Sermon or Lesson:  1 Timothy 1:12-14 (NIV based)
[Lesson Questions included]

TITLE:  Disaster Results From Holding A False Doctrine
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READ:  1 Timothy 1:12-14, with vv.7-8 for context

BACKGROUND:
- - So far in 1 Timothy chapter 1, Paul has been addressing various aspects relating to the teaching of false doctrines, myths, and genealogies.
- - In our previous study of verses 8-11, we learned that every person who teaches a false doctrine will be held accountable by God for how they have perverted the true meaning and proper usage of God's Word.
- - And people who believe and follow false doctrines in their doing of evil will likewise be held accountable.
- - Now in these verses 12-14, Paul is identifying himself with those who promote false doctrines, who teach them out of ignorance.  (v.7)

v.12 - READ

[Lesson Question:  What kind of service to God was Paul appointed to do and what corresponding qualities did Paul need in order to fulfill that service, especially in regard to the context here in chapter 1?]

SECTION POINT:  Serving God in the capacity of teaching God's Word with sound doctrines necessitates being appropriately equipped and being empowered by God.

- - Being entrusted with dispensing the gospel and sound doctrine of God's Word is an activity of "service" to God.  (vv.10b-12)
- - This service to God takes effort, "strength" - enabling and empowering from God.  (AMP; Strong's #1743)
- - By implication, having strength for this service to God takes persistent commitment, determination, and resolve.
- - Also, having strength includes persevering and enduring, maybe even to the extent of suffering unjust vehement persecution from people like Paul formerly was, from perhaps a high-ranking powerful religious leader.  (1 Corinthians 15:10; cf. Philippians 3:18)

- - This service to God in dispensing the gospel and sound doctrine takes "faithfulness" and trustworthiness in order to do it well.  (Strong's #4103)
- - This faithfulness in service to God takes possessing a solid grounded authentic faith, with accompanying spiritual maturity in order to do it well.  (Philippians 3:15)
- - Therefore, this mature faith would include possessing both a significant knowledge and an understanding of Scriptures, with proper interpretation, theology (study of God), sound doctrines, and usage.  (v.8; Colossians 1:25)
- - Note that Paul formerly had received advanced training in the knowledge of Scriptures, and from that training he thought he had a correct understanding of Scriptures, but his understanding was not empowered by God - Paul's understanding of Scriptures and zeal were fueled by himself.  (Acts 22:3-5)

- - This kind of service to God in dispensing the gospel and sound doctrine takes being "appointed" or placed or called into service by God in order to do this on a regular widespread scale of exposure and of higher responsibility and teaching level.  (Strong's #5087)
- - God does not select everyone to teach at a higher level - Paul is thankful that the Lord considered him worthy to be selected.
- - A person needs to be thoroughly equipped to do this, to properly use the Word at this level.  (2 Timothy 3:17)
- - And being "entrusted" to serve God in this manner carries with it a high level of expectation, responsibility, and accountability by God to do all of these aspects well.  (v.11; James 3:1)
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v.13 - READ

[Lesson Question:  In this verse, what is Paul stating about himself in regard to the context topic of false doctrines?]

SECTION POINT:  In his past and even though he was highly trained, Paul had zealously taught and aggressively promoted false doctrines.

- - Prior to his conversion, Paul thought he was serving God as a Pharisee, an expert in the law.  (Philippians 3:4-6; Acts 22:3)
- - In this former state before his conversion, Paul excelled in faith in his religion, but in essence he had disastrous "unbelief" and lacked properly-placed faith.  (v.6 in Philippians 3:4-6)
- - Formerly, Paul's faith in his religion led him to be zealous and fervent for his religion, but in essence he was insulting, abusive, aggressive, and violent for his religion.  (Acts 22:3-4; from Strong's #5197, #0989 "scurrilous" - AHD)

- - In this former state before his conversion, Paul was very intelligent and highly educated in his religion, but in essence he was "ignorant" and clueless in his religion.  (Acts 22:3)
- - Formerly, Paul engaged in scholarly Pharisaical teaching of the law about God, but in essence he was speaking "contemptuous profane" "blasphemies" about God and the law.  (AHD - 'blasphemy')

- - In this former state before his conversion, Paul was staunchly protective of all of the doctrines of his religion, but in essence he was grossly in error about minimally a few key doctrines, so much so that it took a direct supernatural appearance from Christ Jesus in Heaven in order to convince him that some of his doctrines were in error.  (Acts 9:3-7)
- - Formerly, Paul thought, intended, and looked like he was serving God, but in essence he was serving the purposes of the Kingdom of Darkness.
- - A conclusion then is that it is possible to be super-religious but yet be super-in-error.

- - Paul had extensive former personal experience with perverting the meaning and the use of the law, and from a ministry position of authority and expertise, he taught false doctrines.
- - To simply and summarily state the core of Paul's problem, he adamantly rejected and opposed the true doctrines that Jesus is the Lord, the Christ (Messiah), and the Savior.  (vv.12,1)
- - The holding, teaching, and acting upon his opposing, erroneous, and false doctrines about Jesus led to Paul being blasphemous, persecuting, violent, and accomplice to murder.  (Acts 22:4)
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v.14 - READ

[Lesson Question:  Within the context topic of false doctrines, what did the Lord do to and for Paul?]

SECTION POINT:  With abundant grace and mercy, the Lord changed Paul and then empowered Paul to teach the law with sound doctrines rather than with false doctrines.

- - Despite Paul's intense stubborn opposition, aggression, persecution, ignorance, blasphemies, and unbelief towards the correct doctrine that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Lord nevertheless responded to Paul with "mercy", extending compassion, care, sympathy, and kindness in return.  (v.13; from Strong's #1653, "compassionate" - AHD)
- - Additionally, the Lord "excessively" and abundantly poured out upon Paul "grace" or undeserved unmerited favor even though Paul really and especially deserved severe eternal punishment.  (from Strong's #5250, "superabound" - AHD)
- - The Lord assisted Paul to change his mind, to discard his false doctrines, and to place his "faith" in "Christ Jesus".
- - Thereupon, Paul's vehement blasphemes and violence were replaced with "love" - the love that is in and from Christ Jesus the "Lord" (v.12), which Paul did not have in and of himself even though he was an expert in God's law.  (John 5:39-42)
- - The Lord had for Paul a purpose of service that was substantially different than what Paul had formerly been aggressively pursuing.  (2 Timothy 1:9)
- - The crucial key to Paul changing direction to align with the Lord's purpose was that Paul had to replace his false doctrines with the true sound doctrines, specifically for Paul the doctrines that Jesus is the "Lord" and the "Christ" (Messiah).  (v.12)
- - Paul formerly perverted the meaning and usage of the law, but now by the abundant grace and mercy of the Lord, he has been changed so that he is entrusted to interpret, use, and teach the law properly, with sound doctrines.  (vv.8,11)
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BIG IDEA:  Holding any false doctrines will likely lead you down a disastrous path like it did with Paul.

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IMPLICATIONS AND APPLICATIONS:

- - Are any of you still holding on to your questionable or false doctrine?
- - Do you see what Paul's false doctrines did for him, the destructive path they led him down?

- - Does your questionable or false doctrine compel you and propel you to take aggressive actions?
- - Do you scheme, connive, or plot in the promoting of your agenda, which springs forth from your false doctrine?
- - Have you persecuted or verbally relentlessly assaulted, attacked, or accused good ministry leaders or workers, or disparaged their blameless reputations?

- - How many good ministry leaders or workers have you knocked out of ministry or driven from a church or ministry?
- - In how many good churches or ministries have you incited controversies, quarrels, disunity, disharmony, or dissension, perhaps resulting in its downfall, setback, or splitting?

- - If you have done any of these activities, then you have false doctrine you are following.

- - You do realize that such activities help the Kingdom of Darkness achieve its goals?
- - You do realize that there is no way to undo the damage you have perpetrated, instigated, or started?

- - If you are waiting for Jesus to shine a light from heaven on you and appear to you during your trip to the local (WalMart) superstore before you will be willing to turn from your false doctrine, then certainly you are flirting with the potential destruction and disaster that will accompany your false doctrine.  (Acts 9:1-9)
- - Through this teaching of these verses, Jesus in effect is shining a light on you right now and confronting you and your activities that stem from your questionable or false doctrine.
- - Your best and wisest response at this point is to repent immediately, completely throw out all of your questionable and false doctrines, and henceforth unreservedly embrace sound doctrines and proper usage of God's Word.
- - Stop "acting in ignorance and unbelief", and start proving yourself "faithful".  (vv.13,12)

- - Do any of you want to repent of your false doctrines with corresponding activities and confess that to this group right now?  (James 5:16)
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Works Cited:
The American Heritage Dictionary (AHD). 3rd ed., ver. 3.6a (CD-ROM). Cambridge, MA: SoftKey International Inc., 1994.

Bible. The Comparative Study Bible: A Parallel Bible Presenting New International Version, New American Standard Bible,
     Amplified Bible, King James Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.

Bible. “The Holy Bible: New International Version.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.

“Strong's Greek Dictionary.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.
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Translation used: NIV, quoted or referred to in various places within this document
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Updated: September 14, 2016