BREAKING THE CHAINS OF DOUBT

Paul, continuing his letter to timothy, sets to affirm the salvation work.

The historical setting of this letter comes while Paul is in prison. The Romans sensing a disturbance have become strict against those who are stirring up dissension.

Paul was angering the Jewish religious sect and as such was a threat to the Roman Empire.

2 Timothy was written in 66 A.D.

The great Jewish revolt transpired in 67 A.D.

This led to the now famous hostile takeover of Masada that would be destroyed by the Romans just 10 years latter.

The writing of this letter was in times much like our own.

There was political unrest, religious apostacy, and on overwhelming since of unease.

Three commands.

In verses 14-16 Paul tells Timothy to remind the believers of three things.

These things are vital to live a victorious life.

A. Remember not to quarrel

The Christians were arguing over terminology , yet they believed in the same God and gospel.

Often we overcomplicate things, either due to a lack of clarity or a shallow understanding of the subject.

The Holy Spirit said, through Paul, that fighting only ruined the hearer.

Although in this text it is dealing within the church, the same principles hold great application to our personal lives.

How many relationships have been harmed, friendships lost, and hearts broken because we have to get the last word in?

In verses 14-15 Paul uses the God as a witness to the reader.

Many Christians, pastors included, will give an account to God for our spirits of contrition.

B. Present yourself to God as one approved.

This literally means that we present ourselves as one who has been tested and proved.

Hebrews 10:19 NKJV

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,

We can approach Him in prayer with boldness because of His wrk within our hearts.

If you are waiting on a perfect walk with God to have a strong prayer life, you will never obtain it. We have access to the father because of Jesus and not through our own righteousness.

Ephesians 3:12 NKJV

in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

We will only have boldness when our faith is in Him and not our own perfection.

We my even go as far as to say that if we fail to approach Him with boldness it is an act of faithlessness and sin.

I wonder if we are ever guilty of sin through our prayer life by an act of doubt in the redemptive work of Jesus.

How is your faith in your prayers?

C. Avoid irreverent babble.

The third and final command is to avoid irreverent babble.

This is dealing with conversation that is contrary to the Bible.

Often we see people who will argue and fight over things that are not biblical or even anti-biblical.

One such example is those in the LGBTQ community. They will giver a feeble argument of justification for their lifestyle and attempt to use the bible as a justification. This is irreverent babble. It is speaking directly in contradiction to God’s word.

Verse 17 says, that this type of conversation will spread like gangrene, or it will destroy wherever it goes.

This can be avoided by proper hermeneutical applications.

The Word of God applies to our lives, however, we must not interpret the Bible by our own lives, but rather in the proper context of the Author (GOD), and the script.

TWO SEALS

It was being taught that the resurrection had already taken place.

The importance of this is that if the resurrection had already transpired there was little hope left for those who remained.

This was a deterrent to anyone who was seeking to live for God.

Paul said, regardless of what is being taught, God’s firm foundation stands. God will not be tricked, strong-armed, manipulated, or forced into acting outside of His will and plan.

Paul follows this with a strange phrase, bearing this seal.

A seal is a sign or a stamp of approval that shows genuineness or attests ownership. Paul pictured God’s people as stamped with two seals. First, God owns and cares for his people. The statement is a reference to Num 16:5, which was spoken on the occasion of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. “Paul’s object in citing it was to give encouragement to Timothy, and others who were worried by backsliding in the community, by reminding them that God can be relied upon to discriminate between his loyal and disloyal servants.”

Assurance

Hebrews 12:6 NKJV

For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

We can know that we are the children of God.

1 John 5:13 NKJV

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

The assurance of our salvation comes from our faith in Jesus.

1 John 5:10 NKJV

He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

The proof of this work is in the convicting power of the Holy Ghost. If sin bothers you, there is a strong possibility that you are saved. However, if you can willfully son with no conviction then I would be greatly concerned.

Holiness

The second sign that we belong to God is found in our desire to please Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.