Who Gave Himself a Ransom for All - Part 884

"These things command and teach .... Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (I Timothy 4:11-16)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ which is our hope delivers an epistle to Timothy. The reason given in the first few verses of I Timothy is "that they teach no other doctrine --- neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions."

Instead, Paul instructed Timothy (and us by extension) to godly edifying which is in faith. "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus -- this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (I Timothy 1:14-15)

Paul delivers essentially the same message in Titus except that therein he adds: "according to the faith of of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times manifested His Word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour ... to Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour." (Titus 1:1-4)

No contradictions but in perfection, these messages written so that we can know His Word -- the mind of our Lord God and Saviour, Jesus the Christ.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you which also ye have received and wherein ye stand ... by which also ye are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received -- how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures -- and that He was buried and that He rose again on the third day according to the scriptures." (I Corinthians 15:1-4)

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (I Timothy 1:12-17)

"This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." (I Timothy 1:18-20)

But Paul does not stop there. He writes: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (I Timothy 2:1-4)

In God our Saviour indeed -- our salvation! Trust in Jesus today. Stand in the offering plate.