2 Timothy Series - The Importance of Living a Holy Clean Life

 

The Importance of Living a Holy Clean Life

2 Tim. 2:20-26

Scripture continually tells us from Genesis to Revelation that all who believe must be holy, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Jn. 3:3; Heb. 12:14) 

As others and Paul exhort all believers, let us live a life that is holy to honor our God and Lord, for honor should be the goal of every believer, especially when it comes to honoring Jesus with a holy clean life. For Paul had told us in Romans the value of honor is in fulfilling what is due them. “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Rom. 13:7) The purpose of our lives in Jesus is to truly live lives honoring Him for He is worthy of all honor, power, and glory. “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Rev. 4:11)

So let’s look at the first portion of the lesson’s text.

“In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

Paul uses the analogy of dinnerware in showing honor to God and to others by our service of good works. Paul may have been accustomed to eating with the Gentile elite as well as the commoner. But his focus here is on honoring God and that in doing that he brings us to the concept of quality of dinnerware as an object of honor at a meal, whereas the use of the common wood and clay dinnerware were for more common and everyday affairs. Both are needed, but one showed the place of honor before special guests, selected use, or events. At the feasts, the use of gold or silver dinnerware was called for, but at an ordinary meal the common ware was sufficient. Paul wasn’t saying that ordinary dinnerware was unworthy, but in the service of special use, it was the finer dinnerware that brought honor to the Master of the large house.

Paul made two distinguishing points about the dinnerware outside of special or/and common use. 

First, was the cleanliness of the dinnerware. Most common ware would have mars or nicks from continual use and was not fit for special service or honored guests. He compared this to honoring the master and His guests in the large house with the best. Second, the gold and silver utensils and dinnerware were of special purpose, similar to the utensils used in the temple for worship to God. They are holy, separated for the use of the Master and for good works.

Application - If we want to honor our Lord, we must be instruments of holiness, set apart for His special use and good works. In the Old Testament the utensils and plates used in the tabernacle and temple worship were never used for anything but in the service for the worship of God. In today’s service to God, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and our lives should be holy, cleansed by the sacred blood of Jesus, and indwelled by the Holy Spirit. We are to be clean, not tarnished or marred by sin as the scripture tells us, “...beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Jn. 3:3) Paul’s admonition to the church in Ephesus is for the church today, we are his chosen vessels, set apart for His service, whether it be the cleaning of the sanctuary, the teaching of the Word of God, or for His daily use in our lives. All are to be holy. Our lives should be cleansed of the wickedness and sinful desires of the world, for the scripture is clear, we are to “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:4)

Last, Paul instructions are personal for Timothy, for he was like a son to Paul and he spoke like a father to keep his son’s life holy to the Lord, as fine dinnerware of gold and silver, honoring God. Let’s read the last portion of the text, “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know 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 gently 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 trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Though Timothy was mature enough to teach the Word, Paul still understood the desires of a young man. Paul wanted Timothy to flee lustful wickedness or temptation in whatever form it may present itself. Like the wisdom Solomon spoke of in the proverbs to his son, Timothy was to pursue the holy and righteous life before God, honoring him with his life. In this life pursuit, he was to strive for righteousness. He was to be a man who placed rightness ahead of his own desires, to seek God’s will and honor, not his own in all matters of life. 

Timothy was to focus on faith, love and peace, all fruits of the Holy Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control... Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:22-25) For by faith, he would walk in the Spirit ( “For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7) not by the insight of men but by the insight and grace of God. Love and peace were to be achieved through holiness, forgiveness and obedience to our Lord Jesus’ commands and teachings. Timothy was to call on and live with a heart that strived and craved purity. He was to pursue and develop these fruits in his life.

Paul then again exhorts Timothy not to take part in foolishness. The arguing over “stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.” There was enough conflict and chaos outside the church, they weren’t to bring it into the church. The focus of the teachings of Christ were to draw believers to salvation, holiness, and to the Father. Paul wanted Timothy to focus on the holy scripture, Jesus’ teachings, and the leading of the Holy Spirit as he relayed the words of direction from Jesus. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”  “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” (Jn. 14:26; 16:13-14)

Timothy was to be known for his kindness and gentleness (more fruits of the Spirit) in addressing those who opposed him. He was to speak the truth of God’s Word and let the Holy Spirit convict the people of their sinfulness (John 16:8) leading them to repentance and the knowledge of the truth. For it is only the truth of God’s Word that will set them free from the sin that entangled them in arguments and bound them to these heretical teachings. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Jn. 8:31b-32)

For Satan had laid traps for Paul, Timothy, and other saints through the manipulation and twisting the scriptures into a lie, which had captured the heart, mind, and soul of those who argued from a fleshly and sinful mindset, he seduced them into following and submitting to his will. 

Application - How easy it is to get sucked into living as the world lives, and into arguments that use faulty logic at best and purely demonic at worst. It seldom leads to anything godly. We are to flee from these desires and pursue righteousness (the righteous acts of living a holy and blameless life before God and others). It should be evident to us by examining ourselves to see if we are bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit ( love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). I know in my own life, I want to solve another person’s problems with doctrinal errors, and then the Holy Spirit convicts me and refrains me from entering into sinful and fruitless arguments. We, like Paul and Timothy, need to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance in gently admonishing the error with God’s truth, His Word. In doing this we have taken ourselves out of the fray and allowed the Holy Spirit and the Truth of God’s Word to do its work. For they are very capable of demolishing arguments and pretension that falsely sets themselves up against the knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:4-6)

We need to be in submission and yield to the Holy Spirit, trusting God to what only He can do in the spirit realm of our hearts, minds, and souls. As Paul spoke before by the Holy Spirit, “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 trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

So let’s be the godly bondservants that God has called us to be, let us live a life that is holy to honor our God and Lord, for honor should be the goal of every believer, especially when it comes to honoring Jesus with a holy clean life. He is coming back for a pure, blameless, and spotless bride (church), so let us live a holy clean life in eager expectation for His soon coming. Amen

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis