This Is Good

There are two extremes that you and I, as believers, must avoid. One extreme is rule-keeping, legalistic, checkmark Christianity, which gives religious types a sense that they’re “good with God,” simply because they perform all the rites and rituals. This is otherwise known as “works salvation,” and it doesn’t work. The opposite extreme is what theologians call antinomianism (literally, against law). These people downplay formal religion, calls to holiness, and commands to obey, in favour of grace. In doing so, they abuse the grace of God, seeing no standard for holy living whatsoever. The sweet spot for Christians, of course, is to understand the gospel in its fullness: That we are indeed brought to faith by grace alone, and that having received this grace we want to live as Christlike as possible, out of gratitude and love for our Saviour.

As Paul explains these things to Timothy, he writes that the young pastor and his church are to be “all in” for Jesus. All in on prayer. All in on pleasing God. All in on people coming to faith. All in on the pure gospel. All in on playing the part God has given each one to play. And all of that is not as a means of gaining salvation (God’s favour), but as a heartfelt expression of salvation having already been received. That’s what we’ll see this Sunday in our series The Good Fight, as we look at 1 Timothy 2:1-7 together.

Series: The Good Fight (1 Timothy)
Todd Dugard
Message: 5 – This Is Good
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
April 6, 2025

I must be “all in” on…

…prayer (v. 1-2)

When you don’t pray, nothing else matters.

We believe firmly in the power of prayer.

Jeremiah 29:7

…pleasing God (v. 3)

Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.
E. M. Bounds, Purpose in Prayer

…people coming to faith (v. 4)

The Church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not its members.
William Temple

Acts 1:8

ἐπίγνωσιs epignosis knowledge or certain knowledge – to acquire information about something with emphasis upon the process involved.
L&N 27.4

It indicates a personal and experiential response to such knowledge.
NIGTC

God’s moral will — 1 Timothy 2:4
God’s sovereign will — John 3:18b
God’s will in salvation — John 3:18a

…pure gospel (v. 5-6)

The death of Christ is potentially on behalf of all people, but its saving effects are limited to those who respond in faith.
Thomas D. Lea

…playing my part (v. 7)