2 Timothy 2:14-19

Be Not Ashamed,
Be Approved To GOD

(This is an outline of a message I shared via video conferencing with the volunteer student teachers of my Bangladesh Ministry. There are now over 7000 students with 50 student teachers. Theze student teachers travel to teach lessons in over 30 towns and villages in the South Eastern part of Bangladesh)

There is “handling the Word of Truth,” and there is “rightly handling the Word of Truth.” The difference between these two concepts is as vital as life and death. Mishandling the Word of Truth jeopardises both those who hear and those who are doing the handling. Tragically, mishandling the Word of Truth may be more common in the pulpits of this day than we might otherwise imagine.

The concept of “rightly handling the Word of Truth” has entered the lexicon of the Faith. Whatever else we think the concept means, this emphasis demonstrates the reality that the Faith is a word-based entity. In other words, right doctrine is essential if we will please God. What is believed, and thus, what is taught to those who seek to understand the will of God, is communicated through the Word. The church that fails to provide sound exposition of the Word of God is failing both parishioners and those who are outside the precincts of grace, leaving both vulnerable to spiritual loss and quite possibly condemning them to eternal loss. After all, Paul tells us;

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

So if we desire to be teachers of the Word, so we can educate others, and thus spread the Gospel to the World as Matthew 28:19-21 in the Great Commision, then we must be sure the Wortd is correct and matches what the Scriptures tell us. It is one thing to share the Gospel with others to bring them to Jesus, it is another matter to become one who teaches the presceptys. This is where we who wish to teach must understand what James warns us about, when he wrote,

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
James 3:1

(14A) Remind them of these things (14B) charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. (15A) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, (15B) a worker who does not need to be ashamed, (15C) rightly dividing the word of truth. (16-17A) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. (17B-18) Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. (19) Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

1. (Verse 1A) Remind them of these things,

1. Paul tells Timothy to remind his followers and the "faithful men" of all his teachings

1. Especially the things he shared with him earlier

2. Remember, the “faithful men” he talks about are the ones he told him to train up in verse 2

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2Timothy 2:2

2. What are the things?

1. To endure hardness like a good soldier

2. To strive to excel like a determined athlete

3. To toil patiently like a faithful farmer

3. This is the kind of Christian life that pays dividends and produces inner joy and satisfaction

4. Only then can we know the joy of bringing a needy soul to Christ

1. The thrill of being a true "fisher of men" as Christ told Peter & Andrew when He told them

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 4:19

2. (Verses 14 B)Charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.

1. All ministers should stay away from hair-splitting controversies in their ministries since these do more harm than good

1. One example is the silly arguments Christians get into over Christmas trees. 

Some years ago I read about a church that got into a major quarrel over whether to have a Christmas tree in the church building. One group claimed that Christmas trees were of pagan origin, so to have one in the church would be to yield to a pagan practice. The other group thought that having one was merely a pleasant custom which they had grown up with since childhood, and there was nothing wrong with the practice. 

One group went ahead and got a tree, decorated it, and set it up in the church basement. When the other group arrived, they grabbed the tree, lights and all, and dragged it out of the church and tossed it into the parking lot. The other group then took the tree and dragged it back into the church. 

Well a big fight resulted, right outside the church in the parking lot. Soon a neighbor who lived nearby called the police. When the police came, they settled the matter by forcing them to lock up the church and sent everyone home. The next day the whole town was making jokes and laughing at the Christians who had a big fight over a stupid tree. 

2. Or the silly discussion of the correct way to baptize a new believer

1. Full immersion

2. Partial immersion

3. Or how many angels could dance on the head of a pin

1. In the middle ages the whole of Christendom was wrapped up into this silly discussion

2. The great theological writer Thomas Aquinas wrote several philosophical papers on it

3. He attempted to work out the answer in a long drawn out paper called

1. “The Summa Theological” also called “The Summary of Theology”

2. The results were pretty torturous in it’s self

3. In reality it was just a classic example of good brainpower put to nonsensical ends

2. These type of disputes don’t seek the victory of truth, instead the seek the victory of the speakers

3. In the end these type of disputes are just plain silly, and they leave all those involved feeling ashamed of their actions

3. (Verse 15 A) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God

1. So often we find ourselves trying to get the approval people around us in the world instead of God

2. In the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus spoke of fasting and prayer he sai

"Don’t be like the hypocrites who pray and fast so that they are seen by men and thought of as being pious, for they already have their reward, men’s approval.”
No Jesus said,
”Pray in secret and when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face. Then it will not be noticeable by men, but your Father in heaven who sees and knows everything will reward you openly.” 

Matthew 6:16

3. There is a story of a pupil who waited for the masters approval

In Austria there is a well-known story about a young boy giving his first violin recital in front of hundreds of affluent guests. He had studied hard for years, under the guidance of one of the greatest masters in all of Europe. The boy had tremendous talent, and he had learned his lessons well. As he stood on the stage before an audience of hundreds of lovers of good music, he performed with confidence and skill. 

Following each piece, the crowd cheered loudly. He was one of the finest young performers they had ever had the pleasure of hearing. And yet the boy seemed not to notice their expressions of approval. In fact, some later commented that he almost seemed annoyed by the applause. At the conclusion of the recital, the entire audience rose as one to give the young performer a standing ovation.

They shouted “Bravo” and “Encore!” and other words of praise and appreciation.
However, the young musician seemed not even to hear them. Instead, he stood looking up into the balcony where an old, withered man sat looking back down at him. Finally, the old gentleman smiled and nodded his head in approval. Only then did the lad seem to relax, and his face beamed with joy.
You see, the cheers of the crowd meant nothing unless he had the approval of the master!

 It was only, “The Approval of the Master”,that this young performer sought!

4. This is similar to what Paul and Barnabas experienced in Lystra when Paul healed a man who was crippled from birth. The people hailed and wanted to worship them. They called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes. They wanted to sacrifice burnt offerings to them as if they were gods. But Paul and Barnabas, did not seek the approval of men, and instead of accepting the praise they tore their clothes in shame and, cried out saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, we preach to you that you should turn from these useless things and turn to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.”

5. 2000 years later Paul is still praised as being the Greatest Christian ever, yet all he ever wanted was to praise the Master

6. When we realize, as did Paul, that it is the Master whom we serve and seek to please, both the acclaim and criticism of mere men will pale in comparison to what reward we shall receive from God, and that why he tells Timothy here to,

4. (Verse 15B) a worker who does not need to be ashamed,

1. Those who seek the approval of God and not men will never have a reason to be ashamed of what they do. They will never have to look back at their work and wonder what they were thinking, because they will know they were thinking of doing God’s bidding regardless of what men may say.

2. Like the silly disputes over angels on a the head of a pin

3. Secular scholars still laugh at the church over that one

4. We do not want to be ashamed of our works, so we should be careful and present ourselves to be approved by the Master

5. (Verse 15 C) rightly divide the word of truth.

1. When one studies the scriptures diligently they will learn to understand what the scriptures are saying

2. Learning to read the word for all it’s worth is like learning to read the signs on the freeway.

1. Like a freeway there are many signs in the words of Scripture, but not all signs are for our benefit. If you are traveling south on a road your destination is South of where you are coming from, you will not follow the sign that says North. The road signs are like the Word, and Paul tells us;

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17

2. Well similarly, not all scripture is for all of us, some was for the ancient Jews, like the ceremonial Laws handed down by Moses.

3. But many teachers will try to say these Laws are for us to follow. That’s why we have some Christian denominations that say you must not eat pork, and that you must keep Saturday as the Sabbath.

4. They are not properly reading the road signs that inform us about Christ fulfilling the Law, that’s is why we are told to “Rightly divide the word of truth”

5. Later in this letter we read Paul telling Timothy

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"

2 Timothy 3:16

6. But that does not mean that all scripture was written specifically for us

7. You can read the other signs on the freeway, and some are beneficial especially if you find yourself needing to give others directions to Sacramento or San Francisco. But you do not want to follow those signs yourself, or you will never make it to Las Angeles.

8. Paul continues by telling Timothy

6. (Verses 16-17A) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. 

1. This is similar to the same warning Paul gave Timothy in his 1st letter to Him some 2 to 3 years earlier

1. He was speaking of the vain deceitful Pagan philosophy that led to false teaching as Gnosticism 

2. Almost similar to today’s cultic teachings that spread lies about the Gospels and the nature of Christ 

3. He says that like cancer that can grow and kill the body, these teachings of idle babbling will destroy a congregation of believers

4. He goes on to name two men guilty of such practice

7. (Veres 7b-18) Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

1. These were saying that the resurrection of believers had already occurred in a spiritual sense and that there will never be a resurrection of your Body as Christ taught, and proved with His resurrection

1. This is almost similar to the “Health and Wealth” gospel, which tends to present the Christian message as the quick solution to all of life's problems

2. But we know as Christians that there will still be suffering and pain in this world

3. It is after this life is over and we are resurrected with a new body that there will be 

1. No more tears

2. No more pain

3. No more suffering

2. Notice how Paul doesn't mind naming names here, because he wants everyone to be on the lookout for these heretics

1. So often we are told we should not point out who these people are

2. It’s just not Christian like to take a person by name to task

3. We need to be more understanding and not put them up for ridicule and shame

4. I say Hogwash, they have put the name of Christ up for shame and ridicule

5. It is our duty as a Christian to let our fellow Christians know who is telling lies so they stay away from them

6. How else can we protect young and new Christians from lies if we do not name names as Paul did here

7. But Paul lets us know that the Church will prevail, he says

8. (verse 19.) Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

1. Paul is saying that while there will be charlatans and heretics who spread lies and try to deceive the sheep of the congregation, Christ’s church will stand firm, because of what the foundation it is built upon. And that foundation is Christ who is the Chief Cornerstone.

2. And He knows who are His, because he knows the hearts of men

1. Throughout the Scriptures we read that God knows those who trust in Him

2. When God asked Elijah why he was hiding, he said because Jezebel had killed all the prophets. 

3. God then told him that He still had 7000 prophets in Israel who had not bowed down to Baal

4. There is nothing that God does not know, and that is what Paul is saying here

9. "The Lord knows those who are His," and,"Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."