“The Mystery of Godliness” (1 Tim 3:14-4:8)

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory”  (vs16).

The Lord Jesus shall return, so we prepare ourselves, even as Paul comes to assist and examine Timothy. At that Day, it will matter if we’ve worshiped God rightly, even as Timothy must prepare himself and his ministry for the eye of Paul, who said, “These things write I unto you, hoping to come unto you shortly: but if I delay, that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of god, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth“ (1 Tim 3:14-15). We must behave ourselves as commanded: we have no choice.  We have help to obey and pardon for sins, but we CAN’T live our way and be Christian, even as Timothy must minister as commanded, if he’ll have Paul’s embrace.

The motive of godliness is God Himself in the flesh saving us (vs16).  He laid down His life, so that we could live eternally (2 Cor 5:15). Now, in praise and thanks, we tell God by our lives that we are His and appreciate His work.  We live godly not to earn favor but to express joy and the only proper thanksgiving.  We live godly because God has revealed beauty to us worthy of our devotion.

We are not slaves of man’s religion, and we mustn’t succumb to their lies. We are not interested in human holiness or the commands of men; we want GOD-taught obedience, and it has nothing to do with abstaining from things that He has created and things of which He approves - “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,  forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth“ (1 Tim 4:1-3).

Some say marriage is wrong, so they can devote themselves to God, but God says marriage is pure and singleness is better.  There is nothing wrong with a wife.  Express love to God by treating her properly (1 Cor 7:25-40).

Others say, “Touch not, taste not, handle not” as if meat and drink were holiness (Col 2:21-22). God says temperance in food and drink… and thankfulness for blessings makes them acceptable - “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;  for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim 4:4-5). They are pure before God, and by thanksgiving and prayer, we receive them purely and honor God in our freedom.  Human religion is outward show and denial. God’s gospel is love, not whether you eat or drink something legal.

Beware.  False doctrine and demon worship goes hand in hand. If we don’t worship Him correctly, then we don’t worship Him at all - “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.  But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.  For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come“ (vs6-8). We are not to concern ourselves with what others say but only with God’s word to us.  Exercising the body helps for a short period of time, but exercising the soul in godliness HAS the promise of peace and joy now, and it leads to heaven eternal.

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What are your thoughts on the legalization of marijuana? (John Piper)

By John Piper December 5, 2009

The following is an edited transcript of the audio.

What are your thoughts on the legalization of marijuana?

I'm glad you asked that question, because I've got thoughts on it. And I wouldn't have any thoughts on it—I mean I'd probably have different thoughts on it—if I hadn't had a lunch with a dad.

I know this dad really well, and he has a son who had an injury. And he found, after years of therapy, that the slightest incremental dosage of marijuana that had nothing to do with getting high gave him relief. And it was the only thing that gave him relief in the injured part of his body.

This guy was as far from an addict, or wanting to be an addict, or wanting to be high on marijuana as imaginable. So that lunch really opened me to the possible medicinal functions of this.

The person may be asking a different question than I'm answering right now. I'm trying to think of a way to make it possible for there to be medicinal usages, like a prescription of marijuana, knowing that it, of course, can be abused like most other over the counter drugs can be abused.

So I think I probably would move in that direction. I would like for those who could get real relief from careful usage of this God-created thing to have access to it.

If you're asking the question, What about the legalization of marijuana period, so that tons of it can go anywhere anytime, and as many 13-year-olds can have it as much as they want so that they can get strung out on the drug, then I would say, "We don't do that with alcohol! We don't let 16-year-olds go into a bar and get whatever they want." I would guess that, as a society, we would see that we love our children and we want to be careful.

I don't know exactly the extent of those restraints, but in principle a society would probably want to put restraints on a drug that could not only addict people terribly but also damage them in their minds long term.

I hope that is a balanced answer.