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The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is studying Paul's pastoral Epistles (Letters) to his proteges, Timothy and Titus.
This letter to Timothy are the last known words of Paul. He knew that the time of his death had come. God would soon move Paul off the scene, and Timothy would take his place and continue to give spiritual leadership to the churches. It would not be an easy task, but Timothy could succeed with the Lord’s help.
Last week we looked at five of the word pictures Paul used to represent Christians. Although he was writing to Timothy who he left in Ephesus to pastor the church there these principles apply to all Christians. The seven pictures that Paul paints are those of
The Steward
The Soldier
The Athlete
The Farmer
The Workman
The Vessel
The Servant
We covered the first five last week in this session we wi cover the last two the vessel and the servant. We also get at start on Paul’s instructions on how to minister in the last days, which we will define in this session as the time that started with the ministry of Christ and they will last until He returns.
Paul also used the picture or illustration of Christian being a vessel
2 Timothy 2:19-22 NIV [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.” [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. [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.
In this illustration, Paul described a “great house,” which is the church. The foundation of the house is safe and secure because God’s seal is on it. (In the Bible, a seal is a mark of ownership and security. No one would dare break a Roman seal.)
Matthew 16:13-20 NIV [13] When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” [14] They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” [15] “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” [16] Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” [17] Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” [20] Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
In 2 Timothy 2:19 Paul uses a quote from Numbers when he writes “The Lord knows those who are his,”
This great house not only has a solid foundation that is sealed, but it also has vessels (utensils of various kinds) for performing certain functions. Paul divides the utensils into two categories: those of honor (gold and silver) and those of dishonor (wood and clay).
He is not distinguishing between kinds of Christians, but rather is making a distinction between true teachers of the Word and the false teachers. A faithful Christian, a true teacher one who teaches using sound doctrine is like a gold or silver vessel that brings honor to Jesus Christ. The head of a house displays his costliest and most beautiful utensils and gets honor from them. That is the kind of beauty God gives to his servants who faithfully handle the Word of God.
False teachers are not valuable; they are like wood and clay. They are utensils to dishonor, no matter how popular they may be today. Wood and clay will not survive the test of fire.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 NIV [10] By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. [11] For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, [13] their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. [14] If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. [15] If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
The important thing is that the honorable vessels not be contaminated by the dishonorable ones.
Paul was admonishing Timothy to separate himself from false teachers. If he did, then God would honor him, set him apart, and equip him for service.
2 Timothy 2:21 NIV [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.
A useful human vessel of honor does not get involved in the popular things of the world, even the “religious world.” He must remain holy, and this means he must be separated from everything that would defile him.
2 Timothy 2:22 NIV [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.
“Flee … follow … fight.” We flee sin, but we follow after righteousness. If we are not balanced, then we will be isolated instead of separated. In fact, God’s man Paul commanded us to fellowship “with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” It is sad when true believers are isolated because of a false view of separation.
For God to be able to use us as vessels, we must be empty, clean, and available. He will take us and fill us and use us for His glory. But if we are filled with sin or defiled by disobedience, He will first have to purge us, and that might not be an enjoyable experience. In the “great house” of the professing church, there are true believers and false. We must exercise spiritual discernment and be careful that we are vessels sanctified unto honor.
The final picture that Paul paints is that of the Christian as a servant
2 Timothy 2:23-26 NIV [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.
Servant” is the Greek word doulos which means “slave.
A slave had no will of his own; he was totally under the command of his master. Once, we Christians were the slaves of sin, but now we are the slaves of God
Romans 6:16-18 NIV [16] Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? [17] But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. [18] You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
God’s slave does not have an easy time teaching the Word. Satan opposes him and tries to trap his listeners. Also, some people are just naturally difficult to teach. They enjoy “foolish and stupid arguments” and have no desire to feed on the nourishing Word of God.
Paul admonished Timothy to avoid the arguments that create strifes, but not to ignore the people. He must not argue or fight. He must be patient and gentle, teaching the Word of God in meekness. It is not enough just to expose error and refute it; we must also teach positive truths and establish the saints in faith.
[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.
A servant of God must instruct those who oppose him, for this is the only way he can rescue them from Satan’s captivity.
A servant’s purpose is not to win arguments but to win souls. He wants to see deceived person brought to repentance to see them delivered out of the snare of the Devil, who took them captive, to do God’s will.
Instructions for Ministry During the “Last Days”
The emphasis in [2 Timothy 3] is on knowledge and responsibility. Paul talks about the character of the last days, and how to respond based on knowledge.
When Paul talks about the last days he’s talking about the time that started with the ministry of Christ and they will last until Christ returns.
He said that these will be dangerous and perilous times so he gave him instructions as to how to continue to be effective in ministry.
2 Timothy 3:1-9 NIV [1] But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. [2] People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, [4] treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— [5] having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. [6] They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, [7] always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. [8] Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. [9] But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
Turn away from the false or fake stuff and the people peddling it. He described their characteristics
2 Timothy 3:2-5 NIV [2] People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, [4] treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— [5] having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
lovers of their own selves,” lovers of money (“covetous”), “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” God commands us to love Him first, and then our neighbors as ourselves, but if we love ourselves first, we will not love God or our neighbors.
They should worship God, love people, and use things. But if we start worshiping things and using people. This is the formula for a miserable life, yet it characterizes many people today. The worldwide craving for things is just one evidence that people’s hearts have turned away from God.
That leads to pride or boasting we start looking at ourselves as god. The creature is now the creater and that reaches into our families and we don’t even honor our father or mother and don’t really care about one another. That translates into every thing that we do inside our homes and families and out into society.
When these people love themselves more than God or others they have no self-control in how to relate to others they become slanderous, brutal, treacherous, rash, conceited, and can’t be trusted.
What is very interesting is that Paul says that these are religious people look at verse 5 “having a form of godliness but denying its vpower.” This suggests an outward appearance of religion, not true Christian faith, for they have never experienced the power of God in their lives. Form without force. Religion without reality.
However they are able to convert and influence some people that’s why they are dangerous.
2 Timothy 3:6-7 NIV [6] They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, [7] always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Now Paul points to women but let’s not limit our discussion to women because we know that men are just as vulnerable to false teachers as women. Those most vulnerable to false teaching have certain characteristics.
They are burdened with guilt and looking for some escape from bondage and fear. They are unable to control their various desires They are always searching for truth, trying this approach and that, yet they are never able to be satisfied. This kind of person is fair game for the cultists and the religious racketeers.
These false teachers and leaders take advantage of the problems people have, and promise them quick and easy solutions. They “worm their way in” and soon control people’s lives. It is not long before these leaders grab their followers’ loyalty, money, and service. And their “converts” are worse off than they were before. They still have their problems, but they have been duped into thinking that all is well.
And remember, all of this underhanded activity is done in the name of religion! No wonder Paul told Timothy, “From such turn away.”
Paul used two guys who tradition says were magicians that opposed Moses when he made the damand to Pharaoh to release the Israelites as examples of these kind of false teachers who could do only so much then they were exposed.
2 Timothy 3:8-9 NIV [8] Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. [9] But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
These guys imitated Moses and false teachers initiate true teachers or those precious vessels we talked about earlier, but they could only do so much.
These men opposed Moses by imitating what he did. When Aaron’s rod turned into a serpent, the magicians cast down their rods and they turned into serpents. Moses turned the water into blood, and the magicians followed with the same miracle. When Moses brought up all the frogs, the magicians duplicated the miracle. But when it came to the miracle of the lice, the magicians could not imitate it. (read Exodus 7-9). They could only go so far and then they were exposed.
Satan is an imitator; what God does, Satan counterfeits. The religious leaders in the last days will have a counterfeit faith, and their purpose is to promote a lie and resist the truth of God’s Word. They deny the authority of the Bible and substitute human wisdom and philosophy. In their attempt to be “modern,” they deny the reality of sin and people’s need for salvation.
Paul says they have a depraved or reprobate mind. This means “tested and found to be counterfeit.”
Jannes and Jambres were finally exposed and made fools of by the judgments of God. This will also happen to the leaders of false religions in the last days. The true character of these counterfeits will be revealed to everyone.
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