SUFFERING SHIPWRECK OF THE FAITH

1 Timothy 1:18-20

INTRODUCTION

The Christian is engaged in warfare

1. It is a good warfare… 1 Timothy 1:18; cf. 1 Timothy 6:12
2. It is a spiritual warfare… Ephesians 6:10-12
3. It is a battle for “the” faith… Jude 3
4. One that requires faith and a good conscience on our part… 1 Timothy 1:19

It is possible for Christians to do poorly in this “war”

1. 1 Timothy 1:19
2. By rejecting their faith and conscience
3. Suffering shipwreck concerning the faith
4. Such was true of two men mentioned by Paul
5. 1 Timothy 1:20
6. 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Could this be true of us today?

1. Might we become guilty of “Suffering Shipwreck of The Faith”?
2. Indeed, we can suffer shipwreck, first…

DISCUSSION

BY REJECTING ONE’S FAITH

What is faith?

1. Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true
2. Its primary idea is trust
3. A strong conviction or trust in something
4. Hebrews 11:1

It is a strong conviction or trust in Jesus:

1. Who Jesus is…
   • That is what He claimed
   • That is truly the Son of the living God… John 8:24
2. What Jesus did…
   • That He died on the cross for our sins
   • That His death is truly a sufficient propitiation or sacrifice for our sins
3. What Jesus said
   • That He alone provides the way to eternal life
   • That He alone is the way to God, the Father… John 14:6-7

How do we develop proper faith?

1. Comes through the Word of God
   • Romans 10:17
   • John 20:30-31
2. Strengthened through fellowship with other Christians
   • Hebrews 3:12-14
   • Hebrews10:24-25
3. Confirmed through obedience… John 7:17
4. But, faith can be destroyed…
   • Weakened by neglecting the Word of God!… Hosea 4:6
   • More likely to turn to unbelief by forsaking fellowship with other Christians!… Hebrews 3:12-14
   • Becomes a dead faith in the absence of works!… James 2:20-23, 26
5. When you neglect the Word of God, forsake fellowship with brethren, and cease to do the will of God, you reject your faith, and make shipwreck of the faith.
6. One also suffers shipwreck of the faith…

BY REJECTING ONE’S CONSCIENCE

What is the conscience?

“that process of thought which distinguishes what it considers morally good or bad, commending the good, condemning the bad, and so prompting to do the former, and to avoid the latter.” – Vine

Our conscience cannot always be reliable

1. Paul had served God with a good conscience throughout his life… Acts 23:1
2. Even at a time when he was persecuting Christians!… Acts 26:9-11
3. Our conscience is like a clock, which works properly only if set correctly
4. Even so, God desires that we have a good conscience… 1 Timothy 1:5; cf. 3:9

How do we develop a proper conscience?

1. A good conscience is made possible through Jesus’ blood
   • Old Testament sacrifices and ordinances were insufficient… Hebrews 9:9; cf. 10:1-4
   • The blood of Jesus can cleanse one’s conscience… Hebrews 9:14; cf. 1 Peter 3:21
2. A good conscience is maintained by obedience to God’s will
   • Failure to do what we know is right is sinful… James 4:17
   • Conduct with godly sincerity makes for a good conscience… 2 Corinthians 1:12

But, a good conscience can be destroyed

1. Much harm can be done to our conscience
   • We can violate our conscience, which is sinful… Romans 14:22-23
   • We can defile our conscience, leading to unbelief… Titus 1:15
   • We can sear our conscience, leading to apostasy… 1 Timothy 4:1-2
2. Whenever we ignore or violate our conscience, we are in dangerous territory!
   • A guilty conscience soon leads to a hardened conscience
     • E.g., once our conscience is hardened regarding attendance
     • …it is more likely to become hardened against doing what is right in other areas
   • Can we say what the writer of Hebrews did?… Hebrews 13:18
     • “…for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably”
     • If we make it a habit not to attend all the services of the church, can we really say “we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably”?

CONCLUSION

The Faith (the gospel) is designed to develop and nurture one’s faith and conscience…

1. The gospel makes known what to believe and provides evidence… John 20:30-31
2. The gospel provides the means to purify our hearts and conscience
   • Hebrews 9:14
   • 1 Peter 3:21
3. If we reject faith and a good conscience, then the Faith suffers shipwreck in our lives!

Note how Paul felt as he came to the end of life… 2 Timothy 4:7

1. That was because he strove to have a good conscience… Acts 24:16
2. That was because he lived by faith… Galatians 2:20

Are you fighting the good fight?

1. Are you keeping the faith?
2. Or have you suffered shipwreck by rejecting faith and a good conscience?
3. If so, then come back to the Shepherd of our souls!