SATURDAY February 15, 2025

The Charge for the Gospel

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
1 Timothy 1:3-4

Paul gave a charge to Timothy against false teachers who were infiltrating the church. There were many gospels being preached, but there is only one true Gospel––the Gospel of Jesus Christ––that sets people free. The message of the Gospel is always centered on the Person of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s charge to Timothy against false teachers is dominant throughout the book of 1 Timothy. He used the word charge in several different ways in the letter. The word charge in the Greek language means “to give orders from a superior officer.” We do not give orders; we are under Christ’s command and obey His orders. Jesus is our superior officer.

Again, in 1 Timothy 1:3, the charge was to keep the purity of Christian doctrine because there were false teachers who were bringing into the church another kind of doctrine, not the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. The next charge is found in 1 Timothy 4:11: These things command and teach. Paul used the word command which follows the same usage of charge, again in reference to good doctrine that he must follow.

Paul charged Timothy to honor true widows and gave other instructions for widows: Honor widows who are really widows. And these things command, that they may be blameless (1 Timothy 5:3, 7). In first Timothy 6:13-14, Paul used the word urge to charge Timothy to keep a good confession: I urge you in the sight of God ... that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord [’s] ... appearing.

Paul’s final charge to Timothy was to warn those who were trusting in their bank accounts instead of the living God: Command those who are rich ... not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17).

As your pastor, I give you a charge––read the Bible correctly and do not be gullible or be deceived by any false teachings.

A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify; a never dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky.
~Charles Wesley~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!