II
Timothy Chapter 2
Memory verses for this week:
Psa
121:5 The LORD is thy
keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand Psa 121:6 The
sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
Introduction:
In chapter 1 last week, we saw Paul urge Timothy to stir up
the gift that God had given him and to stand strong in the faith.
He reminded Timothy of the great love that some had shown to
Paul (such as Onesiphorus). Some
of these men had been a great blessing to Paul, particularly after
being imprisoned there in Rome.
This week we get into Chapter 3 where we are instructed to
become a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
I. The Word of
God is to be Passed on to Others who will Teach
2 Tim 2:1
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in
Christ Jesus.
2 Tim 2:2
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many
witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able
to teach others also.
As we mentioned last week, Timothy was Paul’s son in the
faith. He urges Timothy
to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Only by God’s grace will any of us truly be strong. And those things Paul had taught, the truths of God’s
Word and the doctrines, they were to be committed to faithful men
who will be able to teach others.
II. The Path of
a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ
2 Tim 2:3
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ.
2 Tim 2:4
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of
this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a
soldier.
Enduring hardness is not something most people want to do… but as a soldier of the Lord, we
need to be able to do this.
When you think of a strong and capable soldier who prepares
for battle, you have an image of a strong individual who has been
properly trained and is physically fit.
We as Christians need to be properly trained, and that is
knowing the whole word of God and being able to properly divide it.
A man that is a soldier in God’s army is in a battle
against Satan. And
believe me, Satan knows all the tricks and will fire everything he
has in his arsenal against us.
We should not be surprised when the fiery darts come. And the question is not IF they will come, it is just WHEN
will they come.
1
Pet 4:12 Beloved, think
it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as
though some strange thing happened unto you:
1
Pet 4:13 But rejoice,
inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his
glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1
Pet 4:14 If ye be
reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of
glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken
of, but on your part he is glorified.
Eph
6:16 Above all, taking
the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph
6:17 And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God:
Eph
6:18 Praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
A good soldier is dedicated… he does not entangle himself
with the affairs of this life.
There is a battle for the mind going on everyday, and we need
to keep our minds on the things of God.
When we do that, we please the Heavenly Father.
We were chosen by God to show forth the praises of God.
1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of
him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
2 Tim 2:5
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not
crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2 Tim 2:6
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the
fruits.
2 Tim 2:7
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in
all things.
Verse 5 tells us that is we want to be crowned, we must
strive according to the Word of God.
This means that many may do a lot of works and actually see
results, but may not be crowned to doing man’s way versus doing
things God’s way. We
are truly not a liberty to just do things as we please.
Man has many gimmicks in the business world that work, but
God does not intend for us to use worldly ways to bring in people to
God’s House. We are
to go out and Compel people to come in.
J. Vernon McGee says that Paul is relating us to an athlete
in this verse.
Here Paul is comparing the Christian to an
athlete. “Strive” refers to contending in the game. He wants to
win, and he is doing everything he can to be the winner. Someone has
said in a very succinct manner, “The only exercise some Christians
get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends,
sidestepping responsibility, and pushing their luck.” That is not
the kind of exercise Paul is talking about. He spoke of the
Christian life as being a racecourse, and he said, “I press toward
the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”
(Phil. 3:14). Paul also said that he wanted to keep his body under
control (see 1 Cor. 9:24–27). Paul’s goal was to run the
Christian race in such a way that the One who is at the end of the
race—the Lord Jesus—would be able to reward him and be able to
say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21).
A child of God is to “strive”; God intends that he win
the race. Every child of God needs to recognize this.
He is to “strive lawfully.”
That is, he has to play by the rules. There is no shortcut toward
living the Christian life. Forget the gimmickry today that condenses
Christianity into a little course or a few rules and regulations.
God gave us sixty-six books, and each one of them is very important.
It takes the composite picture to give us the mind and the Word of
God. We are to study the whole Bible. An athlete can’t cut the
corner of a racetrack. Neither can a baseball player run by second
base without touching it; he has to touch all the bases to score. A
child of God has to do that, too. If you’re going to win, you
can’t take any shortcuts. [1]
Verse 6 says the husbandmen that laboureth must be first
partaker of the fruits. In
other words, we have to be saved before we can lead others to the
Lord. One day when we
stand before the judgment seat of Christ, many will lose rewards for
not following God’s plan. When
we consider that Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land
due to failing to consecrate the Lord before the people, we see that
God wants things done exactly the way He lays them down.
If you remember that study, Moses was told to speak to the
rock the second time rather than smiting the rock to bring forth
water for the people of Israel to drink. But Moses was upset and smote the rock, marring the
typification of Jesus on the Cross.
Christ was smitten on the cross, but it was once and He will
never be smitten again. By
marring that type, God did not allow Moses to cross over Jordan with
the people. If this
small mistake cost Moses, it is certainly not hard to believe we
could lose rewards for doing things man’s way.
Verse 7 was given under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
and Paul says that we should carefully consider what he is saying,
and let God give us understanding in all things.
One of our newest bible study members wrote me this week, and
told me how that at 67 years of age, she was finally in tune with
the Lord and doing His will in her life.
She had a background in multiple churches, from the Catholic,
to the Pentecostal, even into the Mormon Church for a while, but she
was determined to find the truth.
And once she found Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, He has
guided her unto total truth. I
praise the Lord for the promises of God and how He will provide for
us when we truly seek the truth.
Mat
7:7 Ask, and it shall
be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you:
Mat
7:8 For every one that
asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened.
III. Paul
Preached the Resurrection of Jesus
2 Tim 2:8
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised
from the dead according to my gospel:
2 Tim 2:9
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds;
but the word of God is not bound.
Jesus was from the lineage and seed of David.
And as we know, he was raised from the dead according to the
gospel. Paul made it
his business to preach the resurrection of Jesus.
Matthew 1:1
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David,
the son of Abraham.
1
Cor 15:3 For I
delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1
Cor 15:4 And that he
was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures:
Because Paul did preach the resurrection, he suffered many
things for the cause of Christ.
He said he suffered much trouble, even unto bonds. This was written as Paul was in prison there in Rome.
But Paul said while he might be bound, thank God the gospel
was not bound.
Acts 13:44-46
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together
to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes,
they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which
were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and
Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God
should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you,
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to
the Gentiles.
Acts
17:18 Then certain
philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him.
And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to
be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them
Jesus, and the resurrection.
Acts
23:6-10 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and
the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren,
I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection
of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said,
there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees:
and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is
no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees
confess both. 9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that
were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no
evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him,
let us not fight against God. 10 And when there arose a great
dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been
pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to
take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
IV. Why Paul was Willing to Suffer for the Gospel
2 Tim 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that
they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory.
2 Tim 2:11
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall
also live with him:
Paul had a mind that was determined to serve God first and
foremost. He says that
he endured all things for the elect’s sakes.
There is salvation in none other name than Jesus Christ.. When we are saved, we are crucified with Christ.
If we die with Him, then we shall also live with Him.
Acts
4:10 Be it known unto
you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the
dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts
4:11 This is the stone
which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of
the corner.
Acts
4:12 Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Galatians
2:20 I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith
of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
2 Tim 2:12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him,
he also will deny us:
2 Tim 2:13
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny
himself.
If we have been born again, then we will live with Christ.
If not, we will not live with him.
Verse 12 says that if we deny him, he will deny us.
Thank the Lord that if we are truly saved, Christ will never
forsake us. Verse 13 says even if we believe not, yet he abides faithful
because he cannot deny himself.
Psalm 89:34
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is
gone out of my lips.
2 Tim 2:14
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before
the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the
subverting of the hearers.
We are to put sound words forth for remembrance, and charge
Christians to not strive about words that do not profit.
You will find unbelievers that love to try and lead you away
from the Lord with unprofitable (and sometimes unanswerable)
questions. Those we
should ignore and put our faith and trust in the Lord.
V. Study the
Word of God
2 Tim 2:15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Tim 2:16
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase
unto more ungodliness.
Verse 15 is one of the more important commands that we have
in the New Testament. This
is one of the greatest needs of every Christian, and that is to
study. We can
spend the rest of our days in study, and we will never master
God’s Word. I love
that fact that the more you study, the more knowledge and wisdom you
obtain, it just grows and grows.
But you never get it fully mastered which sure keeps you
humble.
Verse 16 says we should shun profane and vain babblings.
We hear much babbling on so called Christian programs on
television and radio many times.
We see these do not make us grow, but lead unto more
ungodliness. God’s
Word strengthens and prepares us for the battle ahead.
2 Tim 2:17
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is
Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2 Tim 2:18
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the
resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
2 Tim 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this
seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that
nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
These that babble were like these two mentioned, Hymenaeus
and Philetus who had erred from the faith.
They taught that the resurrection was already past, and it
overthrew the faith of some.
But we can rest assured as verse 19 promises, that he
foundation of God is sure, and it can not be overthrown.
Jesus is the rock that can’t be moved, and His desire is to
see every child of God depart from iniquity.
2 Tim 2:20
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and
of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and
some to dishonour.
2 Tim 2:21
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a
vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and
prepared unto every good work.
God has vessels of honor and some to dishonor.
We might ask ourselves which are we?
God’s desire is for every Christian to be a vessel of honor
to the glory of Jesus Christ. To
be a vessel mete for the Master’s use, we have to live a separated
life from the world.
2 Tim 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith,
charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Tim 2:23
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they
do gender strifes.
The child of God is to follow righteousness and all these
other fruits of the spirit.
We should turn from the lusts that will destroy us, and seek
after God’s ways. He
warns Timothy to avoid foolish and unlearned questions that cause
strife. Some things are
beyond the capacity of man’s understanding, and those need to be
put aside and our faith needs to be in the Lord.
2 Tim 2:24
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle
unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2 Tim 2:25
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth;
2 Tim 2:26
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the
devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
God’s servant is to be a man or woman of a meek spirit that
does not strive. We
should be known as honest and gentle people.
With a humble heart and a meek spirit we need to teach those
that go astray. Verse
25 puts it so vivid… “In meekness instructing those that oppose
themselves.” Truly
we can be our own worst enemy if we give Satan a foothold in our
life. But we are to try
and reach those that have been taken captive by the Devil and try
and rescue and deliver them.
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Prov 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that
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