This week’s Bible Talk took us to 1 Tim 4 where we saw that Training for the King’s service means becoming like the King, which will enable you to tell truth from error and lead people well through this life to the life to come.
Click on the following link to listen or to download.
Talk 6, In Training for the King
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Thanks for the talk Simon. I would however warn others who may be about to listen to it that it should probably carry a PG rating for discussion on the old Roman Catholic teaching!
Just wondering if people (particularly anyone who has read/is reading “You Can Change” have more specific ideas on how to train ourselves in godliness and be transformed. I’d love to read this book, but I’m still haven’t finished “A call to spiritual reformation”.
One idea that I think is not often discussed in regard to godliness is the importance of reflection or pondering before God. For me I feel like my sub-conscious thoughts and feelings are the things that often trouble me most, so I need to spend time finding out what they are so I can then attack them with the Word.
Our Bible study group had a bit of discussion last night on the word “especially” in verse 10:
10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
It seems a bit of an odd statement, one that could be twisted by some to say that God saves everyone, just especially those who believe. Any thoughts guys at the office why Paul says what he says in verse 10?
THIS COMES FROM THE IVP NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY
Mission (4:10). It is the reality of this life-changing salvation that forms the third priority of the good minister and every faithful Christian–the spiritual goal of mission. Spiritual nourishment and spiritual training draw meaning from the hope of salvation. All of the minister’s efforts (for this we labor and strive, v. 10) are to be tied to the certain hope in the God who saves. Labor and strive ought not to be placed in parentheses in verse 10 (as in the NIV); these Greek terms together express the idea of “making every possible effort,” which suggests a very urgent goal. And, just as in 2:3-4, it is the universal scope of God’s plan of salvation (Savior of all men) that compels participation in the mission. Again, as in the earlier passage, the salvation of all is not automatic or unconditional. The qualification that follows (and especially of those who believe) links the execution and success of the mission to the preaching and specifically belief in the gospel (see notes as well as 2:4 commentary). An undertaking of this magnitude urgently requires the participation of every Christian. Why “urgently”? Because all people must be given the opportunity to respond to God. As Paul wrote elsewhere, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Rom 10:14-15)
This helped me get my head around the ‘especially’ bit and the whole chapter.
If you want free commentaries http://www.biblegateway.com has them online for free use.
Thanks dave and trev. I’ll try to answer a couple of ya questions.
PG 13:If someone can get onto the SCPC website and listen to the talk then I think it is safe to assume that they already know about sex or that their parents should have already told them about it. Also when the passage talks about marriage it is referring to sex (denying the body)so it would be unjust to the passage not mention sex.
Verse 10: I think verse 10 is just saying that Jesus death is sufficient for every single person but it is only efficient for those who trust in Jesus. In other words Jesus death can pay for the sin of everyone but in reality it only pays for those who trust in Jesus. If people don’t trust in Jesus they will take their own punishment.
Below I have also tried to address two more questions that people might have.
verse 14: Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
In this verse Paul charges Timothy to remember the moment, somewhere in his travels with Paul, when he knelt, and Paul and the local elders fixed their hands on him and prophesied and prayed about his giftedness and future ministry.
Paul says similar things to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 and 2 Timothy 1:6
These verses are to do with Timothy’s calling and gifting for ministry as a preacher of the Word. In 2 Timothy Paul repeatedly encourages Timothy to minister the Word (see 2 Timothy 2:15, 24-26, 3:14-4:5. Timothy had heard with his own ears that God would enable and bless his preaching. So Timothy preach the Word…
verse 16:Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
I guess the tricky bit in this verse is the second half of the verse. That we can save both our selves and our hearers.
We know that Paul taught again and again that salvation comes only through God’s sovereign grace and mercy. He left no doubt – we cannot save ourselves. His point is that those who persevere in life and doctrine will persevere in salvation. In others words we need to stick to the truth and keep trusting in it.
Anyway I’m sure I just opened a can of worms. But remember Deuteronomy 29:29.
29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
THANKS Simon for a great Bible talk – Dad and I are on holidays and we enjoyed listening to it together. It’s great to be reminded yet again of the need to always GROW – to always be changing to become more like Jesus. Thanks brother.
And I love that episode of the Simpsons too! even if heaven won’t be in the clouds it’d be great to play a bit of ping pong with Hendrix and talk guitar… hopefully he was a believer!