Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today we will read 1 Timothy 4-6. I’ll have some comments after the reading, and I’m calling today’s episode “Fitness.”  

Comments on 1 Timothy 4

Training the body helps a little, but godly living helps in every way. Godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come. This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance. Certainly, we work hard and struggle to live a godly life, because we place our confidence in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

1 Timothy 4:8-10 God’s Word Translation

Paul was, as you remember, advising the younger Timothy, who was pastoring the church at Ephesus, which had  become infiltrated with many false teachings.

In verse 8 Paul is addressing the idea that was held by many in the Greek and Roman culture that put a great deal of value in physical training. We know that taking care of our body is good, but let’s face it, the benefits are strictly temporary. They don’t last. Eventually, given enough time, we all grow old and our bodies deteriorate. 

I started swimming competitively when I was about eight years old. By the time I graduated high school, I had swum the equivalent of nearly the distance from Los Angeles to New York. I was in great shape! A couple of years after graduating, I was a professional ski patrolman. After that I was an apprentice carpenter. All through these years, I maintained a very high level of fitness. But here in my late 60s, my body is definitely showing signs of age. Even if I had continued to exercise at the level I did in my youth, my body would not have been able to stop the aging process. Physical discipline can’t stop the march of time. And one day, my body will die. No one gets outta here alive.

But on the spiritual level, I am in the best shape of my life. My walk with God has made me better able to deal with the challenges of life here and now, and the spiritual discipline I have practiced over the years also produces eternal benefits. When my body stops, I will enjoy the eternal benefit of my faith in Christ. 

I assure you, and there are thousands of my brethren who can affirm the same, that after having tried the ways of sin, we infinitely prefer the ways of righteousness for their own pleasure’s sake even here, and we would not change with ungodly men even if we had to die like dogs. With all the sorrow and care which Christian life is supposed to bring, we would prefer it to any other form of life beneath the stars.

Charles Spurgeon

Verse 10: “Certainly, we work hard and struggle to live a godly life, because we place our confidence in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

“He is the Savior of all people…” There is a belief among some people that everyone will ultimately be saved. But that is not what Paul was saying here. The second half of Paul’s sentence is “…especially of those who believe.” 

What God intends for ALL, he actually gives to them that believe in Christ, who died for the sins of the world, and tasted death for every man. As all have been purchased by his blood so all may believe; and consequently all may be saved. Those that perish, perish through their own fault.

Adam Clarke

ALL are offered forgiveness if they place their faith in Jesus. No one who comes to Jesus will be rejected.

God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. Those who believe in him won’t be condemned. But those who don’t believe are already condemned because they don’t believe in God’s only Son.

John 3:16-18 God’s Word Translation

Paul was instructing Timothy to live a godly life and be an example to the Ephesian church, so that no one could fault him for his youth.

Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live. Also set an example in how you love and in what you believe. Show the believers how to be pure.

1 Timothy 4:11-12 God’s Word Translation

Many Bible scholars believe that a better translation here is, “Be an example of the believers” as opposed to to or for the believers. I agree. Each of us should be an example of what it is to be a follower of Christ. 

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 4 GW, Ch. 5-6 HCSB

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Transcript

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Steve Webb 0:00
Physical discipline can’t stop the march of time.

Steve Webb 0:11
And here we are again. This is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, podcasting since 2004. I’m your OG God caster Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year and I’m really happy you’ve invited me into your day to day. Our reading today is First Timothy four through six. I will have some comments after the reading and I’m calling today’s episode fitness. If you’d like to comment on today’s show, you can do that at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 235. You can also email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com If you’d like I’d love to hear from you. And with all the preliminaries out of the way, let’s get started.

Steve Webb 0:52
First Timothy chapter four. The Spirit says clearly that in later times, some believers will desert the Christian faith. They will follow spirits that deceive and they will believe the teachings of demons. These people will speak lies disguised as truth. their consciences have been scarred as if branded by a red hot iron. They will try to stop others from getting married and from eating certain foods. God created food to be received with prayers of thanks by those who believe and know the truth. Everything God created is good. Nothing should be rejected if it is received with prayers of thanks, God’s word and prayer, set it apart as holy. You are a good servant of Christ Jesus. When you point these things out to our brothers and sisters, then you will be nourished by the words of the Christian faith and the excellent teachings which you have followed closely. Don’t have anything to do with godless myths that old women like to tell. rather train yourself to live a godly life. Training the body helps a little but godly living helps in every way. godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come. This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance. Certainly we work hard and struggle to live a godly life because we place our confidence in the living God is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Insist on these things and teach them. Don’t let anyone look down on you for being young. Instead, make your speech behavior love, faith and purity and example for other believers. Until I get there. Concentrate on reading scripture in worship, giving encouraging messages and teaching people don’t neglect the gift which he received through prophecy, when the spiritual leaders placed their hands on you to ordain you. Practice these things. devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress. Focus on your life and your teaching. Continue to do what I’ve told you. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you.

Steve Webb 3:05
First Timothy chapter five. Do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and with all propriety the younger women as sisters, support widows who are genuinely widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents for this pleases God. The real widow left all alone has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers. However, she who is self indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command this also so they won’t be blamed. But if anyone does not provide for his own that is in his own household. He has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband, and is well known for good works. That is if she has brought up children shown hospitality, washed the saints feet, helped the afflicted and devoted herself to every good work, but refuse to enroll younger widows for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire they want to marry and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge. At the same time. They also learned to be idle going from house to house. They are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say. Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children manage their households and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. For some have already turned away to follow satan. If any believing woman has widows in her family, she should help them and the church should not be burdened so that it can help those who are genuinely widows. The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the scripture says, Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain and the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses, publicly rebuke those who sin so that the rest will also be afraid. I solemnly charge you before God in Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. Don’t be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. keep yourself pure. Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. Some people’s sins are obvious going before them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.

Steve Webb 6:00
First Timothy chapter six. All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters to be worthy of all respect, so that God’s name and his teaching will not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved, teach and encourage these things. If any one teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with a teaching that promotes godliness, he has conceded understanding nothing but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain, but godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil and by craving it some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But you man of God, run from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the faith, take hold of eternal life that you were called to, and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God who gives life to all and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you to keep the command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the only one who has a mortality dwelling in unapproachable light, no one has seen or can see him, to Him be honored and eternal might, amen. Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. instruct them to do what is good, to be rich and good works to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you avoiding irreverent empty speech and contradictions from the knowledge that falsely bears that name. By professing it, some people have deviated from the faith, Grace be with all of you. Let’s talk a little bit about chapter four. verses eight through 10 said training the body helps a little but godly living helps in every way. godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come. This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance. Certainly, we work hard and struggle to live a godly life because we place our confidence in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Beloved, you’ll probably remember that Paul was advising the younger Timothy who was pastoring, the church at Ephesus which had become infiltrated with many false teachings. In verse eight, Paul is addressing the idea that was held by many in the Greek and Roman culture that put a great deal of value in physical training. We know that taking care of our bodies a good thing to do, right, but let’s face it, the benefits are strictly temporary, they don’t last. Eventually, given enough time we all grow old and our bodies deteriorate.

Steve Webb 10:00
I started swimming competitively when I was about eight years old. By the time I graduated high school, I had swarmed the equivalent of nearly the distance from Los Angeles to New York, I was in great shape. And then a couple of years after graduating, I was a professional ski patrolman. After that I was an apprentice carpenter. And all through these years, I maintained a very high level of fitness. But here I am in my late 60s, and my body is definitely showing signs of age. But even if I had continued to exercise at the level I did in my youth, my body would not have been able to stop the aging process. physical discipline can’t stop the march of time, in one day, my body will just give up, I’ll die. No one gets out of here alive, right. But on the spiritual level, I’m in the best shape of my life. My walk with God has made me better able to deal with the challenges of life here and now. And the spiritual discipline I’ve practiced over the years also produces eternal benefits. When my body stops, I will enjoy the eternal benefit of my faith in Christ. I like what Charles Spurgeon said, I assure you, and there are 1000s of my brethren who can affirm the same, that after having tried the ways of sin, we infinitely prefer the ways of righteousness for their own pleasure sake, even here, and we would not change with ungodly men, even if we had to die like dogs with the sorrow and care which Christian life is supposed to bring. We would prefer it to any other form of life beneath the stars. Amen. Brother Spurgeon. And then here in chapter four, verse 10, Paul said, certainly we work hard and struggle to live a godly life because we place our confidence in the living God, He is the Savior of all people, especially those who believe. Well, let’s go back here. What did Paul mean when he said, He’s the savior of all people, there is a belief among some people that everyone will ultimately be saved. But that isn’t what Paul was saying here. The second half of Paul’s sentence is especially of those who believe, Bible commentator Adam Clarke said this, what God intends for all he actually gives to them that believe in Christ, who died for the sins of the world, and tasted death for every man, as all have been purchased by His blood. So all may believe in Consequently all may be saved. Those that perish, perish through their own fault. Yes, beloved, all are offered forgiveness if they place their faith in Jesus, because no one who comes to Jesus will be rejected. John 316, through 18 says, God loved the world this way, he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die, but will have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. Those who believe in Him won’t be condemned. But those who don’t believe are already condemned, because they don’t believe in God’s only son. So yes, he is the savior of all people. But then, as Paul said, especially of those who believe Jesus is the Savior of the world, but we have to accept his gift.

Steve Webb 13:27
So Paul was instructing Timothy to live a godly life and to be an example to the Ephesian church, so that no one could fault him for his youth. He said in verses 11, and 12, command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you’re young. Set an example for the believers in what you say, and in how you live. Also set an example in how you love and in what you believe, show the believers how to be pure. That is an important thing for every pastor to do, but especially a young pastor. But let’s go back to the sentence that said, set an example for the believers. Many Bible scholars believe that a better translation here is be an example of the believers, as opposed to to or for the believers. I agree with that. Each of us not just pastors, but each of us should be an example of what it is to be a follower of Christ. That’s how we become salt and light to the world. We are to be an example of what a believer is supposed to be. So the sentence still holds up. Set an example of the believers in what you say and how you live. Also send an example of how you love and in what you believe. What do you think? I’d love to hear from you go to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 235. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and tell me what you think. Our reading tomorrow We’ll be numbers five through eight boost

Steve Webb 15:10
I want to take a moment to encourage you, especially if you’ve been with me since the beginning of season 12. You’re at the Lifespring family Audio Bible. I know it takes a great deal of commitment to listen to the show every day or if you get behind to catch up. Reading through the Bible does take a lot of time. And life is busy. For most of us. We have responsibilities. We have jobs, school, families, church, what have you. But you are here, and I commend you for your persistence. This is episode 235. Keep going. Keep listening. We have just 128 more episodes to go before we achieve our goal. Next Sunday will be two thirds of the way through. Keep your eye on the prize. Beloved, we’ve made it this far. We can make it to the finish line. Are you with me? Come on, let’s go.

Steve Webb 16:07
Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father Lord, we love you. And we thank you for your word. Thank you, Lord for encouraging us to live godly lives. Life is so much better when we’re living for you. You give us peace and joy when we follow you and we know that we will live with you for all of eternity which is the greatest benefit. Help us Lord to be good examples. Good representatives of Jesus to those around us. Give us Lord the spiritual discipline we need to finish our race well. We do want to hear you say well done good and faithful servant when we see you face to face. Bless the Lifespring family Lord, encourage them, strengthen them, hold them up when they grow weary as we all do from time to time. Forgive us, Lord, when we fail you. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. If God is doing something great in your life, or if you’ve got a prayer request, please go to prayer dot Lifespring media.com. And let me know i’ll rejoice with you and I’ll pray for you in my private prayer time. And we’ll share here on the show prayer dot Lifespring media.com.

Steve Webb 17:20
I’d love to hear your comments. Go to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 235 and comment there or send me an email at Steve at Lifespring media.com. Support the show with time talent or treasure. If you’d like to donate time or talent email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com. I can get you set up or you can donate treasure at Lifespring media.com/support. John of San Pedro is doing a great job doing the chapters for every episode. And first he is putting the newsletter together each week of course and we thank her for that. God bless you guys. Well until tomorrow. May God bless you richly. Thank you for sharing your time with me today. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. My name is Steve Webb. Bye

Transcribed by https://otter.ai