The Man of God's Distinctiveness

About this sermon

Introduction: The man of God is known by his doctrine. He is known by what he believes, and therefore what he proclaims. He is known by his relationship to Scripture. He believes the Bible and therefore is characterized by obedience to the Bible. That makes him a very different man in this world. There is nothing more characteristic and more distinctive about a genuine believer, than their submissive relationship to the Word of God. That distinctiveness is on display in our verses. Paul’s description of Timothy as “man of God” in verse 11, is in contrast to another kind of man. In fact, it’s in contrast to ANY OTHER KIND OF MAN. What do we see about that OTHER KIND OF MAN, and what does it teach us about the man of God? • THE KIND OF MAN THAT STANDS IN CONTRAST TO A MAN OF GOD (vs.3-5) Before we look at this other kind of man, I want to remind us that this is no benign issue. Paul is returning to what he began the letter with. These false teachers are the reason why Timothy must remain in Ephesus. These false teachers represent spiritual shipwreck. These false teachers require a letter like 1 Timothy. The presence of spiritual wolves is a very real danger to the church. • THE REALITY OF FALSE TEACHERS (VS.2B-3A) And the first thing we want to note about these wolves is that they ARE PRESENT. They exist. When Paul says, “if anyone teaches,” he isn’t in doubt that it will happen. IT’S ALREADY HAPPENING. Rather, he is EXPANDING his diagnosis of the problem BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE THREAT. What he can say about the specific threat facing Timothy and the Ephesians, he can say about ANYONE who represents what these men are doing. False teachers come in many different shapes and sizes and flavors, but they all represent the same influence. False teachers should not be a surprise to us. It is to be expected. It happens. Gordon Fee – “Verses 3–5 are a single conditional sentence in Greek, of a type known as a simple present particular, meaning that both parts of the sentence express the way things actually are. Such conditional sentences are used when an author is quite certain of his premise. In this case the protasis (the “if” part, v. 3) describes what the false teachers are not doing that they should be doing. The apodosis (the “then” part, vv. 4–5) describes the results.” WE CAN BE CERTAIN THAT WE WILL MEET WITH SUCH MEN AND THAT THESE WILL THE RESULTS OF THEIR INFLUENCE. ESV 2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2Pe 2:1 ESV) ESV Acts 20:29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Act 20:29 ESV) He teaches “other doctrine”. The word here is εἴ τις ἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖ (1Ti 6:3 BGT) (heterodidaskalei). Other teaching. A teaching, or a doctrine other than what is being given through Paul (and the other apostles). NAU 1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, (1Ti 1:3 NAU) (another form of this same word) This is what they do. They advocate teaching that is different from that which is sound and healthy. It is another kind of teaching. AND THIS IS HOW YOU RECOGNIZE THEM.