Restoring Pretenders to Fellowship with God: 1 Timothy 5:21
“21) I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.” 1 Timothy 5:21
The witnesses Paul calls for this charge to Timothy is very similar to the one he gave him to preach the Word in 2 Timothy 4:1. He was addressing very serious matters. The way we preach and teach the Word of God will affect eternity for many people.
So also, the way we expose sinful living and deal with compromise among Gods people will affect the spiritual fire in fellow Christians and in the church. Notice in 1 Timothy 5:21 Paul was charging Timothy “in the presence of God and of Jesus Christ and of His chosen angels.” He was addressing something very serious.
Pretenders can fake it with people, but they cannot fake it with this group of witnesses. God does not ignore sin in the lives of His people no matter who the culprit may be. He did not ignore sin in the lives of Eli the Priest and his sons. He did not ignore the anger of Moses when he struck the rock. He did not let David get away with his sin with Bathsheba. John the Baptist did not ignore the immorality of King Herod who was married to his brothers wife. Being king did not exempt him from the righteousness of God. There is no partiality with God when it comes to sin and compromise.
According to 1 John 1:5-7; God is light! He is absolutely holy. Sin always interrupts fellowship with God. So also sincere and godly living enhances sweet fellowship with God.
Paul wanted Timothy to be unbiased in the way he exposed and renounced sinful living. Why? Because according to 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 sin is infectious. It spreads like leaven in a lump of dough. Sin is like an infectious disease. Sin is like deadly cancer cells in the human body. Sin is a killer.
When sin and compromise are ignored because of favor or status granted to some people in leadership, it will quickly infect others. But even worse, it’s will quench the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:29-30) God’s presence and blessing can be lost by a person, family, church and nation that defiantly embraces sin and compromise while holding a stiff arm toward God. No person, church, family or nation can thwart the justice of God.
Are you in sweet fellowship with Jesus Christ right now or are you in the shoes of a pretender? You may be a Christian, but you are inwardly living like a prodigal. You are going through religious motions, but you are empty.
Confession and repentance is the only cure for a cold, calloused and self deceived heart. They go hand in hand. You cannot pretend with Jesus Christ. He knows the condition of your heart. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can get away with hidden sin. You are not exempt from the call to holiness. (1 Peter 1:13-25)
Be honest with yourself. If sin has gained ground in your life deal with it quickly, honestly and completely. Confess and repent so you can run back into the arms of your loving Heavenly Father.
Revival tarries only because God’s people refuse to humble themselves and turn from what God calls “wicked ways.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 is as valid today as when God spoke to Solomon. Is the Holy Spirit calling you to stop pretending and deal with your sin?
But Paul was instructing Timothy to also deal with others around him. He wanted him to lead others to freedom from sin and bondage. If you have a friend who has been taken in a trespass, go to them in humility and seek to restore them to fellowship with God. (See Galatians 6:1) Be a fire watcher like Paul was for Timothy. Don’t let sin extinguish the fire in others.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global