Charged in God’s Presence – 1 Timothy 6:13-16

1. This Lesson: The Apostle Paul issues his third and final charge to Timothy. In this charge, he solemnly exhorts Timothy to diligent obedience in light of God’s Divine Person and Attributes.
2. Key Point: An eternal perspective, a consciousness of the God we serve, will influence the quality and extent of our obedience to the Word of God.

The Position of the Charge (Vs. 13)

The Charge Itself (13a)

1. ‘charge’ = key word of the Epistle. Means command. I.E. a command from a superior officer to a subordinate.
2. Third and final charge to Timothy in this Epistle (S. 1:18 & 5:21)

The Witnesses to the Charge (13b)

1. Note: The fact the command came from the Apostle would have given it tremendous weight but Paul invokes a much greater authority to this charge.
2. “in the sight of” = it is as if Paul ushers Timothy into the very presence of God and there delivers to him this charge
3. God the Father – described as the Source and Sustainer of all life
4. Christ Jesus – reference to His historical confession before Pontias Pilate. Christ bear witness to the truth even in the face of His impending crucifixion (John 18:37).

The Purpose of the Charge (Vs. 14)

Keep the Command Pure (14a)

1. ‘keep’ = to watch, observe, guard, preserve intact. Sharp military tone.
2. ‘commandment’
   1. Immediate context: Vs. 11-12. Timothy is to forsake a life of covetousness after material gain and pursue a life of holiness and defence of the truth.
   2. Overall context of Epistle: Church is to be the pillar and ground of the truth (3:15). It is both the Propagator and Protector of Divine truth (Jude 1:3-4)
3. “without spot” = high standard of purity. (Eph. 5:27 – ‘spot’)

Keep the Command Above Reproach (14b)

1. ‘unrebukable’ = blameless
2. Same words used in 3:2 for qualification of a Bishop.
3. Word means “Means “not to be taken upon”; “no just cause for accusation”
4. Timothy is to live out the commands of this Epistle with all his heart and strength.

The Perspective of the Charge (14b-16)

The Appearing of Christ (14b-15a)

1. Imminent – “until the appearing)
   1. Imminence of Christ’s return prominent theme in N.T. writers. Paul does not charge Timothy to keep the command “until his death”. He gives the command a greater sense of urgency by reminding Timothy of the real possibility of Christ’s return within his life time.
   2. Early church used to greet one another with “Maranatha”, meaning “the Lord comes”
   3. Imminence defined: “Imminence is the combination of two conditions: certainty and uncertainty. By an imminent event we mean one which is certain to occur at some time, uncertain at what time.” A.T. Pierson
2. Unknown – “which in his times he shall shew”
   1. ‘his’ = one’s own particular, private possession
   2. Mark 13:32 “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”
   3. Acts 1:7 “…It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

The Attributes of Deity (15b-16b)

There are 7 Attributes of God mentioned:

1. God is Blessed: ‘blessed’ means happy or prosperous. God is totally complete, content and sufficient within His own Person.
2. God is the only Potentate: ‘Potentate’ comes from the root word ‘can’ & ‘able’. The same word is translated ‘mighty’ in Luke 1:52 and “of great authority” in Acts 8:27. It refers to a person who possesses great power or sway like a prince, sovereign, emperor, king or monarch. The word ‘only’ teaches us that God is the exclusive Ruler of the universe. He is the only one, true Sovereign Ruler.
3. God is the King of kings: literally, “the King of all the ones who rule as kings”. The most powerful of earths rulers are still under the authority of God as the Supreme Governor of the universe. They are accountable to Him. God rules in the affairs of men (Dan. 2:21, 4:17, 25, 32, 5:21)
4. God is the Lord of lords: Further emphasis on the above
5. God is Immortal: ‘immortality’ literally means, “no death”. God cannot die. He is not liable to corruption or decay. “Change and decay in all around I see, oh Thou who changest not, abide with me.” (Abide with Me Hymn) Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Mal. 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not;” Heb. 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.”
6. God is Unapproachable: “He dwells in an atmosphere too glorius for mortal creatures to approach.” (Hiebert) God dwells in the light. Light is a part of God’s nature. “…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 Jn. 1:5). Jesus said, “I am the light of the world…” (Jn. 8:12). Psalm 104:2 “Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:” Note: The only way to God is through Christ, the Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2)
7. God is Invisible: God is a Spirit (Jn. 4:24). John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” Exo. 33:20 “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”

The Ascription of Praise (16c)

1. God is worthy of honour
2. God is worthy of power
3. Note: This is not a wish but an acknowledgement of fact. All esteem reverence, adoration, worship are His due, and power everlasting are His in possession and exercise. (Hiebert) “All believers should acknowledge verbally to God what He is by essence.” (Gromacki)

Conclusion:

1. Will we take this charge to heart personally and take a stand for the faith?
2. Are we living with a consciousness of God’s Person and Majesty in our lives?
3. Do we have a spirit of expectancy concerning our Lord’s return and allow that to transform the way we live and our attitude towards eternal matters?

Sermon 26 of 27 in 1 Timothy Series

Sermon Audio Id: 3261755706