// Intro
Deuteronomy 1:17
1:17 Ye shall not respect
persons in judgment; [but] ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye
shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment [is] God's: and the cause that
is too hard for you, bring [it] unto me, and I will hear it.
Matthew 7:13-14
7:13 Enter ye in at the strait
gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be
which go in thereat:
7:14 Because strait [is] the
gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
- That's a rather scary passage
- Scary -> "...straight and narrow"
- REALLY scary -> "...few there be that find it."
- That's a rather harrowing thought, isn't it?
- But see, there's a reason that only a few will find that way
- and there's actually something that CAN make it encouraging
- the encouragement -> the deciding factor is our heart condition
- Before I continue... [I want responses]
- Let's talk about the Bible
- Despite w/e zeal or feelings of urgency you may have...
- When you firmly decide to follow God as close to perfectly as possible...
- You're not going to be able to accomplish all things perfectly from day one
- ... or even day 1000
- It's just not going to happen
- God's plan was not designed that way
- His plan involves us learning and applying as we go
Isaiah 28:10
28:10 For precept [must be]
upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a
little:
Philippians 1:6
1:6 Being confident of this
very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus
Christ:
- Life-long process
- God knows that
- And I've been instructed by the Lord to talk about an
aspect of that process
2 Timothy 2:11-13
2:11 [It is] a faithful saying:
For if we be dead with [him], we shall also live with [him]:
2:12 If we suffer, we shall
also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:
2:13 If we believe not, [yet]
he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
- This next passage is one everybody has heard and they love it
- They've heard it... and they love it
- When their zeal is kindled...
- But keep this in mind... faith and emotion are tow VERY different things
- [elab]
2 Timothy 2:15-26
2:15 Study to shew thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth.
- "...approved unto God..." -> "ye
shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment [is] God's" - Deut. 1:17
- "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed"
- Why is the word "ashamed" there?
- Why didn't Paul say "disappointed" or "condemned"?
- Whenever you sin, and you have an actual relationship with God, what do you feel?
- Shame
- Because when you're standing in the presence of the Most High...
- You're able to see just how filthy that sin is.
- But when you study -> approved unto God...
- You become a workman that needeth NOT to be ashamed...
- Because you rightly divided the Word of truth!
- and you received God's approval!
2:16 But instead shun profane [and]
vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2:17 And their word will eat
as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2:18 Who concerning the
truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow
the faith of some.
- Verse 16, if it is disobeyed, will increase you unto ungodliness.
- That means that if you don't shun profaine and vain babblings sinful and useless babblings
- Then you are embracing things of the world - useless ideologies that have no positive effects
- If you study His Word and try to look for ways to justify your sin (which you WON'T, btw)
- You won't have His approval and you won't be on that straight and narrow way!
- "...and few there be that find it"
- [side note] "...find it"
- This is NOT OPTIONAL
- You have to FIND that narrow path through studying and gain His approval!
- Because you you can't be in a relationship with someone that you DON'T KNOW!
- Paul uses Hymenaeus and Philetus as examples
- "Who concerning the
truth have erred"
- They didn't seek approval from God
- They had their own agenda!
- Oh, they studied, sure! But their heart condition was all wrong.
- "...and few there be that find it"
- "and overthrow
the faith of some"
- your sin/faith effects are NOT local to you, exclusively
2:19 Nevertheless the
foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that
are his. And,
Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2:20 But in a great house
there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour,
and some to dishonour.
2:21 If a man therefore
purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's
use, [and] prepared unto every good work.
- There are real and tangible effects of studying to show yourself approved unto God
- they're called "good works"
2:22 Flee also youthful
lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a
pure heart.
2:23 But foolish and
unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
2:24 And the servant of the
Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient,
2:25 In meekness instructing
those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of
the truth;
2:26 And [that] they may
recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
3:1 This know also, that in
the last days perilous times shall come.
3:2 For men shall be lovers
of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy,
3:3 Without natural
affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
3:4 Traitors, heady,
highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
3:5 Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Matthew 19:16-26
19:16 And, behold, one came
and
said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
19:17 And he said unto him,
Why
callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments.
19:18 He saith unto him,
Which?
Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou
shalt
not steal, Thou
shalt not bear false witness,
19:19 Honour thy father and
[thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
19:20 The young man saith
unto
him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
19:21 Jesus said unto him,
If
thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.
19:22 But when the young man
heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
19:23 Then said Jesus unto
his
disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
19:24 And
again I say unto you,
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into
the kingdom of God.
19:25 When his disciples
heard
[it], they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
19:26 But Jesus beheld
[them],
and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are
possible.
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