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Look in the mirror..... that's what I have been asking you about : Matthew 5:20 King James Bible 20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Okay, I love that scripture. But how do you explain what Paul said to Timothy:

1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Ti 4:14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
1Ti 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

What "progress"? What progress can be made by study of doctrine? And mediation?

1Ti 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

WILL save. Timothy was a minister. And Paul is saying that he will be saved..in the future.

It's NOT about legalism. It's not about control. It's about what scripture warns about repeatedly...falling away from the faith.

If Paul allow Timothy to go on into Timothy's mission being " unsaved " then Paul would have been much unwise and stupider than I thought.
Paul is giving Timothy a exhortation, a encouragement to keep in the word and study it and not be a slackhard.
That gift ? it could be one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit or it could have been a special gift that Timothy had in him that Paul recognized and he told Timothy to keep it going and not let it become stagnant.
It could have been the gift of knowlegde and having a great understanding of the scripture for Paul said to give him self to it.
Take heed of himself and the doctrines ?
He's telling Timothy to not negelct what he has been taught, when he has seen and learned, and don't allow anyone to lead him assray in that doctine therefore he will be saved from false teaching and those around him.
The word save here ? to save himself from those who would try to corrupt that doctrine in what he has been brought up in and corrupt the message of the Gosple.
It's not the same meaning as the word we use as " saved, or born again " but rather save as in being untainted from those who would come in and corrupt the Gosple, the doctrines and teachings of Paul that Paul entrusted to Timothy.

This will help you get the context of what Paul is saying in chapter 4.
Gotstha go back to the opening of his letter to Timothy.
He talks about false doctrine and endless genealogies.
Here it is, in chapter 1

1 Timothy chapter 1
Verse 3

3. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4. neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

He's telling Timothy to rebuke those who are teaching false doctrines and shilly genealogies.
He's warning Timothy to be aware of those who would come in and corrupt what Paul has taught.