Turn in your Bible with me to
1st Timothy chapter 6, if you would please. 1st Timothy chapter
6. Though we'll look at a fair amount
of this chapter, verse 12 will be my text and let's read it
first. 1st Timothy chapter 6, verse
12. Before we read this passage,
I want to remind you that the Apostle Paul loved this young
man, Timothy, to whom he's writing. Timothy was Paul's own son in
the faith. And that's exactly how Paul addresses
him in the beginning of this letter. He said, unto Timothy,
my own son in the faith. In his second letter to Timothy,
Paul addresses him as dearly beloved son. He loved this young
man. Timothy was not Paul's son in
the flesh. He was not Paul's son by natural
descent. Timothy was Paul's son in a spiritual
sense. This was a spiritual relationship
that was established in the faith of Christ. And as I look out
at you this morning, I'm thankful that we had that kind of relationship
together. Some folks just don't understand
the kind of relationship that God's people have with one another. And there are many of us here
this morning who have, over the years, become closer than family. Why? Because we are family. How
can that be? Well, we have the same cause
in life. We have the same priorities.
We have the same goals and the same longings. We have the same
God. We have the same Savior. We love
the same gospel. Our relationship is closer than
flesh and blood relationships because we have the same desire
of eternal life. Now in Paul's letters to Timothy,
it becomes very obvious that Paul had his spiritual well-being
at heart. And in these letters, Paul just
pours out his heart to this young man that he loved. And in verse
12, in a way of great encouragement, Paul urges Timothy and to all
whom he preached to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold
on eternal life. Now that's my subject this morning,
laying hold on eternal life. And what a glorious subject it
is. In the overall scheme of things, it's the only thing that
will really matter. Laying hold on Christ who is
eternal life. That's the thing that Paul wanted
for this young man that he loved and cared so much about. And
that's what I want all whom I love and care about to know. I want
all my children, all my grandchildren to lay hold on eternal life. I want all my friends, all of
them, to lay hold on eternal life. I want every one of you
here this morning to lay hold on Christ, who is eternal life. And if you belong to God, that's
what you want for all whom you love. And I know that because
many of you have shared your heart with me on this subject. Immediately evident that if a
man or a woman is going to lay hold on eternal life, they're
going to have to fight for it. Paul said, fight the good fight
of faith and lay hold on eternal life. You see, the only way any
sinner can lay hold of eternal life is with a grip of faith.
What does it mean to fight the good fight of faith? What does
it mean to lay hold on eternal life? It means that eternal life
cannot and will not come from any strength within. I can tell
you that much. For the sinner is without strength. The scripture is so clear about
that. That's such an encouraging thought to me because Paul tells
us in Romans chapter 5 verse 6 that while and when we were
without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly. That's a good place to be without
strength because in due time that's who Christ died for and
that gives this sinner great hope. We're without strength
and we are ungodly by nature. God requires perfect holiness
and perfect righteousness. And we have no strength, no ability
to obtain either. Our fight in this world is not
a physical fight. Our fight is a spiritual fight.
It's a fight of faith. Our warfare is of a different
kind. Our warfare is a spiritual warfare. And that's what Paul tells us
in the book of Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12. He says, for we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places. And it's absolutely
urgent. It's absolutely urgent for everyone
who desires to be saved to lay hold on eternal life and not
to be sidetracked. That's what Paul is urging Timothy
here to do. I'm telling you, it's so easily
in this world in which we live to get sidetracked, to get distracted
from what's really important. It was the same in Paul and Timothy's
day. In reading this book, and particularly
this chapter, there seems to be at least three classifications
of people that lived in this community in which Paul and Timothy
ministered. And these three groups of people
still exist today. All sinners seem to have their
own view of what the real issues of life are. What do you believe
to be the most important and urgent issue in your life? Our
actions, our passions, and our way of life often exposes the
answer to that question. Let me give you these three classes
of people. The first class of people that
Paul mentions were those of a social and political concern. We've
got a lot of that going on today. We've got a whole lot of that
going on. With the social media that we have today, it's easy
for men and women to post their view, their convictions, their
passions for all to see. It doesn't take long to find
out and realize what a person considers socially and politically
urgent, correct, or incorrect. Very easy to post your opinions. Now in Paul's time, there were
those who were socially and politically minded too, the same as today.
They had great convictions over many things, and slavery was
at the top of the list. They were those who told and
encouraged the slaves to actually conspire and rebel against their
masters. And these were good moral people
who saw slavery as a social injustice, and it most certainly was. Paul
knew, Paul thought as much as anyone that this specific injustice,
this unquestionable wrong should be swept away from the face of
the earth. But Paul knew what many don't
know today. Paul knew that the only real
way that this or any other social prejudice is gonna be eliminated
was by the gospel being revealed to men and women. Only the preaching
and teaching of Christ and His gospel would profit those who
hated these social injustices. There's nothing like the revelation
of sin that will cause that sinner to deal with others differently.
Now I don't want to lose you here. I want you to understand
this. There's nothing like the revelation of God's love mercy,
and grace in Christ to and in an individual that will humble
them and cause them not to think of themselves more highly than
another. And when men and women are humbled,
they'll show humility to others. When men and women experience
grace, they will be gracious to others. When men and women
receive mercy, they become merciful to others. And it'll be these
things that cause the greatest changes in this world. It'll
be the gospel that changes men and women's thinking on matters
of injustice. And let me say to those of you
who do not personally know me well, I'm very sympathetic to
social injustice. I have great convictions about
political and social improvements based on principles of what God
says to be right and just. But yet as a believer, as a preacher,
as a pastor of the gospel, God has revealed to me what Paul
knew. And that's this, these political
and social issues are not, are not the main issues of life. That's what Paul's telling Timothy
here in verses 1-4. He says, "...let as many servants
or slaves as are under the yoke, or under bondage, count their
own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and His
doctrine, His teaching, be not blasphemed." And they that have
believing masters, let them not despise them because they are
brethren, but rather do them service because they are faithful
and beloved, partakers of the benefit." He said, these things
teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise and
consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he's
proud, knowing nothing. But Dalton are sick about questions
and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings,
and evil surmisings." Now listen, professing Christians can get
caught up in a lot of different things. I've been guilty of it
myself. We can get caught up in a lot
of social issues. Good causes, I might add. But
in the overall scheme of things, and in the light of eternity,
in the end, what will they really matter? That's something we need
to consider. The real issue here is to lay
hold on eternal life. Lay hold on Christ. That's the
issue. That's the real issue at hand.
And that's what Paul's encouraging Timothy to do. He's saying don't
get caught up in all these things. Stay focused on the issue at
hand. Promote the love and the mercy
and the grace of God. Promote and preach Christ and
the love that we should have for one another for Christ's
sake. Declare the forgiveness that Christ has granted us. Encourage
those who believe to forgive one another. That's what it is
to lay hold on eternal life. And then Paul brings to Timothy's
attention another classification of people. And they were men
who were striving to be rich. Even members of the church were
sacrificing everything important to gain, to have, and to possess,
believing that gain was godliness. Look at verse 5. He said, perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth,
supposing that gain is godliness. He said, from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment
is great gain. For we brought nothing into this
world, and it's certain that we can carry nothing out. And
having food and raiment, let us be therefore content. but
they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into
many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction
and perdition. For the love of money is the
root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have
erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows. A child of God, we are not to
concern ourselves with worldly riches. Paul says, having food
and raiment. And I don't know of one of you
here this morning that doesn't have that. Having food and raiment,
a roof over your head, let us therefore be content. Our hands,
now listen, our hands are not big enough to hold on to two
things. That's why the Lord Jesus said
no man can serve two masters. That doesn't mean that we just
shouldn't serve two masters. That means that we don't have
the ability. We don't have the ability to
serve two. Our hands are only big enough
to hold on to one thing. And may the Lord be pleased to
make that Christ, who is eternal life, lay hold on eternal life. That's my encouragement to you
this morning. That's my word to you. Like Martha,
we're so cumbered about with much serving, we're careful and
we're troubled about many things. Aren't we? Let's just be honest.
We certainly are. But there's one thing needful.
One thing needful. May God enable us, like Mary,
to hold on to the good part. And that's Christ Jesus. And then we come to the third
group of people. And I refer to those who are
just full of questions. They're full of debates. They're
full of contention. Never happy and never satisfied
with anything. Look at verse 20 here in our
text. Old Timothy, he said, keep that
which is committed to thy trust, that being the gospel of Christ.
He said, avoiding profane and vain babblings and oppositions
of science, falsely so called. Let me just briefly say that
the Greek word here for science in this verse means knowledge.
There were those among the church of God that boasted in their
knowledge. They remind me of those who are
ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth.
They wanted to debate the gospel. They wanted to argue doctrines. They interjected pagan philosophies. They opposed and they rejected
the truth of the gospel. Friends, the gospel is to be
declared. It's not to be debated. And it's
not to be argued. And Paul tells Timothy, he said,
avoid these profane babblings and opposition of man's wisdom
and knowledge. Verse 21 he says that they've
erred concerning the faith. They've missed the boat. They've
missed the issue at hand. And that's laying hold on eternal
life. Now I want you to listen to what
I'm about to say. I say it very deliberately. Just because the majority of
people believe something doesn't make it true. In Noah's day,
none believed that God was coming in wrath and judgment to destroy
the earth. Only eight people believed. Just eight. It was an overwhelming
majority that believed not. You remember what happened to
them? They drowned. They perished. I'm not going
to debate the gospel. I'm not going to argue the doctrine
of scripture. I am to preach it, to declare
it. That's what we are all to do. Only God can enable a lost
sinner to believe it. And I, by the grace of God, am
going to fight the good fight of faith. And by his mercy and
grace, I'm going to lay hold on eternal life. We live in a
day where many have a lot of questions about spiritual things,
eternal life, and they want someone to answer. Sadly, many turn to
politicians and social networks. Many turn to the rich and wealthy.
Many turn to the so-called wise of the world. Many turn to priests. Many turn to preachers. But few
are turning to the Word of God. Few are turning to the God of
the Word. And friends, if you want to learn
and know the truth, there are some good questions to ask. Questions
from the scriptures on how to lay hold of eternal life. Let
me just briefly give you a few of them. What must I do to be
saved? That's a good question to ask.
There's only one thing you can do, and that's to believe. What shall it profit a man to
gain the whole world and lose his own soul, that's a good question. It'll profit a man nothing. Only
believing and trusting in Jesus Christ to put away your sin will
profit you a thing. How shall we escape if we neglect
so great salvation? That's a good question. That's
a very good question. You won't. Not if you neglect
Jesus Christ, for he that hath the Son hath life, and he that
hath not the Son hath not life. May we ask the same question
that Peter asked, Lord, to whom shall we go? The Lord Jesus said,
who do men say that I am? And they had a hundred different
answers, didn't they? Some say that you're this. Some
say that you're that. Some say you're Elijah. Some
say you're Jeremiah. Some say that you're John the
Baptist reincarnated. He said, who do you say that
I am? That's the issue. That's the question. Who do you
say that Christ is? Lord, to whom shall we go? To
whom shall we go? There's nowhere else to go. to
lay hold on eternal life. Only Christ has the words to
eternal life. Here's another question. How
can God be both just and justifier? That is a great question. You
answer that question, you've preached the gospel. Only one
way, God himself must pay the price that the law demands, and
that's death. Christ died the just for the
unjust to bring us to God. That's the gospel. That's the
gospel. Christ satisfied the holy justice
of God for his chosen who were guilty. And God remains just
and the justifier of those who believe. So will you ask questions
that pertain to life or do you want to just argue and debate?
Here's another good one. If a man die, shall he live again? Man's gonna spend eternity somewhere,
either in glory with his Savior or in eternal separation from
God. And some might ask, well, why
would sinners spend an eternity in hell? Because you will never,
ever be able to pay for one sin. Not one. You see, eternal condemnation,
damnation, judgment, and wrath awaits the sinner who has no
righteous covering. You can't pay the debt that you
owe. Only Christ can pay it. And that
brings me to probably the most important question of all. What
think ye of Christ? Isn't that the issue? In the
overall scheme of things, in the end, when we stand before
God Almighty in judgment to give an account of the things that
we've done in this body and this flesh, is that not the issue? What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He? What do you
think of Christ as all that really matters when it comes to laying
hold on eternal life? Because Christ is eternal life. As I said, my message, my encouragement
to everyone in this place this morning is the same as Paul's
was to Timothy. It's the same as every true gospel
preacher that I know that's standing this morning preaching, and that
is lay hold on Christ, who is eternal life. I just love the
plain dealing of the Apostle Paul. He just cuts to the chase.
He says, let others carry on with this and that, social injustice,
politics. Let others love money and build
careers and all that. But as for me and my house, we're
gonna serve the Lord. Let others carry on with these
things. There's only one thing neat, and that's Christ. He is
the Ark of Noah where the believer finds safety. He is the city
of refuge where the offender is safe. He is the rock on which
we build our house. All other ground is sinking sand. He is the bread of life and the
fountain of living water. He is salvation. Lay hold on
eternal life. Lay hold on Christ. What is eternal
life? You know, something happened
to Adam the very second that he disobeyed God. He lost eternal
life. Adam lost the life of God. That's
what eternal life is. It's the life of the eternal
God. Eternal life is a divine life.
Eternal life is the life of God. Eternal life is perpetual life. It never ceases. It never stops. It's forever. It's everlasting.
Eternal life is the gift of God. It's the divine operation of
God on a man or woman's heart. No man or woman can create it,
either in themselves or by another. It's God's gift to a chosen sinner. And just as our physical life
was bestowed upon us, apart from any efforts of our own, what
did any of us have to do with our physical birth? Absolutely
nothing. And it's the same with our spiritual
birth. We had nothing to do with it.
It's the work of God. It's the gift of God. It's the
work of God on a man or a woman's heart. You know, even the greatest
heart surgeon in all the world cannot do heart surgery on himself.
God created man out of the dust of the ground and that man lay
there lifeless until God breathed into him the breath of life and
he became a living soul. Friends, God's got to breathe
by His Spirit into a sinner in order for us to become a living
soul, in order for us to have life eternal, to lay hold on
eternal life. No man or woman has eternal life
by nature. We're dead in trespasses and
sin. What can a dead man do? Not a
thing. Not a thing. Our Lord said, without
me, you can do nothing. How do we lay hold of eternal
life? That's a good question. Well, first we must understand
that in order for us to lay hold on Christ, who is eternal life,
the Holy Spirit must first lay hold on us. And how does that
occur? Believe me, the laying hold of
the Spirit of God on us and us laying hold on Christ, it has
to be by faith. by believing. Remember, we're
fighting the good fight of faith here in order to lay hold on
eternal life. And again, we see that we're
shut up to the mercy and the grace of God if faith comes by
hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Let me ask you, how can
one who is deaf then obtain life, obtain faith? If you're dead,
how can you obtain life? By hearing God's Word. And this
proves that a sinner is given life, lays hold on life when
life is given to him. So the truth is a sinner cannot
lay hold of eternal life until eternal life has already been
given them. We can do no work, we can apply
no will of our own in the matter of our spiritual birth any more
than we did our physical. We've got to come to Christ empty
handed. In my hand, no price I bring.
empty-handed, just as we are, with nothing to offer God. Nothing
but Christ, God's Son. And it's then, and only then,
that we lay hold on eternal life. How much do you have to know
to lay hold of eternal life? Well, really, that's not the
question. The question is who you have to know to lay hold
onto it. It's not the strength of your
faith that enables you to lay hold on eternal life. It's the
object of your faith that enables you to do so. How much doctrine,
seriously, how much doctrine do you think that thief on the
cross knew in order to lay hold on eternal life? How much doctrine
do you think he knew? Do you think that he was an expert
in the doctrines of grace? Well, he knew what few do. He
knew that Christ was the Son of God. He knew that Christ was
the King of kings. And he said, Lord, remember me
when you come into your kingdom. It's not what we know. It's not
how much we know. It's who we know. Salvation is
of the Lord. Teresa and I were talking yesterday
about the miracle of believing. You know, it's a miracle. It
is a miracle of God's mercy and grace to believe. The miracle
of salvation. If God doesn't do a work of grace
in a sinner's heart, they'll never believe. I'm convinced
of that more than ever in my life. It's the greatest miracle. It's the greatest miracle that's
ever been done. The miracle of salvation. I was
thinking as she and I talked about the miracle of grace, salvation,
and forgiveness, how all the miracles that our Lord did while
he was here on earth pointed to and pictured the greatest
miracle of all. Have you ever thought about that?
Our Lord healed the blind. He did so to show us that we
can't see. We're spiritually blind. He must
give us sight. Christ healed the deaf who could
not hear because you and I can't hear. We can't hear his gospel
until he gives us ears to hear. He said, those that have ears
to hear, let them hear. Our master healed the lame and
the impotent because we can't come to him that we might have
life. Like Mephibosheth, we're crippled
in both our feet from a great fall. We cannot come. We cannot
come. We don't have the ability. Christ
healed lepers because we're leprous in sin. Christ made hold the
withered hand because, friends, we can't work the work of God
with our hands in order to be saved. Christ calmed the sea
and said, peace be stilled. You know why? Because we're tossed
to and fro by every wind of doctrine and we need peace. But these
miracles all point to the greatest miracle of all, that being salvation. He fed the multitude with five
loaves and two fish, because we can't feed ourselves. We cannot
feed ourselves as we hunger and thirst for righteousness. What
about that woman with the issue of blood, the Lord healed her?
Because we have an issue of blood that we inherited. from our Father
Adam. Why, He cast out devils. Folks
have never seen anything like it. Even the devils are subject
to Him, they said. And He did so because you and
I are possessed with sin. I'll point to the greatest miracle
of all. He raised the dead because we're
dead in trespasses and sin. Again, I ask you, how do we lay
hold on eternal life? Well, in closing, look at verse
12 with me again. How do we do so? We fight the
good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life, and look
at it. It says, where unto thou art
also called? Salvation's of the Lord. That's
how I know that I'm gonna lay hold on eternal life, because
for whom God foreknew, He did also predestinate. He chose a
people before the foundation of the world, and He predetermined,
predestinated to save them. Those whom God predestinated,
those whom God predetermined to save, He calls. He calls. And it's an effectual
call. All who hear this call, this
effectual call will come. You see, I could not come, I
would not come, but with His command to me to come, He gave
me the power, and He made me both able and willing to come. What a call this is. That's what
Paul's talking about here, and he's talking about an effectual
call. And those whom God calls, Paul said He'll justify. He'll
make them right with Him. That's what justification is.
To be made right with God. To be made just, holy, and perfect
with God. Are you interested in that? One
day soon God is going to glorify all His elect when He raises
them in corruption. He's going to give us bodies
without sin. What a glorious day that's going
to be. Can you imagine? No, we can't, can we? What it's
going to be like to have no sin, to be perfectly conformed to
the image of Christ His Son. It sounds to me like salvations
of the Lord. That's how I know that I'm going
to lay hold on eternal life. And what a hope, what a comfort,
what a peace, what a Savior, what a God, what a Gospel. I've laid hold on eternal life
because Christ has laid hold on me. Thank God for His sovereign,
saving, amazing grace.