Date:   01/10/2010

Text:   1 Timothy 1:1-11

Title:   True or False

Theme: Since God is truth, his followers are to embrace truth in all areas of life.

Introduction:

  Our theme for last year was: Connect with God and its expression in our personal lives. This year, it is Connect with God and its expression in church life. On most of the Sundays, our sermons will be from 1 Timothy.

  When I was in school, I hated True or False questions in tests. The more I tried to think which was true and which was false, the more confused I became. Then you had the final check box: all of the above. From the teachers' perspective, it was a good way to find out how much the students really know. However have we ever noticed that outside the classroom, we were not asked much about true or false? Instead, it is all of the above. All roads lead to Rome . It doesn't matter whether one believes in Islam or Christianity, they will all lead you to the same eternal destiny. Yes, all religions are different from each other, but the end is the same. One true religion? It is so exclusive, un-cool, so out of date.

  Many have been raving about the movie Avatar. It continues to gross millions of dollars each day. It has become one of the most talked about movie in recent years. I read that many catch phrases are collections from various different eastern and western religions. It is part of a trend to erase the distinctions between different religions, between right or wrong, true or false.

  However, from the passage we read this morning, we see a very different picture. In Paul's letter to Timothy, who was at Ephesus , we see words such as: true son, different doctrine, vain discussion, contrary to sound doctrine. It implied that in Christian faith, there is true or false, right or wrong, sound and therefore, unsound, doctrine. It is not all inclusive, but rather, exclusive; not every road leads to Rome .

  This morning we'll learn that when we are connected with God, as we live in the community of believers, by default, we are different from the world around us. We want to explore what our uniqueness is in a world that is advocating tolerance and all inclusiveness.

 I •  A person of faith exhibits total reliance on God. Vs. 1-2

Vs. 1-2 is the greeting, “ 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is a letter from Apostle Paul to Timothy. At the time of writing, Paul was in Macedonia and Timothy pastoring the church at Ephesus . Paul and Timothy had a very close relationship. Paul was Timothy's spiritual father, thus calling him his true child. Besides this, Paul had the clear conviction that he was under the command of Jesus. It was Jesus that commissioned him as an apostle, his representative, his ambassador. Paul prayed that Grace, Mercy and Peace from God be with Timothy.

Grace is unmerited favor from God. A request that God will not treat us the way we deserve, but according to his unconditional love. Mercy means God's compassion, provision for us. Peace is the inner tranquility that transcends all circumstances. Can you imagine a life without God's grace, mercy and peace? If God treats me the way I deserve, none of us, with me first, will be here this morning. Without God's mercy, or compassion, where do we get the sunshine and rain in order to live on this planet? In the midst of economic hardship, and uncertainties in our career, relationship and health, without peace, this inner tranquility, life can be quite chaotic. In these two verses we see the truth that a person of faith is under Christ's lordship, totally dependent upon him.

If you come up to me and asked, “can I borrow your laptop for one day? Or can I borrow you only car for two days?” Will I say yes? It's difficult if not impossible, right? Not because I don't trust you, but I can't do without them. You see, we have put ourselves under that computer or car, we have become dependent on them. The same with our walk with God, We cannot do without his grace, mercy and peace. Without him, life can be miserable. As one hymn says, I need You every hour. Besides total reliance upon God,

II •  A person of faith embraces correct doctrines. Vs.3-6

In vs.3-4, “ As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.” It implied that there was a body of truth, a doctrine that the first Christians held onto. Then someone came and started teaching something different from this. They had to stop. There was the correct doctrine, as well as incorrect doctrine. But did it matter? Why should Timothy stop them?

There was a movie made in the 70's called Man Friday, based on Robinson Crusoe. In this movie, Crusoe's friend was a champion for religious pluralism. “Worship any way you like,” he says, “as long as you mean it. God won't mind.” Really? No, God does mind. For this reason, Paul told Timothy to stop those who were teaching something different. In vs. 4 we're told to stay away from the myths and endless genealogies. What were they?

In the first century, there was this book, “Book of Jubilees”. It was also known as little Genesis. It was a creation story told by the Pharisees, spanning from the time of creation to the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai . Another book called, “The biblical Antiquities of Philo” also consisting of the creation story. In both of these books, there were many fanciful additions. They consisted of fabulous genealogies and names of all the children of Adam and Eve, of Enoch's family, of Noah's predecessors and descendants, and of the seventy people who went down into Egypt . Timothy was to tell the teachers who taught these myths and genealogies to stop and not to engage in discussions. Why? Because it was a waste of time, it would do no good to a believer.

How about us? Do we have any ‘different doctrine' around us? I'll name a few. First there is this book, ‘Bible Code'. It is about hidden secrets in the Bible. By rearranging the letters in Genesis, one can decipher the code and reveal predictions of world events such as the Gulf War and the assassination of Rabin. This is not true doctrine.

We may have read the book or seen the movie, Da Vinci Code. This individual found a secret code in Da Vinci's painting and learned that Jesus was not crucified. Instead he married someone and they went to and settled in a small town in southern France . Their descendents later founded the secretive Opus Dei, which is an order in the Catholic Church. I understand there is this Opus Dei house near or on the Rice Campus. This is a different doctrine.

Then there are the book of Mormon and the book of Koran. What do they have in common? Extra biblical materials and often contrary to what is in the Bible. The Bible is God's word, what it says about God, Jesus, creation and men is truth, it is the correct doctrine. Any other teachings that contradict the Bible are ‘different, incorrect doctrine'. We are not to waste time in them. You see, truth, correct doctrine does matter to God. For God is truth and He cannot contradict himself.

III •  A person of faith knows how to use the Law correctly. 7-11

Vs. 7-8, “ desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ” These teachers of the Law taught very confidently, yet Paul said they didn't know what they were teaching. Using contemporary words, they are full of hot air. We are not told how they taught the law, God's commandments. In Galatians, there were teachers who taught salvation= faith plus keeping the laws. So instead of trying to find out what they taught, we'll discuss what is the right approach to law.

This passage tells us that the law by itself is good. In the Reformation tradition, there are two functions of the law, the commandments. First, the commandments are meant to reveal our sins. Secondly, the commandments are there to restrain wrong behaviors. Calvin suggested the third use of the commandments, To show us God's will for our lives. When we read the commandments, we know how he wants us to live: To love God and Men.

In vs. 9-10 is a list of sinful behaviors, “ … understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.” They could be considered as some of the extreme forms of wrong behavior. This list is actually a reflection of the 10 commandments. For example, striking the parents is a reference to violating the 5 th commandment, honor your parents. Murderers offended the 6 th commandment, thou shall not kill. The sexually immoral are those violating the 7 th commandment, thou shall not commit adultery. Likewise, those who practice homosexuality is also a violation of the 7 th commandment. I feel that I need to say an additional word about this. In today's western culture, we want to use the Bible to legitimize our behavior. When the top city official, an openly practicing homosexual, took the oath of office with a hand on the Bible, this person is sending the following message: this Bible not only will hold me accountable in how I govern the city, it also affirms how I live. Nothing is further from the truth than this. Here in black and white, practicing homosexuality is a violation of God's commandment; it is contrary to sound doctrine. Then there is the enslavers, or slave traders, or in today's language, human trafficking. It is violation of the commandments, thou shall not steal, thou shall not covet what belongs to others. The liars and the perjurers are those who violated the 9 th commandment, thou shall not bear false witness. It is clear from this that one proper use of the law is to restrain sinful behaviors in our personal lives.

As believers, we are to let God's law to be our moral compass. We are to use and teach God's law, to restrain the evil around us. I mentioned in my last Sunday's sermon there is the increasing awareness that Houston is a major city for human trafficking. For those of us who know God's law, we are to teach and be advocates so that we'll treat all lives with respect and dignity and not a commodity to be used or sold.

As a person of faith, we are to embrace and apply God's law, and commandments rightly. We are to let the law reveal our sins, to restrain us. And even more so, by studying the commandments, we know how God wants us to live in a world full of sinful behaviors. Then Lastly,

IV •  A person of faith has love as the underpinning of all he does.

What comes to your mind when I say, “she is really strong in theology and doctrine”? Our stereotyping will be: she must be stuffy, serious, rigid and no fun. Or if I say, “he is a very loving person”? Our stereotyping will be: he is kind, fun to be around, theology or doctrine? Probably doesn't care, the anything goes type. He couldn't care less about pre-mils or a-mils, God's election or human free will; they are all the same to him.

We read in this passage, it is about the true son, sound doctrine, correct use of the law. It's kind of black and white, rigid and inflexible. Right? No, notice vs. 5, “ The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Why such an emphasis on the correct doctrine, teaching the law correctly? It is because of Love. How is this love to be expressed?

  First, through a pure heart. The heart is the center of our being. A heart that has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. It is a heart with no self-interest. It is a heart opened to others, caring and loving them. Second, this love is expressed through a good conscience. Conscience is the center of our moral life. It is the seat of our moral sense, our moral compass. The conscience is that still small voice prompting us this is right and that is wrong. Thirdly, sincere faith. This means an un-hypocritical faith. There is good integration of what we believe and how we live. There is no double standard. What you see is what you get; without any hidden agenda or pretense. Sound doctrine is important, but it must be balanced with Love.

Loving God and men forms the foundation of sound doctrine. Sound doctrine provides the boundary for love. The two cannot be separated. For this reason, Francis Schaeffer wrote in the 70's that Love is the church's final apologetic. Note that the final apologetic for the church is not those persuasive arguments; it is love for God and men.

Truth without love, is cold and unwelcoming. Nothing is worst than cold orthodoxy. A friend wrote: the church I am attending teaches very sound and proper doctrine. Everything they do is measured by their doctrines. They are so cold and I feel stuffy and stifled by those doctrines. After much thought and prayers, I decided to leave this church. Very often people are turned off by a church, not because of its doctrines but because of its lack of love.

Conclusion:

  Sometimes our life is like the true or false tests. Is this the right thing to do, right place to go? Which is the right religion, or is there one? We tried to pick the right one and make the right decision. Yet the world keep telling us, all of the above, all roads lead to Rome . But not so in the Christian world view. There is truth, correct doctrine. Not all roads lead to Rome . Because God is the truth, therefore when we follow him, truth, and correct doctrine must be our hallmark. However, since God is also love, therefore, our correct doctrine is to be balanced with love.

Do we know what happened to the church at Ephesus some 30 years later? In Revelation 2, there was this short letter to the church at Ephesus . Listen to these words, “ I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false……But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first." 5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place, unless you repent." What do we see here? 30 years after Paul wrote to Timothy, the church at Ephesus still had all the marks of sound teaching and correct doctrine. Yet something is missing: Love. All that was left was cold orthodoxy. The church at Ephesus was to repent and to restore that first love.

  This is a solemn warning, a wake up call to today's churches. Some churches are loving and all inclusive, but they pay little attention to God's laws. They condone behaviors that clearly contradict God's law as revealed in the scriptures. On the other hand, there are churches, including ours, that may pride ourselves in sound doctrine. Yet, we are never to forget that the foundation and purpose of sound doctrine is love. It is our prayer that on one hand we hold onto the truth that was once given to the saints. On the other hand, we boldly love those in this community and those beyond the walls of this church. Our orthodoxy in doctrine will be clearly demonstrated in our love for God and men.