Well, good evening again. If you've got a Bible near you, if you could turn to 2 Timothy
chapter 2, we'll be looking at the passage that we read together earlier from verse 14
onwards. I must start tonight with a confession. When the first version of the preaching rota
was issued, the passage I was assigned was from the middle of 1 Peter. And to be honest,
it looked quite interesting. I had some issues there that would be, I guess, quite fun to
grapple with, to try and work out how they applied to us today. And then the preaching
plan was changed. And I was given this passage. And I must admit, my initial reaction was not
excitement. Because you see, obviously, we know that all Scripture is God-breathed, useful
for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. But what really is the relevance
of a passage about teaching the words correctly and avoiding false teaching in a good evangelical
church like this, where the Bible is faithfully preached week in, week out. However, news I
received a couple of weeks ago came as a real shock and convinced me of the real and present
danger we live in. And of the vital importance and urgency of this teaching. You see, I received
news of a friend. A friend I've known as a Christian for well over 10 years. A friend who knew his Bible
inside out. Who devoured online sermons. Who was that person that always, when you went out for a meal,
prayed embarrassingly long and loud prayers. And this friend had renounced his faith.
For reasons I've still to properly understand, he's decided that what was once so important to him,
he now wants nothing to do with. And as I thought about it longer, I thought of others.
For others, people I've known, some who sat in the seats here, who at one point seemed to be living
for Christ, and are now far away. For some, they've been unwilling to accept things that the Bible teaches.
For others, they've been unable to reconcile the lifestyle they want with walking with Christ.
But for whatever reason, they have gone.
And as I thought about it even more, I realized I could even think of a couple of teachers that some of us
watched on video in this very room.
One whose questioning of everything has led him to a place so far from the center of the gospel.
So far that it can't really be recognized as the gospel at all.
And another who, while still probably orthodox in his beliefs,
his personal failings have brought the church he founded collapsing in a heap around him.
And so all this goes to show that there's absolutely no room for complacency.
There's no room for us to think that we here at Brunsfield Evangelical Church are somehow immune.
Or that any of the teachers we respect and learn from, whether in books, whether online,
or whether on this very platform here, are incapable of falling.
Several times recently I've heard references to one particular scene at the Last Supper.
When Jesus has just revealed to his disciples that one of them will betray him.
And each of them, one after the other, says,
Is it I, Lord?
Each of them recognizes that somehow inside them there is that weakness,
that doubt, that rebellious nature,
that means that it isn't inconceivable that it could be them.
But there's another scene that comes to mind.
Jesus has been teaching his disciples,
and they've been finding the teaching hard.
And many of them have been turning away.
And Jesus says to them,
You do not want to leave too, do you?
And Simon Peter answered him,
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe and to know
that you are the Holy One of God.
So hopefully, as we dig into this passage,
that serves as a bit of an explanation
as to why I believe this short passage
in a letter written to Timothy all those years ago
is vital and urgent to us today.
Because you see, in verse 14,
we read that Paul exhorts Timothy
to keep reminding God's people of these things.
They don't need to hear anything new.
Nothing novel, nothing radical.
They know this already.
They've heard it from Paul,
from Timothy, many times.
But like us,
they forget.
They're drawn away so easily.
And there are all sorts of other messages
clamoring for their attention.
Some that would claim to be more exciting,
more attractive,
or maybe just easier to follow.
And so they need reminded.
They need reminded again.
And again.
Because Timothy may receive discouragement.
There may be reasons
that he would want to stop.
People might be looking down on him
for preaching that same old gospel
that Paul preached all those years ago.
He's not moving with the times.
He's not preaching the new, trendy message.
Or maybe he might just think,
he's already said it enough times.
He just wants a break.
But Paul tells him to keep on.
To tell them again.
And so,
what are these things that it's so important
that Paul reminds them of?
It's unclear whether he's just referring back
to the couple of verses before,
or everything that's gone before.
But I don't think it really matters.
Either way,
we see it comes down to one thing.
The gospel.
In verse 8,
he has told Timothy
to remember Jesus Christ,
raised from the dead,
descended from David.
This is my gospel
for which I am suffering.
In verse 10,
he writes of the salvation
that is in Christ Jesus
with eternal glory.
Back in chapter 1,
verses 9 and 10,
he's written,
He has saved us
and called us to a holy life.
Not because of anything we have done,
but because of his own purpose and grace.
This grace was given us
in Christ Jesus
before the beginning of time.
But it has now been revealed
through the appearing of our Savior,
Christ Jesus,
who has destroyed death
and has brought life
and immortality to light
through the gospel.
And you see here
that Paul,
every time he speaks of it,
emphasizes a different part.
If we look through all his writings,
we get all different angles on it.
He talks of the unmerited grace.
He talks of the power of the resurrection.
The fulfilled prophecies.
The future glory.
The call to holy living.
He tells Timothy
to remind them
of these things.
To remind the Ephesians
of the glory
of the gospel.
That whatever way you look at it,
whatever side you take it from,
is better than anything
that these false teachers could offer.
And that it's something
that's worth living for.
Something worth suffering for.
Even something worth dying for.
But along with the glory
of the gospel,
he also reminds Timothy
of the exclusivity of the gospel.
In verse 12,
he said,
if we disown him,
he will disown us.
The gospel he is proclaiming
has glorious promises.
But it's a gospel
that can be accepted
or rejected.
It's a gospel
that is a universal offer.
But it's not
a gospel
of universal salvation.
And so you see,
it's not just of academic interest
whether the Ephesians
accept the teachings of Timothy
or the teachings
of these other teachers.
As we're going to see repeatedly
through this passage,
the truth matters.
And you see,
while this was written
to Timothy
all those years ago
in a specific circumstance,
I don't think this call
is relevant only to him.
In fact,
I don't think this call
is even just relevant
to church leaders,
teachers,
evangelists,
other professional Christians.
Instead,
this is a task
for all of us.
A few months ago
in Hebrews 3,
we were reminded
to encourage
one another
daily
so that none of you
may be hardened
by sin's deceitfulness.
All of us
need to be reminded
constantly
of the gospel.
In particular,
when our brothers
and sisters
are struggling,
when they come to us
for advice,
for counsel,
for encouragement,
do we just
give them
the best advice
we can think of?
The things that we have
learnt from our own experience,
the things that
we can somehow
work out,
yeah,
that should probably work.
Or are we reminding them
again
of the gospel?
Are we reminding them
of their status in Christ
when they doubt it?
Are we reminding them
of the great price
that has been paid
for them?
Both the wonderful
reassurance of that,
but also the challenge
that they have been bought.
They are not their own.
Are we reminding them
of the work
that is being done
in them
and through them?
Are we reminding them
of the hope
that's reserved for them?
Are we reminding them
of the Father
whose eye is on the sparrow,
the Father who cares
about their particular
circumstance
far more than they ever could,
but cares infinitely more
about their eternal glory?
One of the old hymns
has the following lines.
Tell me the story often,
for I forget so soon.
The early dew of morning
has passed away at noon.
Tell me the story always,
if you would really be
in any time of trouble
a comforter to me.
Tell me the same old story
when you have caused to fear
that this world's empty glory
is costing me too dear.
Tell me the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
And so following this call
to remind him of the gospel,
in verse 15,
we see that Timothy is told,
do your best
to present yourself to God
as one approved.
A worker
who does not need
to be ashamed
and who correctly
handles the word of truth.
Must admit,
that's a quite challenging passage
to be the one handling.
But,
in the context
of false teachers,
of people looking for other,
more palatable teaching,
Paul wants Timothy
to remember
whose approval
actually matters.
It doesn't matter
whether people
approve of his teaching.
It doesn't matter
if they look down on him,
ridicule him.
It doesn't even matter
if the church
is preaching
and empties
as they all go
to the one down the road
where someone else
is preaching
something that they prefer
to hear.
What matters
is that he can stand
unashamed
before God
because he
is doing his best
to handle
the word
correctly.
Seems there's
numerous ways
of translating
these words.
correctly handles,
rightly divides,
cutting in a straight line,
preaching straightforwardly,
and numerous
attempts to explain
what the metaphor
is about.
But basically,
it seems to just be
about treating
the Bible
honestly
and accurately.
About reading
what it says,
not what you want
it to say.
about seeking
to understand
what it means,
not what you want
it to mean.
And of trying
to apply it
as it shapes
your world view,
your thoughts,
your words,
your actions.
But I'm not
naive.
I know
this is often
much easier
said than done.
many times
we'll struggle
to understand
what the text
means.
Other times
we'll struggle
to understand
how we can
apply it
today
in our
21st century
world.
And often
we'll struggle
with putting
that call
into action.
And there may
be a lot
of background
reading,
a lot of
other things
that we need
to look into
to understand
the context
in which
it's written.
Things that
we need
to understand
to be able
to get
what the
author is
on about.
And even
then,
often two
Christians
faithfully
and prayerfully
seeking
to understand
the Bible
make it
come up
with two
different
interpretations
of the same
passage.
and that's
to be
expected.
We're
weak.
We're
limited.
We're
fallen,
although
being
redeemed.
But are
we,
like Timothy,
doing our
best to
correctly
handle the
word?
Or are we
slapdash at
best?
Or are we
even looking
to handle
scripture in a
way so that it
backs up our
ideas, our
preconceptions,
our views?
As Shakespeare
would remind us
in The Merchant
of Venice,
the devil
can cite
scripture for
his own
purpose.
And once
again,
this is not
just to
Timothy.
This is not
even just to
teachers.
This is
relevant for
us all.
We should
all be
handling the
word.
And we
should all
be seeking
to handle
it well.
So how
are we
handling it
in our
private study,
in our
devotions,
in our
conversations
with friends,
in our
small groups,
as we
teach our
children,
in whatever
context that
we're handling
it?
Are we
seriously
trying to
handle it
properly?
Because you
see,
we've got
these positive
encouragements
that Paul
gives
Timothy,
but he
sets them
off against
warnings,
against
things that
are to be
avoided.
In verse
14,
Timothy
was told,
warn them
before God
against
quarreling
about words.
It seems
what he's
warning them
about is
the exact
opposite of
correctly
handling the
word of
truth.
they're
focusing on
the words.
They're
trying to
find hidden
meanings,
trying to
work out
a different
way of
interpreting
the text,
ultimately
trying to
avoid the
truth that
is staring
them in
the face
if they
were willing
to actually
read it.
If we
remember back
to the
Garden of
Eden,
the serpent
said to
Eve,
did God
really
say?
It seems
that this
is exactly
what's
going on
here.
And then
in verse
16,
he's told
to avoid
godless
chatter,
another
phrase that
gets translated
a huge
number of
different ways.
But what
does it
mean?
Godless
chatter?
Does that
mean ideally
discussing the
weather or
other trivial
things?
gossiping and
other things
like that?
The first
at times
may be a
distraction.
The second
is condemned
outright
elsewhere.
But in the
context, I
don't think
that's what
he's talking
about.
At the
end of
the first
letter to
Timothy, he
uses the
exact same
words.
But he
continues the
sentence to
elaborate a
bit.
He talks
about
godless
chatter, the
opposing ideas
of what is
falsely
called
knowledge.
It seems
that what
he's talking
about is
instead the
sort of
talk or
debate that
claims to
be profound,
that claims to
be intelligent,
important,
to teach us
something new.
But ultimately
it's speculation
at best and
deception at
worst.
But when we
read warnings
like this,
some Christians
would take
this as a
reason to
avoid all
theological
discussions.
In fact, the
whole concept of
theology at all,
they would say,
well, actually,
no, no,
that's arguing
about words,
we shouldn't be
doing that.
And I don't
think that at
all is what
Paul intends
us to
understand.
Because you
see, we
repeatedly,
through Acts,
we read that
Paul was
very well
educated,
both in the
scriptures and
in the writings
and philosophy
of the culture
around him.
He was more
than willing to
debate with
the Jews,
with the
Greeks,
even with
other apostles
when necessary.
And so,
I don't think
Paul is
saying that
all debate,
discussion,
argument of
any sort
is wrong.
While some
things that
go on under
the name of
theology are
dubious,
dangerous,
and exactly
what Paul is
condemning here,
I think it's
important that
we recognize
there are
different sort
of arguments.
Some are
necessary and
good.
Some are
to be
condemned.
Then there
are some
that are to
be handled
with caution.
The first
sort is what
Anselm called
faith-seeking
understanding.
this is when
we're honestly
trying to
understand in
order that we
can follow,
worship,
and obey
better.
This is the
questioning of
Mary,
who in her
acceptance of
the role given
to her,
asks,
how will
this be?
Or of the
Bereans,
who examined
the scriptures
daily to see
if what Paul
said was
true?
Or this is
the council
at Jerusalem
trying to
work out
how to
handle this
new Gentile
church?
Or Paul
reasoning daily
in the
lecture hall
of Tyrannus?
This is
exactly the
sort of
discussion,
even at
times argument,
that we
should be
engaging in.
as we
seek to
understand,
as we
seek to
encourage one
another to
understand,
to grow in
truth,
and to
correct error.
And then
there's the
second sort,
the sort
that probably
I would find
the easiest
to get
involved in.
This is
the sort
that is
intellectually
enjoyable,
but
potentially
distracting.
It's the
sort that
involves
playing about
with ideas
just for
the sheer
pleasure of
doing so.
Sometimes
it will
provide
understanding.
Other
times,
I would
suggest
it's a
perfectly
acceptable
form of
leisure,
of celebrating
the
intellect
God has
given us.
In another
context,
running a
race is
essentially
pointless,
achieves no
purpose.
And yet
Eric Liddell
could say,
God made
me fast,
and when
I run,
I feel
his pleasure.
And so
sometimes
just using
the gifts
God has
given us
for
enjoyment
are actually
a form of
worship.
But,
but there
is danger
in it.
Firstly,
it can serve
as a
substitute.
and a
distraction
from real
truth-seeking.
It can
also result
in flippantly
questioning
the core
of our
faith,
which to
question
in the
right context,
trying to
seek understanding
is good,
but to
question
as a
leisure
activity,
less so.
and
particularly
caution
must be
taken
if there
are
others
listening
in.
What to
us
might
be
a
discussion
that we
know
exactly
what we're
doing,
to someone
else,
particularly
just hearing
a bit
of it,
might be
led down
a completely
wrong path.
truth.
And so
there I would
say we
should have
caution.
But then
there's the
sort that
Paul is
talking about
here.
This is the
sort of
argument that
is not
seeking truth
at all.
This is the
sort of
argument that
seeks to
twist the
truth,
the sort
of argument
that tries
to avoid
it,
tries to
turn it
into
something
completely
different.
And it's
clearly
something that
Paul takes
very seriously.
In verse
14,
he's said
to warn
them before
God.
This is the
same strong
words that
he's going to
use to
Timothy in
chapter 4.
This is a
solemn charge
to them.
This is not
just a
maybe encourage
them slightly.
So if it's
this important,
why?
Why does
it matter?
I think
Paul gives
three reasons
although they're
essentially all
one.
In verse
14,
we read,
it only ruins
those who
listen.
And in
verse 16,
those who
indulge in
it will
become more
and more
ungodly.
And in
verse 18,
they destroy
the faith
of some.
What Paul
is saying
loud and
clear here
is that
the truth
matters.
It's not
a matter
of mere
interest
whether you
believe the
teachings of
Jesus Christ
or Joseph
Smith.
What is at
stake here
is salvation,
the eternal
destinies of
those who are
deceived by
false teaching?
If we were
to teach
that all
ways lead
to God,
that the
gospel doesn't
involve a
call to
repentance,
to a changed
life,
that there
is no
future
punishment,
that God
wants us
all to be
healthy and
rich,
if we
were to
teach such
things and
many others
instead of
holding out
the truth
of the
gospel,
truth that
warns of
that coming
judgment,
but truth
that also
offers full
and free
salvation,
we're giving
false hope.
We're causing
those who
know the
truth to
doubt.
And so
this is
really vitally
important.
Paul gives
us a bit
of a case
study here
in verses
17 and
18.
He writes
here of
two teachers,
Hymenaeus
and Philetus.
Hymenaeus,
he mentioned
back in his
first letter
to Timothy,
at that time
as a
blasphemer
who had
shipwrecked
his faith,
and he's
still there.
He's still
doing the
same thing.
And what
they are
teaching here
is that
the resurrection
has already
taken place.
It would
be obvious
to all of
them there
that this
is not
true in
a literal
sense,
because
Stephen
and other
martyrs are
not coming
to preach
to them.
And
they are
clearly still
living
in ordinary
fallen bodies,
in an
ordinary
fallen world,
with all
the evil,
sin,
pain,
and suffering
around them.
And so
when they're
teaching that
the resurrection
has already
happened,
they're actually
saying that the
resurrection is
no resurrection
at all.
They're saying,
well,
it doesn't
really mean
that.
it's just
a metaphor,
a metaphor
for some
spiritual
mystery.
But then
there's no
future hope.
As Paul
said to the
Corinthians,
if there is
no resurrection,
then,
what does he
say again?
Sorry?
Our hope is in vain.
Exactly.
Our hope is in vain.
So,
if the
resurrection
has happened,
well,
it's not a
resurrection.
But also,
they're continuing
the lie
that the
physical world,
the physical
body,
didn't matter.
And by doing
that,
they're essentially
saying,
what we do
with our bodies
doesn't matter.
That there's
no need
for change,
for repentance,
for sanctification,
because,
well,
this body,
we can forget
about it.
And so,
essentially,
they were teaching
the lie
that our world
would teach us
today.
That what we
believe is a
purely personal,
internal matter.
It should have
no impact
on how we
act,
and it has
absolutely no
relevance to
do with the
realities of
life and death.
And so,
it's easy
to see
how such
teaching
could have
devastating
impact
on the
faith of
those who
heard them.
Especially
if they had
not been
grounded
in sound
teaching,
if they were
not being
repeatedly
reminded
of the
truth of
the gospel,
if they
did not
have that
foundation
to realize
that this
could not
be true.
And I'm
aware of
the danger
in some of
the things
I've been
saying.
I've talked
of those
who have
walked away
from their
faith.
Paul has
talked of
those who
hear false
teachings been
ruined and
their faith
destroyed.
and I've
talked of
the necessity
to constantly
remind one
another of
the gospel
that we
too will
not fall.
But this
passage finishes
with a verse
that at once
gives us
reassurance
and challenge.
In verse
19,
God's
solid
foundation
stands
firm.
however
dangerous
these false
teachers
might be.
The gospel
still stands
and God
is still
building
his church
long after
we can
remember
what those
false
teachers
were teaching
about.
And then
it goes
on to
say,
the Lord
knows
those who
are his.
as Jesus
said,
recorded in
John's
gospel,
I know
them and
they follow
me.
I give
them eternal
life and
they shall
never perish.
No one
shall snatch
them out
of my hand.
So if we
are his,
then our
salvation
is secure.
That
can never
be taken
away from
us.
which
leaves the
question
of those
who have
turned away
from their
faith.
To a
certain
extent,
we are
not
qualified
to
understand.
However,
there are
two options.
One,
they were
never saved
in the
first place.
They only
were putting
on an
outward
display,
an outward
display that
may have
deceived
even
themselves.
Or,
they are
truly and
permanently
saved and
have temporarily
turned away
to be brought
back again.
To a certain
extent,
as far as
we are
concerned,
it makes
little
difference.
Either way,
they need to
hear once
again the
gospel that
they have
rejected.
Either to
bring them
to salvation
or to
bring them
back to
a fruitful
Christian
life.
Because,
along with
this
reassurance,
there is a
challenge.
Everyone
who confesses
the name of
the Lord
must turn
away from
wickedness.
truth on
its own
is not
enough.
It's not
an option,
in fact.
Truth
demands a
response.
And that
response must
result in
transformation.
salvation.
And so that
gets us to
the end of
this passage
here.
But what
can sometimes
be frustrating
as we read
these letters
in the New
Testament,
is we're
getting one
bit of a
conversation.
We don't
quite know
what happened
before,
can make
some guesses
on some
other things,
and we don't
really know
what happened
afterwards.
how they
were received.
Did this
have the
desired effect?
In this
case,
actually,
we do
know.
Because
probably around
about 15
years later
or so,
John is
in exile
on Patmos.
And he
receives there
a vision
of the
risen Christ
who gives
him messages
for several
of the
churches.
The first
of these
is to
this church,
the church
in Ephesus.
And we
read,
these are
the words
of him
who holds
the seven
stars in
his right
hand and
walks among
the seven
golden lampstands.
I know
your deeds,
your hard
work,
and your
perseverance.
I know
that you
cannot tolerate
wicked people
and that
you have
tested those
who claim
to be
apostles but
are not
and have
found them
false.
You have
persevered
and have
endured
hardships
for my
name and
have not
grown weary.
And so,
it seems
the warnings
had effect.
The false
teachers that
Paul had
warned the
elders about
way back
at Miletus,
that he'd
written to
Timothy about
in his first
letter,
and that
Timothy was
still
struggling
with when
he writes
his second
letter.
It seems
that they've
been dealt
with.
They have
recognized the
false teachers
and they've
rejected them
and their
teaching.
So,
everything's
good?
Everything's
sorted?
Not quite.
Because,
you see,
the message
continues.
yet,
I hold
this against
you.
You have
forsaken
the love
you had
at first.
Consider
how far
you have
fallen.
Repent
and do
the things
you did
at first.
If you do
not repent,
I will come
to you
and remove
your lampstand
from its
place.
And so,
what's
presented
here
is possibly
a fate
worse
than
heresy.
What they
have here
is an
orthodoxy
that is
dead.
They've
rejected
the false
teachers.
They've
got their
theology
right.
They're
teaching
the right
things.
They've
ticked all
the boxes
but they've
forgotten
why it
matters.
they've
worked so
hard
fighting
for the
truth,
opposing
those who
would teach
lies,
but they've
forgotten
who it
is truth
about.
And so,
I would
repeat again,
truth
matters.
It really
does matter.
It's a
matter of
more than
life and
death.
But truth
only matters
if we're
seeking to
learn it,
explore,
it,
understand it,
teach it,
correct error
and train
others because
of our
love for
Christ.
If we do
it for any
other reason,
then quite
frankly,
we're wasting
our time.
Knowing the
truth inside
out will
not help
us stand
secure.
Sorry.
Will not
enable us to
stand secure.
It will help.
truth matters.
But what
matters far
more is
that we
love the
one that
the gospel
is all
about.
God
is all
about it.
And if
we're to
continue
loving him,
we need to
keep reminding
each other
of the
truth about
him so
that we can
love him,
so that we
can tell
each other
about him,
so that we
can love
him.
And it
feeds back
and forwards.
So once
again,
tell me the
old,
old story
of Jesus
and his
love.
Amen.