PRACTICAL COUNSEL IN A POST-CHRISTIAN WORLD (2 Timothy 2:20-26) (Kent Smith Notes 8/11/24)
PRACTICAL COUNSEL FOR LIVING IN A POST-CHRISTIAN WORLD
(2 Timothy 2:20-26)
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Not everything is black or white!
It’s the red of the blood that makes the difference.
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BE HONORABLE (HOLY)
It is not what you are made of…
It is not where you come from…
IT IS ABOUT HOW YOU ARE USED…how you serve!
CLEANSE YOURSELF
Do not permit yourself to get solid by worldly corruption.
Worldly actions, thoughts, motives, and company.
THEN all you are connected to will be honorable and good.
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v. 20-21
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
When we separate ourselves for the things of this world – then we are set apart – the very definition of holiness.
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FLEE FROM THE DESIRES OF IMMATURITY
The world is drawn TO PLEASING ONESELF.
This is a sign of youth and immaturity.
Maturity is evident in the sacrifices we make.
(Learning to say “no” to ourselves!)
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v. 22a Now flee from youthful lusts
Be cautious in sharing your opinion.
Most of us are wise
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PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, FAITH, LOVE, AND PEACE
The Christian is drawn TO PLEASE GOD
This is a sign of growing maturity
Our spiritual maturity is evident to the world through our righteousness, faith, love, and pursuit of peace.
The encouragement we receive from like-minded companions of pure heart.
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22b and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace,
WITH THOSE who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
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DO NOT entertain frivolous arguments and DO NOT be quarrelsome
Christians should avoid choosing sides and embracing the language of division.
We hold no opinion but the opinion of the Word of God.
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v. 23-24a But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome.
What are you against, and why are you against it?
What are you for, and why are you for it?
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HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE IN OPPOSITION
1. Be kind to all
2. Be ready to defend your position (teach)
3. Be patient when wronged or ridiculed
4. Correcting those in opposition with gentleness
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v. 24b but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition,
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THE POTENTIAL RESULT OF THIS APPROACH
PERHAPS
God may grant them repentance -
Which leads to a knowledge of truth -
And they may come to their senses -
And escape the enemy -
Who has held them captive.
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v. 25b-26 if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
God may grant them repentance –
True repentance is a gift from God by His grace.
In our sinful and rebellious state:
We hold no desire to pursue righteousness
We see no need to forsake our sin
But God by His grace grants to some the desire to repent.
Which leads to a knowledge of the truth –
When God grants us repentance (a change of mind and heart)
Then we come to a knowledge of the truth. (Jesus is the truth of God)
We get it, we understand, we become convinced of the truth of Jesus Christ.
And God grants us the faith to believe. (Eph 2:10 And by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God.
And they may come to their senses –
When God grants repentance and a knowledge of the truth (Jesus)
Then we come to our senses and throw ourselves on the mercy of God offered to us through the blood of Christ.
And escape the snare of the enemy –
Then we escape the enemy.
We are no longer held in bondage to sin.
who has held them captive.
We have been set free from the power and penalty of sin.
THIS PROGRESSION IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF US WHO CALL OURSELVES CHRISTIANS!!
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SINCE THIS HAS BEEN TRUE FOR US…
THEN IT CAN BE TRUE FOR OTHERS!
1. We must understand that those who oppose us are captives.
2. We must offer words of correction and truth with gentleness and love.
3. We must pray that God would grant them repentance to know the truth.
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We must understand that those who oppose us are captives.
They do not know the truth.
We can offer words of correction and truth,
with gentleness and love.
Coupled with prayers
that God would grant them repentance
When we approach the world with these three principles in mind, rather than wanting a confrontation, or rather than seeing them as the enemy, we may find our efforts far more fruitful with those who may be diametrically opposed to us.
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