Believers are Special - I Timothy 4:10

A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick


It was during the 4th of July late night fireworks display when one of our popular national songs was being sung which included the words, "God shed his grace on thee." The woman sitting next to me turned to the man she was with and said, "If we're going to be thinking globally, we shouldn't be thinking only of God's grace on us Americans, but on the whole world. Do we think that we alone are to receive His grace?"

With the explosive noises of "rockets red glare" all around me, I began to think about this comment. Was this a person who was longing for the day when we will have a one-world government, or was she wishing that all peoples would come to know the grace of God? Immediately I was reminded of what Paul wrote to Timothy, "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe." (I Timothy 4:10 - KJV)

This idea of some people being special is bothersome to us. On one side we have the wording of our national "Declaration of Independence" - "All men are created equal." These words were powerfully reiterated by President Abraham Lincoln in his famous Gettysburg Address: "Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." On another occasion, Lincoln had sent a letter to a man by the name of H. L. Pierce, "All honor to Jefferson - to the man who, in the concrete pressure of a struggle for national independence by a single people, had the coolness, forecast, and capacity to introduce into a merely revolutionary document, an abstract truth, applicable to all men and all times, and so embalm it there, that to-day, and in all coming days, it shall be a rebuke and a stumbling-block to the very harbingers of re-appearing tyranny and oppression." (April 6, 1859)

Today this hallowed democratic doctrine of equality boldly proclaims that no one is special, no one is above another.

On the other side are the vast number of people who believe the opposite, everyone is special. These are the parents and teachers of our young who are deathly afraid of contributing to the poor self esteem of children - they want our children to always think good about themselves, no matter whether they've done good, no matter how they've behaved or spoken - God forbid that they would be corrected and told that a particular word or act simply is not acceptable. Take this idea to its logical conclusion, and what we have is democracy legitimizing evil, even the very evil of terrorist activities - after all, the men in our world who brainwash their youngsters into blowing themselves up as suicide bombers, or ruthless men who publicly shoot or behead those they disagree with, are really not bad people, they are, as some of our newspapers call them, "Freedom Fighters."

Parents are vulnerable because they instinctively and wholeheartedly believe that their children indeed are special, and they know the power of positive affirmation. Actually, it is a very good thing to speak praising words to our children - when they deserve it! In addition, conscientious parents and grandparents work overtime to make sure that they treat all of their children the same, the last thing they want is to be charged that one of their children is considered to be a favorite. If one child receives a $10.00 allowance, the other children must get the same, even though their ability to handle money may be very different, or they have been born many years apart so that their allowances can't nearly have the same purchasing power. If one gets piano lessons, the others must have them also, even though their aptitude may be in an entirely different direction.

So which way do we want it - nobody is special, or everybody is special?

When it comes to our relationship with God, our question may be, who has the legitimate right to be a recipient of God's grace? Americans? Does God have favorites? Are some of His children special while others are not?

According to our reading from I Timothy 3:16-4:10, yes, "God . . .is the Savior of all men", but "especially of those who believe." There's no other way to read it, all people are not treated the same - in God's sight, some are special, which must mean that others are not.

The New Testament word used in this verse, and found in several other places as well, is "malista" - the root adverb "mala" means "very" so that the word means "most," or "in the greatest degree," i.e., - "particularly, chiefly, or most of all."

Note some of the other places this word is found:

    When Paul was sitting in a Roman prison, he wrote to ask Timothy to come for a visit, and identified a few articles he wanted brought along. He wanted his "cloke" which had been left in Troas, and he wanted some literature, i.e., books, "but especially the parchments." In other words, Paul favored some writings above the others. (II Timothy 4:13)

    In the first letter Paul wrote to Timothy, he spelled out the responsibilities of the men in his church; they were instructed to provide, "specially for those of his own house" (I Timothy 5:8), and if a man didn't, Paul declared such a man to be "worse than an infidel."

    A few verses later, Paul made a distinction within the body of elders - special honor was to be given to those "who labor in the word and doctrine." (I Timothy 5:17) Some interpreters say that the expression "double honor" in the previous verse actually means that pastor/teachers should receive "double pay" - today most believe they should get half-pay - after all their "retirement benefits are out of this world!"

    One other verse where the idea of "special" is found is Galatians 6:10, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." The plain reading of this verse tells us clearly, Christians are to treat their brothers and sisters special. One time I asked a friend, "So, how's the world treating you?" Quickly the answer came back, "Oh, the world treats me fine, it's just the Christians who give me all the grief."

    Let me read two very sad verses from the Old Testament: The first has David speaking, "I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons." (Psalm 69:8) The second is a prophecy of Jeremiah, "Your brothers, your own family -- even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you." (Jeremiah 12:6)

    Let's make sure we go out of our way to treat extra well our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

But now let's return to our text in I Timothy 4:10, "we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe." Clearly, if we genuinely say that we believe what the Bible says, we must understand this to mean that those who believe in the Lord are special in the sight of God.

    Many of us well remember the Sunday School song that says, "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world; red and yellow black and white, they are precious in His sight." Is that true? Of course it is; everyone is precious, but some are more precious - everyone may be special, but some are more special. Who are they? Who is precious, who is special? According to the Bible, those who believe in Jesus.

Notice that the context for the passage (I Timothy 3:16-4:10) really begins at the closing verse of the previous chapter, "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."

Obviously this is referring to Jesus, but notice how unbelievers are described in the verses which follow: "some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." The description goes on using such phrases as, "hypocritical liars," "consciences seared," and those who put ungodly and unwholesome restrictions on their followers; they hold to "godless myths," and "old wives' tales." Paul goes on to admit that "physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" and then closes with a brief description of believers, those of us who "have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe."

So the question today is this, "Are you special in God's sight?" And the quick answer is, "Yes, if you believe."

But what does it mean to believe? Is it simply giving mental assent to a stated proposition, or does it go deeper than that? Yes, it means that we accept Jesus as the Savior, which in turn requires that there must be a recognition of sin followed by repentance.

While in Africa, I was conversing with one of our partner pastors, Okema Job, talking about the difficulties experienced by Christian churches in his country. He explained that there is a strong presence of Roman Catholicism and Voodoo religions, and now the Moslems are gaining ground. He went on to say, "People sacrifice to the Voodoo priest out of fear, and are attracted to Catholic churches and Moslem mosques because they do not require any sacrifice." Just the other day this was confirmed as I listened to an interview with a representative of the Islam, or Moslem religion. The question was asked, "How hard is it to become a Muslim?" The answer given was, "It's very simple, and you can become a Muslim in ten seconds. All you have to do is say, 'There is only one God, Allah, and Mohamed is his prophet' and you are a Muslim."

Not so with becoming a Christian. Let's not forget, the supreme symbol of Christianity is the cross, the place where Jesus died a cruel death in order to be the Savior. To become a Christian must begin with an acknowledgment of sin, and a willingness to repent from that sin, and then to fully believe that eternal life is promised "for both the present life and the life to come."

In conclusion, I'd like to read what Charles Spurgeon wrote as the devotional for today, July 10. It's taken from Ephesians 2:19, "Fellow citizens with the saints."

What is meant by our being citizens in heaven?

It means that we are under heaven's government. Christ the king of heaven reigns in our hearts; our daily prayer is, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

The proclamations issued from the throne of glory are freely received by us: the decrees of the Great King we cheerfully obey.

Then as citizens of the New Jerusalem, we share heaven's honours. The glory which belongs to beatified saints belongs to us, for we are already sons of God, already princes of the blood imperial; already we wear the spotless robe of Jesus' righteousness; already we have angels for our servitors, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward. We share the honors of citizenship, for we have come to the general assembly and Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven.

As citizens, we have common rights to all the property of heaven. Ours are its gates of pearl and walls of chrysolite; ours the azure light of the city that needs no candle nor light of the sun; ours the river of the water of life, and the twelve manner of fruits which grow on the trees planted on the banks thereof; there is nought in heaven that belongeth not to us. "Things present, or things to come," all are ours.

Also as citizens of heaven we enjoy its delights. Do they there rejoice over sinners that repent - prodigals that have returned? So do we. Do they chant the glories of triumphant grace? We do the same. Do they cast their crowns at Jesus' feet? Such honours as we have we cast there too. Are they charmed with His smile? It is not less sweet to us who dwell below. Do they look forward, waiting for His second advent? We also look and long for His appearing.

If, then, we are thus citizens of heaven, let our walk and actions be consistent with our high dignity.

Discussion Questions
Believers are Special

1. What are some of the ways people today may be "thinking globally"?

2. Why does it bother democratically oriented Americans to think that some people are special?

3. What did President Lincoln probably have in mind when he reiterated Jefferson’s line, "all men are created equal"?

4. How does the doctrine of democracy provide a "rebuke and a stumbling-block to the very harbingers of re-appearing tyranny and oppression", and at the same time provide a context for tyranny to grow?

5. What is the problem with thinking that everyone is special?

6. How often should parents speak words of praise to their children?

7. If there is no partiality with God, how can we say that, in His sight, some are special?

8. What are the Biblical examples of the word "special" which are suggested by these words or phrases: "parchments," "provision," "teaching elders," "household of Faith"?

9. How is it to be explained that, at times, family (or church) members treat each other less kindly than those outside the family or church?

10. If God loves everyone, why doesn't this result in "universal salvation"?

11. In I timothy 4:1-10, what are some of the words used to describe those who are not believers?

12. What are the essential steps taken by the person wanting to be a Christian?

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