In this second half, we’ll venture into Paul’s admonition to Timothy regarding the elders and church leadership, that he will “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.”
He encourages Timothy to be diligent in the study of the Word, to shun babblings that are born of and excite strife and contention among the church. The apostle addresses how the LORD will operate through those of His that are sanctified and usable and will refrain from those not sanctified.
He ends this section of his epistle with the manner and conduct of the servant of the LORD. So without any further delay, let’s get into these instructions and admonitions!
2 TIMOTHY 2:11-15
11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him*. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent in study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
* For an article on reigning with Christ, check this out: ARE YOU READY FOR: The RAPTURE, REWARD and REIGN with CHRIST?
To recap from Part One:
All saints have indeed died to self, to sin, to Satan’s wicked world if we have bowed before the LORD Jesus Christ and received Him as LORD and Savior. Why then do we still feel temptation towards sin?
We are being trained to walk in truth by faith, not walk according to feelings (2 COR 5:7). Though we may feel the lure of temptation in our flesh, we disregard those compulsions and consider ourselves dead to them (ROM 6) and let the Spirit of GOD dominate us in sweet surrender, that through the grace of GOD we procure the help we need in such times of temptation (HEB 4:16).
Anyone foolish enough to deny Jesus as LORD and Savior will themselves be denied by the Author of Life, the eternal LORD of glory, and honor and power, and wisdom and strength (MK 8:38)!
There are times when even we saints fall into sin and are proven faithless in any given and particular situation. However, He remains faithful and just to forgive us as we confess our sins, cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 JOHN 1:9) and also to complete His work that He Himself began in us (PHIL 1:6)!
We are in need of constant reminders of GOD’s truth; we can so easily let the things of GOD slip (HEB 2:1) and the LORD’s apostles – as well as His teachers and pastors should never consider it a tedious burden to remind the saints of these precious truths of the Scripture (PHIL 3:1). Thus as shepherd’s of GOD’s flock, pastors are called upon to exhibit the same patience and longsuffering for them, as GOD exhibited to the shepherds.
Vs. 14 “…charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.”
1 TIMOTHY 1:4 speaks on this as well “…which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” (also 1 TIM 6:4,13; TITUS 3:9,11). There are all kinds of ‘church traditions’ just as the Jewish people had their own traditions, and there is room for traditions as such, but should never be equated with Scripture, let alone supersede them.
And while there are many on different sides in regards to these traditions, and it’s unwise to bring contentions and strife that could cause unwarranted division to the body of Christ. In part, this is one reason (among others) why there are so many denominations.
Akin to this are the typical arguments regarding the appropriate method of water baptism, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, Baptist vs. Pentecostal issues, eternal security vs. the faithfulness of the believer, the timing of the rapture. Most of these issues are not salvific – that is – crucial, fundamental doctrine that’s required for salvation.
As disciples of the Word we have to be careful to major on the majors and minor on the minors; that is, where there are non-negotiable doctrines of the Scriptures, let us be in 100% agreement with what the Bible teaches with absolute clarity.
Where there are issues that are not non-negotiable, where there are viably different views that can be found in Scripture, may we be gracious, not argumentative about such things.
I think we’ve known many that we were in fellowship with, that because of contention about some doctrine, have separated themselves from us, causing pain.
Vs. 15 “Be diligent in study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
This kind of “study” is laborious effort; we desire to mine the Scriptures with the same effort and tenacity of a gold prospector. We shall dig and dig and not quit until we have in hand (and heart) the gold nuggets of GOD’s truth!
This is a life time endeavor for which there are absolutely no short cuts!
However, having said that, there are extremely useful media by way of MP3’s and other digital platforms – as well as credible websites, where we can get up to speed in understanding the overall perspective of the Bible as well as delving into the blessed minutia that’s contained in the pages of Scripture!
With both working in conjunction, the student of the Word can avail themselves of reputable, biblical teachers, while at the same time, getting to know how to study the Bible for themselves!
For an online course on how to study the Bible, check out the TTUF page on Discipleship 102.
Let’s just remember that even if we were to obtain all biblical knowledge that there is to be had, it’s all useless without the proper motivation both in learning and in dispensing GOD’s Truth!
In presenting ourselves before GOD, we are such whose efforts are noticeable to Him; we stand apart from the casual reader of the Scriptures, we exhibit the sort of conduct that speaks of the commendable student of the Holy Bible.
Such a one who is tested by time committed at length and with patience (such as that prospector needs) to dig through a lot of earth before “striking it rich”! These are “approved to GOD” and have displayed those qualities of those who are hungry for the LORD, Who seek after Him wholeheartedly, prayerfully (JER 29:13).
This approval is granted with the testing of the LORD; the determination of the prospector is discovered when he refuses to become discouraged even when prospects seem unyielding, much in the same way that anyone’s ministry is tested and approved of GOD when such is done in the heart and character of Christ, in compliance to Holy Writ (2 COR 9:13).
We see such approval by GOD elsewhere in the Scriptures (ROM 14:18; 16:10; 1 COR 11:19; 2 COR 10:18).
Chuck Missler, an able expositor of GOD’s Word called Bible Study “The Grand Adventure” and I couldn’t agree more! The LORD rewards the diligent! To be such dutiful and attentive students of the Scripture is absolutely ‘kingly’:
Check out these videos for yourself by pastors Albert Lopez, Sonny Islas and James Fire.
A rather somber observation: If only Christians followed this admonition, and were all able disciples of the Word, then the rank deception that we see in today’s world couldn’t possibly find a foothold in the church – in the world? Of course, but not the body of Christ. Yet we see overwhelming apostasy with the need to name names regarding false teachers in order to warn the saints against them and their false doctrines.
The late Dave Hunt (founder of The Berean Call) once made the observation once stated that if Christians obeyed the LORD Jesus Christ’s command to “continue in [His] Word” as His disciples, there would be little use of discernment ministries; it’s because those who are “exercised” in the Word and strong in their discernment (HEB 4:12; 5:12-14).
2 TIMOTHY 2:16-18
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
The holy law of GOD will bring judgment on the profane (1 TIM 1:9); as leaders of the church we are to reject profane fables (1 TIM 4:7); and Timothy was admonished by Paul to avoid profane and vain babblings and issues of so-called knowledge (1 TIM 6:20) that contradict sound doctrine.
In this passage before us, the warning that those who engage in such babblings will find themselves in increasingly ungodly conduct, which is referring to these two men: Hymenaeus and Philetus who abandoned Paul and the LORD by engaging in false teachings and practices. Leaven (which represents false teaching, sin in general and pride specifically) is like cancer in that it invades, grows, and overtakes silently, without notice – but once discovered, it can be beyond remedy.
Hymenaeus apparently was a troublemaker previously, who associated with one Alexander (1 TIM 1:18-20).
For details about this, check out GOTQUESTIONS for some insights:
WHO WERE HYMENAEUS and PHILETUS?
The particular issue with these two men was that they declared that the resurrection of the church had occurred already. And yet from Scripture, we know that there are a great many things that must transpire before the coming of the LORD. We are keenly aware that the last days prior to the coming of Christ are fraught with preceding tribulations and trials that will test those who are earth-dwellers (REV 3:10).
There was the same issue in the Thessalonica church. Apparently there was a forgery of Paul going around, stating that the LORD had already come, and the saints gathered together with Him:
This is not to say that there weren’t false teachings and some professing to know Christ didn’t forsake the only Savior of the world (the book of Hebrews testifies to this, many of these Jews were willfully sinning by returning to the obsoleted Levitical system of sacrifice by the Law; see HEB 10:26).
There were those who even expressed the (false) idea that there is no resurrection from the dead (those sort who were of the Gnostic beliefs; see 1 COR 15:12-17).
Pastors and teachers bear a tremendous responsibility because of the fact that they are to rightly divide the Word of Truth, feed, guard and guide the flock of GOD, warn the unruly and the rebellious, be in prayer for all and everyone, and do all of this in the Spirit of Christ: with grace, truth, and love.
Those who teach error, who conduct themselves inappropriately and have deleterious effects of the LORD’s sheep, or even unredeemed souls, can cause such ruin that will have eternal consequences. If that isn’t enough to give you gray hair, I don’t know what will! Indeed, teachers will receive a far stricter judgment at the Bema Seat of Christ (JAMES 3:1).
2 TIMOTHY 2:19
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
Our LORD is a GOD of order; the account of creation in GENESIS speaks of the beginning of GOD’s work in the evening and completing it by morning “the evening and the morning were the [first, second, third, etc.] day”. What’s interesting is that the words for evening and morning can also be used to describe disorder and order. So each day brought into creation increasing order until the end of the sixth day, when Adam was created, GOD pronounced all of His order as not being merely good, but “very good” (GEN 1:31).
Thus disorder or lawlessness (“iniquity”) is an especially offensive thing to Him! What we are seeing today with the blurring and confusing of gender, the proliferation of the next sexual revolution that seeks to legitimize pedophilia, the ongoing battle for the minds of those who believe “my body, my choice” includes the right to murder the innocent, the redefining of the family unit just as what was accomplished by these lawless individuals in the redefinition of marriage are only some of the many ways in which ungodly iniquity is becoming “the new normal” (JUDGES 17:6; PROV 16:25).
Certainly then, born again believers should be all about obeying the order that GOD established and defined by the Holy Scriptures, and not partake at all of the mind-set that is taking the church by storm and bringing too many assemblies and fellowships into conformity to the world (which we are to disallow emphatically; ROM 12:2)!
To recap from Part One:
All saints have indeed died to self, to sin, to Satan’s wicked world if we have bowed before the LORD Jesus Christ and received Him as LORD and Savior. Why then do we still feel temptation towards sin?
We are being trained to walk in truth by faith, not walk according to feelings (2 COR 5:7). Though we may feel the lure of temptation in our flesh, we disregard those compulsions and consider ourselves dead to them (ROM 6) and let the Spirit of GOD dominate us in sweet surrender, that through the grace of GOD we procure the help we need in such times of temptation (HEB 4:16).
Anyone foolish enough to deny Jesus as LORD and Savior will themselves be denied by the Author of Life, the eternal LORD of glory, and honor and power, and wisdom and strength (MK 8:38)!
There are times when even we saints fall into sin and are proven faithless in any given and particular situation. However, He remains faithful and just to forgive us as we confess our sins, cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 JOHN 1:9) and also to complete His work that He Himself began in us (PHIL 1:6)!
We are in need of constant reminders of GOD’s truth; we can so easily let the things of GOD slip (HEB 2:1) and the LORD’s apostles – as well as His teachers and pastors should never consider it a tedious burden to remind the saints of these precious truths of the Scripture (PHIL 3:1). Thus as shepherd’s of GOD’s flock, pastors are called upon to exhibit the same patience and longsuffering for them, as GOD exhibited to the shepherds.
Vs. 14 “…charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.”
1 TIMOTHY 1:4 speaks on this as well “…which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” (also 1 TIM 6:4,13; TITUS 3:9,11). There are all kinds of ‘church traditions’ just as the Jewish people had their own traditions, and there is room for traditions as such, but should never be equated with Scripture, let alone supersede them.
And while there are many on different sides in regards to these traditions, and it’s unwise to bring contentions and strife that could cause unwarranted division to the body of Christ. In part, this is one reason (among others) why there are so many denominations.
Akin to this are the typical arguments regarding the appropriate method of water baptism, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, Baptist vs. Pentecostal issues, eternal security vs. the faithfulness of the believer, the timing of the rapture. Most of these issues are not salvific – that is – crucial, fundamental doctrine that’s required for salvation.
As disciples of the Word we have to be careful to major on the majors and minor on the minors; that is, where there are non-negotiable doctrines of the Scriptures, let us be in 100% agreement with what the Bible teaches with absolute clarity.
Where there are issues that are not non-negotiable, where there are viably different views that can be found in Scripture, may we be gracious, not argumentative about such things.
I think we’ve known many that we were in fellowship with, that because of contention about some doctrine, have separated themselves from us, causing pain.
Vs. 15 “Be diligent in study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
From Albert Barne’s Notes:We want to be diligent in our reading and studying of the Word of GOD; not a sporadic, occasional involvement “as the mood strikes us”, but a disciplined, regular, resolute determination to master (by the grace of GOD) the Scriptures.
2 PETER 1:10 or make an effort so to discharge-the duties of the ministerial office as to meet the Divine approbation. The object of the ministry is not to please men. Such doctrines should be preached, and such plans formed, and such a manner of life pursued, as God will approve. To do this demands study or care--for there are many temptations to the opposite course; there are many things the tendency of which is to lead a minister to seek popular favor rather than the Divine approval. If any man please God, it will be as the result of deliberate intention and a careful life.
A workman that needs not to be ashamed. A man faithfully performing his duty, so that when he looks over what he has done, he may not blush.
Rightly dividing the word of truth. The word here rendered "rightly dividing," occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, “properly, to cut straight, to divide right”; and the allusion here may be to a steward who makes a proper distribution to each one under his care of such things as his office and their necessities require. Compare MATT 13:52.
Some have supposed that there is an allusion here to the Jewish priest cutting or dividing the sacrifice into proper parts; others, that the allusion is to the Scribes dividing the law into sections; others, to a carver distributing food to the guests at a feast. Robinson (Lex.) renders it, "rightly proceeding as to the word of truth;" that is, rightfully and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
The idea seems to be, that the minister of the gospel is to make a proper distribution of that word, adapting his instructions to the circumstances and wants of his hearers, and giving to each that which will be fitted to nourish the soul for heaven.
{a} "Study" 2 PETER 1:10
{b} "rightly dividing" MATTHEW 13:52.
This kind of “study” is laborious effort; we desire to mine the Scriptures with the same effort and tenacity of a gold prospector. We shall dig and dig and not quit until we have in hand (and heart) the gold nuggets of GOD’s truth!
This is a life time endeavor for which there are absolutely no short cuts!
However, having said that, there are extremely useful media by way of MP3’s and other digital platforms – as well as credible websites, where we can get up to speed in understanding the overall perspective of the Bible as well as delving into the blessed minutia that’s contained in the pages of Scripture!
With both working in conjunction, the student of the Word can avail themselves of reputable, biblical teachers, while at the same time, getting to know how to study the Bible for themselves!
For an online course on how to study the Bible, check out the TTUF page on Discipleship 102.
Let’s just remember that even if we were to obtain all biblical knowledge that there is to be had, it’s all useless without the proper motivation both in learning and in dispensing GOD’s Truth!
1 CORINTHIANS 13:2bVs.15 cont’d “…study to present yourself approved to God…”
And though I have … all knowledge …but have not love, I am nothing.
In presenting ourselves before GOD, we are such whose efforts are noticeable to Him; we stand apart from the casual reader of the Scriptures, we exhibit the sort of conduct that speaks of the commendable student of the Holy Bible.
Such a one who is tested by time committed at length and with patience (such as that prospector needs) to dig through a lot of earth before “striking it rich”! These are “approved to GOD” and have displayed those qualities of those who are hungry for the LORD, Who seek after Him wholeheartedly, prayerfully (JER 29:13).
This approval is granted with the testing of the LORD; the determination of the prospector is discovered when he refuses to become discouraged even when prospects seem unyielding, much in the same way that anyone’s ministry is tested and approved of GOD when such is done in the heart and character of Christ, in compliance to Holy Writ (2 COR 9:13).
We see such approval by GOD elsewhere in the Scriptures (ROM 14:18; 16:10; 1 COR 11:19; 2 COR 10:18).
Chuck Missler, an able expositor of GOD’s Word called Bible Study “The Grand Adventure” and I couldn’t agree more! The LORD rewards the diligent! To be such dutiful and attentive students of the Scripture is absolutely ‘kingly’:
PROVERBS 25:2We had an all day seminar at our church some years back on how to study the Bible, and all three pastors contributed keen insights and practical helps in this wondrous work that all Christians are to engage in!
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Check out these videos for yourself by pastors Albert Lopez, Sonny Islas and James Fire.
A rather somber observation: If only Christians followed this admonition, and were all able disciples of the Word, then the rank deception that we see in today’s world couldn’t possibly find a foothold in the church – in the world? Of course, but not the body of Christ. Yet we see overwhelming apostasy with the need to name names regarding false teachers in order to warn the saints against them and their false doctrines.
The late Dave Hunt (founder of The Berean Call) once made the observation once stated that if Christians obeyed the LORD Jesus Christ’s command to “continue in [His] Word” as His disciples, there would be little use of discernment ministries; it’s because those who are “exercised” in the Word and strong in their discernment (HEB 4:12; 5:12-14).
2 TIMOTHY 2:16-18
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
The holy law of GOD will bring judgment on the profane (1 TIM 1:9); as leaders of the church we are to reject profane fables (1 TIM 4:7); and Timothy was admonished by Paul to avoid profane and vain babblings and issues of so-called knowledge (1 TIM 6:20) that contradict sound doctrine.
In this passage before us, the warning that those who engage in such babblings will find themselves in increasingly ungodly conduct, which is referring to these two men: Hymenaeus and Philetus who abandoned Paul and the LORD by engaging in false teachings and practices. Leaven (which represents false teaching, sin in general and pride specifically) is like cancer in that it invades, grows, and overtakes silently, without notice – but once discovered, it can be beyond remedy.
Hymenaeus apparently was a troublemaker previously, who associated with one Alexander (1 TIM 1:18-20).
For details about this, check out GOTQUESTIONS for some insights:
WHO WERE HYMENAEUS and PHILETUS?
The particular issue with these two men was that they declared that the resurrection of the church had occurred already. And yet from Scripture, we know that there are a great many things that must transpire before the coming of the LORD. We are keenly aware that the last days prior to the coming of Christ are fraught with preceding tribulations and trials that will test those who are earth-dwellers (REV 3:10).
There was the same issue in the Thessalonica church. Apparently there was a forgery of Paul going around, stating that the LORD had already come, and the saints gathered together with Him:
2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-3Before the Second Advent of Christ two things will occur: an apostasy – a falling away from “the faith”, that is the body of doctrinal truth that is the Holy Bible; and the revealing of “the son of perdition” who is the Beast. As neither of them had at that time occurred, there was no cause for concern regarding Christ’s arrival.
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
This is not to say that there weren’t false teachings and some professing to know Christ didn’t forsake the only Savior of the world (the book of Hebrews testifies to this, many of these Jews were willfully sinning by returning to the obsoleted Levitical system of sacrifice by the Law; see HEB 10:26).
There were those who even expressed the (false) idea that there is no resurrection from the dead (those sort who were of the Gnostic beliefs; see 1 COR 15:12-17).
Pastors and teachers bear a tremendous responsibility because of the fact that they are to rightly divide the Word of Truth, feed, guard and guide the flock of GOD, warn the unruly and the rebellious, be in prayer for all and everyone, and do all of this in the Spirit of Christ: with grace, truth, and love.
Those who teach error, who conduct themselves inappropriately and have deleterious effects of the LORD’s sheep, or even unredeemed souls, can cause such ruin that will have eternal consequences. If that isn’t enough to give you gray hair, I don’t know what will! Indeed, teachers will receive a far stricter judgment at the Bema Seat of Christ (JAMES 3:1).
2 TIMOTHY 2:19
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
Our LORD is a GOD of order; the account of creation in GENESIS speaks of the beginning of GOD’s work in the evening and completing it by morning “the evening and the morning were the [first, second, third, etc.] day”. What’s interesting is that the words for evening and morning can also be used to describe disorder and order. So each day brought into creation increasing order until the end of the sixth day, when Adam was created, GOD pronounced all of His order as not being merely good, but “very good” (GEN 1:31).
Thus disorder or lawlessness (“iniquity”) is an especially offensive thing to Him! What we are seeing today with the blurring and confusing of gender, the proliferation of the next sexual revolution that seeks to legitimize pedophilia, the ongoing battle for the minds of those who believe “my body, my choice” includes the right to murder the innocent, the redefining of the family unit just as what was accomplished by these lawless individuals in the redefinition of marriage are only some of the many ways in which ungodly iniquity is becoming “the new normal” (JUDGES 17:6; PROV 16:25).
Certainly then, born again believers should be all about obeying the order that GOD established and defined by the Holy Scriptures, and not partake at all of the mind-set that is taking the church by storm and bringing too many assemblies and fellowships into conformity to the world (which we are to disallow emphatically; ROM 12:2)!
I had the honor of participating in an interview with Cindy Hartline of LOVE For The TRUTH radio on the issue of Woke Culture that’s infested much of professing Christianity (or should I say, American churchianty?); you can view the TTUF article and the associated audio here.
With this ‘great divide’ that’s slicing away at the church, and taking too many away by this terrible tide, sweeping them into a compromised condition where such souls find themselves in league with the world and opposing the clear teaching of Scripture – there are those who are remaining faithful to the LORD, though we may have “a little strength”, it’s still strength that we obtain by the grace of our LORD.
GOD is able to divide the righteous and to deliver the godly, while holding in vigilant custody those who are unjust, rebellious, and lawless for the day of their inevitable judgment; this was true of the fallen angels, of the lawless world of Noah’s day, of the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah: the LORD was able to destroy them all, while preserving the just that He knows by name (JOHN 10:27-29)! The same goes for the false prophets of the Old Testament and false teachers of the New – GOD will judge them, while delivering His faithful, godly saints!
2 TIMOTHY 2:20-21
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
Now we approach one of my favorite subjects; one that is keenly needed in today’s church: that is, sanctification.
To put this doctrinal truth in the simplest terms possible, sanctification is just growing in Christ-like character, to make ‘the real you’ really like Jesus in word, deed, thought and motive.
If you think about how GOD’s people Israel came into the land of Canaan, that was filled with pagans and giants, and how by the leading and empowering Spirit of GOD, these were gradually displaced and allowed the Hebrew ex-slaves of Egypt to be established, grow and eventually dominate the land (yet not entirely), this is a perfect Old Testament example for sanctification.
To be sanctified is to be a saint (both words are based on the word hagios in the Greek), called out and separated from this world of sin (1 PET 2:9). Just as Israel was called out (starting with Abraham; HEB 11:8) from among the nations to be His peculiar (special) people (EXOD 19:5; DEUT 14:2), we are called out; the church by spiritual birth; Israel as a nation; both callings are based on faith in the GOD of all creation and His Word! We as the church are also called “a peculiar people” (1 PET 2:9).
To be so sanctified means to be cleansed positionally from sin (1 COR 6:11), so that we are declared righteous by GOD (ROM 4:5) in Whom we place our faith in for salvation (EPH 2:8); we are also to grow in sanctification and holiness in a practical, day-to-day living in spiritual maturity:
Though these things are provided for you, unless you cleanse yourself, you’re going to stay dirty (at least until you get home and use those things at your own expense).
Spiritually speaking however, there is nothing we can do to cleanse ourselves with our own resources (positive thinking, psychology, philosophy, religion, works-based righteousness, etc.) but it’s because Christ provided for us His Word (and the accompanying Holy Spirit), that we can ‘sanctify by showering’ as it were.
Check out the TTUF article: ARE YOU HOLY or HOLEY?
As we see to keeping our relationship with the LORD pure, and this only by the Spirit of GOD’s enabling grace, asking the LORD to search our hearts (PS 139:23-24), and repenting of any known sin (1 JN 1:9), and remaining humble always before our Savior (JAMES 4:10) we are considered usable by GOD – and that is the fervent desire of any true child of GOD (or should be!), because we want His Name, the Name of the LORD Jesus Christ to be glorified in and through our lives (1 COR 6:20), for He is utterly worthy of such, for all He has done for us, all He is presently doing for us, and all that He has promised to do for us!
A good prayer for all of us to pray is, “LORD, keep me usable”. That way, any corrections that need to be made, any humbling, any trials that come my way, will be sent by GOD to ensure that we remain usable!
2 TIMOTHY 2:22-23
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
Young Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham was a godly young man and deeply spiritual in his faith; nevertheless he didn’t stand toe to toe with temptation, but resisted and retreated from it, and the author of such sensual lures and temptations that assail the saints of GOD (JAMES 4:7).
Where challenging the enemy for lost souls, or in his own endeavor to compromise the saints of GOD, we stand our ground – but where we may be lured by the satanically sensual or fleshly fantasies – we must flee these “youthful lusts” that is, lusts common among, but not exclusive to the youth.
With just as much earnestness in fleeing from temptations, we must pursue:
“…righteousness, faith, love, peace…”
Pursuing righteousness in Christ is pretty much what we discussed previously: growing in Christ-likeness because He Himself is our righteousness (ROM 3:22; 10:4; 2 COR 5:21).
We know that without faith it’s quite impossible to please GOD (HEB 11:6), and we endeavor to grow in faith (1 PET 1:7) – which we are to add to: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance and godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 PET 1:5b-7). Justification is on the basis of faith (ROM 3:27-28).
Seeking after GOD is akin to pursuing love because GOD is love (agape). All things must be done in accordance with the love of GOD (1 COR 13:1-8), otherwise it’s useless. We know that faith operates by love (GAL 5:6).
We who have obtained “peace with GOD” (ROM 5:1) become peacemakers (MATT 5:9) and ambassadors who beseech those at enmity with GOD to be reconciled to Him (2 COR 5:20-21).
It’s quite noteworthy that peace on Earth is not obtainable so long as mankind is not at peace with GOD; it’s explicitly because we are at enmity with GOD that peace among us is impossible.
Even “the city of peace” – Jerusalem will not be able to live up to its name until the Prince of Peace comes and reigns there, just as He presently reigns in the hearts of His saints, who live according to GOD’s grace and peace.
Until one experiences the grace of GOD via salvation, no peace of mind can be obtained with any lasting results.
2 TIMOTHY 2:24-26
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
In the ministry of evangelism, the uses of apologetics is readily employed, giving a reason for the hope we have (1 PET 3:15), but “with meekness”! All too often sharing the Gospel falls into argumentative strife, and a contest of wills with each side seeking to win the argument. We saints are not called to win arguments; we are called to win souls – with the understanding that all we can do is plant seed, and prayerfully petition the LORD to win souls (1 COR 3:6-7).
Gentleness combined with scholarship and learned exposition of the Word of GOD is a very powerful ministry that blesses saints and sinners alike! We don’t naturally have an affection to being corrected; we have a natural desire to “be right” – so when correction is needed, humility is required, just as those who have fallen into sin, must be restored in gentleness (GAL 6:1).
When a soul repents of their sin, we give due credit to the Holy Spirit Who brings conviction of sin and leads lost souls to Jesus Christ (JOHN 16:8-9; 15:26). Without GOD intervening, none of us would be saved through our own motivation to seeking GOD (ROM 3:10-11). GOD calls us to seek after Him (PSALM 27:8).
This is not to say that we aren’t involved to seeking after GOD, only that He takes the initiative, and puts us “on the right path” and then will leave us either to pursue Him or not, otherwise there would be no point in admonishing people to seek after GOD (PSALM 105:4).
The devil will claim every lost soul as his own and will do everything he can to ensure they remain as his POW’s.
“Coming to one’s senses” in a spiritual way is to recognize one’s own sinfulness, Christ’s tremendous grace and love in His sacrifice for us, and responding to the call to salvation by grace with repentance and faith, and then rendering our “reasonable service” to Him according to His worthiness (ROM 12:2).
Sinning against the Holy, Majestic, Loving, Gracious GOD is in my mind a serious form of insanity; and yet even now as Christians, we sometimes fall for Satan’s lies and delve into this madness, knowing full well the rotten fruit that will be produced by such abandon.
It’s like a slave delivered from bondage, with their chains shattered and being set free rejoice in their liberty, only to return there, repair the links and cuffs of those chains and fasten them around their wrists to ‘enjoy’ slavery once again (ROM 6:16-21).
Certainly those in the world are blind (2 COR 4:4), deaf, hardened of heart (MATT 13:15), undiscerning (JOHN 9:41; ACTS 17:30) – this is the lot of those who are enslaved by sin (ROM 6:20): just as every single one of us were at one time that now name the Name of Christ as LORD and Savior.
For these lost and precious souls, Satan has merely to yank on their chain and they fall to his will; they are little more than his puppets that do his bidding, whether they realize it or not. This is a terribly humiliating thing to read for anyone outside of Christ, but rather than focus on how they are enslaved, I would direct their attention to the One Who is the Liberator of sinners, Who came “to break every chain” and “set the captive free”
This ends the study in 2 TIMOTHY 2, Part Two of Two (I almost considered breaking up this second half into a Part Two and Three, but such as it is, I present to you, the TTUF readers. May the LORD continue to bless and keep you in the Almighty and Blessed Name of the LORD Jesus Christ!
With this ‘great divide’ that’s slicing away at the church, and taking too many away by this terrible tide, sweeping them into a compromised condition where such souls find themselves in league with the world and opposing the clear teaching of Scripture – there are those who are remaining faithful to the LORD, though we may have “a little strength”, it’s still strength that we obtain by the grace of our LORD.
GOD is able to divide the righteous and to deliver the godly, while holding in vigilant custody those who are unjust, rebellious, and lawless for the day of their inevitable judgment; this was true of the fallen angels, of the lawless world of Noah’s day, of the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah: the LORD was able to destroy them all, while preserving the just that He knows by name (JOHN 10:27-29)! The same goes for the false prophets of the Old Testament and false teachers of the New – GOD will judge them, while delivering His faithful, godly saints!
2 PETER 2:1-9 (read the entire chapter! Extremely relevant for today!)We see this ably demonstrated in Scripture: consider the days of Moses, when the Lawgiver confronted the people of Israel on their idolatry:
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) -- 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
EXODUS 32:22-26The LORD instructed the righteous to slay the idolaters and the sons of Levi stepped up to accomplish this task; but not a single blade touched the skin of the faithful! Later there were members of the house of Korah, Dathan, and his kin, who got substantially larger than their britches, thinking that they were more worthy to rule Israel than was Moses. The LORD instructed Moses to tell the people to stand clear of Dathan and his people, and when these rebels were isolated, the earth swallowed them up, and they were never heard from again (NUM 16:23-33)
22 So Aaron said, "Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23 "For they said to me, 'Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' 24 "And I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.' So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out." 25 Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, "Whoever is on the LORD'S side-come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.
2 TIMOTHY 2:20-21
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
Now we approach one of my favorite subjects; one that is keenly needed in today’s church: that is, sanctification.
To put this doctrinal truth in the simplest terms possible, sanctification is just growing in Christ-like character, to make ‘the real you’ really like Jesus in word, deed, thought and motive.
If you think about how GOD’s people Israel came into the land of Canaan, that was filled with pagans and giants, and how by the leading and empowering Spirit of GOD, these were gradually displaced and allowed the Hebrew ex-slaves of Egypt to be established, grow and eventually dominate the land (yet not entirely), this is a perfect Old Testament example for sanctification.
To be sanctified is to be a saint (both words are based on the word hagios in the Greek), called out and separated from this world of sin (1 PET 2:9). Just as Israel was called out (starting with Abraham; HEB 11:8) from among the nations to be His peculiar (special) people (EXOD 19:5; DEUT 14:2), we are called out; the church by spiritual birth; Israel as a nation; both callings are based on faith in the GOD of all creation and His Word! We as the church are also called “a peculiar people” (1 PET 2:9).
To be so sanctified means to be cleansed positionally from sin (1 COR 6:11), so that we are declared righteous by GOD (ROM 4:5) in Whom we place our faith in for salvation (EPH 2:8); we are also to grow in sanctification and holiness in a practical, day-to-day living in spiritual maturity:
2 CORINTHIANS 7:1Why are we expected to cleanse ourselves? Aren’t we cleansed already by the blood of Jesus? Judicially speaking, all who are “in Christ Jesus” yes (ROM 8:1). Yet there is also the practical cleansing that we employ daily through the Word of GOD:
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
EPHESIANS 5:25-26Suppose I was to hire you to do some yardwork around the house; after working hard for some hours, and finally finishing the job, I could be courteous enough to lay out a towel, some soap and point the way to the bathroom where you could shower. I didn’t have to extend to you this courtesy, but as a matter of grace, I did so.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
Though these things are provided for you, unless you cleanse yourself, you’re going to stay dirty (at least until you get home and use those things at your own expense).
Spiritually speaking however, there is nothing we can do to cleanse ourselves with our own resources (positive thinking, psychology, philosophy, religion, works-based righteousness, etc.) but it’s because Christ provided for us His Word (and the accompanying Holy Spirit), that we can ‘sanctify by showering’ as it were.
Check out the TTUF article: ARE YOU HOLY or HOLEY?
As we see to keeping our relationship with the LORD pure, and this only by the Spirit of GOD’s enabling grace, asking the LORD to search our hearts (PS 139:23-24), and repenting of any known sin (1 JN 1:9), and remaining humble always before our Savior (JAMES 4:10) we are considered usable by GOD – and that is the fervent desire of any true child of GOD (or should be!), because we want His Name, the Name of the LORD Jesus Christ to be glorified in and through our lives (1 COR 6:20), for He is utterly worthy of such, for all He has done for us, all He is presently doing for us, and all that He has promised to do for us!
A good prayer for all of us to pray is, “LORD, keep me usable”. That way, any corrections that need to be made, any humbling, any trials that come my way, will be sent by GOD to ensure that we remain usable!
2 TIMOTHY 2:22-23
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
Young Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham was a godly young man and deeply spiritual in his faith; nevertheless he didn’t stand toe to toe with temptation, but resisted and retreated from it, and the author of such sensual lures and temptations that assail the saints of GOD (JAMES 4:7).
Where challenging the enemy for lost souls, or in his own endeavor to compromise the saints of GOD, we stand our ground – but where we may be lured by the satanically sensual or fleshly fantasies – we must flee these “youthful lusts” that is, lusts common among, but not exclusive to the youth.
With just as much earnestness in fleeing from temptations, we must pursue:
“…righteousness, faith, love, peace…”
Pursuing righteousness in Christ is pretty much what we discussed previously: growing in Christ-likeness because He Himself is our righteousness (ROM 3:22; 10:4; 2 COR 5:21).
We know that without faith it’s quite impossible to please GOD (HEB 11:6), and we endeavor to grow in faith (1 PET 1:7) – which we are to add to: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance and godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 PET 1:5b-7). Justification is on the basis of faith (ROM 3:27-28).
Seeking after GOD is akin to pursuing love because GOD is love (agape). All things must be done in accordance with the love of GOD (1 COR 13:1-8), otherwise it’s useless. We know that faith operates by love (GAL 5:6).
We who have obtained “peace with GOD” (ROM 5:1) become peacemakers (MATT 5:9) and ambassadors who beseech those at enmity with GOD to be reconciled to Him (2 COR 5:20-21).
It’s quite noteworthy that peace on Earth is not obtainable so long as mankind is not at peace with GOD; it’s explicitly because we are at enmity with GOD that peace among us is impossible.
Even “the city of peace” – Jerusalem will not be able to live up to its name until the Prince of Peace comes and reigns there, just as He presently reigns in the hearts of His saints, who live according to GOD’s grace and peace.
Until one experiences the grace of GOD via salvation, no peace of mind can be obtained with any lasting results.
2 TIMOTHY 2:24-26
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
In the ministry of evangelism, the uses of apologetics is readily employed, giving a reason for the hope we have (1 PET 3:15), but “with meekness”! All too often sharing the Gospel falls into argumentative strife, and a contest of wills with each side seeking to win the argument. We saints are not called to win arguments; we are called to win souls – with the understanding that all we can do is plant seed, and prayerfully petition the LORD to win souls (1 COR 3:6-7).
Gentleness combined with scholarship and learned exposition of the Word of GOD is a very powerful ministry that blesses saints and sinners alike! We don’t naturally have an affection to being corrected; we have a natural desire to “be right” – so when correction is needed, humility is required, just as those who have fallen into sin, must be restored in gentleness (GAL 6:1).
When a soul repents of their sin, we give due credit to the Holy Spirit Who brings conviction of sin and leads lost souls to Jesus Christ (JOHN 16:8-9; 15:26). Without GOD intervening, none of us would be saved through our own motivation to seeking GOD (ROM 3:10-11). GOD calls us to seek after Him (PSALM 27:8).
This is not to say that we aren’t involved to seeking after GOD, only that He takes the initiative, and puts us “on the right path” and then will leave us either to pursue Him or not, otherwise there would be no point in admonishing people to seek after GOD (PSALM 105:4).
The devil will claim every lost soul as his own and will do everything he can to ensure they remain as his POW’s.
“Coming to one’s senses” in a spiritual way is to recognize one’s own sinfulness, Christ’s tremendous grace and love in His sacrifice for us, and responding to the call to salvation by grace with repentance and faith, and then rendering our “reasonable service” to Him according to His worthiness (ROM 12:2).
Sinning against the Holy, Majestic, Loving, Gracious GOD is in my mind a serious form of insanity; and yet even now as Christians, we sometimes fall for Satan’s lies and delve into this madness, knowing full well the rotten fruit that will be produced by such abandon.
It’s like a slave delivered from bondage, with their chains shattered and being set free rejoice in their liberty, only to return there, repair the links and cuffs of those chains and fasten them around their wrists to ‘enjoy’ slavery once again (ROM 6:16-21).
Certainly those in the world are blind (2 COR 4:4), deaf, hardened of heart (MATT 13:15), undiscerning (JOHN 9:41; ACTS 17:30) – this is the lot of those who are enslaved by sin (ROM 6:20): just as every single one of us were at one time that now name the Name of Christ as LORD and Savior.
For these lost and precious souls, Satan has merely to yank on their chain and they fall to his will; they are little more than his puppets that do his bidding, whether they realize it or not. This is a terribly humiliating thing to read for anyone outside of Christ, but rather than focus on how they are enslaved, I would direct their attention to the One Who is the Liberator of sinners, Who came “to break every chain” and “set the captive free”
This ends the study in 2 TIMOTHY 2, Part Two of Two (I almost considered breaking up this second half into a Part Two and Three, but such as it is, I present to you, the TTUF readers. May the LORD continue to bless and keep you in the Almighty and Blessed Name of the LORD Jesus Christ!
If you're interested in even more, check out this awesome teaching by Voddie Baucham on
The HEART of DISCIPLESHIP
The HEART of DISCIPLESHIP
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