A Worker Approved by God

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Sermon

2 Timothy 2:10 ESV

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

I endure everything for the sake of the elect

God is Faithful

God’s Grace brings about believers faith

Paul does not rest in the foolishness & weakness of believers

But, in God who first loved them

The Word of God will triump in the hearts & lives of the elect

that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory

2 Timothy 2:11–13 ESV

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

Died with him

e.g. worldy comfort, ease, advantage and honour

we will also live with him

If we are steadfast (endure)

we will reign with him

prophet (know God), priest (delight in God) & king (harmony with God’s Will)

lost in garden of eden

restored in Christ

If we deny him

he will deny us

If we are faithless (deny him)

He remains faithful - he cannot deny himself

to do so he would no longer be God

2 Timothy 2:14 ESV

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.

Engage in edifying teaching

Avoid quarrelling over words that undermines the listeners trust in scripture.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Present yourself to God as one Approved

a worker who has no need to be ashamed

Rightly handling the word of Truth

Does NOT

change, pervert, mutilate, distort or use if for wrong purposes

DOES

Interprets Scripture in the light of Scripture

Corageously, yet lovingly, applies its glorious meaning to concrete conditions and circumstances

Doing this for:

the Glory of God

conversion of sinners

edification of believers

2 Timothy 2:16–18 ESV

But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.

“Avoid empty talk”

Avoid interpreting scripture into meaningless statements

Engaging those in error in debate will make them worse

To engage with it gives credance to what they say

“Their talk will spread like gangrene”

Hymenaeus & Philetus - Swerved from the truth

They said that the resurrection has already happened

Spiritual resurrection only

Rejected Paul’s teaching of the Resurection of the body after death

Paul’s teaching on resurrection:

1 Corinthians 15:13–17 ESV

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

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2 Timothy 2:16–18 ESV

Hymenaeus & Philetus

They yearned (have an intense feeling of longing for something) to be teachers

Paul spoke of this desire in first letter

1 Timothy 1:7 ESV

desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

1 Timothy 1:9 ESV

understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,

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2 Timothy 2:16–18 ESV

Hymenaeus & Philetus

They were self-righteous, conceipted and “puffed up”

If the ressurection had been fulfilled already then why worry about sin?

God’s Law did not “crush” them

Blasphamy; profane - speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things

Their ungodliness leds to more ungodliness

1 Timothy 1:9 ESV

They are upsetting the faith of some

** approx Half way

God’s Decree & Mans Responsibility

2 Timothy 2:19 ESV

But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

God’s Firm Foundation Stands

The church

established upon the bedrock of God’s predestinating love

Bearing this seal

indicates authority and a warning against all tampering

“God knows those we are his” (Numbers 16:5)

bought & redeemed by His previous Blood

adoption

“Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity” (Numbers 16:26)

Numbers 16 - Remebellion against God

Rejection of God’s Word

God’s Decree & Man’s responsibility

believe & obey

God’s Mercy and Mans inevitable duty

security & purity of the church

Paul does not promote issues being unaddressed

Rather once addressed leave it in the Hands of God

Those who Love God will remain in obedience to Him

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Verse 19 in Action

2 Timothy 2:20 ESV

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.

What will people think?

A house contains a variety of objects

The Visible Church will contain True Believers, Faithful (Gold) and Less Faithful (Silver) as well as Hypocrites

2 Timothy 2:21 ESV

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

How can we be sure to be a utentil for Honor?

Set apart as Holy (thoroughly cleanse onself)

God’s Work can turn a sinner into a saint (clay into gold)

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Timothy was 37-42 years old

Flee from youthful passions (Jesus’ three temptations)

Pleasure (Bread)

Power (cast himself from the pinnacle of the temple)

Possessions (Satan offered “the kingdoms of the world and their glory”)

Pursue Righteousness

Faith (trustworthy & reliable)

Love

Peace

2 Timothy 2:23 ESV

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

Read verse

2 Timothy 2:24–26 ESV

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to everyone & therefore able to teach

NOT intolerant, sarcastic or scornful

Try instead to win them for Christ

patiently enduring evil, correct his opponents with gentleness

The reason:

“God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will”

repentance

conversion

escape from slavery to Sin

Hymn -

Q&A

Hymn -

Closing Prayer

Doxology

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