It Starts Small

¹⁸ Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, ¹⁹ having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and have shipwrecked the faith. ²⁰ Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

1 Timothy 1:18-20

I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you

We find ourselves enveloped in uncertainty about the nature of these items.

Fight the good fight

We are engaged in a fierce battle, a relentless war! A war against Satan and his vile forces, a war against the very sin that seeks to ensnare us. A war against the deceptive and malevolent teachings that permeate our world. Following God is no easy path. Countless challenges lie before us. It’s tempting to give up. We feel like throwing our hands up and saying, “Let someone else take the lead.” But I assure you, God calls us to fight! He compels us to persevere, to rise, to keep pushing forward! This journey demands unwavering dedication and sheer tenacity. It requires boundless energy and commitment!

which some have rejected and have shipwrecked the faith

We see in verses 19-20 that not everyone finishes this fight. Some people are devastated, shipwrecked in their faith. Others may succumb to despair, giving up or drifting away. Paul mentions these two individuals as a stark warning. He reminds us that even those who appear to be steadfast believers can falter. These warnings should ignite a fire within us! They wake us up. We need to evaluate our hearts. We should continually foster a spirit of humility and dependence on the Lord.

¹² So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.

1 Corinthians 10:12

¹² Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2:12

Why does this happen? What actions can you take immediately? Ensure that your name does not appear alongside Hymenaeus and Alexander in verse 20. What does it truly mean to hand someone over to Satan? Embrace the urgency of this moment and understand the weight of your choices!

Whom I handed over to Satan

Read over the cross-references below. The world is undeniably Satan’s domain, as declared in 1 John 5:19. When Paul speaks of turning a person over to Satan, he uses this powerful term to signify excommunication. This means a person is cast out of the church. They are thrust into the harsh realities of the world and treated like an unbeliever. Yet, let it be clear: this action does not grant us the right to harbor hatred for such individuals. We are called to love everyone, including those who do not share our beliefs.

It signifies that this individual is not regarded as a true brother or sister in Christ. This is not a form of punitive punishment! Instead, it serves as a powerful warning, urging that person to repent and return to God. If we neglect such discipline, countless individuals will continue to lead sinful lives in open defiance of God’s Word. They will sit in the church, believing everything is perfectly fine.

Dwight Moody powerfully stated, “You have to preach a person into hell before you can preach them into heaven.” This profound truth emphasizes that an individual must first confront their struggles. They must recognize their need for salvation before they can truly approach God. Allowing someone to continue in rebellion against Him, believing that all is well, is a grave disservice to their soul. It may seem compassionate at the moment. However, it is a harmful deception. It robs them of the chance to experience true redemption and grace.

A doctor could be held accountable for malpractice if they tell a cancer patient, “everything is fine,” merely to soothe their anxiety. The patient should be fighting against this relentless disease. The fleeting joy that a patient might feel upon hearing such reassuring words is a cruel deception. Beneath that comforting facade, the harsh truth remains. The cancer lurks, undetected and far more perilous because it is concealed.

There are moments when a person must be expelled from the church. This happens when they are living in blatant and deliberate rebellion against God. The purpose of such a drastic action is to pave the way for their ultimate restoration. It is fervently hoped that by taking this bold step, they will be jolted awake. They need to realize the perilous path they are traversing. It is crucial they be compelled to earnestly seek repentance while there is still time.

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Cross-References

• 1 Corinthians 5:5
• 1 John 5:19
• Matthew 18:15-17
• 1 Corinthians 5:11

Discussion Questions

• In verse 18, what does it mean to fight the good fight? What fight is this talking about? Are we to fight this fight? How might this look for us today?
• What is the conscience and what does it mean that we are supposed to keep a good conscience?
• Looking at verse 19, is it possible that believers can lose their salvation? What was the nature of this faith?
• What does it mean that Paul handed these two guys over to Satan?
• What are some applications we can make from this passage?

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