1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Well, howdy and good morning friends and faithful listeners, 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: and thank you so much for tuning in to today's 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: podcast episode. We're gonna be talking about First Timothy, Chapter four, 4 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: and I've got a lot of different topics I'm gonna 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: cover today. I'm gonna talk about three of the points 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: of Calvinism, because you guys know, I love talking about Calvinism. 7 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: And I'm also going to discuss one of the most 8 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: out of context versus I know of, specifically for young 9 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: people that like every single church uses in their youth room. 10 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 1: So stay tuned for those two topics. Now, before we 11 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: begin this episode, here's a quick word from our sponsors 12 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 1: that help this podcast to keep on running. So, as 13 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: you guys can see, my podcast is officially integrated with 14 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: Life Audio. And I'm very excited about this. Life Audio 15 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: so far has been a joy, like a pleasure to 16 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: work with. They have been so nice about everything. They 17 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: are helping me with marketing, and the one thing that 18 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: I was really nervous about was I didn't want any 19 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 1: advertisements in the middle of the discussion, and so I 20 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: asked them, hey, can we do an advertisement like before 21 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: the discussion and after the discussion instead of like right 22 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: in the middle, and they worked with me on that, 23 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: so I'm very pleased to be working with Life audio. 24 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 1: But let's go ahead and read First Timothy four six 25 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: through sixteen today. And this is a very interesting portion 26 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: of scripture about how Timothy should conduct himself. So let's 27 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: go ahead and get into it. First Timothy four six 28 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: through sixteen. I'll be reading as I always do from 29 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,480 Speaker 1: the web, but I'll also be referencing the NIV version 30 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: today as well. Grab your cup of coffee to share 31 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: with me. I've got mine right here, or your cup 32 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: of tea for you crazy tea drinkers, And let's read 33 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: First Timothy four six through sixteen. If you instruct the 34 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: brothers of these things, you will be a good servant 35 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith 36 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: and of the good doctrine which you have followed. But 37 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: refuse profane in old wives fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness, 38 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value 39 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 1: in all things. Having the promise of the life which 40 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: is now and of that which is to come, this 41 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, for to 42 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,959 Speaker 1: this end, we both labor and suffer reproach, because we 43 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: have set our trust in the Living God, who is 44 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: the savior of all men, especially of those who believe, 45 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: command and teach these things. Let no man despise your youth, 46 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: but be an example to those who believe in word, 47 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, 48 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: and in purity until I come. Pay attention to reading, 49 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: to exhortation, and to teaching. Don't neglect the gift that 50 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: is in you, which was given to you by prophecy 51 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 52 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, 53 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: that your progress may be revealed to all. Pay attention 54 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things. 55 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: For doing this you will save both yourself and those 56 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: who hear you. You'll remember that last week we discussed 57 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 1: how some people were going to fall away from Christianity 58 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: in the latter times and follow a doctrine of demons, 59 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: and we talked about what that doctrine of demons actually is. 60 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: That was a really good episode, I thought, And so 61 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: now in verse six, Paul continues to instruct Timothy as 62 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: to how he should be teaching this church in Macedonia, 63 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: because don't forget you know, Timothy was by himself in Macedonia. 64 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: He was probably feeling a little bit alone. This was 65 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: his first solo mission that we know of. And so 66 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: Paul wrote this letter to encourage Timothy to tell Timothy 67 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: you can do this. So let's start in verse six. 68 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: If you instruct the brothers of these things, you'll be 69 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: a good servant of Christ Jesus. So what are these 70 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: good things that Paul's talking about, Well, pretty much everything 71 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: laid out in this letter so far. He says, if 72 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: you teach these things, you will be a good servant 73 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith 74 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: and of the good doctrine which you have followed. I 75 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,119 Speaker 1: really like that analogy of Scripture being at nourishing. There 76 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: is something kind of RESTful and nourishing about Scripture. It 77 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: just kind of fills us up, if that makes sense. 78 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: And so Paul says, if you followed these good doctrines, 79 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: you will be nourished by the words of the faith, 80 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: and you're going to nourish everybody else as well. A 81 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: lot of people believe that Timothy had the gift of teaching, 82 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: and this entire letter is Paul encouraging Timothy to express 83 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: whatever spiritual gift he has, because spiritual gifts are not 84 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: meant to be used for ourselves. Mostly. The only one 85 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: that's kind of like a caveat in that is the 86 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: gift of tongues. That's more so for yourself than for 87 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 1: other people. It can be used for other people, but 88 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: that's like the one spiritual gift that is just between 89 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: you and God, whereas the other spiritual gifts are almost 90 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: always people focused. Our spiritual gifts are supposed to be 91 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 1: used to the benefit of other people. And so even 92 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:06,279 Speaker 1: though Timothy is a young man, possibly scared, possibly not 93 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: wanting to stay in Macedonia, Paul says, you have to 94 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: use your spiritual gift for other people. That is the 95 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: point of it. So teach these people the good doctrines 96 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: and live in them yourself verse seven. But refuse profane 97 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: and old wives fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. So what 98 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: would be the old wives fables? Paul actually uses this 99 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 1: phrase again in Titus chapter one, verse fourteen. He says, 100 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 1: don't pay attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men 101 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: who have turned away from the truth. So essentially, Paul's 102 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 1: talking about the myths that the Judaizers are spreading across 103 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:47,679 Speaker 1: the world about like their genealogies. How you know, certain 104 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: genealogies are better than others, and you know, ancestry matters 105 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: so much in the eyes of God, and you know 106 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: you have to do this or that in order to 107 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: be close to God. That is what Paul is talking 108 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: about here. So he tells Timothy ignore these old wives fables. 109 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 1: They are nothing but profane, is what he says. Instead, 110 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise has some value, 111 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: but godliness has value in all things. Now, it could 112 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 1: be that the reason Paul mentions bodily exercise is because 113 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 1: Timothy was into that kind of thing. You know, this 114 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: was the era of the Olympic Games and gladiators and 115 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: these really strong men that would go out and fight 116 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: each other, and maybe Timothy was into that kind of stuff. 117 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: Maybe he was a sports nut, or maybe just personally 118 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: he enjoyed physical exercise. And so Paul kind of brings 119 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 1: it back to that. He says, exercise yourself towards godliness. 120 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: Bodily exercise does have some value, Timothy, but Godliness has 121 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 1: value in all things. So exercising your body is good. 122 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: But the problem is is it's only temporary because we 123 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: only gain the benefits of bodily exercise in this life now, 124 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: whereas the benefits of Godliness are in this life now 125 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: and also the life to come, which is why we 126 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: Christians should be practicing Godliness now, exercising ourself in it. 127 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: And as you know, exercise is not fun. It is difficult, 128 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: it's terrible. I hate it, you know. I went to 129 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: the gym last week and I'm like, why am I here? 130 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: I hate this. Every single time I go to the gym, 131 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: I'm like, please let me leave now. I do not 132 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: enjoy exercise. I still try to exercise because I feel 133 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: better when I do, but I don't enjoy the process 134 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: of it at all. Exercise is difficult, but it gives 135 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: you great benefits. You feel better afterward, You're less stiff. 136 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: Maybe you can carry heavier things, you can have stronger endurance. 137 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: You can walk up the stairs with a laundry basket 138 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: full of clothes without getting out of breath. That's not 139 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: a personal experience or anything. Exercise is difficult, but it 140 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: produces good things, and so becoming godly is difficult. It 141 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: is something we have to practice on a day to 142 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: day basis. It's not just going to come to us 143 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: naturally because we have a sin nature, you know, naturally 144 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: we want a sin, that was what we were born in. 145 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: Godliness is kind of the opposite of what we know, 146 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: so we have to practice becoming godly. And that doesn't mean, 147 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: by the way that we're going to become God's That's 148 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: not what Paul's talking about here at all. We're never 149 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: going to become God's. God himself alone is God. There 150 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 1: is no other God. Human beings, though, are meant to 151 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: imitate God. And once we become Christians the word Christian 152 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: literally means christ like or little Christ. We are to 153 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: imitate Jesus with everything that we do. It's difficult, but 154 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: the more we practice it, the easier it gets. The 155 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: more we read our Bible and understand what God wants 156 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 1: for us, the easier it is for us to incorporate 157 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: what God wants into our lives. So that's what Paul's 158 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: talking about. He says this saying is faithful and worthy 159 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: of all acceptance, for to this end, we both labor 160 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: and suffer reproach because we have set our trust in 161 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: the Living God, who is the savior of all men, 162 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:14,199 Speaker 1: especially of those who believe. So because of this striving 163 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 1: toward godliness, Paul says that we labor and suffer reproach. Now, 164 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: if I'm being one hundred percent honest, I don't really 165 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: like the way the Web translates this, because the Greek 166 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: word actually means to strive, whereas the Web says suffer reproach. 167 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: To strive for something means to endure. To suffer reproach 168 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: means to be persecuted. So I find it kind of 169 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: interesting that the Web did not translate that very well. 170 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: But yeah, in the NIV it says we labor and strive, 171 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: which would be more correct. And by the way, the 172 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 1: words strive in Greek, which is agonize, agonize, zome. You know, agonize, 173 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 1: it means to fight, to struggle, often in an athletic contest. 174 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: So by using that word, Paul is still talking about 175 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: the analogy of exercise in relation to godliness, and he says, 176 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: we have set our trust in the Living God, who 177 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: is the savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Now, 178 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: I harp on Calvinists all the time, which, by the way, 179 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: I love Calvinists. I go to a Calvinist church. I 180 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: have a lot of Calvinist friends. I like debating them. 181 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: I like talking about Calvinism with them. It's interesting to 182 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: hear their viewpoints. But I would say that this verse 183 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 1: kind of spits in the face of three points of Calvinism. 184 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:43,439 Speaker 1: A specifically unconditional election, which means that God elected only 185 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: certain people to salvation, limited atonement which means that Christ 186 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: only died for the elect for the people that God 187 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: chose to become saved. And also irresistible grace, which is 188 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: that people don't have a choice to choose God or 189 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: to not choose God. God. God just either makes them 190 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: saved or doesn't make them saved, and people can't go 191 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: against the sovereignty of God. But yet, in this verse 192 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 1: it specifically says God is the savior of all men, 193 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: especially of those who believe. One of the most famous 194 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: verses in the Bible is John three point sixteen. God 195 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: so loved the world or the cosmos, which is everything 196 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: that exists, the entirety of creation, the entire universe. God 197 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: loved the cosmos so much that he gave his one 198 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, 199 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: but have eternal life. So everyone who believes in Jesus 200 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,679 Speaker 1: is going to have that eternal life. But Jesus clearly 201 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: died for everything. He died for the entire world, for 202 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: creation itself. So limited atonement specifically, that point is false, 203 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: just based upon scripture, based upon one Timothy four where 204 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: Paul is kind of parroting John three point sixteen, where 205 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: he says that God is the savior of all men, 206 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: especially of those who believe. If God is the savior 207 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: of everything, Jesus came down to save the entire world, 208 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: then that means that limited atonement cannot exist. Now, don't 209 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: get me wrong, I am not saying that this verse 210 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: means that all people are saved, because it specifically says 211 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:27,319 Speaker 1: that only those who believe are truly saved by God. 212 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: But I am saying that Jesus did far more for 213 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: the world than we can understand. Jesus essentially undid the curse, 214 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: and we know that the curse was not just for 215 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: human beings, but for the entire earth. You know, the 216 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,839 Speaker 1: earth is under a curse as well because of sin 217 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: nature and Jesus fully undid that. So he did far 218 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: more through his death and resurrection than we really understand. 219 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: He did it for the cosmos, for everything that he created. 220 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: So the point of limited atonement, which is that Jesus 221 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: only died for individuals who are going to be saved, 222 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: is just downright false. Now as far as this verse 223 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 1: going against some of the other points of Calvinism, specifically 224 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: unconditional election, which means that only the people God chooses 225 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: are going to be saved. I mean, Paul himself here 226 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: says those who believe are the ones who are going 227 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: to be saved. Doesn't that imply some sort of choice 228 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 1: on our part? You know, Paul could have used a 229 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: completely different word there. He could have said those who 230 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: are chosen, which he does say that quite a lot. 231 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: But in this case he says those who believe, implying 232 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: that there's a choice to believe or not believe. And 233 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: I'm sure I'll get some pushback on this once this 234 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: episode comes out. I always have. The two things I 235 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: always get pushed back on is my stance on Calvinism 236 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 1: and also my stance on financial giving. Like those are 237 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: the two things people always get super irritated with me 238 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: about but I'm sorry, you know, I can't change what 239 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: scripture says. I had one person reach out to me 240 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 1: recently and they're like, you know, Jen, you should be 241 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: getting more and more Calvinists the more you read the Bible. 242 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: And I'm like, why Calvinism was invented by a man. 243 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: It's literally named after a man, Calvin, So it's not 244 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: even scriptural, you know, it was named by a man. 245 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: It's just a theory of how salvation works. So no, 246 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: you don't have to get more Calvinists the more you 247 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: read through scripture. It's just a theory, you know, it's 248 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: a theory of salvation. But let's go ahead and move forward. 249 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: Paul says in verse eleven, command and teach these things, 250 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: not about Calvinism, but everything else, everything already laid out 251 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: in this letter Timothy is to teach these things to 252 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: the people, and Paul directly goes into verse twelve. Let 253 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: no man despise your youth, but be an example to 254 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: those who believe in word, in your way of life, 255 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. Now, 256 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: as a youth leader, I can prompt mus you that 257 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: this verse is the most overused verse for teenagers in 258 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: the church, like every single teen room has this verse somewhere. 259 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: Let no man despise your youth, but be an example 260 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: to those who believe. Now, it's interesting a lot of 261 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: youth groups actually take that verse out of context to 262 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: say that, oh, you know, youth kids are just as 263 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: smart as adults, and they should be treated as adults, 264 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: and people should not despise their youth. But that is 265 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: actually the opposite of what this verse is saying. He's 266 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: telling Timothy, don't be a little jerk. Don't make people 267 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: despise the fact that you are young. Don't act like 268 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: a young person, Act like a mature adult. He says, 269 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: be an example to those who believe in your words, 270 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, 271 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: and in purity. So, in other words, Timothy is supposed 272 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: to be a Christian example to everybody he encounters. He 273 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 1: is not supposed to act immature or rebel. But he 274 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: is supposed to teach the gospel to all of these 275 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: people who would have been much older than him. You know, 276 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: we don't know how old Timothy was during this. Some 277 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: people say he was a teenager like an older teenager. 278 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: Some people say he was possibly in his thirties, which 279 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: would have been still young in Paul's day and age. 280 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: I believe you were considered a young man until about 281 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: forty years old. Then you are no longer young. But 282 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: regardless of how old Timothy is, he was a young man. 283 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: And so Paul says, don't allow people to despise the 284 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: fact that you are young. And you know, that is 285 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: something so common in our culture today. You know, we 286 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: can't stand being around little kids because parents don't know 287 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: how to discipline their kids. I just want to go 288 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: see the David movie actually with my youth group, and 289 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: it was really cute. By the way, you guys should 290 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 1: all go if you get the chance. But I went 291 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: to go see it. It was super awesome, but there 292 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: was two like five year old children, unsupervised, sitting next 293 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: to me. These two unsupervised children were acting terrible and 294 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: they were throwing their popcorn everywhere, and their candy was 295 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: all over the floor, and their mom was like several 296 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 1: rows behind, like on the opposite side of the theater, 297 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 1: and the only time she'd come over was to give 298 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 1: these kids more candy. And I'm like, oh my gosh, 299 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: you know you're giving these children who are already so 300 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 1: hyper like a sugar high, when you should be like 301 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: calming them down. But I was thinking afterward, because you know, 302 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: as I'm getting up to leave, I see this huge 303 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: mess that these kids left with their mom, Like their 304 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:35,920 Speaker 1: mom didn't clean a single thing. They've got like pop 305 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: all over the floor. That's just terrible, And I'm like, wow, 306 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 1: you know, this was a Christian movie. It was a 307 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: Christian movie, and the majority of people that go to 308 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 1: a Christian movie are going to be Christians themselves. And 309 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: what a bad representation of Christianity that is to leave 310 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,679 Speaker 1: all of that mess all over the floor for somebody 311 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,400 Speaker 1: else who might not be a Christian to clean up. 312 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: I felt for the person who had to clean that 313 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 1: mess up, And this verse kind of reminds me of 314 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 1: that don't act like a child, Timothy, be an example 315 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 1: to those who believe. With everything that you do, he says, 316 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: until I come, pay attention to reading, which means reading 317 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 1: the Bible. In Paul's day, the people would go to 318 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,919 Speaker 1: church and there would be public readings of Scripture in 319 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 1: a long form kind of way. This was something that 320 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: the early Christian Church actually did take from Judaism. They 321 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 1: would read scripture publicly, and he says, pay attention to 322 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,719 Speaker 1: the reading, to the exhortation, and the teaching. Exhortation just 323 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: means to encourage people and to build them up and 324 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 1: also teach them. Don't neglect the gift that is in 325 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: you verse fourteen, which was given to you by prophecy 326 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,360 Speaker 1: with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 327 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: So that's that gift I was talking about. We don't 328 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:52,199 Speaker 1: know specifically what gift, what spiritual gift, Timothy had, but 329 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: because Paul is talking so much about Timothy teaching in 330 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: this portion, a lot of people believe that that Timothy 331 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 1: had the gift of being able to teach very well. 332 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, 333 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: that your progress may be revealed to all. So be 334 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 1: a light, Be a light that shines out to everybody. 335 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,399 Speaker 1: Let people see your good works, because they will glorify 336 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 1: the Father who is in heaven. Verse sixteen. Pay attention 337 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: to yourself and to your teaching, continuing these things, for 338 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: in doing this you will save both yourself and those 339 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 1: who hear you. You know, only God can truly save, 340 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 1: like Jesus was the one who was the sacrifice for humanity, 341 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: and he does the saving, so we can't save ourselves. 342 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:42,120 Speaker 1: Paul's not talking about, you know, Timothy saving himself spiritually here, 343 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: He's talking about Timothy saving himself from destruction essentially. You know, 344 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: how many pastors do we see that don't live a 345 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: godly life and they end up in some sort of 346 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 1: like corruption or scandal or something that ends up destroying 347 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: their entire life, entire career, their entire families. We see 348 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,199 Speaker 1: that all the time. That's the kind of thing Paul's 349 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: talking about here. And the Greek word for save implies 350 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:12,159 Speaker 1: that as well. So save yourself from corruption, you're going 351 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: to save yourself and also those who hear you. So 352 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: if you are being a godly example to the people 353 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: who are around you, you're not going to just save 354 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 1: yourself through that godliness, but you're also going to teach 355 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,120 Speaker 1: others how to save themselves from that type of corruption 356 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:32,360 Speaker 1: as well. So be an example, teach well, don't let 357 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 1: people despise your youth, and be godly not just for 358 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:41,880 Speaker 1: other people, but for yourself also. Well, thank you guys 359 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,439 Speaker 1: for listening to this podcast episode. Here is a quick 360 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: word from one of our sponsors that helps this podcast 361 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: to keep on running. Well, Faithful listeners, I hope you 362 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 1: enjoyed today's episode. Don't forget that the Candlelit Christmas episode 363 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: is coming out to December twenty fourth, and I'm very 364 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: excited about it. This year, I've got some ideas rolling 365 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,199 Speaker 1: around in my brain of what I'm going to do 366 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: and what I'm going to be talking about, and most 367 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: likely I'm going to be talking about Mary the Mother 368 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: of Jesus. Every single year I have like a different theme, 369 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: you know. I think last year I talked about Fear 370 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 1: and the four different Angels of Christmas. I've done like 371 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:22,199 Speaker 1: the genealogies of Jesus and why the account in Matthew 372 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 1: is different from the account in Luke. I've talked about 373 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: a bunch of different things, and so I think this 374 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: year I'm going to focus on Mary the Mother of Jesus. 375 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: So I'm looking forward to that. I hope you guys 376 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:34,679 Speaker 1: are as well. Don't forget. That comes out midnight on 377 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 1: December twenty fourth, or rather I guess December twenty fifth, 378 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: so definitely keep that on your calendars. But also tomorrow 379 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: will be in the Old Testament in Second Chronicles, so 380 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: I'll see all you guys there six am or whenever 381 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: you choose to wake up and listen until tomorrow. Happy 382 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: listening and God bless. I just want to take a 383 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,119 Speaker 1: second to thank the team at Life Audio for their 384 00:21:57,119 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: partnership with me on the Bible Explain podcast. In fact, 385 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: if you go to lifeudio dot com you'll find dozens 386 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've got 387 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 1: shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.