Click here to download in pdf format.
Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (9-3-1997 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Now Paul gives Timothy a warning about two ways of working for God. Everyone is required to handle the Word of Truth, but not all will handle it the same way. We can be good workmen or bad workmen. Each is described here. Then Paul ends on a closing word of assurance.
Do your best to present
yourself to God as one approved (2 Timothy 2:15). N.B. The A.V. translates
this same phrase as Study to shew thyself approved unto God. The old
fashioned use of the word “study” suggests the student, with files, pen,
paper and books. But it is meant in the sense of “work hard”, or “be
diligent”.
Just as gold and silver are
purified and cleansed of all alloys in fire, and are tested and examined
afterwards, so the Christian needs to be approved, to pass the test. He should
have no need to be ashamed, and be able to submit his work for God’s approval
without blushing.
These words are especially
applicable to ministers and teachers, but also to all Christians. God’s
revelation in the Gospel must be handled in the proper way. Again, the A.V.
speaks of “rightly dividing” the Word of truth – meaning cutting straight,
no curves or corners, accurate, plain, simple, clear and applied to the
situation. It is a rebuke to the preacher if people cannot see what he is
getting at. He should keep to his point, and should strive to make himself
understood, rather than to confound with his great learning. He must also be
careful of using a text to say something that is not really there – you can
prove anything from the Bible if you are unscrupulous enough.
One of the values of systematic exposition, section by section, letting the author speak for himself, is that hobbyhorses are avoided and preaching is balanced. So all who teach, if they want to be good workmen, do well to cut a straight path through God’s truth, being clear and accurate, easy for people to follow. It is a responsible and awesome task to instruct others, and not to be taken lightly.
Paul speaks of false teachers
who have wandered away from the truth (2 Timothy 2:18). As far as the
truth is concerned, they have missed the mark, deviated, and swerved. The
example Paul gives is of those who taught that the resurrection had already
passed; therefore there would be no resurrection of the body in the future when
Christ returns. This heresy is still around; some modern theologians deny the
future resurrection for believers, indeed they even deny Christ’s
resurrection. They say it was the spirit of Jesus that lived again and
influenced the disciples. Or they say that resurrection means faith rising in
the Christian’s heart. This is heresy, rejecting the truth of God’s Word.
Heresy is also likely where
there is disputing about words, and godless empty chatter (2 Timothy 2:14,16).
Double damage is done, for it leads people away from God, and people advance
more and more into ungodliness. It infects the Christian community, and eats
like a cancer and spreads like gangrene. It destroys the spiritual health of
Christians and churches, ruining some people’s faith.
Beware of empty chatter and
argument that does no good to the furtherance of the spiritual point of view. It
merely satisfies those who think of themselves as intellectuals, and love a good
argument and a gossip. Dr Johnson once said about John Wesley, “His
conversation is good, but he is never at leisure. He is always obliged to go at
a certain hour. This is very disagreeable to a man who loves to fold his legs
and have his talk out, as I do.” Johnson was one of the greatest talkers of
all time – but the fact is that it was Wesley who wrote his name across
England in a way that Johnson the great talker never did.
“We have asked all the questions which can be asked. It is time we stopped looking for questions and started looking for answers.” (G.K.Chesterton) There is a time to discuss – and a time to be silent. The test for our conversation and our preaching is this: Does it bring men nearer to God, and believers closer to one another? Where does it put God, and what affect does it have on others? Error dishonours God and damages man. Truth honours God and always edifies the hearers. The teacher must strive, not to turn men upside down and unsettle them, but to build men up in holiness, faith and love. Words can do a lot of good – and can also do a lot of damage.
Although the faith of some is
upset, the foundation of God, i.e. the true church, stands secure and steadfast.
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." (2 Timothy 2:19). What God
has founded is safe, despite the godless chatter and heresies of false teachers.
It has this two-fold inscription on it. (N.B. a seal is a mark of ownership, and
also on a building it indicates its purpose.)
The words of the inscription are phrases taken from
Numbers 16, the story of the rebellion of Kohath, Dathan and Abiram. The first
part is secret and invisible, and the second part is public and visible. The
first part speaks of possession, and the second part speaks of profession.
(a) Possession – the Lord knows those who are His. In a world of falsehood, insecurity, hypocrisy and falsehood, where you cannot be absolutely sure of anyone, the Lord can infallibly discern, for He knows the heart. He can differentiate between false and true. He looks at any congregation and He knows the saved and the lost, those who accept Christ and those who reject Christ. We could try to guess, but we would most likely be wrong. God is always right. The Lord knows. It is secret and invisible. The truth about us is known only by Him. Hence the strong encouragement to Timothy who was perplexed by the unworthy elements in the church. It is a warning to us about being gullible, or too quick to pass judgement.
(b)
Profession – everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn
away from wickedness. God knows the heart. But if we truly believe we are
His, and confess Him, we must prove it in our lives. Aim to get rid of all
disobedience, and all things which are wrong in our lives. This is proof of our
state of heart, and is visible for all to see. This is not to say the church is
full of perfect people. God’s interest is not so much where man has reached,
but in the direction man is facing. There needs to be a change of direction in
life – running away from sin instead of running towards it. The real Christian
is one whose face is towards holiness and righteousness. Yes, he will often fail
and fall, but he is still facing the right direction. His desires, longings and
aspirations are towards God.
So there are two sides to this
coin. When the Lord knows we are His, He sees His work in giving us a new heart.
The proof to others and us is our longing after God and holiness. A coin has the
image of the sovereign on one side, and its market value on the other. God’s
seal likewise has two sides. Inwardly we are His and He alone sees that.
Outwardly we prove it by the direction of our lives. Both sides are vital. He
names me before His father, and I name Him before the world. To belong to God
will affect everything we are, say and do. It gives direction and character.
You are not your own; you
were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body. (1
Corinthians 6:19,20). It is a privilege and a duty to come together. Duties
without Christ are drudgery. All changes when we are His. His yoke is easy
and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30).
Henry Moorhouse, a nineteenth century evangelist in England, was very sick and delicate, having suffered from TB all his life. His child was crippled, unable to walk. One day, when his wife was ill in bed, the postman came to the door with a parcel for her. The crippled child said, “Let me take it to mother.” “How can you? You cannot walk.” “You take me, and I’ll take the parcel.” So the child, bearing the parcel, was carried to her mother, and she handed the parcel over. Moorhouse recorded, “I learnt a new lesson that day. When I am weak and frail, I go to God and ask Him, ‘You carry me, and I will carry Your message’”.
If you are a Christian, handle the Word of God carefully and reverently. If you are not a Christian, remember that God knows your heart, though you may deceive others. If you are His, turn away from sin and walk His way.
