3,21-Holiness and Effective Service
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20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
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Holiness and usefulness are linked together.
We cannot bring our service to God in an unclean vessel.
The One who makes our service effective and who empowers us for service is the Holy Spirit.
Note well that He is called the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of Holiness.
When we indulge our sinful natures and dwell in unholiness, the Spirit of God is grieved.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
and will not prosper our service. These are not times when we fall into temptation and immediately seek God’s forgiveness and cleansing, but lives that are characterized by unholy living.
and will not prosper our service. These are not times when we fall into temptation and immediately seek God’s forgiveness and cleansing, but lives that are characterized by unholy living.
To “grieve” is to offend or insult the Holy Spirit.
He who speaks out the foul thing which comes from his mind to his lips, injures the Holy Spirit in himself and in others also.
2:20–21.
The Holy Spirit is NOT apathetic—but capable of being affected! He feels what occurs in us, as a loving Friend, who does not Himself change, but will help us and change us!
20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Paul furthered his point about noncontamination by introducing a new but similar metaphor. The image changes from a building to a household (cf. , ).
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
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15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
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In a large and varied household are all sorts of containers. Some are made of gold and silver and others of wood and clay. More importantly, some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. Clearly the reference so far is to the faithful and the unfaithful within the church. But Paul then shifted the metaphor slightly to show how one can be an instrument for noble purposes, by cleansing himself from the ignoble vessels.
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
In a large and varied household are all sorts of containers. Some are made of gold and silver and others of wood and clay. More importantly, some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. Clearly the reference so far is to the faithful and the unfaithful within the church. But Paul then shifted the metaphor slightly to show how one can be an instrument for noble purposes, by cleansing himself from the ignoble vessels.
In a large and varied household are all sorts of containers.
Some are made of gold and silver and others of wood and earth.
More importantly, some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.
Clearly the reference so far is to the faithful and the unfaithful within the church.
But Paul then shifted the metaphor slightly to show how one can be an instrument for noble purposes, by cleansing himself from the ignoble vessels.
The metaphor is somewhat mixed (one would usually think of cleansing from corruption, not cleansing from the corrupted vessels), but the apostle’s point is clear: Timothy was to have nothing to do with the false teachers. In this way he would be a vessel: (vs21)
“for noble purposes” (“unto honor,” timēn),
made holy (“set apart”),
useful (“serviceable”)
to the Master,
Paul’s desire was to be useful to the Master.
“Master”- despotes—“despot”- Christians are not just related to God, but we belong wholly to God. He is our sovereign Master who actually owns us.
prepared to do any good work
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
). What is clean and set apart for special use can easily get contaminated and be rendered unusable through contact with the corrupt. Paul was concerned that Timothy, his choicest disciple, keep himself in a usable condition for the Lord.
What is clean and set apart for special use can easily get contaminated and be rendered unusable through contact with the corrupt. Paul was concerned that Timothy, his choicest disciple, keep himself in a usable condition for the Lord.
A vessel of honor to the Lord is prepared for every good work.
“Prepared”—carries the idea of willingness and eagerness as well as of readiness.
Actually, this word is from a “perfect passive”, indicating a condition that already exists! When we were saved, the Lord placed us in a state of divine preparedness:
-we received His Holy Spirit to indwell and empower us
-we have His Word to teach us His truth and will
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
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4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Fellowship with defiled church members develops tolerance for their defilement.
Faithful service of the Lord requires separation from those who can contaminate you.