response to those that reject the words of God.
   1. Reject those that reject the truth of God’s words.
   1. Avoid them
   1. Withdraw from them

Join us for our next lesson of the Pastoral Epistles, lesson 6, part 3.