Salvation Summaries

I am going through each book in the New Testament (again) and writing bullet point comments about how a person becomes a Christian and how a Christian should live.  The following notes are from the book of 1 Timothy.

Summary

It is God’s desire that all people “be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth” (as found in the gospel).  God “calls” a person for salvation, but sadly, many don’t respond. In Paul’s day, the Law of Moses was meant to show people their sinfulness (for they can’t comply with the 10 commandments and other laws all of the time) and need for a savior, with the gospel as the way to be saved.  Salvation works in the same way today: a person is saved when they hear the gospel, realize their sinfulness (can’t obey the Law) and need for a savior (to save them from the penalty of their sins) and believe in Jesus.  Jesus came to this earth not to start a religion, but to save sinners, and He accomplished this by giving up His life for us; no other god or founder of any other religion did or can do this, and this is one reason why Christianity is different from all other religions. Salvation is also an act of God’s grace, for it’s something we don’t deserve (even though we think we do, as we downplay the significance of sin).

Once saved, a Christian is not to be content where they are at (spiritually), but to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (Timothy was commanded to do this, and it would appear that this extends to all believers).  Growing in one’s faith and spiritual maturity is not easy though. Paul tells Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith and take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.”  The world (worldliness), selfishness, pride, lust, etc., will continue to tempt believers to do things they ought not to, and slow their spiritual growth.  It would appear that diligent Bible reading (which provides “spiritual nourishment”), ongoing prayer and a clear awareness of the enemy are needed to combat this.

How a person is saved (and other verses relating to salvation)

• God wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:3)
• God “calls” a person for salvation (1 Tim 6:12).Salvation is an act of God’s grace (1 Tim 1:14)
• Part of salvation is having a knowledge of the truth, or knowing the gospel (1 Tim 2:4)
• The gospel talks about sin, which we need to take seriously. Elders who continued to sin (even after an accusation was made by two or three witnesses) were to be rebuked in the presence of the entire church congregation.  This was not only to punish the elders and get them to repent, but to make others in the congregation fearful of sinning (1 Tim 5:20). The gospel is also about Jesus.
• Believe in Jesus (1 Tim 1:16)
  • Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15)
  • Jesus game Himself as a ransom for all men (1 Tim 2:6)

Characteristics of a Christian

• A “new convert” or a spiritually immature Christian can become conceited if given too much spiritual authority too early in his/her spiritual walk (1 Tim 3:6).

How a Christian should live

• You are to be “constantly nourished” on the words of the faith and sound doctrine (1 Tim 4:6).
  • This means you must read your Bible regularly and attend church or mass or Sunday School to learn about faith and doctrine.
  • According to surveys that show Christians living the same way as non-Christians, many Christians would appear to be malnourished today.
• You are to discipline/train yourself for godliness (to be godly) (1 Tim 4:7).
  • This requires effort, and would appear to include daily Bible study with frequent prayer.
• Paul told Timothy to “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Tim 4:16).
  • Thus, it’s not only what you believe but how you live too that can have an effect on the salvation of others.
  • Footnotes in one Bible say this: “God alone grants salvation, but He is pleased to use His people as instruments in bringing salvation to others. Salvation is not completed when one comes to faith. To be sure, faith brings justification and the assurance of salvation. But faith also beings the lifelong process of sanctification, which is not completed until the Christian earthly life has ended. Sanctification is a work of God that demands the cooperative activity of the Christian. Are you a cooperative person?
• Do not love money, for it is a root of all sorts of evil (other sins may be committed in order to gain more wealth). Some, by longing for it, have wandered away from the faith (body of Christian truth) and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Tim 6:10).
• Flee from the love of money and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…(1 Tim 6:11-12)
  • Christians should not be content with their spiritual maturity or faith. They are to grow in them.  However, growing in one’s faith is not easy to do. Paul said you must “fight the good fight of faith.”  A believer must fight against temptations, lust, false teaching, the world, Satan, etc. as he/she tries to grow in his/her faith.  Do be surprised if more temptations come your way as you strive to grow closer to the Lord.

Who God is and what He is like

• Provider of grace, mercy and peace (1 Tim 1:2)
• King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God (1 Tim 1:17). He lives in unapproachable light; no one has seen or can ever see Him (1 Tim 6:16).
• God is to be honored (1 Tim 6:16)
• It was God’s desire, even command, that Paul become an apostle of Jesus (1 Tim 1:1)
• Desires all men (and women) to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:3-4)

Who Jesus is and what He is like

• Our Lord (1 Tim 1:12), our Savior and our hope (1 Tim 1:1)
• He came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15).
  • Jesus was the only spiritual person, among all religions, who came to this world to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15), and to die for them.  No other religion can say this, and this is why not all religions are the same.
• He gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim 2:6)
• Mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5)
• Grace, faith and love come from Jesus. Faith and love are found in Him (1 Tim 1:14) and He gives these to believers in Him (1 Tim 1:14).
  • Thus, faith appears to be a gift.
• Provider of grace, mercy and peace (1 Tim 1:2)
• It was Jesus’ desire, even command, that Paul become an apostle of Him (1 Tim 1:1). Jesus appointed Paul with the task of preaching His gospel (1 Tim 1:12)

Other

• To grow in one’s love requires a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith (1 Tim 1:5).
  • Can a person (truly) love others if they are not a Christian, for they would not have faith?
• God’s laws are not for those who are righteous.
  • They are for the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, murderers, adulterers, perverts (this would include homosexuality)…and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.
• Hymenaeus and Alexander shipwrecked their faith. Does this mean they lost it?
  • We dont’ know enough about them from this book, but it doesn’t appear so. Faith can be interpreted as a personal, convicted belief in something, or a doctrine of beliefs. These two men were put out of the church and “handed over to Satan” so as to not blaspheme. After teaching correct doctrine earlier, they were now teaching false doctrine (2 Tim 2:18 says that they had gone astray from the truth), and thus their faith had been shipwrecked.
• In the latter times, some will fall away from the faith (1 Tim 4:1). Does this mean they lose their faith and thus salvation?
  • There isn’t enough information to know, but it doesn’t appear so. The verse doesn’t say they fell away from “their” faith, or “lost their salvation,” but rather, they fell “away from the faith.”  The faith here appears to refer to doctrine. These people became deceived from false doctrine (doctrine of demons) (1 Tim 4:1).
• You can know if another person is a Christian, for Paul knew that Timothy was.
  • Paul referred to him as “my true son (or child) in the faith” (1 Tim 1:2). A Christian has faith in Jesus and is adopted into God’s family (a son).