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Grace Baptist Church

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Making War for the Gospel

Making War for the Gospel

Apr 30, 2017

Passage: 1 Timothy 1:18-20

Preacher: Tom Ascol

Series: Life in the Household of God

Category: Sunday Morning

Keywords: conscience, gospel, soldier, spiritual warfare

Detail:

 

Pastor Tom Ascol continues his series in the Pastoral Epistles opening 1 Timothy to Chapter 1:18-20 in a message entitled “Make War for the Gospel.” The Bible uses many metaphors for the Christian believer such as an athlete, a farmer, or a bondservant. One of the more prevalent metaphors is that of a soldier. This is so because the Christian life is a spiritual battle.

In this letter, Paul approaches the concept of the soldier with both positive and negative instruction. In vv. 18 through 19a we are instructed to engage in war, the charge is given to Christians. We are to wage war in accordance with God’s promises focusing especially on the fact that He will never leave us. As we apply the Bible to our lives we separate ourselves from our own depravity, the temptations of the devil, and the corruptness of the world system. This call to war is not given only to the leaders; every individual Christian, every soldier, has the responsibility to engage in battle. To meet the enemy by applying God’s Word we must first know God’s Word, the objective body of truth revealed to mankind. We must know and hold fast to what we believe, knowing and understanding doctrine. Just as there is an objective body of truth, Paul also recognizes the importance of keeping the individual’s subjective conscience in good order. This can only be done by focusing on living rightly because sin wounds the healthy conscience. Care is needing to not consistently fall to sin and darken the conscience making it unreliable. David correctly assessed his own situation in this regard in Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Paul shifts to the negative application for the remainder of today’s passage. Failure to wage this war results in a “shipwrecked” faith. As proof, Paul offers two examples well-known to the church at Ephesus. These two men may have been leaders in the church at one time, illustrating the truth that no one is safe from self, the devil, or the world system without constant engagement in the spiritual war. In a clear case of church discipline Paul has excommunicated these men, the most serious action a church can take and the most serious thing that can happen to a church member. It is a dangerous thing to lose the protection of the church community and be handed over to Satan into the realm over which he exercises dominion. Still, there is hope. Church discipline is never done in a vengeful manner but rather is done to cause correction with an eye towards restoration.

Coming to the Lord Jesus for salvation does not end the troubles of life. It does, however, set us free from the dominion of sin, gives us a relationship with the eternal God, and provides us with the ability to engage in a war for His glory and honor.