Sermons From First Timothy - Suffering Shipwreck Of The Faith (1:18-20)

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                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

               Suffering Shipwreck Of The Faith (1:18-20)

INTRODUCTION

1. The Christian is engaged in warfare...
   a. It is a good warfare - 1Ti 1:18; cf. 1Ti 6:12
   b. It is a spiritual warfare - Ep 6:10-12
   c. It is a battle for 'the' faith - cf. Jude 3
   d. One that requires faith and a good conscience on our part - 1 Ti
      1:19

2. It is possible for Christians to do poorly in this 'war'...
   a. By rejecting their faith and conscience - 1Ti 1:19
   b. Suffering shipwreck concerning the faith - 1Ti 1:19
   c. Such was true of two men mentioned by Paul - 1Ti 1:20; cf. 1Co 
      5:1-13

[Could this be true of us today?  Might we become guilty of "Suffering
Shipwreck Of The Faith"?  Indeed, we can suffer shipwreck, first...]

I. BY REJECTING ONE'S FAITH

   A. FAITH DEFINED...
      1. By Easton's Bible Dictionary
         a. Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a
            certain statement is true
         b. Its primary idea is trust
      2. A strong conviction or trust in something; as the NIV
         translates He 11:1...
         a. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for..."
         b. "...and certain of what we do not see."
      3. It is a strong conviction or trust in Jesus:
         a. Who Jesus is
            1) That is what He claimed
            2) That is truly the Son of the living God - Jn 8:24
         b. What Jesus did
            1) That He died on the cross for our sins
            2) That His death is truly a sufficient propitiation or
               sacrifice for our sins
         c. What Jesus said
            1) That He alone provides the way to eternal life
            2) That He alone is the way to God, the Father - cf. Jn 14:
               6-7

   B. FAITH DEVELOPED...
      1. Comes through the Word of God - Ro 10:17; e.g., Jn 20:30,31
      2. Strengthened through fellowship with other Christians - He 3:
         12-14; e.g., 10:24-25
      3. Confirmed through obedience - cf. Jn 7:17

   C. FAITH DESTROYED...
      1. Weakened by neglecting the Word of God! - cf. Hos 4:6
      2. More likely to turn to unbelief by forsaking fellowship with
         other Christians! - He 3:12-14
      3. Becomes a dead faith in the absence of works! - cf. Jm 2:20-23,
         26

[When you neglect the Word of God, forsake fellowship with brethren, and
cease to do the will of God, you reject your faith, and make shipwreck
of the faith.  One also suffers shipwreck of the faith...]

II. BY REJECTING ONE'S CONSCIENCE

   A. CONSCIENCE DEFINED...
      1. "that process of thought which distinguishes what it considers
         morally good or bad, commending the good, condemning the bad,
         and so prompting to do the former, and to avoid the latter."
         - Vine
      2. Our conscience cannot always be reliable
         a. Paul had served God with a good conscience throughout his
            life - Ac 23:1
         b. Even at a time when he was persecuting Christians! - cf. Ac
            26:9-11
         c. Our conscience is like a clock, which works properly only if
            set correctly
      3. Even so, God desires that we have a good conscience - 1Ti 1:5;
         cf. 3:9

   B. CONSCIENCE DEVELOPED...
      1. A good conscience is made possible through Jesus' blood
         a. Old Testament sacrifices and ordinances were insufficient
            - He 9:9; cf. 10:1-4
         b. The blood of Jesus can cleanse one's conscience - He 9:14;
            cf. 1Pe 3:21
      2. A good conscience is maintained by obedience to God's will
         a. Failure to do what we know is right is sinful - Jm 4:17
         b. Conduct with godly sincerity makes for a good conscience
            - e.g., 2Co 1:12

   C. CONSCIENCE DESTROYED...
      1. Much harm can be done to our conscience
         a. We can violate our conscience, which is sinful - Ro 14:22-23
         b. We can defile our conscience, leading to unbelief - e.g., Ti
            1:15
         c. We can sear our conscience, leading to apostasy - e.g., 1 Ti
            4:1-2
      2. Whenever we ignore or violate our conscience, we are in
         dangerous territory!
         a. A guilty conscience soon leads to a hardened conscience
            1) E.g., once our conscience is hardened regarding
               attendance
            2) ...it is more likely to become hardened against doing
               what is right in other areas
         b. Can we say what the writer of Hebrews did? - He 13:18
            1) "...for we are confident that we have a good conscience,
               in all things desiring to live honorably"
            2) If we make it a habit not to attend all the services of
               the church, can we really say "we have a good conscience,
               in all things desiring to live honorably"?

CONCLUSION

1. The Faith (the gospel) is designed to develop and nurture one's faith
   and conscience...
   a. The gospel makes known what to believe and provides evidence - Jn
      20:21-21
   b. The gospel provides the means to purify our hearts and conscience
      - He 9:14; 1Pe 3:21
   -- If we reject faith and a good conscience, then the Faith suffers
      shipwreck in our lives!

2. Note how Paul felt as he came to the end of life - 2Ti 4:7
   a. That was because he strove to have a good conscience - Ac 24:16
   b. That was because he lived by faith - Ga 2:20

Are you fighting the good fight?  Are you keeping the faith? Or have you
suffered shipwreck by rejecting faith and a good conscience?  If so,
then come back to the Shepherd of our souls...!
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