1 Timothy 22-24

1 Timothy 5: 22-24  Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.   Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.  The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.  In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

Paul's instructions to Timothy were many.  No one really knows what the laying on of hands means in the above context, but some believe it refers to  ordination.  Paul is telling Timothy that no one should be given a position in the church unless he or she has been fully investigated.  Charisma, education, and dedication are not enough to qualify a man or a woman for a position within the living church of God, for a person of authority in the church must also be highly ethical, moral, and responsible in all of his or her ACTIVITIES.  Paul warns Timothy that people's goods deeds and characteristics are many times very evident, but sometimes their shortcomings and sins are hidden: they trail behind them.  Otherwise, you will find out about them later after they have been ordained or placed in positions of trust.  How many times have we heard about church secretaries or treasurers absconding with the church funds or about pastors living immoral and unethical lives within the general community.  To avoid these hidden acts of sin and betrayal within the church leadership, Paul tells Timothy not to place anyone in authority quickly, for eventually such shameful acts will bring a reproach not only on the individual involved but on Timothy and the church also.  They will share in the sins of others.

Sadly, when uncovered these kinds of activities bring a reproach upon the church here on earth.  However, a more serious aspect is the undetected sins that are carried all the way to the judgement seat of God without repentance.  These sins trail the sinner to the judgement seat of God, and there they will be revealed.  The judgement of eternal death will be placed upon them.  If we are found before God, wrapped in our own sins, then eternal damnation is our inheritance, and not eternal life with God.  But if we have already accepted the judgment placed upon them through accepting CHRIST'S SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS, we are wrapped in Jesus Christ's righteousness, and we are in his robes, for we are IN CHRIST.  But if our sins have not gone before us, but TRAIL behind us, then we will be condemned by them, and convicted by them.  We will not even be able to open our mouths to defend ourselves, for we will know we committed them willfully, with a full understanding of what we were doing.  We will also know that we have rejected Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins.  However, today is the day of salvation.  While it is still day, we should readily confess our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.  The Bible says WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME.  This, of course, is the Good News of the gospel. 

In the above passage, we also see Paul advising Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach's sake.  This does not mean we are to take to drinking.  It means that wine for Timothy had a medicinal affect.  Notice, Timothy's body was not functioning well, and he was experiencing frequent illnesses.  Sickness should not always be equated with sin. Our bodies are not spiritual, they are biological.  Therefore, they do break down, they do get sick, and someday they will decompose.  Through faith, our eternal bodies are always healthy in Christ, but that is not true of our terrestrial bodies.  Paul yearned to put on the celestial body; we yearn to do likewise, but until that time we have to put up with the terrestrial body, so TREAT IT WELL: EAT HEALTHY, EXERCISE, AND GIVE IT REST.