1 Timothy 4:1-5 Worship Christ

The Text

1 Timothy 4:1–5 (CSB)
¹ Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

² through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.

³ They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.

⁴ For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

⁵ since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.

The Meditation

The heart of man is a idol factory says John Calvin. Why so? We have a hard time worshipping God in our own nature. This is because we cannot control God. What do we do? We put our happiness, wholeness, healing, the stake of our lives into things that we can lord over and we get to control. In ancient times, they would make idols out of metal and wood and then turn right around and worship it hoping that this thing they have created will give them what they want?

When you say it like that, it sounds almost insane because it is insane. God said so:

Isaiah 37:19 (CSB) They have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but made from wood and stone by human hands. So they have destroyed them.

We laugh at ancient people and think they were so dumb. Yet, we have the tendency to turn right around and with our mouths and our actions declare:

"If I had just more money, I will be happy."

"If I get married, everything will be okay."

"If I have a kid, then I will be fulfilled."

"If I get this promotion, all will be right."

Happy. Okay. Fulfilled. Right? All of those are found in God alone.

How did David pray it?

Psalms 17:14-15 (CSB)
With your hand, LORD, save me from men,
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life:
You fill their bellies with what you have in store;
their sons are satisfied,
and they leave their surplus to their children.
But I will see your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.

I mention this because what Paul is describing and warning Timothy is the idol of religion. In other words, "let me do all the right things so that God will do what I want him to do."

Sounds insane, right? But most American Christians do it. I don't care what your church background is--Baptist or Charismatic--we all do it. Yet, Romans 4 dismisses that foolish notion:

Romans 4:1-5 (CSB) What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.

In other words,...

We do not put God in our debt

And Paul is not even using that strong enough language.

Look at what Christ says about those who would oppress people with religion:

Matthew 23:1-15 (CSB) Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!

So we cannot control anybody else other than ourselves. We have no god, no demon, and no idol that is going to do our bidding.

We are not gods

And don't come at me with Psalm 82. Try reading the entire Psalm first and then come at me.

We are not in control of the universe around us. Whether you would admit it or not, it is a burden that will break your back.

What shall we do?

Come to Christ

Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Christ said, "Come to him. Destroy your idols who just like the Egyptian slavemasters that will break your back, your heart, and your soul. Come to him. He will take on the full burden of our sin and we get the light and easy yoke of his righteousness. When we do that, we get to finally, completely, satisfactorily rest in Him alone.

The Gospel

The gospel of Christ fully counters the lies of Satan and of the world

¹Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.

Today, our sin and idols are loudly, provocatively, enthusiastically, zealously, unashamedly, without restraint and without hesitation evangelize their terrible news: make your sin and your struggle your birthright and your identity. Give into your sin. Let it become you. That is the only way you will be happy.

The gospel of God is this: God is the only one who satisfies and sustains us. Only the good news of God completely and truly frees us. And the gospel of Christ absolutely, perfectly, truthfully, blood-spilt, wrath-absorbingly counters with this truth: give that sin over to the Son of God who is God who is the worthy Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world.

You think your sins are too much. How about the sins of the world? Do you think you have more than the sins of the world? No! Jesus' ripped, shredded, broken, gross body nailed to the cross was more than enough to cover your sins and the sins of your neighbor.

The gospel of Christ fully counters the man-centered, back-breaking, man-made, Satan-inspired legalistic religion

³ They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.

People want to be told what to do so badly that they'll listen to anyone.

Don Draper, Mad Men

Some of you will hear this and balk at it. Yet, most of you actually operate in this way--no different than the children of Israel.

Let me sum up the entire Old Testament:

Israel: God, just tell us what to do and we will do it

God: Here you go, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

Israel fails to either follow the whole law and when they do follow part of the law, they are do it out of a obligation--no fear of God and no thanksgiving of praise. No worship to God.

Israel: Lord, we will do the bare minimum just to get what we want from you but then we need you to shut up.

And then they are surprised and shocked when enemy comes to conquers them.

And go read Jeremiah. God gives them over to what they exactly what they wanted: a worldly king to tell them what they need to do in order for them to be happy, okay, fulfilled, and safe.

All things from God are good

⁴For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.

What are the created things of God?

Life. Science. Academics. Marriage. Adulthood. Children.

Beyond that: salvation, adoption, redemption, satisfaction, and joy also come from God that can only be found in His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

That is the good news. The world adamantly disagrees.

What news are you going to believe today?