Flee and Pursue

Introduction:

In our continuing series in 2 Timothy in which we’ve entitle, “Passing on an Entrusted Faith”, we have seen how Timothy was to raise up faithful men who would use, protect, and pass on the sacred trust of the Gospel.

Last week we saw that in every local church these faithful men are called vessels of honor, set aside as holy, useful to the master of the house, but that also there are in every local church, unfaithful men called vessels of dishonor, those with a veneer of holiness but at their core, they are wood or clay. We also saw that those who are honorable are responsible to cleans themself from all that is dishonorable.

This evening, we will continue with some of the specifics of what it means to cleans oneself, as Paul commands Timothy to flee from some things and pursue others.

Text: 2 Timothy 2: 22-26

Main Idea: Since we are called to be vessels for honorable use, we must flee sin in order to pursue godliness.

Again, note the word SO, also a continuative conjunction…which provides a continuance in the flow from the previous passage regarding what a cleansed honorable vessel looks like.

The two commands, Flee and Pursue, are present tense, active voice, and imperative mood verbs. Which shows us that even faithful men have to be commanded to be responsible and continue in their faithfulness.

Also note, that as we unpack this passage, each of these commands is mutually exclusive. Meaning, that you can not pursue the one without fleeing from the other.

These commands are not new to Timothy as Paul gives these same commands in his first letter to Timothy:

1 Timothy 6:11 ESV

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

1. Flee Impure Passions (vv. 22-24)

Note that Paul tells Timothy to flee (pheugo) or escape and run, not stand and fight, as one would escape from destruction. The point is that impure, youthful passion or lusts will destroy you and must be dealt as escaping from destruction.

Jesus uses this same word in the Olivet Discourse regarding the end of the age:

Matthew 24:15–16 ESV

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Youthful passions - Characteristic of youthful immaturity and their lack of self control

a) Sexual passions (v. 22a)

Passions - in context this word for the most part is talking about lust, or sexual desire.

Destruction from sexual passion is vividly described in Proverbs 7 with the ending results in vv. 22 & 23.

Proverbs 7:22–23 ESV

22 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast 23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

b) Quarrelsome passions (vv. 23-24a)

It ‘s not uncommon that as a young energetic youth, there can be a tendency toward hot-headedness.

2. Pursue Pure Hearts (vv. 22b, 24b)

Pursue (dioko) - to do with great effort

Note that Paul tells Timothy that he is to pursue these things with others of the same desire to call upon the Lord, and that the pursuit of these things is characteristic of those with a pure heart.

a) Spiritual Virtues (22b)

With each spiritual virtue, there is an initial component at salvation, and an ongoing component to be exercised and developed in sanctification.

Righteousness (dikaiosyne) - being and doing what God requires.

Justification (initial at salvation) - to declare righteous

Romans 3:23–26 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Faith (pistis) - trusting Christ to save you and trusting Christ to keep you.

Saving faith was given at salvation, and is a product of regeneration.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Love (agape) - God’s love as defined by the cross (Rom 5:8).

Seed given at salvation...

Romans 5:5 ESV

5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Banner that defines God’s people through the ages.

John 13:35 ESV

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Peace (eirene) - Peace with reference to God.

Peace with God at salvation

Romans 5:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peace of God that carries us in all circumstances

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

b) Spiritual Disciplines (v. 24b)

Spiritual Disciplines are activities that flow from being a disciple of Jesus Christ that are spawned by Spiritual Virtues.

Kind to everyone (epis) - only used here in the NT…meaning to be kind and gentle.

Ability to teach (didaktikos) - skillful in teaching, particularly, in context, the Word of God.

Patience with evil (anexikakos) - one Greek word meaning, enduring wrongs or trouble.

Gentleness (prautes) in correcting opponents - meekness or mildness (internal strength under control, not having to have the last word)

3. God Granted Results (vv. 25-26)

a) Repentance leading to truth (v. 25)

True repentance turns from the false deception of sin, and to the knowledge of God’s truth

b) Truth bringing deliverance (v. 26)

God’s truth brings freedom and deliverance from the snare of the devil (v. 26)

John 8:32 ESV

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”