AM Bible Study Group; September 10, 2014
1 Timothy 6:13-16
Theme: The accountability we bear before a holy God is the motivation for earnestness in ministry.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
The apostle Paul had just urged Timothy to put into practice in his own life the sort of values and priorities that accord with godliness. Now, in our passage this morning, Paul goes on to stress something even bigger—the sort of true godliness (that is, a conscious awareness of God’s presence and worth in our live, and of our continual accountability to Him) that would motivate Pastor Timothy to a whole-hearted earnestness in his ministry. When the very majesty and character of God Himself is the motivation for ministry, that ministry cannot be done with anything but our all.
I. THE AUTHORITY THAT IS APPEALED TO (v. 13).
A. Paul beings by saying, “I urge you . . .” The word that he uses refers to a strong appeal. It falls short of being a ‘command’—although a command is referred to in verses 14. Paul seems to be drawing a willingness out of Timothy to give his all based on the authority of Another. The highest motivation for ministry is because of the unchanging character of God—and our humble response to His right over our lives.
1. The first Person that Paul points to is God the Father. “I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things . . .” God the Father is the source of all life—not only of the biological life of all things, and especially of the life that He breathed into Adam at his creation, but of the eternal life that comes from salvation. As Jesus prayed, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). Because the ministry involves the declaration of eternal life, the incentive for the declaration ought to come from the God who gives it!
2. The second Person that Paul points to is God the Son. “I urge you . . . before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate.” What was the good confession that Jesus witnessed before Pilate? When Pilate examined Him, Jesus testified that He was a king, that His kingdom was not of this world, that He was sent into the world to bear witness to the truth, and that everyone who is of the truth hears His voice (John 18:36-37). Pilate’s testimony was, “I found no fault in Him at all” (v. 38). Because the declaration of eternal life is a message about Christ, then the incentive for that declaration ought to come from the veracity of Jesus’ claims about Himself.
D. Note the implication of this. We live in a world that tells us to privatize our faith and not to declare it to others. But our authority is not from man, but of God the Father and Jesus His Son. Whatever men may tell us, we are under the highest possible mandate to preach the gospel. “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
II. THE COMMANDMENT THAT IS GIVEN (v. 14).
A. Timothy was urged by Paul “that you keep this commandment . . .” What commandment would this be? The New King James Version has inserted the word “this”—suggesting that the commandment is based on the immediate context, and speaks of Timothy’s pursuit of personal godliness (see vv. 11-12). But because the word “this” is not in the original text, the command may be seen as reaching beyond the immediate context and taking in the whole letter. It may be referring to the command originally given in 1:3—to remain in Ephesus and bring things in the church into proper order; and it may be seen as having been expanded in all the specific commands throughout this letter (1:18; 2:1, 8-9, 11; 3:14-15; 4:6-7, 12-16; 5:1-2, 3-16, 17, 20, 21, 22; 6:1-2, 11-12, 17, 18, 20-21). But even more, it may be a reference, in the broadest sense possible, to our Lord’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
B. Note how Timothy was to keep it; “without spot, blameless . . .” The phrase “without spot” may have reference to the content of the message of the gospel itself. Much in this letter has had to do with protecting the integrity of the gospel from those who would deviate from it or change it. And the phrase “blameless” may have reference to the manner in which it is to be proclaimed. Much has also been said in this letter about the character and personal holiness of Timothy and of those who minister in the church.
C. And finally, note how long he was to keep it; “until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing . . .” This would be especially clear if, in fact, the “commandment” has to do with the Great Commission. Timothy was not being told, of course, that he would live to see the return of the Lord—although, from Paul’s standpoint, that might have been possible. Rather, it seems that Paul was affirming how long this commandment was to be kept—whoever it was that God will have raised in the service of it. This means that this passage is meant to be an incentive to all of us as God’s people!
III. THE GLORY THAT IS THE MOTIVATION (vv. 15-16).
A. Paul spoke of the appearing of the Lord Jesus—the blessed hope of the saints (Titus 2:13). But who is it “He” that Paul then goes on to speak of? Some Bible teachers say that it is Jesus. But because of the fact that we’re told that no man has seen or can see the Person being mentioned, it seems better to see this as a reference to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, in whose authority Jesus came. This would make our passage somewhat parallel to that of 1 Timothy 1:17; “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
B. Note the characteristics of God the Father which Paul goes on to mention:
1. He speaks of the Father’s sovereignty when, in mentioning the return of Jesus, he says, “which He will manifest in His own time . . .” The times are in the hand of our God; who has also given us the authority to proclaim the Christ that is coming.
2. He speaks of His authority when he writes, “He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords . . .” “Blessed” can be understood as “supremely happy”; and our God surely is a mighty Ruler—a Potentate—who truly is blessed in Himself. He is not only the blessed one, but He is also the only one. As Jesus told Pilate, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given to you from above” (John 19:11). He is King of all who are kings, and Lord of all who are lords (a title given to Jesus in Revelation 19:16; but surely true also of the Father). If He ordains that the gospel be preached, the counter-commands of men have no authority at all.
3. He speaks of God’s holiness when he writes of Him as one “who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light . . .” The word translated “immortality” speaks of the ‘undying-ness’ of God. Those whom He redeems will live forever in eternity future, but only He has existed throughout all eternity—both past and future. And this immortal God dwells in unspeakable holiness which mortal man dare not approach. Not even the priests in the temple could minister when the glory of God filled it (2 Chronicles 7:1-2). As it says in As Hebrews 12:28-29 puts it, we should serve Him “with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”
4. He speaks of God’s transcendence when he writes of Him as one “whom no man has seen or can see . . .” We’re told in John 1:18, No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” In Exodus 33:20, God told Moses, “for no man shall see Me, and live.” God is only known by His own gracious revelation of Himself; and that revelation was made perfect in Christ. What a motivation that is to proclaim Christ!
5. Finally, he speaks of God’s worthiness when he writes of Him; “to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.” This may be speaking of God’s worthiness as Creator, because this sounds very much like the words that were uttered of God in Revelation 4:11, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
C. Our call to proclaim the gospel comes with great authority, and is given as a clear command. But the great incentive for keeping that command is found in the character of the one who gave it! To the degree we keep Him in our focus, to that degree will we be earnest in our work!