[0:00] Now, as the Lord enables us, let us for a short while focus on some verses we have in this portion of Scripture we've read.
[0:14] Second epistle of Timothy and chapter 2, and we may read again from verse 16. But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
[0:35] And their word will eat as doth a canker, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.
[0:55] And particularly the following verses. Nevertheless, verse 19, nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal.
[1:09] The Lord knoweth them that are his, and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
[1:21] One or two thoughts on these words. Now, this is the last letter that we have from the Apostle Paul.
[1:36] You find at the very end of the letter, in chapter 4, he says from verse 6, I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
[1:54] I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love is appearing.
[2:15] The Apostle is imprisoned in Rome, and the time will not now be long until he will leave this world and be presented faultless in the presence of the Lord with exceeding joy.
[2:37] But he is burdened for the gospel, and that the gospel will be preached in its purity. And he is addressing this young minister, Timothy.
[2:49] At the beginning of chapter 2, he says, Thou therefore, my Son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
[3:01] 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.
[3:12] Therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He is giving him directions and encouragement in relation to the way he must undertake the work of preaching the gospel.
[3:31] And he tells him in verse 4 that no man that woreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
[3:48] And if that is true concerning ministers of the gospel, there is a real sense in which also it needs to be true with everyone who has given their heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, that he is our master, and that our lives will be dedicated to him, and not be given to the world.
[4:14] I know that we must have our hand in the world in order to work, but our hearts must not be in it.
[4:25] Our hearts must be with Christ. It is said in the church of Ephesus that she forsook or left her first love, and some cold worldly wind blew in to cool her affections and her love for the Lord Jesus.
[4:50] And there are cold winds still blowing in this world that will seek to cool our affections for the Lord Jesus Christ.
[5:02] And we must always be on our guard against them. And then also it says that the Apostle Paul, in verse 9, I suffer trouble, he says, as an evildoer, even unto bonds.
[5:20] But the word of God is not bound. Even when Paul was in prison in Rome, he was able to speak the word of God.
[5:30] And some of the Roman citizens and some of Caesar's household heard the word and were converted through it.
[5:44] And he says, therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
[5:55] And then he comes down to verse 16. And he's talking about people who have come among the church who don't actually present the true gospel.
[6:12] They bring doctrines that are not according to the word of God. And he says, shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
[6:28] And their word will eat as doth a canker of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, who touching the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some.
[6:44] Some who had made a profession of faith. Nevertheless, when this dark and untruthful doctrine came along, these men were saying the resurrection is past already.
[7:04] Some went along with that new teaching. And it's as if they lost their feet completely and they fell away.
[7:14] their faith was overthrown. So we have to be so careful what we give our ears to, what we listen to, measure everything up against what the scripture says.
[7:27] This is our yardstick. This is our benchmark. This is our absolute standard. Catechism says the only rule given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
[7:41] and we must always bring everything to the touchstone of the scriptures. But despite the fact that some had their faith overthrown, it says here in verse 18, nevertheless in verse 19 he says the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his and let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
[8:15] And it's about this I want to say a few words this evening. The foundation of God standeth sure. In a world where there are so many opinions and so many different doctrines and so many people as it were ready to embrace anything at all, the next thing that comes along, he says there is one sure foundation.
[8:43] foundation. And if we are upon that foundation all will be well. And just a few words first of all about that this foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal.
[9:02] Something that is bearing a seal is the genuine article. Something that is bearing a seal it is the true thing.
[9:16] It's got a stamp of approval and what is the stamp of approval of the true gospel? Well it says here first of all the Lord knoweth them that are his.
[9:31] That is from God's side. God's sovereign purpose. God has a sovereign purpose in relation to the church. And the other side of things is man's responsibility.
[9:48] God's sovereignty on one side and man's responsibility on the other. That is let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
[10:01] These two remain mentioned in verse 17. Hymenaeus and Philetus and those who followed them. They did not depart from iniquity. They didn't embrace the true word of God.
[10:14] And that ended in their disaster. But I'd like to say first of all a few words about the foundation of God that has this particular seal.
[10:26] The Lord knows them that are his. He knows them. And isn't it amazing when you go through the scripture you see that the church of God is rooted in God himself.
[10:50] It is God's purpose from all eternity to have a people for himself. It is not something that men decided it is of God's planning from all eternity.
[11:11] You see what Jeremiah says. The Lord says, before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee. And before thou camest out of the womb, I sanctified thee, a prophet to the nations.
[11:29] nations. We have to go back into eternity to discover the foundation stone of the church of Christ, if we can use these words.
[11:43] And what foundation stone are we talking about? Well, we spoke about God's eternal purpose, and there is also God's eternal covenant, covenant, that in the covenant of redemption, a mediator was appointed to come into the world in the fullness of times.
[12:09] And Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, the theologians say something like this, that in the covenant in eternity, he agreed readily to come, to take the sinner's place, and to take human nature to bear their sins away.
[12:36] And then, when you think of that, isn't that an amazing thing? That God from all eternity had this purpose, and that purpose can never be frustrated.
[12:51] It can never be undone. Listen to what it says in Romans chapter 8, for whom he did foreknow, he's talking about the elect of God, for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.
[13:15] The foundation of God stands sure, regarding the election of his people, regarding the way God has appointed a mediator for them, regarding the finished work of the mediator in their room and in their stead, and regarding also they themselves being effectually called by the mighty and saving power of God's spirit.
[13:49] When the time comes in the experience of the elect people of God, God sends forth his spirit and he speaks into their experience.
[14:06] As Jesus spoke into the grave of Lazarus, Lazarus come forth, and seemingly the impossible happened.
[14:22] Lazarus was dead four days, and his sister said, behold, he stinketh. He's dead four days. Nevertheless, the purpose of God could never be frustrated because the power of Christ's word entered into him and with that power there was the transformation of him who was dead now responding in faith to the voice of the almighty Savior.
[15:00] No power in hell could have stopped that voice of Christ from fulfilling its purpose regarding Lazarus.
[15:14] And no devil in hell can stop at any time the effectual call of God unto his elect people whom he has loved with an everlasting love.
[15:29] And those who are so favored as to be taken into fellowship with God through the regenerating power of his spirit God's eye continues to be upon them.
[15:54] It says here he knows those who are his. He has known them from all eternity. He knew them as it were in time before he was pleased to effectually call them.
[16:11] And when the time came for him to call them they responded because his power was greater than any resistance that they could set up. And in God's providence he says I know them still.
[16:33] The psalmist in Psalm 139 says and somebody quoted that this evening thou hast searched me and known me you know my sitting down and rising up ye all my thoughts afar to thee are known that is true regarding God's sovereign knowledge of everything he is all knowing but it is particularly true regarding God's covenant knowledge and saving knowledge of his own people he knows every circumstance that they have he knows every day that they're in trouble he knows their fears he knows their longings nothing can ever stop him from caring for them do you remember that amazing story of
[17:34] Hagar who was who was cast out of Abraham's family circle and she was there in the wilderness almost dying of thirst and the Lord spoke to her and he showed her some water to relieve her thirst and her response was thou thou Lord seest me you see me isn't that an amazing proof of God's care and his infallible and unshakable commitment to his people the foundation of God stand as sure having this seal God knows them who are his own when
[18:35] Peter is writing to those who were dispersed through Pontus Galatia Cabadocia Asia Bithynia he says this in 1 Peter chapter 2 he has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light he knew them where they were in the darkness in which they lived the darkness of ignorance and godlessness and waywardness nevertheless he knew them where they were and he called them and they heard him and they were able by grace to respond in faith and obedience to his call call them into his marvelous light but there are dark days with a
[19:38] Christian as well and maybe the devil will come in and now says where now is your god when things are all uphill when the wind is so strong against you you can hardly move forward when things are so difficult you are questioning where indeed you are do you remember job and what an amazing experience that man had he was looking to the right and to the left going forward and backwards and he couldn't find him but then he comes to say in chapter 23 verse 10 he knows the way that I take and when he has tried me I shall come forth as gold this is his confidence he knows because he and
[20:48] I if I can use this language he and I go back a long way I go back as it were so far as I know what thoughts are but he goes back into eternity and he promises that he has known me and has loved me with an everlasting love and however dark the day God for Job he says this he knoweth the way that I take and he knows that things are going to work out at last because God knows him and God has undertaken to bring him forth as a refined person a better person a more sanctified person than he was at the beginning he knows us and think of it from this angle also our
[21:53] Lord Jesus the fact that he has gone into heaven he is at the right hand of God making continual intercession for us he knows every detail of my life and you and he presents our case in the presence of God as one who knows us better than we know ourselves and who knows the dangers that lie in the road better than we appreciate you remember what he said to Peter and Peter having said whoever denies you I will not and Jesus said Satan has desired to have you that he might sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee
[22:53] I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not and he prays or he makes intercession for all of his people he knows our case perfectly and he knows us perfectly but coming to the end of our journey through this world an amazing verse there that I thought of earlier today in Deuteronomy chapter 11 at verse 12 it says that the eyes of the Lord are upon the land from the beginning of the year until the end of the year that was talking particularly about the land of Canaan and the care that God exercised towards his people settled in the land of
[23:53] Canaan but that can be applied to the church of God in every age the eyes of the Lord are upon it from the beginning of the year of your experience of grace to the very end of the year of your journey through this life his eyes upon you and Paul picks that up in Philippians chapter 1 when he says he who has begun the good work in you will perform that work until the day of Jesus Christ what an amazing foundation that is what security what an amazing guarantee that he says where he has begun the good work he will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal God knows them that are his rejoice in that zeal rejoice in that sure foundation but then secondly this seal has another side to it we've spoken about the seal as seen from
[25:16] God's side his eternal purpose his effectual calling his leading and guiding and enabling as we journey through life his continuing intercession at the right hand of God but then the other side of that seal places full responsibility upon ourselves let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity everyone must depart from iniquity what does it mean to name the name of Christ well it could mean that you profess to know him that he is your saviour and lord and if that is true this responsibility devolves upon you to depart from iniquity and of course another way of looking at that is those who call on the name of
[26:30] Christ that is in prayer those who are praying people and of course those who are Christ's people not only do the professors name publicly and say I am a Christian but they do business with the lord in secret they are a people of prayer their prayer of seeking help seeking grace for situations prayer for forgiveness prayer for strengthening they're in touch with the lord at a throne of grace they call upon the name of the lord and what does it say here we'll depart from iniquity what kind of iniquity I'm just going to mention two things think of the iniquitous heresies that came to pose a threat to these people in timothy's day hymeneus and philetus they're saying the resurrection is past there's no resurrection to be expected anymore that is an iniquitous thought and iniquitous teaching and we have to depart from teaching that's not according to the scriptures as I said at the beginning but what about practical iniquities things unrighteousness unrighteousness of heart unrighteousness of thought unrighteousness of speech unrighteousness in our activities in our practical outworking of our lives it says here depart from all of these things just going to mention four different verses that I hope will cast a little bit of light onto this the psalmist whose words we were singing in
[28:47] Psalm 139 said this turn away my sight and eyes from viewing vanity there are so many things in the world that are so vain and empty and seemingly they try and attract your eye so that you will feast your eyes upon them things that are vain and empty and are not at all any use to your growth in grace and the psalmist knew about these things in his own day and he said turn away my sight and eyes from viewing these things the door of my eyes close them close it that these enemies of my soul do not come in and the next thing in Psalm 85 and we sang this also
[29:49] I'll hear what God the Lord does speak may my ears be closed to the vanities of this life rather may they be tuned or attuned to hearing what God the Lord is saying what is he saying in his word what is he saying in his providence what is he saying to us as a nation today when Russia are threatening to invade Ukraine and what's going to happen if that happens the world seems to be so unhappy doesn't matter where you look and what news you listen to there are people who are rising up against authority what's the Lord saying to us well I think he's saying this among all other things that because people have turned their back upon him he is making life hard for them we have to turn back to the
[31:04] Lord in true repentance just like the Israelites had to do repeatedly turn my sight and eyes away from you in vanity and I'll hear what God the Lord will speak what about our road forward how do we walk well the psalmist said in Psalm 17 hold up my goings Lord in these thy paths divine keep me up that I might walk in the way of holiness in the way of obedience in the way of faith in the way that glorifies God and finally we sang these words as well the psalmist says Psalm 119 verse 11 I have hidden thy word in my heart lest
[32:09] I sin against thee let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity and in as much as we are able by God's grace to live like that we will show forth this seal of God upon our hearts and lives you see the foundation of God standeth sure having having this seal from God's side the Lord knoweth them that are his and from our side let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Spurgeon Spurgeon said once to those who had a problem with God's election of some he said you're bothered with the doctrine of election and
[33:21] Spurgeon said well you may not think you're elect but what if you are what if you are elect and then he said best of all he said is come to Christ and then you'll know that you are elect it's in living this life by the grace of God that we know that we are indeed in him and he in us we have a responsibility to live in this way live not unto ourselves not unto the world not unto sin or the flesh or the devil but to live unto him and if we truly live unto him we show forth that he has begun a good work in us good works follow in the life of those in whose soul the
[34:36] Lord has done the good work of salvation so the foundation of God stands sure those who are elect will come to know him and those who are elect they will live a godly life that is their desire and that is day by day what they pray for that the Lord will give them grace to glorify him in all that they are and all that they say and all that they do may God bless