2 Timothy Session 6

What is Repentance? We hear this word used a lot but what does it mean… and what does it look like?

Defined, repentance is a turning away from sin. Repentance is NOT an aimless turning away meaning as we turn FROM sin we are to turn TOWARD God.

In one sense, repentance means a change of mind or a change of direction. It includes a feeling of remorse or regret regarding past conduct.

True repentance is a “godly sorrow” for sin, an act of turning around and going in the opposite direction. This type of repentance leads to a fundamental change in a person’s relationship to God.

Before repentance - that relationship might look strained or non-existent.

After repentance - that relationship will be restored and is an active pursuit of God.

This word repentance is one that is somewhat losing ground in church teachings and discipleship and it truly needs to make a comeback.

We believe that EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, right? But with salvation comes repentance - a feeling of remorse and a desire to WALK AWAY from sin - the very thing that separated us from God in the first place.

Tonight we look at the last half of 2 Timothy 2 and we are going to see Paul give some strong advice regarding what might be considered surface level behaviors. But as we dig in… a pattern can be seen. Paul is urging Timothy to help lead believers to live a life of what I would describe as ACTIVE REPENTANCE. A life that ACTIVELY pursues God while ACTIVELY TURNING from sin.

As Christians, we live in a world that is far from meeting the standards of God. WE ALL NEED GOD’S GRACE AND REDEMPTION. Once we have come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, We must choose to live in that grace AND NOT ABUSE HIS GRACE.

A change ought to be evident. a change of lifestyle, a change of behavior, a change of attitude and habits should begin to take place. Why? Because when Christ comes in… HE CHANGES OUR HEART… our inner most being. If a heart change has taken place, it will be evident in ALL that we are!

Paul desires for Timothy and for the believers at Ephesus to remain on the right path with God. So in this last half of chapter 2, he gives instruction regarding the change… instruction of what to watch for and of what to be aware of.

Stick to the Word of Truth

Paul begins with instruction regarding what “words” the people need to be concerned with.

2 Timothy 2:14-19 reads, “14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Paul drops two instructions: What you need to do and… what you need to avoid.

What needed to happen: Present yourself to God as one approved. And what follows next in verse 15 outlines what that looks like.

One, Scripture calls for a “worker who does not need to be ashamed.” What could a “worker” be ashamed of possibly?

One: ashamed of their past sin. To be a worker is to be active in ministry. This can take on many forms.

Front line ministry might include Sunday School, worship team, etc. It is visible and it engages people in conversation or discipleship.

Back line ministry might be prayer warriors, admin helpers, kitchen or building help, etc. These individuals are still active in ministry in very much needed support roles.

IF the enemy could cause a person to begin to feel shame for sins past… such could become a big obstacle in their redeemed future!

Remember, repentance said that remorse is felt for sins past… but that remorse is comforted with the truth that in Christ, YOUR SINS ARE FULLY FORGIVEN! Drop all shame that comes with sins of the past!

Two, a person might feel shame regarding the truth of God. His truth is pointed and absolute and a person might feel uncomfortable presenting that truth to a world that is all about plausibility and truth according to perspective.

WE SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! It is what set us free and it is the ONLY source of freedom for this dying and hurting world!

The second point brought to light of what it means to be one approved deals with handling the Word of God correctly.

This goes in how we tell it and live it.

On a practical side, we need to share His Word with others. But we must be careful not to take things out of context or spin the Word to fit an agenda. Properly handling the truth means sticking to the message.

Our methods can change and flex… but the message must forever remain the same. God’s truth needs to be told and lived out. But before this can happen, we must KNOW His truth and apply it to our lives.

Next, Paul talks of what should not be happening. He hits on the ungodly talk. He hits on the “conversations” of no value.

Look at how he describes such talk.

Quarreling words that ruin those who listen

Godless chatter that makes those who indulge it more ungodly.

Words that spread like gangrene - death to body tissue caused by no blood circulation or infection.

Lack of life-giving blood or presence of external life-robbing bacteria.

False teaching was a problem in this region and Paul is illustrating the effects of such teaching and talk. Church… the same applies today. If we entertain this kind of talk and trouble… it will lead us AWAY from God and not toward Him.

God KNOWS those who are his. We saw this exclaimed in verse 19. Those who are His turn away from wickedness, not toward it.

If you are in Christ, your sins have been forgiven and your path should be one that leads away from sin and toward the things of God. If your path is NOT doing this… perhaps you should consider who you are truly pursuing! Repentance leads us out of the world and into His Word.

Prepare to do any good work

Next, Paul drops an interesting illustration that ends to make this point: be prepared to do ANY good work.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 reads “20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

So what is going on here? we see the reference to the “articles” of gold and silver and the reference to the “articles” of wood and clay. Obviously they are made of different material and because of this… they are used for different purposes.

I have in my garage certain cleaning brushes for certain jobs.

I have softer and more expensive sponges that will not ruin a car finish. I have a brush that has cleaned off grime off tires, engines, etc that has seen all kinds of ugly. I would NOT use that brush to clean the exterior of ANY car… unless I didn’t like ya… but not even then!

I have a toothbrush… NOT the same toothbrush I use daily but one that is used to clean small parts and grooves on car parts. Again… it is a tool for the not so pretty jobs.

This illustration is a bit pointed if we’re honest. Paul is saying to make yourself ready for ANY good work. Church… there is no greater work than spreading the gospel message! But it is a work that requires the vessel to be clean and pure of all sin and stain.

Only the blood of Jesus can make a person pure and holy. And after His blood is applied… the believer should make it a priority to live a pure and holy life.

Yes… we will need His grace to help us along the way. But look at how Romans 6:13 lays it out. “13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

So again… in order to be prepared to do ANY good work, a believer MUST choose to be a vessel that is usable by the master.

God can use anyone! However, we need to position ourselves for His most excellent work. As His servant, we should desire to represent the master well!

Active pursuit of God means we are not satisfied with being the wood or clay vessel, but aim to be the gold or silver vessel. Purified of all sin and ready at a moment’s notice to do ANY good work for our Lord and Savior!

Pursue Righteousness

The chapter closes with this charge. 2 Timothy 2:22-26 reads, “22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

As we pursue righteousness, we actively flee the evil desires of our youth.

I see this word “youth” in two ways.

One, it could be talking about our physical age… we certainly learn more as we grow up.

Two, it could also be talking about our spiritual maturity. I have known some grown up people who were beyond immature regarding their spiritual life.

Regardless… Paul is instructing Timothy to GROW IN THE LORD.

Keep away from the talk, the temptation, the attitudes, and the resentment of the world. Instead, be kind, be a teacher, gently instruct others with the hope that God will do what? GRANT THEM REPENTANCE LEADING THEM TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH!

Bottom line: We cannot reach a world using worldly tactics. We cannot give them more of the same and expect them to change!

If they do not see Christ alive in us… why would they believe our message? If we talk and walk like the world, why would the world need one more thing to add to their already busy lives?

What the world needs is Jesus - the only one who can set them free from the trouble and toil of this life!

We must live and operate in a way that draws us nearer to God and takes us farther from the world.

Active repentance. Active pursuit. Active relationship. Is God active in you?