Marvin R. Knight
"For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois,
and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well."
2 Timothy 1:5
"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."
2 Timothy 2:1-2
Introduction:
Becoming or being a man of God is not an easy thing. In fact, finding a man of God is a rare thing, as rare as the hope diamond or a black pearl of perfect proportions (Psalm 12:1). If you were asked to define a man of God, how would you answer? A man of God is, first of all, a man that God not only looks for, as He did in Ezekiel’s day (22:30), he is also one whom God is working to raise up to represent His character and cause in the world. In addition to this, we can say that a man of God is not a flawless man, an educated man, or even a gifted man, but just a man “whose heart is completely His…that He may strongly support” (2 Chr.16:9). This was true of Abraham, Moses, David, and every man of God the world has ever known. Alan Redpath, former pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, once said:
The Bible never flatters its heroes…it tells us the truth about each one of them in order that against the background of human breakdown and failure we may magnify the grace of God and recognize that it is the delight of the Spirit to work upon the platform of human impossibilities…as we consider the record of Bible characters, how often we find ourselves looking into a mirror. (Studies in the Life of David, p.5)
This, I trust, is what we will discover as we consider Timothy. In these three verses, the Apostles sets forth the chief trait of a true man of God and the main duty that he carries in order to be an effective servant of Christ. First, let us consider the chief trait of a true man of God.
The chief trait of a true man of God
The trait or element that lies at the core of all true men of God is a sincere faith.
Originally, the word “sincere” (Gk. anupokritos) meant inexperienced in the art of acting. The hypocrite was originally an actor, and in acting there can be a great discrepancy between the part which is played and the reality of the life which lies behind it. Paul suggests that the same can be true of faith. We can profess much and possess little. There is a great temptation and real danger in Christian circles to pretend to be something other than what we are. This is why this word came to mean “unfeigned or genuine” in the New Testament. Timothy may not have had great faith or the full assurance of faith, but he had “sincere faith.” He hid nothing. There was no double-dealing with Timothy. What he seemed to be, he really was—a sincere man of faith. Can the same be said of you? Without a sincere faith, true saving faith has never commenced. Therefore, it will never advance or endure when faced with the challenges of living in times of distress (2 Tim.3:1ff). (This is not to say that sincerity on its own is adequate before God. It is not! But faith without sincerity is no faith at all. Timothy had both, and we need both in order to be men of God.)
The reason that Paul was mindful of Timothy’s sincere faith was not to single him out, but to spur him on. Being reminded of the presence of the true spark of faith in one’s life can encourage a man to press on when facing various trials. However, when Paul wrote the letter of 2 Timothy, his situation had changed drastically. He was now a prisoner in Rome facing certain death (2 Tim.4:6). All of his associates had abandoned him for one reason or another and only Luke, the beloved physician, was with him (4:11). Yet, his concern was not for himself; it was for Timothy and the gospel ministry.
According to this letter, Paul sent Tychicus to replace Timothy at Ephesus so that Timothy might join him in Rome (4:9, 12). Somehow sensing that his time of departure from this world was approaching (4:6ff), the Apostle looks to Timothy, a timid, shy young man, to give spiritual leadership to the churches after his death. What was it that gave the Apostle confidence in Timothy? Why did he want Timothy near him as he closed the book on the last chapter of his life and ministry? Timothy was a true man of God with a sincere faith. If you are to be a man of sincere faith, what is needed? Here are five principles that could be seen in the life of Timothy:
- First, the sincere faith of a man of God is supernaturally given by the Spirit of God. (2 Tim.1:5)
- Second, the sincere faith of a man of God is theologically shaped by the whole of Scripture. (1 Tim.4:6-7, 13; 2 Tim.1:13, 3:14-17)
- Third, the sincere faith of a man of God is practically tested in the service of the gospel. (1 Tim.4:12, 6:17-18; 2 Tim.4:2-5)
- Fourth, the sincere faith of a man of God is corporately affirmed by a local body of believers. (1 Tim.1:18; 2 Tim.1:6)
- Fifth, the sincere faith of a man of God is seriously guarded in reliance on the Holy Spirit. (1 Tim.6:20-21; 2 Tim.1:14, 4:15)
The main duty that lies upon the man of God
Once it can be ascertained that a man has sincere faith, then he must be clear about what it takes to move forward toward maturity. The Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to do two things as a faithful servant of Christ: 1) be strong and 2) entrust others with the truth of the faith. Paul’s aim was to encourage and fortify Timothy against becoming faint of heart in the Christian’s journey (2:1-13). The Christian’s journey is a lonely and difficult road. It is filled with many dangers, toils, and snares, as the hymn writer puts it. Therefore, the great Apostle seeks to explain some particulars concerning what it means to be an exemplary servant of Jesus Christ (2:14-26).
The danger that Timothy faced is something that we all face today as believers: the danger of being ashamed of the testimony of our Lord and of His servants who face hardship (1:8-12). Therefore, in order for Timothy to fulfill his ministry and calling before God, he needed to possess and maintain 1) a heart for ministry (1:3-7), 2) an unashamed fidelity (1:8), 3) a life of sanctity (1:9-12), and 4) a deep love for orthodoxy (1:13).
The question is: How was Timothy to maintain these marks or qualities of usefulness? Generally speaking, he was to be different than Phygelus and Hermogenes (1:15), and more like Onesiphorus (1:16-18). Phygelus and Hermogenes were defectors who once supported the work of the gospel but later led many disciples away from the faith (Cf. Acts 19:1-20:38). However, Onesiphorus proved to be an exception who often refreshed and revived Paul’s spiritual condition by his own Christlike faith and friendship. We should note at this point that all of us will end up falling into one of these two categories: we will either be a hindrance to the work of Christ and the gospel, or a help and blessing to those who serve its cause. Which one are you?
Specifically, Timothy was to maintain these marks of usefulness by, first of all, being “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (v.1). Why did Timothy need to “be strong?” We know about his timid and shy personality. However, the reason for this exhortation was much greater than his disposition. Timothy needed to be strong because his task as a man of God demanded it (1 Tim.6:11-12). The source of this strength was not to be found in Timothy himself, but “in the grace that is in Jesus Christ.”
It takes the whole gospel of God to make one little sanctified Timothy, and it takes a working knowledge of divine grace to truly be a man of God. God’s grace is a constant enabling stream for the believer. It is a present source of strength from which help can be obtained for overcoming or accomplishing all that Christ would have us to do (Cf. Phil.4:13). Learning how to live by the inward strength of God’s grace is what being a faithful servant of Jesus is all about. Do you need inward strength to face the rigors of life and godly living in this world?
If so, the first step toward experiencing Christ’s enabling power is to honestly accept your own weakness (Cf. 2 Cor.12:9ff). The second step is to follow God’s plan for growing in grace (2 Pet.3:18).
The second thing Timothy was to do was to entrust a spiritual deposit to faithful men. To “entrust” (1:12, 14) something means to give it to someone to be guarded as a trust or valuable deposit. What was to be given? “the things which he had heard,” or the things of gospel that he had heard from the apostle as he taught them publicly (1:13). Who was this trust to be given to? “Faithful men” (Gk. pistos), not just believing men, but men who are trustworthy. Why faithful men? Paul explains their purpose and goal: “who will be able to teach others also.” This does not mean that these faithful men must be teachers. Rather, they must be able or competent. Connected to their faithfulness, Paul adds an essential key ingredient for usefulness, namely, competency (Gk. hikanoi).
Faithfulness and competency enable the man of God to exhort others in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it (Tit.1:9). A faithful man who is not competent will be of little use in helping to build the church of Jesus Christ. It is possible to understand theology without being godly or useful. But it is impossible to be godly or useful without understanding theology and its practical workings in the everyday affairs of life. However, a man who is both faithful and competent is ready to be a “frontline” witness for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Are you a useful soldier on the “frontline” of Christian service? Are you ready to serve on the frontline in the kingdom of God? Here are some questions to discuss to help access where you are and what you need to know.
Assessing where you are and what you need to know
- What are the chief character traits that a man of God must develop?
- What are the doctrines a man of God must master?
- What are the disciplines a man of God must cultivate?
- What are the kinds of relationships a man of God must seek?
- What is the main ingredient in learning to be a problem solver?
- What are the biblical principles of dealing with conflict?
- What are the key factors to gaining the victory in spiritual warfare?
- How does the man of God overcome failure and get on the road of restoration?
- How can the servant of God keep his life spiritually focused and sexually pure?
- What does it mean and take to follow Christ?
- How do you identify and cultivate your gifts?
Review:
The chief trait of a man of God is a sincere faith. The main duty is to be strong in grace of Christ and entrust the truth to trustworthy and competent men.