Good evening, everyone.
I'm a very happy bunny, because when I just look outside this building, I see clarity, bright light.
Although it's not that warm, but still, it makes me feel glad to be here, and not miserable like the past seven, eight months.
Whether-wise, I mean, that's what I mean.
I should have said that.
Anyway, software technology, it's been growing very fast.
I was speaking to some of my friends who were engineers in technology, and they were saying that perhaps in a few years' time from now, maybe not a few years, maybe 10 years, a decade, I don't know, we won't be needed to learn any other languages anymore.
Perhaps we're going to have a watch device, or a cell phone, or whatever we're going to have, that while we say something, is going to use it into the appropriate language.
I just wish that thing was inventing now, and I wouldn't have to preach to you in English, and I would use my Spanish, and you would understand what I'm saying, but that's not possible.
Anyway, I know, I shouldn't have said that either.
Anyway, let's go back to this letter.
Well, 2 Timothy was probably the last letter written by Paul.
It was around 64 and 68 AD, and he wrote it during his second Roman imprisonment.
And it seems that he had written this letter with two main purposes.
The first one was to ask Timothy to come and visit him.
He would say, Timothy, come to Rome and visit me.
And in chapter 4, we learn that he's going to tell him whom he is supposed to bring, and what he's supposed to bring.
So that was the first reason or purpose for this letter.
The second one, he was trying to provide for Timothy with a final personal letter or encouragement and help in how to deal with difficult situations.
So it's always good to keep that in mind in our heads when we go through a book of Timothy.
I'm pretty sure in every single sermon over the last series, you'll be reminded of that.
So that's nothing new for you.
But let's open our Bible.
Let's go to 2 Timothy, chapter 20, verse 26.
I'm sorry, chapter 2, verse 20, 26.
And this is what it says.
In a large house, there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay.
Sown are for special purposes and sown for common use.
Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purpose, made holy, useful to the master, and prepared to do any good work.
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the law out of pure heart.
Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments.
Because you know what they produce quarrels.
And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
Opponents must be hegenially instructed in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth.
And that they will come to their senses and escape from the trough of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
So Paul has been telling, previous to this passage we just read, has been telling Timothy how to deal with some difficult problems within the church of Ephesus, when he was ministering.
In the verses just before, he has exhorted Timothy to use his scripture properly.
No, as Hymenaeus and Philetus, whose false teaching has been letting some people astray.
Look what he says in verse 19, before the one we just read.
This is Paul saying to Timothy,
Now as he goes on to this, he has said what a person must do.
He goes on to say,
And how a person can become useful to the master.
And every time we discuss about useful to the master, we come to this question, how?
How can we be used to the master?
What does he mean by it?
Let me tell you in four different subjects, what I think Paul is meaning by this.
I think someone who is going to become useful to the master, there are four things that he has to do.
And I think he's telling Timothy to do.
I don't think this one is working.
The first one is like, they must work in their personal conduct by cleansing themselves.
From verse 20, 20, why we see that?
The second thing that they must do is that they must flee from evil desires and pursue godliness.
The first thing he says, don't worry, we're going to go through this in detail.
I'm just giving you a heads up.
The first thing we're going to go through is that they must avoid foolish and stupid arguments.
And be quarrelsome.
They shouldn't be quarrelsome.
And the last thing we're going to see is that they must oppose to what is wrong with kindness, patience, gentleness, and based on God's war.
So basically that's what we're going to be dealing with in the next few minutes.
So the first thing a person useful to the master must do is that they must work in their personal conduct by cleansing themselves.
Look what verses 20 and 21 says.
Paul uses illustration that has different kind of vessels.
The gold and the silver vessels are kept clean so that they may be used for special purposes.
Such as, I don't know, dinner parties or whatever you're going to use, this kind of stuff.
But he also says that the wood and clay vessels are used for common use.
Common use we can define like, I don't know, maybe in the kitchen to pull a tea box when we drink so much tea that we drink here.
Or I don't know what else.
Maybe for carry out garbage, for human waste.
I don't know, whatever sin he may refer to this common use.
So Paul is saying, Timothy, in so many ways, that Timothy, you and I are vessels.
So what sort of use are you going to have?
Says Paul.
And he says to Timothy, do you want to be a gold or silver vessel used for something special?
Or do you want to be a cheap clay pot?
But he goes on to say, Timothy, there's two different things of use that we can be given.
And actually, verse 21 gives us a clue of what makes a difference between what kind of vessels can we be.
Look what it says.
Those who cleanse themselves from the latter.
Many different versions of the Bible use this translation of latter as common use.
Some others will use dishonorable purposes.
So he's saying like, the difference in how you're going to be, what kind of vessel you're going to be,
it is whether you cleanse yourself or you don't.
In this context, cleaner himself means, in the latter, in this context,
means to refer to the false teaching that has been going on and was being expressed in this.
It is worth noting that false teaching are not just mental errors,
but there is something bad that needs to be cleansed.
So cleansing themselves for a person is not just something they can choose to do,
but actually their responsibility.
And this is what Paul says.
Paul says there are two different vessels,
but you've got to choose which one you are going to be.
And how do you choose that?
You must cleanse yourself.
Whether you cleanse yourself or not,
Paul says that is your responsibility, Timothy.
And you must do that.
And perhaps something worse,
something worse explaining here.
When Paul is saying that a person needs to cleanse himself,
by any means,
he is not teaching that men in his own effort
can atone for his own life
and get rid of the sin problem.
That's not what he is saying in this.
Because if he was saying that,
then the death of Christ would be useless and pointless.
So he is saying,
a person needs to cleanse himself from the latter,
from these dishonorable sins.
But by no means he's saying that a person in his own ability
has the ability to get rid of the sin problem.
That is something that Jesus can do.
And he himself cannot do.
So, but what is Paul saying then?
I think Paul is saying that
us, or you, Timothy,
can and you must avail
of the means by cleansing yourself
that God has provided in Christ.
That is your responsibility.
As an example,
imagine you're working in your garden.
And you've been working very hard.
You're just,
you become kind of muddy.
You've been working very.
I don't know how many hours can you work.
I'm not a gardener.
I have no idea how you do that.
But I can imagine after you finish,
you are so messy, dirty,
and I'm pretty sure nobody wants to hug you that moment.
So when you go inside a house,
when you get to the house,
you don't just,
I don't know,
spread your arms
and you begin to lick yourself
and clean yourself like a cat does.
Does it?
That's not the way we do it, is it?
What do you do normally?
Or what do we do normally?
We go inside our bathrooms,
get some soap
and get some water.
And what do we do?
We wash ourselves.
Maybe we take a shower,
whatever we do.
So,
the soap and the waters
are the means of the cleansing.
But,
each one of us
are the one responsible.
whether do we use them
to wash ourselves,
to cleanse ourselves,
or we're done.
What are you saying with all of this?
Just to get to the point.
This is the point.
God provided,
and we learn this in 1 John,
that blood of Jesus
as the means
of cleansing ourselves
from sins.
How do we do that?
By confessing,
says 1 John 1,
9.
So,
we are completely clean
at the moment
that we trust Jesus
as Christ's Savior.
That's something that happens
once and forever,
says the Bible.
But at the same time,
we daily go into a world
that is corrupted,
that is sinful.
So,
and we do
get,
I don't know,
surrounded by sin.
And let me tell you
something you probably
don't know.
I'm for sure you do.
We do sin as well.
So,
Paul says,
Paul says that we must
cleanse ourselves.
Jesus' sacrificial death
on the cross
cleanses us forever.
That's true.
But Paul says
that you also must
cleanse yourself
by constantly
confessing your sins,
constantly having
a good relationship
with God,
so that you are using
the means
in order for you
to cleanse yourself.
That's what Paul
is trying to say.
So,
confession of sins
must be a habit
in our lives
for cleansing ourselves.
And cleansing,
as I said before,
is our own responsibility.
Is that very clear?
I hope so.
Again,
we don't get rid
of the sin problem
in our own efforts.
That's only Jesus
can do that.
But what we can do,
we take the means,
meaning,
the sacrificial death
in Christ,
confessing our sins,
and through that
says Paul,
we can be cleansed
from our own sins.
But anyway,
so cleansing ourselves
is our responsibility.
The second thing
Paul goes to say
is that
cleansing ourselves,
by cleansing themselves
these people,
and useful
for the master people,
it cleansed themselves,
they become holy,
which is another word
for sanctify.
The word here
described as made holy
is a word
that means
set apart
for God.
It is used
three times
in the Bible.
The first one
is used in a context
of there is a
positional
sanctification.
If you read
Hebrews chapter 10,
verse 10,
you're going to learn
that.
What is positional
sanctification?
It is that
through the death
of Christ,
believers have been
sanctified
once and for all.
Look what it says,
Hebrews 10,
10.
And by that will,
we have been
made holy
to the sacrifice
of the body
of Jesus Christ
once and for all.
That is
positional
sanctification.
It means that
in God's eye
through Jesus Christ,
the moment we
trust in Him,
we are sanctified.
But there is also
a progressive
sanctification.
What does it mean?
It's that
as we grow in Christ,
we progressively
grow to be
conformed to His
image.
You can see that
in 2 Corinthians
chapter 7 and 1.
This is what it says.
Paul himself
is saying this.
This is what it says.
Listen to what it says.
Let us purify
ourselves from
everything
that contaminates
body and spirit.
Performing
holiness
out of reverence
for God.
So,
Paul is saying
a person
who cleans
himself,
he's going to
become sanctified.
They are made
holy.
So,
there is
three different
kinds of holiness
or sanctification.
The first one
is the one
made by Jesus.
That is positional
sanctification.
We've been
sanctified through Him
through His death
once and for all.
The second one
Paul says
in 2 Corinthians
is something
that happens
progressively
that we all
become holy.
And the last one
it is
ultimate
sanctification
which is actually
going to happen
once Jesus
is back
and we see
Him as He is
and according
to what it says
in 1 John
will be
like He is.
This is what it says
in John 2
verse 2
and 3
but we know
that when Christ
appears
we shall be
like Him
and we shall
see Him
as He is.
All who
have this hope
in Him
purify themselves
cleanse themselves
just as He
is pure
just as He
cleanses.
Again,
Paul is saying
that those who
cleanse themselves
they will become
sanctified.
I think for the
context of what's
happening here
Paul is describing
then the process
of progressive
sanctification.
That sanctification
that happens
in the daily
basis in our
lives.
We must be
growing in the
process of being
separate from
the doctrinal
and moral
evil.
Remember what
was happening
there throughout
the letter.
Graham was
telling us
two weeks ago
and Neil was
telling us again
the last week
ago what was
happening there.
There was a lot
of doctrinal
error.
And actually
what Paul is
trying to sell
to cleanse
ourselves
he's saying
keep yourself
away from
these sort
of
doctrinal
errors.
Go in
this process
of progressing
sanctification
trying to
be more
like Jesus
every day.
I think that's
what he means
when he says
by cleansing
ourselves
we become
holy,
we become
sanctified,
set apart
clean beds
for the Lord.
So the next
thing that
cleansing does
is like
by cleansing
ourselves
a person
who wants
to be
useful
for the
master
they become
useful
to the
master.
Master
is a
Greek word
from which
we get
our word
despot.
I know
despot
sometimes
it means
very bad
but in
the contents
it
emphasizes
Christ's
absolute
Lordship.
Paul's
point here
is that
dirty
vessels
are not
useful
to the
master.
Imagine
you go
to a
restaurant
and when
you are
given a
table
you go
and sit
there
and when
the person
brings
the utensils
all the
utensils
are on
the table
then you
realize that
utensils are
messy and
dirty
there are
some little
bit of rice
there are
some little
bit of juice
and whatever
they are
how do
you get
cross
don't you
you're like
please
just dear
waiters
waiter
would you dare
to come
and change
these utensils
because I
don't want
to use
them
what happens
here is
that in
the same
way
dirty
vessels
or dirty
utensils
nobody wants
to use
them
in the same
way
dirty
people
people who
do not
cleanse
themselves
they are
not useful
to the
master
by no
means
so Paul
is saying
so you
want to
be used
to the
master
what do
you have
to do
cleanse
ourselves
because he
is only
going to
use
those
who
cleanse
themselves
is it
getting
there
so the
dirty ones
are never
useful
and in
the same
way
it reminds
embrace
we're going
on again
for false
teaching
imagine
our
embrace
and
false
teaching
Paul
is saying
if you
embrace
into it
and your
lives
are tainted
by sin
there is
no way
that you
are going
to be
useful
for the
master
and Paul
is saying
by cleansing
ourselves
that is
responsibility
by cleansing
ourselves
you become
sanctified
and by
cleansing
ourselves
you also
what
you become
useful
to the
master
and the
last thing
he says
in this
part
is that
by
cleansing
ourselves
or by
cleansing
themselves
somebody
who wants
to become
useful
to the
master
as well
become
prepared
says Paul
in the
last part
of verse
21
they become
prepared
to do
any
good
work
it's not
only useful
to the
master
that we
gain
by
cleansing
ourselves
but also
prepare
for any
good
work
and in
a
context
I think
prepare
or being
prepared
here
it's the
idea of
being
willing
and being
ready
clean
vessels
are there
waiting
for the
master
to come
and pick
enough
to use
them
going
on
with
the
same
example
of
the
restaurant
the
dirty
ones
are
in
the
table
but
the
clean
ones
are
waiting
there
separated
in
a
place
waiting
for
the
waiter
to
go
and
get
it
so
they
can
be
used
so
prepare
to
do
any
good
work
it's
one
of
the
rewards
we
get
by
being
cleansed
ourselves
so
by
cleansing
ourselves
what do
we
get
it is
a
responsibility
cleansing
ourselves
what else
do we
have
we are
made
sanctified
by
cleansing
ourselves
what else
it is
that we
become
useful
to the
master
and by
cleansing
ourselves
what else
we are
prepared
for
any
good
work
so
that is
the
importance
of
being
cleansed
or
cleansing
ourselves
that's
a very
difficult
word
in
English
I
would
say
it would
be a lot
easier
in
Spanish
but again
this is
not
I
shouldn't
be doing
that
point
or
often
but
anyway
so
they
must
work
in
their
personal
conduct
by
cleansing
themselves
the
second
thing
they
must
do
is
that
they
must
flee
look
verse
22
they
must
flee
from
evil
desires
and
pursue
godliness
there
are
here
two
strong
commands
the
first
one
is
flee
to
flee
and
the
second
one
is
to
pursue
Timothy
is
to
flee
from
evil
desires
or
youth
and
pursue
godliness
here
Paul
described
godliness
in
verse
22
it
says
flee
the
evil
desires
of
youth
and
pursue
righteousness
and
he
defines
righteousness
as
he
says
pursue
righteousness
faith
love
and
peace
along
with
those
who
call
on
the
Lord
out
of
pure
heart
I
think
by
defining
righteousness
faith
love
and
peace
with
those
who
call
on
the
name
of
the
Lord
out
of
pure
heart
I
think
he
say
you
must
pursue
godliness
I
think
godliness
involves
righteousness
involves
faith
involves
love
and on
so the
first thing
he says
in here
they must
flee
from evil
desires
of youth
we
usually
associate
this
with
this
term
with
fleeing
away
from
desires
of youth
or evil
desires
or youthful
lust
as some
other
translations
says
we
associate
this
with
sexual
temptations
but
to be
honest
given
the
context
maybe
those
temptations
are not
always
present
in
every
man
I
don't
think
the
main
issue
here
is
sexual
temptations
that
some
people
would
assume
I think
given a
country
or something
more
I think
what Paul
is trying
to say
through this
flee from
evil
desires
of youth
that
I think
he's referring
to sinful
desires
so while
sexual
temptation
may be
included
in evil
desires
I don't
think
it's the
main
focus
rather
again
what Paul
is trying
to say
I think
he's referring
to wrong
desires
wrong
things
they
want
to
use
those
things
that
younger
men
are
more
vulnerable
than
older
men
are
Calvin
used
to
say
this
you
understood
this
way
that
these
evil
desires
of youth
are the
propensity
of younger
men
to lose
their tempers
and rush
forward
a heated
argument
with more
confidence
and rashness
than men
of their
older age
so
Timothy
is going
to be
facing a
lot of
bad
teaching
a lot
fast
teaching
and he
must
stand
firm
to defend
his
fate
against
serious
error
but he
is not
to be
arrogant
about how
much
he knows
impatiently
to bless
those in
error
or being
quarrel
or assertive
rather
he says
they must
flee themselves
for these
attitudes
whenever he's
going to go
and face
somebody
like that
Paul is
saying
you might
be tempered
you might
be correct
I think
rather than
describing
sexual
issues
in here
I think
he's
saying
flee
away
from
those
desires
that young
men
have
to fight
and become
superior
to anyone
to think
they know
everything
when they are
just young
I think
in so many
ways
that's
what he's
saying
and he
says
not only
to flee
from
these
desires
of youth
but also
says
you must
pursue
godliness
and as I
said
before
godliness
is defined
as
righteousness
faith
love
and peace
fleeing
and pursuing
are totally
different things
they are totally
opposed to one
another
it is not
he has to
flee
from these
evil desires
he must
pursue
godly
character
he must
pursue
godliness
the first
thing he
says
describing
the godliness
he says
must pursue
righteousness
this is
basically
behaving
according
to what
god's
word
says
god's
word
is
not
unclear
about
how
we
should
live
and
behave
it
doesn't
offer
a
helpful
hints
on how
to
live
rather
it
gives
us
commands
it
gives
us
authority
it
says
this
is
the
way
you're
going
to
behave
the
bible
doesn't
say
well
you may
choose
to
behave
this
way
you
may
not
choose
to
behave
this
way
but
rather
the
bible
says
you
must
live
this
way
and
i
think
paul
is
giving
us
another
command
saying
you
must
pursue
righteousness
so
live
according
to what
the bible
says
and live
in that
way
the
second
thing
he
says
they
must
pursue
faith
and
the
Greek
word
here
means
faithfulness
so
it
means
that
you
are
trustworthy
and
reliable
when
someone
gives
you
a
job
a
person
who
wants
to be
useful
for
the
Lord
must
be
counting
on
to
do
that
somebody
who
wants
to
be
useful
to
the
Lord
has
to
be
reliable
somebody
you
must
depend
on
can
you
imagine
they
asked
me
to
come
and
preach
today
if
I
have
five
or
six
I
just
call
John
and
say
I'm
sorry
man
I'm
talking
for
goal
I'm
playing
football
deal
with
that
is
no
reliability
at
all
and
Paul
is
saying
pursue
in so
many
ways
as
well
so
a
person
who
wants
to
be
useful
for
the
master
must
trust
that
God
is
God
and
let
him
be
him
the
next
thing
he
says
about
he
has
to
pursue
in
godliness
he
says
pursue
love
I
know
we
are
going
very
slow
but
it
is
one
of
those
small
passages
are
probably
the
ones
who
give
more
headaches
to
preachers
because
you
never
know
how
I
have
to
go
all
the
way
in
so
pursue
love
he
says
here
one
of
the
things
that
people
tend
to
assume
you
probably
know
it
that
everyone
is
very
loving
people
everyone
oh
I'm
a loving
person
I'm
a loving
person
I love
everyone
but
actually
that's
not
reality
that's
not
what
the
Bible
says
the
Bible
says
we
are
selfish
and
we
are
all
like
in
so
in
ways
lovers
ourselves
we
always
think
in
ourselves
we
always
think
the
way
we
want
to
do
rather
Paul
says
somebody
who
wants
to
be
useful
for
the
master
what
he
has
to
do
must
pursue
love
must
consider
themselves
less
and
consider
some
others
first
before
he
is
thinking
what
do
I
get
here
he
is
what
am I
willing
to
give
what
am I
willing
to
do
how
can
I
love
this
person
in
a
way
I
want
to
be
loved
by
this
person
Paul
is
saying
you
must
pursue
love
how
do
you
pursue
love
think
and
put
the
other
person
first
and
then
go
to
yourself
Jesus
said
treat
different
people
treat
another
one
in
the
same
way
that
you
want
to
be
treated
yourself
so
somebody
wants
to
be
useful
for
the
master
must
pursue
love
and
the
last
thing
he
says
they
also
must
pursue
peace
and
peace
is
something
that
doesn't
usually
happen
peace
doesn't
happen
for
accident
peace
is
not
something
you
just
go
and
buy
in
the
corner
store
that
you
find
in
your
neighborhood
peace
is
something
you
must
pursue
peace
is
something
you
must
work
on
to
it
those
who
are
married
and
know
their
partners
whenever
they
go
to
split
a
fight
know
hard
very
hard
to
pursue
peace
it
is
you
really
must
work
hard
to
do
it
and
to
gain
it
and
Paul
is
saying
if
you
really
want
to
be
someone
useful
to
the
master
you
must
pursue
peace
and
why
is
he
saying
this
because
Paul
knows
all
the
issues
that
are
happening
with
false
teaching
he
knows
at
some
point
Timothy
is
going
to
have
to
stand
and
he's
going
to
have
to
defend
his
fate
but
even
in
a
way
he
does
it
he
says
you
have
to
pursue
peace
you
have
to
make
sure
that
what
you
want
from
these
people
is
for
them
to
realize
their
mistake
and
not
for
you
to
win
an
argument
they
need
to
pursue
peace
with
one
another
that's
what
it
says
the
second
part
along
with
those
who
call
upon
the
name
of
the
Lord
of
pure
heart
we
know
as
Christians
even
in our
home
church
even
when
we
all
love
the
Lord
sometimes
there
is
misunderstand
sometimes
we
don't
get
along
very
well
sometimes
we
didn't
like
how
the
coffee
was
made
sometimes
we
don't
like
what
the
preacher
was
saying
sometimes
we
don't
like
the
kind
of
the
accent
this
guy
is
saying
and
sometimes
they
don't
produce
anything
but
sometimes
they
do
produce
a big
misunderstanding
and
Paul
is
saying
when
those
things
happen
among
those
who
love
the
Lord
and
call
him
but
Paul
says
if
you
do
that
then
you
become
useful
to
the
master
that
is
the
only
way
you
are
going
to
do
it
anyway
I'm
going
very
slow
and
nearly
time
to
finish
the
next
thing
we're
going
to
do
the
next
thing
we're
going
to
do
is
the
next
thing
someone
who
wants
to
be
useful
for
the
master
has
to
do
they
must
avoid
verse
23
and
24
they
must
avoid
foolish
and
stupid
arguments
and
being
quarrelsome
look
in your
bibles
at the
moment
in
verse
14
of
this
chapter
and
look
what
he
says
about
his
stupid
arguments
look
what
he
says
if
people
quarrel
over
words
it
is
of
no
value
and
only
ruins
those
who
are
listening
look
what
he
says
in
verse
16
about
his
stupid
arguments
godless
chatters
leads
people
into
ungodliness
look
what
he
says
in
verse
17
the
words
wrongly
used
will
spread
like
gangrene
Paul
is
saying
those
who
want
to
be
used
by
the
master
they
must
avoid
this
foolish
and
stupid
arguments
the
definition
of
foolish
and
stupid
arguments
bring
what
do
they
bring
we
see
it
again
they
bring
in
verse
14
ruin
in
verse
16
they
bring
ungodliness
in
verse
18
they
destroy
the
fair
sons
and
here
in
verse
23
look
what
it
says
don't
have
anything
to do
with
foolish
and
stupid
arguments
because
you
know
they
produce
quarrels
Paul
knows
that
somehow
even in
the way
he's
serving
quarrels
are going
to happen
and he
says
to
Timothy
do not
do that
avoid
those
stupid
nonsense
things
because
they
produce
ruin
on
people
they're
going
to
give
you
a
headache
they're
going
to
bring
bad
things
to
you
but
the
question
or
the
thing
to
say
is
like
arguments
and
these
kind
of
things
will
always
happen
but
what
do
you
need
to
do
when
these
things
happen
I
think
Paul
is
giving
in so
many ways
some
advice
to
it
correctional
must
be
needed
they
must
be
done
wisely
some
issues
Paul
says
I
know
I
assume
Paul
is
saying
that
there
are
no
words
dealing
with
as
I
said
before
he
says
do
not
have
anything
to
do
with
foolish
and
stupid
arguments
because
you
know
they
produce
quarrels
I
think
he
is
talking
about
those
who
are
getting
into
fruitless
and
doctrinal
controversies
in the
church
those
who
are
arguing
for
silly
issues
he
is
saying
do
not
let
those
silly
issues
that
have
nothing
to
do
with
the
faith
become
something
that
you
fight
for
the
question
is
how
do
we
determine
whether
an
issue
is
foolish
and
stupid
argument
or
whether
it's
something
that
matters
that
we
really
have
to
press
on
I
think
there
are
quite
a few
questions
we should
ask
ourselves
I
was
talking
to
one
of
my
friends
and
this
is
a
suggestion
he
was
giving
me
he
says
whenever
you
see
an
issue
that
perhaps
needs
you
don't
know
whether
you
should
press
on
you
should
fight
for
you
should
argue
for
he
says
ask
yourself
these
questions
these
are
quite
a few
questions
he
has
is
anyone
being
disobedient
to
God's
war
and
what's
happening
here
another
question
he
says
what's
happening
here
is
there
is
a
major
doctrinal
error
some
doctrinal
errors
are
essential
to
the
Christian
faith
and
they
must
be
fought
but
there
are
some
issues
that
they
don't
really
need
to
be
addressed
there
are
some
issues
we
don't
really
have
to
argue
with
because
our
salvation
is
not
depending
on
then
so
Paul
is
saying
those
issues
just
avoid
it
don't
try
not
to
go
there
just
walk
away
from
there
walk
away
Timothy
that is
the way
to do
it
and
perhaps
the
other
question
we
should
always
ask
is
what
is
the
point
of
having
this
argument
here
am
I
just
doing
it
because
I
want
to
win
an
argument
and
say
I
know
more
than
everybody
else
or
when
I'm
going
to
go
into
this
argument
I
don't
consider
that
this
person
needs
to
know
and
learn
so
can
serve
the law
in a
better
way
I
think
probably
those
are
good
pointers
to
have
in
our
heads
whenever
we
have
to
go
through
this
we
are
going
to
have
an
argument
we
are
going
to
go
to
stand
with
difficult
situations
the
next
thing
he
says
that
correction
is
needed
he
has
to
avoid
quarrel
zones
quarrel
zone
is
a
person
who
is
always
willing
to
argue
and argue
he's
always
trying
to
find
the
dots
in
the
eyes
he's
always
trying
to
see
what
is
wrong
he
doesn't
like
what
your
hair
is
he
doesn't
like
the
way
you
dress
he
doesn't
like
the
word
quarrel
in
Spanish
that's
why
I
have
to
come
out
with
ways
to
explain
it
but
quarrel
is
somebody
who
likes
fighting
likes
arguing
over
wars
and
Paul
says
to
Timothy
a
person
who
wants
to
be
useful
by
the
master
they
don't
have
to
do
it
they
have
to
avoid
it
you
cannot
correct
anyone
if
you're
an
antagonistic
person
the
most
effective
correction
takes
place
when
the
other
so
you
must
determine
always
before
you
go
to
the
other
person
whether
this
is
an
error
who
is
worth
arguing
or
not
doesn't
really
matter
has
to
do
with
the
fate
or
not
this
person
is
going
to
lose
their
self
is
this
person
saved
by
believing
this
or
this
person
is
not
saved
by
believing
this
and
then
you
have
to
fight
for
Paul
is
saying
to
this
guy
Timothy
do
not
avoid
yourself
in
foolish
and
stupid
arguments
do
not
fight
which
football
team
this
church
has
to
support
we
all
know
his
hearts
do
not
fight
for
that
is
Paul
that
is
not
important
that
is
not
relevant
but
there
are
some
things
that
you
must
stand
for
if
someone
believes
that
baptism
is
necessary
condition
for
salvation
that
is
an
issue
you
must
fight
for
because
we
all
know
it's
not
it's
part
of
a
testimony
a
symbolic
testimony
of
our
faith
but
it
does
not
have
everything
just
for
giving
an
example
I don't
want to
go into
baptism
at the
moment
I'm
just
giving
an
example
of
what
Paul
is
saying
so
he's
saying
then
that
there
are
these
three
things
as we
have
seen
before
and
the
last
one
he
said
we're
supposed
to
finish
two
minutes
ago
according
to
my
plan
but
we're
probably
going
to
go
for
another
fight
I'm
really
sorry
the
last
thing
he
says
if
somebody
wants
to be
useful
to
the
master
what
do
they
need
to
do
they
must
oppose
to
what
is
run
with
kindness
patience
gentleness
and based
on God's
war
look what
it says
from verse
24b
and on
oh
24
I'm
sorry
and the
Lord
server
must
not
be
quarrel
but
must
be
kind
to
everyone
able
to
teach
nor
sinful
opponents
must
be
gently
instructed
in the
hope
that
God
will
grant
them
repentance
leading
them
to
the
knowledge
of
the
truth
and
that
they
will
come
to
their
sentence
and
escape
from
the
wrath
of
the
devil
who
has
taken
them
captive
to
do
his
will
so
the
first
thing
he
says
you're
going
to
oppose
to
something
that
is
wrong
Timothy
you
must
do
with
kindness
the
Greek
word
for
kindness
has
a
similar
translation
to
male
Paul
uses
this
in
1
Thessalonians
chapter 2
verse 7
where he
describes
himself
as
he compares
himself
to a
nursing
mother
tenderly
he says
he's
like a
nursing
mother
tenderly
caring
for
her
own
child
we
often
think
that
correction
must
be
harsh
but
Paul
says
it
has
to
be
very
kind
says
Paul
the
next
thing
Paul
says
if
you're
going
to
oppose
something
that
is
wrong
you
have
to
have
patience
with
it
perhaps
it's
worth
noticing
that
Paul
never
says
that
we'll
never
face
opposition
we'll
never
face
criticism
we'll
never
face
wrong
teaching
we'll
never
face
false
teaching
Paul
at any
moment
says
that
that's
not
going
to
happen
in
the
church
actually
those
who
are
in
ministry
know
that
happens
almost
every
other
day
but
rather
what
Paul
is
saying
is
things
like
that
is
kind
expected
that's
going
to
happen
that's
why
he's
telling
to
Timothy
this is
the way
you're
going
to
do
it
so
a
good
servant
useful
to
the
master
must
be
very
kind
in
the way
of
taken
you
won't
be
able
to
bring
this
person
back
and
you
lose
the
ability
to
correct
someone
effectively
I know
this is
a lot
of
instructions
here
but
that's
the way
Paul
was
addressing
to
Timothy
he's
a young
servant
he's
been
there
in
ministry
nearly
about
10
years
serving
in
the
church
and
there
is
a lot
of
things
going
on
with
false
teaching
and
he's
to
know
this
he's
going
to
know
these
things
today
because
those
things
even
were
relevant
in
that
church
back
in
the
day
that
are
still
relevant
in
our
lives
we
are
not
all
preachers
and
teachers
but
we
are
all
believers
and
we
all
want
to
be
useful
to
the
master
so
we
need
to
know
these
kind
of
things
the
next
thing
he
says
you
are
going
to
be
opposed
to
something
that
is
wrong
you
must
do
with
gentleness
the
word
used
but
gentle
is
used
in
secular
Greek
to
refer
to
horses
to
a
horse
that
had
been
broken
down
it
was
strong
and
powerful
but
now
is
in
complete
submission
to
his
master
he
is
no
longer
wild
but
now
is
controlled
by
what
the
master
wants
him
to
do
so
the
biblical
word
may
include
behavior
speech
as
well
so
what
Paul
is
saying
that
a
gentle
person
it's
sensitive
in
complete
submission
to
the
master
will
he
is
not
acting
on
his
own
self
will
Paul
is
saying
you
want
to
be
useful
to
the
master
you
must
be
gentle
even
in
the
way
you
treat
to
people
do
not
add
in
the
way
as
you
are
thinking
this
is
something
I
just
came
out
with
but
add
in
the
way
according
to
what
the
master
wants
what
does
the
master
wants
he
wants
you
to
do
what
he
is
telling
you
to
do
we'll
get
to
this
so
the
very
last
thing
we're
going to
be
seeing
is
that
he
asks
in
the
last
verse
that
whenever
you're
going to
oppose
something
that
is
wrong
you
must
be
opposing
25
and
26
you
must
be
opposing
based
on
God's
war
Paul
says
that
the
Lord
servant
must
be
able
to
teach
my
teaching
means
he's
not
going
to
teach
what
the
new
what
good
book
and
studies
you
use
here
whatever
good
math
you're
going
to
teach
how
good
is
calligraphy
orthography
he's
not
going
to
teach
history
what
is
a
good
servant
God
is
going
to
teach
the
word
of
God
so
he's
saying
whenever
you're
going
to
correct
you're
going
to
be
opposed
to
something
that
is
wrong
you
must
instruction
and
correction
or
discipline
to
a
child
so
a
person
who
wants
to
be
useful
by
the
master
he
must
he
has
to
be
able
to
teach
I
think
this
is
more
a
quality
of
teachers
and
preachers
but
in
so
many
ways
it
does
apply
to
us
because
we
do
have
to
study
and
learn
our
Bibles
as
well
so
he
must
prepare
himself
he
is
a
teacher
and
teachers
requires
preparation
his
work
is
to
teach
the
Bible
the
gospel
in
the
Christian
life
so
he
has
to
use
words
but
he
has
to
use
them
well
we
already
seen
what
happens
when
bad
words
are
used
what
happens
with
all
the
bad
chatters
what
happens
with
all
the
stupid
and
foolish
arguments
so
a
person
who
is
going
to
be
useful
for
the
master
must
be
they
have
to
be
able
to
teach
in
order
to
do
that
they
must
prepare
themselves
but
what
does
he
need
to
know
to
be
able
to
teach
he
must
know
the
truth
which
is
the
truth
the
Bible
look
what
happens
in
just
put
a
finishing
example
in
verse
18
Paul
is
describing
to
Timothy
that
he
is
facing
some
false
teaching
he
is
describing
what
was
happening
there
look
he
is
describing
a
hymenias
and
philetus
and
they
were
saying
that
is
last
week
I
saw
some
of
his
lines
here
that
hymenias
and
philetus
were
saying
that
the
resurrection
have
already
taken
place
we
don't
really
know
what
they
were
saying
exactly
we
don't
know
the
right
words
but
that's
what
Paul
says
that
those
two
were
saying
that
the
resurrection
has
happened
and
perhaps
they
were
saying
this
but
we
don't
know
what
exactly
words
were
but
perhaps
they
were
teaching
something
that
heard
from
Paul
but
they
were
teaching
in a
very
bad
way
quite
a
few
times
remember
that
Paul
quite
a
few
times
hasn't
spoken
about
the
resurrection
in his
letter
to the
Colossians
in one
level
he says
because
the
believer
because
Jesus
is
risen
and
his
people
the
believers
are
united
with
Jesus
and
his
death
and
his
resurrection
Paul
says
that
his
people
are
risen
with
him
so
in
so
many
ways
he's
saying
yeah
we
in
so
many
ways
we
are
risen
with
him
through
the
faith
but
in
principle
what
Paul
was
teaching
is
that
believers
share
the
resurrection
that
is
in
Christ
but
by
not
any
means
I
think
Paul
was
trying
to
say
that
the
resurrection
of
the
body
has
happened
yet
but
I
think
that
is
the
issue
with
Hymenaeus
and
Philetus
because
they
were
saying
that
the
resurrection
has
happened
and
that
resurrection
they
were
teaching
that
was
false
have
some
implication
with
the
way
they
were
behaving
they
were
using
their
bodies
and
Paul
has
already
quite a
few
times
in
the
Bible
talked
about
the
resurrection
saying
that
we
are
united
with
Christ
and
in
so
many
ways
we
are
with
Christ
in
his
resurrection
but
by
no
any
means
Paul
was
saying
that
the
resurrection
of
the
body
of
the
believer
has
happened
because
that
is
going to
happen
when
Jesus
is
back
we
are
still
waiting
for
that
because
you
look at
your
body
you
look
at
my
body
you
realize
we
don't
have
glorified
bodies
yet
we
look
kind
old
we
are
getting
older
every
day
we
are
not
happy
we
get
tired
don't
know
what
is
the
way
we
look
but
you
know
our
bodies
are
not
glorified
yet
but
how
do
we
know
this
how
do
we
know
that
this
is
true
because
we
know
what
the
Bible
says
and
a
good
teacher
somebody
who
is
able
to
teach
and
wants
to
be
useful
for
the
master
needs
to
know
this
Timothy
needed
to
know
this
in
order
to
face
Hymenaeus
and
Philetus
has
to be
based
on
the
Bible
the
last
thing
in
the
same
way
he
says
that
those
who
oppose
verse
25
and
26
oppose
them
to
the
knowledge
of
the
truth
when
he
says
those
need
to
come
to
the
knowledge
of
the
truth
perhaps
he
is
talking
about
unbelievers
since
Paul
uses
this
phrase
consistently
of
unbelievers
in
his
letters
it's
someone's
professes
to
know
Christ
but
persists
in
heretical
teaching
of
godless
behavior
perhaps
his
claims
falls
even
when
in
quite
a few
times
Hymenaeus
and
Philetus
were
meant
to be
people
preparing
for
ministry
what
they
were
saying
was
totally
wrong
and
he
compromised
the
faith
and
Paul
is
telling
to
Timothy
you
must
stand
against
that
you
must
go and
talk
to
them
about
kindness
with
love
let
them
see
clearly
that
is
mistaken
and
he
said
in
the
last
part
that
perhaps
God
is
going to
grant
them
repentance
so
they
can
realize
their
error
and
come
and
repent
for
them
but
one
of the
things
we
have
to
understand
with
repentance
it's
only
granted
by
God
that's
what
Paul
says
and
that
will
come
to
their
senses
and
escape
from
the
trap
of
the
devil
opponents
must
be
gently
instructed
in
the
hope
that
God
will
grant
repentance
is
only
God
who
does
and
produce
repentance
it
doesn't
matter
how
many
hours
I
work
on
my
sermon
it
doesn't
matter
how
many
books
of
the
Bible
I
know
it
doesn't
matter
how
many
times
how
many
books
I
have
written
on
my
own
whenever
I'm
teaching
or
preaching
to
someone
it
is
not
my
ability
it
is
not
my
skill
it
is
not
your
ability
it
is
not
your
skill
who
produces
repentance
says
Paul
it's
only
God
and
let
me
tell
you
brothers
and
sisters
that
was
probably
so
liberating
from
Timothy
and
that's
perhaps
so
liberating
for
us
that
a
person's
repentance
doesn't
handle
me
doesn't
hang
on
you
hangs
in
God
and
in
his
grace
if
he
grants
repentance
to
someone
he
will
God
will
be
glorified
by
the
person's
turning
from
sin
to
Christ
if
he
will
hold
repentance
he
will
be
glorified
in
his
justice
and
condemning
this
person
to
the
judgment
because
they
refuse
to
repent
so
that
is
what
Paul
was
saying
to
Timothy
you
want
to
be
useful
to
the
master
this
is
what
you
have
to
do
there's
no
other
way
Timothy
you
must
clean
yourself
work
in
your
personal
conduct
clean
yourself
it's
your
responsibility
you
must
be
holy
you
must
be
sanctified
how do
you
do
that
by
cleansing
yourself
Timothy
you
must
you
become
useful
to
the
master
you
cleanse
yourself
and
you
are
going
to
be
prepared
for
any
good
work
to
cleanse
yourself
and
Paul
says
Timothy
flee
from
evil
desires
and pursue
godliness
what is
godliness
described
righteousness
faith
love
and peace
also
avoid
these
stupid
foolish
arguments
and stop
being
quarrelsome
and finally
Paul
says to
Timothy
post
what is
wrong
with
kindness
patience
godliness
and based
on what
god's
word
says
at the
end
of the
day
it's
only
god
who's
going
to
do
this
that
is
what
he
was
dealing
with
in
this
last
six
verses
of this
passage
let's
bow our
heads
and pray
but we
do know
that
there is
a strong
desire
in our
hearts
to be
used
by
you
we
all
want
to be
used
by
you
we
all
want
to be
involved
in doing
something
for your
glory
lord
but Paul
was describing
here so
many
requirements
that somebody
who wants
to be
useful
by the
master
has to
do
let us
lend to
what
happened
to
Timothy
and the
way
he
was
instructed
and let
us
continue
growing
by the
day
father
this
is
progressive
sanctification
we are
talking
about
this
is
a
daily
art
of
repentance
of confessing
our sins
over
this
is
desire
and
diligence
in the
way
we
study
the
bible
this
is
grace
and
humility
in the
way
we
treat
other
people
and
this
is
hope
as well
father
that
while
we
will
do
all
those
things
those
people
who
are
surrounding
us
who
don't
know
you
may
come
to
repentance
or
perhaps
not
but
it's
so
liberating
to
know
that
it's
only
you
the
one
who
does
it
let
us
be
used
by
you
and
useful
for
your
glory
Lord
Amen