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BATTLING FALSE TEACHING. 2 Timothy 2:14-19. 10/16/2022. #6.
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 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. Worth remembering
a. This is a summary statement: all that I have just taught, believe, pass on to others, and remind them
a1. Not to fear standing for Christ
a2. Not to be ashamed of Christ before ridicule
a3. Hold onto sound truth
a4. Live a stellar life for Christ
a5. Trust the Lord for guidance and strength
a6. Teach others how to know and stand for him
b. Diligence in study, faith, and godliness is key to be approved of the Lord
a1. Very few believers are diligent students of the Word and can defend their beliefs
a2. I Peter 3:13-17 be able to instruct others in the faith
c. Bible study is not just for preachers and professors
d. Rightly dividing the Word of truth
a1. Knowing what the Bible actually says
a2. Understand how the Bible is to be applied
e. Many ways to err in studying the Bible
a1. Superficial context – gaining meaning from a passage without considering its context
a2. Proof texting – lifting verses out of context
a3. Misapplication – not applying vs. properly
a4. Misappropriation – applying passages out of their setting (things that apply to OT Jews versus the church or to apostles and not us)
2. Bible babble
a. Paul warns not to argue over trivia and speculation
a1. Errors occur when we impose our ideas on the Word (how we think truth should be)
a2. 3 areas of foolish arguments: (1) philosophical speculation (2) methodology differences (3) conformity to form and control
b. Divisions lead to sins of strife and ridicule
a1. Fighting in an assembly is a poor testimony
a2. Some differences do not matter
3. Damaging discourse
a. Speculation leads to heresy
a1. Asserting unproven or unknown things pulls the church into error
a2. Hymenause and Philetus claimed that the rapture had already passed = many followed their error
b. The weak are subject to being led into error, particularly by forceful men
a1. False teaching divides the church and dilutes gospel (truth mixed with error)
a2. There is judgment on false teachers and those who lead others to stray
c. Paul gives three solutions to guard our hearts
a1. The Word of God still contains the truth, so study the truth and make it your own
a2. Those who are truly in the faith, God keeps and knows (can stand for truth in midst of error and confusion)
a3. Depart from sin and error—most false teachers seek a following for themselves as a matter of pride and self-importance, often teaching error to support their own sin
d. Knowing, believing, following, and teaching truth are key to protecting self and others
a1. All spiritual truth can be biblically supported
a2. If someone uses confused logic = not true
Key verse: 1 Peter 3:13-17
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.