20”O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.” (1 Timothy 6:20–21 (ESV)
The following transcript is by Dr. J. Ligon Duncan. He preached this November 14, 2004. The message is entitled Guard What God has Given You.
III. Refrain from False Knowledge.
It’s false knowledge. Paul isn’t mad at it because it’s knowledge. No, he’s mad at it because it’s false knowledge. He’s not saying, “Well, we shouldn’t get hung up about what you believe, it’s just how you live.” That’s not what he’s saying. He’s saying that what it being claimed is wrong
And then he says, realize something. Look at verse 21. Paul says that some have claimed to have this false knowledge, and even though they’ve professed faith in Jesus Christ, they’ve gone astray. Look at what he says in verse 21: “…which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.” You see what Paul is saying. Paul is saying that there are some people in this congregation who have professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They’ve professed to believe the Christian truths which had been taught by Paul and the apostles. And yet, because they became entangled in these false teachings, because they began to stray, in curiosity embracing these false teachings, they had gone astray from the faith.
You see, Paul is saying that bad theology leads to spiritual destruction. And he’s saying, “Timothy, the reason that I warn you against false teaching is because I’m concerned for the lives and the souls of men and women, and boys and girls.” This is not the first time that Paul has given this warning, but isn’t it urgent? It’s in his own hand, it’s the last thing that he’s going to say in this letter to Timothy and to his church, and he’s saying false teaching will lead to spiritual disaster. And that’s why we need to retain the truth and refrain from becoming entangled in the study and the curious discussion of these false teachings, and we need to realize that this false teaching leads to spiritual disaster.
IV. Rely on God’s Grace.
But Paul’s not done. If you look at verse 21, Paul concludes with a benediction: “Grace be with you”, in which he calls on Timothy to rely upon the grace of God. Indeed, he calls upon the whole congregation to rely upon the grace of God, to depend upon God’s unmerited and strengthening favor. “Grace be with you.” This little phrase indicates the greatest blessing of them all: God’s favor to us through Jesus Christ; his blessing on those who are undeserving of that blessing, purchased at the cost of the death of His own Son.
This grace Paul pronounces on Timothy. Why? Because for the ongoing life of the believer, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is essential. There is nothing that we are able to do apart from the grace of God, and there is nothing that God cannot do through us by His own grace. And so, Paul, even in pronouncing this blessing, is reminding Timothy and that congregation (and you and me) that we are always dependent upon the grace of God. That’s very important for us to remember in this season of this life of this congregation. We have tremendous opportunities and challenges for ministry and service before us, but we must be dependent upon the grace of God, because we can do absolutely nothing without it.
But notice what Paul says: “Grace be with you.” Now, you can’t pick it up in your English translation, but he’s not saying “Grace be with you (singular), Timothy.” He’s saying here, “Grace be with …y’all!” It’s a plural! Paul’s speaking this benediction on the whole congregation. It is yet another indication that this book has two audiences in mind. It has Timothy in mind, the elders in mind; but it has the congregation of the people of God in mind. And this blessing is not simply on Timothy, it’s on the whole congregation of the people of God, because in the realities of life in this fallen world, and of life and ministry in an imperfect church, the only hope we have is the grace of God.
Paul calls on Timothy and his congregation, and us, to retain the truth, to hold fast to it; to refrain from dabbling in worldly speculation and false teaching; to realize that false teaching will lead sheep over the edge into destruction; and to be utterly dependent, as we hold fast to that truth, on the only thing that can hold us up, which is the grace of God.
And what a rich blessing it is! The Aaronic priests, you remember, in the Old Testament had a blessing for the people of God: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” The Lord lifting up His face and making it to shine upon you, and being gracious to you, is giving you His favor. And receiving the Lord’s favor creates the reality of the enjoyment of peace; not cessation of physical warfare in this world, but peace with God, reconciliation with Him wherein we receive all the benefits which He has intended for us in His mercy.
And when Paul says “Grace be with you” he’s reminding you of that gift which God has given to all those who trust in Jesus Christ, and he’s reminding us that that message of grace is not just for those who are as yet unbelievers. It’s a message for us, too. Just as those who are apart from Christ need the grace of God if they would be saved, so we need the grace of God if we will live the Christian life. It’s the same message: rely on God’s grace. May the Lord bless His word. Let’s pray.
Our Lord and our God, we thank You for the mercy that You have given us in Jesus Christ, and for the truth which You have committed to us in Your word. Grant that we would hold on to that truth, and that we would rely on Your mercy and grace. We ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen. Grace be with you. Amen.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
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