As we continue to look at 2 Timothy, we have seen that those who deviate from God’s plan will create a world view in which they live outside of God’s purpose. But we also need to realize, that God has defined a world view himself, and that we are to live out God’s principles as we engage culture.
We must remember that God’s word has existed before the first culture ever existed. That it will exist after the last culture falls. So as a church we must fight for that truth and stand firm against the urges around us to weaken the Biblical message. Last week in we saw Paul telling Timothy to remember the main point of Jesus as Christ. That is is only through Jesus that salvation can be found. Timothy might have been seeing pressure to weaken the message of Jesus, and instead talk about something that might be more culturally acceptable. But we cannot change the truth, the only thing we can change is our teaching and living of that truth.
As we continue with Paul’s letter to Timothy, we see him reminding Timothy to remind God’s people of God’s truth. He says that as we ignore God’s truth, we begin to increase the distance between us and God. But the reverse is true as well. That as we uphold God’s truth, we close the distance between us and God.
We are to be warned about quarreling about words. This is speaking of words separated out from those words used to build up (as he just spoke about.) He says that quarreling will bring about catastrophe and break down people.
Here Paul speak of presenting yourself as one approved. The King James Bible uses the word “study” here. But practically this passage means that we are to do our best to bring God’s truth. And to do that we are to study the Word, through Godly thought apply that to our lives, and they go out and live that out. That we are to not be ashamed because we can look back to what we have done and not feel that we missed opportunities, weakened our words, or deviated from God’s purpose.
So Paul follow with a strong point, especially today. We are to avoid godless chatter. Because once you get involved with this chatter that does not build up, it will send you down the rabbit hole away from God. It pulls us away from truth and gets us wrapped up in the argument and chatter itself. If you find yourself this morning disagreeing with God’s message, it is not a disagreement with your pastor, or the Christian you spoke with, with the news article you read, or the Facebook post that came across your feed. But it is a disagreement with the Holy Spirit inside you. And it is almost impossible to run away from the chatter. But pursue God and the chatter will not have power over you.
We see Paul describe our lives as a house. We see him using metaphors to describe our lives. That we are a house filled with common items and items of worth. It is the special items set apart and made Holy by the Master who can be used for His purposes. But sometimes the common items can distract and keep us from God. We are to work in our lives to fill our house (ourselves) with the holy items that can be used for God’s purposes and get rid of the common items that takes away from God. It is growth, and takes a lifetime to work at. But it is a worthy activity that will be used by God in your life and the lives around you.
Sanctify them by the truth, your word is truth.
2:1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (ESV)
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. (ESV)
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (ESV)
16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, (ESV)
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. (ESV)
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (ESV)