2 Timothy: A Firm Foundation

Nevertheless - In the face of disturbing news of false teaching and the negative effects on some individuals, Paul is drawing a comforting contrast = in spite of the fact that confusion exists, there is a firm foundation of God that stands (perfect tense)

What might the firm foundation refer to? (2Ti 2:19) (cf 1Ti3:15)
The firm foundation is most likely the true church founded upon the Rock Jesus Christ and composed of true believers

What does this firm foundation
tell us about the child of God?

God knows His own (cf 2Ti 2:10, Rev 3:1 Sardis)

His own abstain from wickedness

What does the ‘seal' signify?

A seal provides security and authenticates - the king would take his signet ring and make an impression in hot wax on a document to authenticate that it was really from him

This seal represents God’s stamp on those who are born again. God knows His own personally and individually. In that truth they can rest secure in the face of false teaching.

What does "abstain from wickedness" imply?

Outward evidence should be seen - this authenticates the person as a true believer.

Explanatory Note:

"Abstain" is in the aorist imperative which calls for immediate action = "Withdraw! Depart from! Remove yourself from the presence of!" and don't delay! The Greek word is aphistemi (from apo = separation of one thing from another + histemi = stand) which literally means to stand off from. Believers must make a conscious decision empowered by the Spirit to withdraw themselves from all wickedness, which in its essence is defined as loving sin more than loving God and His truth. Paul is saying that we must back up our profession with a holy walk.

Let's look at some cross references which help us understand the two aspects of the seal on the firm foundation...

Matthew 7:21-23

How do we know Jesus is speaking about authentic vs false believers in (Mt 7:21-23)?

He is giving the criteria for entrance into the kingdom of heaven

In John 3:3 Jesus instructed Nicodemus "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

First, what are not necessarily the criteria of an authentic believer?

v21 Not one who calls Jesus "Lord" (one who has absolute ownership and uncontrolled power - talking about Jesus as Lord while denying He is Lord with our walk is not a genuine believer).

The NLT paraphrases it this way "The decisive issue is whether they obey My Father in heaven."

These are ones who name the Name of the Lord and yet fail to abstain from wickedness.

v22 Prophesy, cast out demons, perform miracles - all in His Name

Note: Jesus says there are "many" in this category

What then are the criteria of an authentic believer? How do these correlate with the "seal" that marks the firm foundation?

v21 He does (as the habit of their life = present tense) the will of Jesus' Father in heaven

What then are the criteria of an unbeliever?

v23 He practices (present tense) lawlessness

These are ones who name the Name of the Lord and who do not abstain from wickedness.

Explanatory Note:

The Greek word "practices" (ergazomai from ergon = work) means to engage in an activity involving considerable expenditure of effort and so to toil energetically and diligently. The picture when combined with the present tense is that of a habitual or lifestyle manifest by energetic effort to live as if there are no laws or no God.

J. C. Ryle says, “The Lord Jesus winds up the Sermon on the Mount by a passage of heart-piercing application. He turns from false prophets to false professors, from unsound teachers to unsound hearers” Not only can false prophets deceive us about the way of salvation, but we can deceive ourselves.

How do we know for certain these are not believers?

Jesus declares

"I never knew you"
"Depart form Me"

Explanatory Note:

"Never" is a strong Greek word meaning never at any time.

"Knew" (speaks of intimacy in this verse) does not mean Jesus did not know about them but that He had no intimate, new covenant oneness with them.

"Depart" is a command (present imperative) and is a rare NT Greek verb (apochoreo from apo = from, implying dissociation or separation + choreo = give space, go from a place) means to move away from, with emphasis upon separation, clearly a picture of eternal banishment of the unsaved to hell, the lake of fire.

NOW GO TO COLUMN 2

POINT 4

COLUMN 2

(POINT 4)

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

How is Jesus' speech characterized in the first segment (v24-30) compared to the second segment ( v36-43)? Who is Jesus' audience in the first address? In the second address?

(1) Parable to great multitudes

(2) Interpretation to His disciples

Explanatory Note:

Parables are given to clarify or emphasize some truth so first determine the occasion for the parable. In Matthew 13 the emphasis is on the phrase "kingdom of heaven" which occurs 8 times (out of a total of 31 times in Matthew's gospel).

Next observe the intended meaning which will sometimes be stated but if not, can usually be discovered by examining the context of the parable, specifically the interpretation of the parable as Jesus explained the situation in the present parable. Don't impose any meaning beyond what is clearly stated.

Every parable has one central theme or emphasis and teaches one main truth. Details of the story should not be given a meaning that is independent of the main teaching. Do not try to interpret every detail. Finally, do not use parables to as the sole or primary source of a particular teaching and do not use them to establish doctrine.

What is the main theme of Jesus' parable (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43)?

"the kingdom of heaven"
separation of wheat and tares

What is the central truth of Jesus' parable (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43)?

Separation of good and evil

The wheat or sons of the kingdom will be separated from the tares or sons of the evil one at the end of this age when Jesus sends His angels to gather up the tares and will cast them into the lake of fire, while the righteous will shine like the sun in the Father's kingdom.

How does this parallel the truth of the seal in 2Ti 2:19?
God knows those who are His...

Who are "wheat" and who are "tares" (those who do not abstain from wickedness but who continually commit lawlessness v41) and He will make an accurate distinction at the judgment

Explanatory Note:

Jesus' audience was well aware of the difficulty presented by having tares or "darnel" in one's field because darnel looks very much like wheat during its earliest stages, so that early separation from wheat is nearly impossible until the grain ripens, when the darnel reveals it's true nature by a black rather than yellow head seen on the wheat. Separation is further complicated by the fact that the roots of the two intertwine. Ingesting wheat contaminated with darnel can produce poisoning (sleepiness, nausea, convulsions, even death). Jews called darnel "degenerate wheat". The two plants can be separated out, but the custom was to leave the separation until near the time of harvest.

Note that the field is the world, not the church as taught by such notables as Augustine, Luther, and Calvin.

As long as God's people are still in this world (the field), there will be unbelievers among them. This present age is not for judging others but for proclaiming the gospel that they might be saved. Even the most knowledgeable believer is not qualified to infallibly distinguish between true and false believers. In the present age, believers are not God’s instruments of judgment and destruction but of truth and grace.

Lu13:22-23

What was the occasion for Jesus' teaching in (Lu13:22-23)?

Question = are just a few saved?

How does Jesus answer the question about salvation (Lu13:24-28)?

Strive to enter by the narrow door

Who is the narrow door?
Jesus said "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved...no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 10:9a, 14:6b )

Explanatory Note:

The rabbis of that day used to love to debate the question of whether many or few would be saved. But Jesus won’t be drawn into this debate. His response is, "see to that you are saved." Thus He did not give a direct answer but gave a command (present imperative) instead to. "Strive" (agonizomai - our English "agonize") which literally means keep on laboring earnestly like an athlete preparing for the Olympics. He was not saying to be saved by human works for they do not save us. We are saved by entering through Jesus "the (narrow) door" (John 10:9) for there is no other way to the Father. But why does Jesus say "Strive to enter"? We must strive because there are many obstacles in the way - the world, the devil and probably the worst obstacle, our own flesh. There is a real difference between a mere seeking and striving to enter. A casual wish to be saved isn’t enough, because there are too many obstacles on the way. (See the sermon Self-Effort on Luke 13:24 by J C Ryle)

Gill comments that "strive" means to be diligent in the use of means; to search the Scriptures with care; to attend on the preaching of the word with constancy, neglecting no opportunity; to pray earnestly for spiritual light, knowledge, and grace; to contend with every enemy that opposes the salvation of the soul, as sin, Satan, and the world; to bear all reproaches and persecutions, and press through all difficulties....

A W Pink comments "Ah, my reader, becoming a Christian is not done simply by holding up your hand in a religious meeting or signing some “decision” card. Alas, that such multitudes have been deceived by these satanic catch-pennies. “Enter ye in at the strait gate.” It is not enough to listen to preaching about this “gate,” nor to study its structure or admire the wisdom of its appointment: it must be entered. Sermons on repentance and faith in Christ avail us nothing unless they move our hearts to comply therewith."

Why such a serious command?

When the door to salvation shuts it is final and many will seek to get in

How does Jesus answer the pleas of those on the outside to get in? (Lu13:25,27)

Jesus does not know them
(twice - does not know where from)

They are evildoers

(Literally "workers of iniquity" - the point is sin was not their hobby but their full time occupation and they worked hard at it!)

Jesus tells them to depart

What does Jesus say that
justifies His condemnation?

He had fellowship with them
He taught them - the point is that you can know something about Jesus and not be saved. You can be in the presence of Jesus and not be saved.

Who is Peter warning
about in 2Peter 2:1-22 and where are they found?

False teachers "among you" (church)

Secretly introduce destructive heresies (commentary)

Deny (as the habit of their life = their actions, not their words = present tense) Jesus (Master) Who paid for their sins

Example of those who do not abstain from evil

What truth that parallels the "seal" in 2Ti 2:19 do you see emphasized in the regard to God's judgments of the world by flood and Sodom and Gomorrah by fire?

God knows those who are His

v5 Preserved Noah and 7 others

(Preacher of righteousness = abstained from evil)

v6-8 Rescued righteous Lot

v9 the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment

What truth about the false teachers does Peter present that is a warning to all to continually abstain from evil ( 2Peter 2:19)

By what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved

What ultimately proves these false teachers do not have God's "seal of authenticity" and approval (2Peter 2:22)?

"A dog returns to its own vomit"

"A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire"

Their actions ultimately speak louder than their words! Clearly they are not those who abstain from wickedness but in fact run into it!

NOW GO TO COLUMN 3

POINT 5

COLUMN 3

(POINT 2)

What is Paul's
instruction in (2Ti 2:14) to Timothy and all who are children of God?
Remind them of the truths of the gospel, of the trustworthy saying

Why do we need to remind them?

The tendency is to deviate from the clear teaching of the gospel

What did Paul call
the gospel (2Ti 2:8)?
"My gospel"

Why "my" gospel?

In contrast to other's gospel
Which was a false gospel

What is Paul's
solemn charge in (2Ti 2:14) and what does he add to emphasize its importance?
"In the presence of God" = important Don't wrangle about words
No "word battles"

What kind of ‘words’ is Paul referring to in (2Ti 2:14)?
"Wrangling over meaning of terms" (click example)
Leads to arguments and quarrel

What is the fruit that comes from wrangling about ‘words’ (2Ti 2:14)?

They are useless for nothing except that they intellectually upset some to the point of spiritual ruin

What is the best "preventative"... what is Timothy's (and our) responsibility (2Ti 2:15)?

Be diligent (this will take some effort and initiative) to handle accurately the Word of truth by not wrangling about words

Why is it so important to accurately handle the word of truth?
Not just that we will stand approved before God some day in the future but even now to prevent useless quarreling which lead to the ruin of the hearers

What must we constantly avoid(2Ti 2:16)?

Worldly and empty chatter

Why?

Lead to further ungodliness

Who should we avoid (2Ti 2:17-18)?

Men whose talk spreads like gangrene - they have gone astray from the truth (which implies they have in fact been exposed to the truth)

What is the specific "gangrene" Paul mentions (2Ti 2:18)?

Teaching that resurrection has already taken place

What kind of "resurrection" would have taken place? (see 1Co15:17)

They have to be portraying the resurrection as a "spiritual" one and not a literal bodily resurrection

Note: Paul wrote about the crucial importance of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 about 10 years earlier. The risen Christ clearly taught His resurrection was of a literal body and not simply a spiritual resurrection (see Luke 24:36-39)

What is the result of their unsound doctrine?

Upset (overturn, overthrow, subvert) the faith of some

Who less likely to have
their faith upset?

Those who have handled accurately the word of truth, who have not wrangled over words, who avoid worldly and empty chatter

NOW GO BACK TO COLUMN 1

POINT 3

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(POINT 5)

How does 2Ti 2:20 relate to the seal Paul has just explained? What is the metaphor? What is the distinction drawn by the metaphor?

Paul has noted that one aspect of the seal of authenticity is abstaining from evil

Now he speaks of 2 classes of people using the metaphor of a vessel in a house (most likely picturing the church) and distinguishes the vessels (people) as some fit for honor and some for dishonor

Why does Paul state we must cleanse ourselves from dishonorable vessels? (2Ti 2:21)

His charge is to separate from the dishonorable so that we will be vessels for honor, set apart as those God can use for His good work. Paul wants Timothy and us to be useful for the Lord's purposes but since the Lord is holy, He can by definition only use holy vessels and therefore we must by all means seek to be holy as He is holy in order to be useful.

Why is cleansing ourselves from dishonorable vessels so important according to 1Cor 15:33?

Stop being deceived...it's true

Evil, godless company has a continual, progressive effect of causing good character to shrivel, wither and rot. Don't be deceived or fooled when this adverse effect on your character is not experienced immediately for it may not be obvious at first, but the slow destructive effect is certain. (honorable vessels will become defiled and are then not useful for God's good works)

What does Paul's instruction to the Thessalonians teach us about cleansing ourselves from dishonorable vessels (2Th 3:6)?

Continually (present tense) keep aloof (shun, try to avoid, keep your distance) from every brother who leads an unruly life (freeloading, sponging, idle, lazy)

How were they
"out of order"? (2Th 3:11)

They were (1) undisciplined (2) doing no work (2) busybodies = meddling in other's business.

What else do we learn about cleansing ourselves from dishonorable vessels (2Th 3:14-15)?

v14 Do not associate with those who do not obey

v14 Do not regard him as an enemy

v15 Admonish him as a brother

What other actions should vessels of honor take in order to assure we are useful to the Master for every good work? (2Ti 2:22)

Flee youthful lusts

Pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace

Seek those of pure hearts (honorable vessels) as we pursue godly virtues

Refuse foolish and ignorant speculations

What is will foolish and ignorant speculations produce?

Quarrels

What are vessels of honor to be instead? What should be our attitude toward our Master?

We are to be as bondservants (our will entwined with the Master's will)

Not quarrelsome

Kind to all

Able to teach

Patient when wronged

With gentleness correcting those in opposition

What might God bring about to those who oppose us?

He might grant repentance

Repentance can lead them to a knowledge of the truth = the gospel

They might come to the senses

And escape from the snare of the devil

What did the devil's snare result in?

Their doing his will

In light of all the truth about the seal of God and the children of God what is Paul's applicable instruction from (2Cor 13:5)?

2Cor 13:5 says

“Test (present imperative) yourselves (not the other person but yourself!) to see if you are in the faith; examine (present imperative) yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?”

Check your lifestyle, your obedience, your deeds, your actions and if it does not bother you to live in habitual sin, then the problem be that you have deceived yourself and that you are not saved. Once saved, always saved is true assuming you were truly saved at the outset.

Explanatory Note:

The Believer's Study Bible has a well worded note on 2Cor 13:5 writing that

"This verse is not intended to rob believers of the assurance and security of their salvation. It is, however, intended as a warning to those who would follow false teaching and adopt a life-style that is inconsistent with the message of reconciliation (cf. 12:20, 21). To persist in either activity is a cause for serious introspection and a testing to see whether or not one is truly "in the faith."

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