I Timothy 1:13 - “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

Paul’s persecution of the church, as Saul of Tarsus, is well documented (Acts 9, 22, 26; Galatians 1). He entered into houses, bound men and women, and delivered them to prison. Thus he “persecuted the church of God, and wasted it” (Gal. 1:13). Even as he was about such business, Jesus appeared to him, telling the persecutor that the Lord had use of him. Saul wasn’t saved by that appearance; Jesus sent him to Ananias to hear the gospel. Until he obeyed what he there heard, he was still in his sin (Acts 22:16). Jesus isn’t going to appear to you; He doesn’t need any more apostles. The gospel has been confirmed (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:4). But doesn’t the record of Saul’s conversion teach us that, regardless of our past corruption, God can use every one of us? Paul wrote here that “for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (16). The conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor, into Paul, the apostle, is a pattern. Regardless of your past, or your present, life, if you listen to the word of the Lord, and obey it, you will be completely forgiven, and you can render meaningful and fruitful service in the Kingdom of God. And you will be blessed eternally for it. God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Repent and trust Him.

I Timothy 3:14-15 - “These things write I unto thee ... that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Several truths are stated or indicated in these two verses. Paul wrote for a purpose: that you might know how to behave yourself. There is a proper way to behave yourself in the house of God. The house of God is the church. The church is the pillar and ground of truth. “Ground” is the foundation upon which the truth is supported. “Pillar” is that which supports the truth. “Whatsoever things are true ... think on these things” (Php. 4:8). Jesus came into the world to bear witness of the truth (John 18:37). His apostles after Him bore witness of the truth (I John 1:2). The church (not a building, but a fellowship - a communion of believers [II Cor. 1:1; 6:14]) was established in the world to preach the “truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13). If Jesus is the Son of God, and if His apostles preached the truth (and these, without doubt, are true), then “the church of the living God” has a specific function and purpose. It has also specific instructions for exercising that function and fulfilling that purpose. The apostle wrote so that we might know those instructions, and to admonish us to abide by them. If the New Testament is not the law by which Christians are to live today, where is the word from God that changed what Paul wrote here? “Ask for the old paths ... walk therein” (Jeremiah 6:16).

I Timothy 6:2-4 - “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 is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words...”

“These things” which Timothy was admonished to “teach and exhort” include the work and organization of the church, and of her elders, deacons and preachers. They include also the moral conduct and character of all Christians. They include specific instructions for dealing with those who teach and practice different ways. The Holy Spirit clearly expected (expects) all people who would be known as God’s children to know and observe the words of the New Testament. It is sinful pride to teach otherwise. Those who would do so know nothing about what God actually will bless in eternity. Those who teach what the New Testament does not authorize may say that they are leading people to greater love and fellowship, but the Holy Spirit says that their labors produce “envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth” (5). His inviolable command is, “from such withdraw thyself.”

I Timothy 6:10 - “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.”

Possibly you yourself have noticed that Paul was telling our brother Timothy the truth in this verse. When your goal is to get more money, you usually get more troubles. Money itself is not bad, and having money is not bad, but desiring money is very bad when that desire leads us away from serving God and from putting His kingdom and His righteousness first at all times. Don’t err from the faith. You don’t want to pierce yourself through with many sorrows. Therefore, don’t love money; love the Lord instead.