Distinctive #10: Gospel Hope

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.Pursue righteousness…

1 Timothy 6:11

The tenth distinguishing mark of a gospel-centred church is gospel hope.

Timothy had been given overwhelming responsibilities. He was a young man, and he was leading the church in Ephesus. This was a massive responsibility.

We know that by temperament, Timothy was timid (2 Tim. 1:7). He was not confident by nature. He must often have felt that he was in over his head, out of his depth, and at the end of his rope. Maybe you know what that feels like too.

How do you sustain what God has called you to do year after year? Where do you find the energy to live a godly life when everything is pressing in on you? How do you keep going when you feel overwhelmed, with discouragements on every side?

Paul ends this letter with some much-needed encouragement for Timothy. Paul was writing under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. God knows what His people need. He knew what Timothy needed then, and He knows what you need right now.

Paul speaks to Timothy by name earlier (6:20), but he doesn’t do that here. He says: “As for you, man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness” (6:11). Paul says, “Timothy, remember who you are. You are ‘God’s man.’ I want you to think and speak and act and live as God’s man because that is who you are!”

What about you? Every man who is in Christ is “God’s man.” Every woman who is in Christ is “God’s woman.” When God speaks to believers, He speaks to us not as we are by nature, but as we are in Christ. You are God’s man, God’s woman. Be who you are.

How does it encourage you to know that God speaks to you not as you are by nature but as you are in Christ?