Departing And Delivering

“Depart From Iniquity” (2 Tim 2:14-19)

(vs19) 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."

Depart from iniquity and live in sin no more. The gospel is a cleansing message, and any message that doesn't lead to newness of life, to putting out the gospel of God that the elect might be saved is a false gospel, and it isn't of God.

Beware. Some preach EVERYTHING except life from the dead. They have all sorts of theories and reasons why obedience isn't needed, but they do what is right in their own eyes, evidencing God is absent in them. Moses said in Deut 12, “You shall not at all do as we are doing here today – every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes – for as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you” (Deut 12:8-11). Instead, you and I are to study to show ourselves approved of God. We are to live acceptably, so that others might be saved, making our own salvation sure, “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:14-19). We are not philosophers and talkers, merely, but WE DO what God says in the word, living that men know the Son.

Don't be misled. Holiness and departing from sin is the end of election, predestination, and grace. 2 Thess 2:13 says, “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through SANCTIFICATION by the Spirit and belief in the truth”. The end of FAITH is good works.

“Captive By Him to Do His Will” (2 Tim 2:20-26)

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (vs24-26)

The bondage of man to Satan is the issue. God saves, so we honor God. Ps 33 says, “A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver THEIR soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine” (vs17-19). When the four men brought their friend to Jesus, they “broke through” the scripture says. They got him to Christ by obedience, believing God unto action. They didn't say, “If it is meant, it will be”. They got up and DID what they could, so that faith and action are ALWAYS united. Scripture says, “And when they could not come near Him because of the crowed, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralyzed was lying” (Mark 2:40. There is no such thing as idle faith in God's gospel. There is no supernatural faith without life.

This life that we live is God's means to open the eyes of others. He says, “But in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim 2:20-21)”. We say, “Amen” by our lives, fleeing from “youthful lusts” of ambition and self-will (vs22-23).

Don't be distracted. You have something to do. Don't be “religious” but temperate. Don't be DISTRACTED by arguing against lies, but preach the gospel until people have LIFE and follow Christ, just like you, living to teach and convert others.

“Sitting At the Tax Office” (Luke 5:27-29)

“After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, 'Follow Me.' So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.“ (vs27-29)

First, it doesn't matter what we're doing or how evil we are; when God CALLS in the Man Christ, we come to Him. He says, “Follow me”, and we drop everything, follow Him, and become His eternally.

We can't tell when this happened always: it may be imperceptible to us. But, if we're called, a time came when we forsook every other idea and ambition, and we plunged into the fount of His blood and the water of His word. We became His, and He was our everything.

Secondly, the call is not for all, in the sense that all don't experience it; it is OUTSIDE of us, the miracle of God, which makes us want Him. He makes us SEE urgency and sweetness in Him, so that we bind ourselves by faith, trusting His word alone (Gen 25:58).

The God of glory gives the call to His elect, chosen before hand (Acts 10:40-41). He conquers our wickedness, and this is the hope we have for others, that God and not man will decide for them, and that God is giving men life by the word.

It takes opened eyes to see God willing and giving, and this is what the paralyzed man's friends saw. They knew that getting him to Jesus was the hope they had. They RIGHTFULLY hoped that Jesus would help, and He did - “Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." (Luke 5:17-20). We are the same when we bring men to Christ in prayer and obedience. We ask Him to save, knowing that His willingness and power is glorified in sinner's salvation. It is wise to believe God is good and look to Him continually (Ezek 37:10; 2 Kings 2:14).

Thirdly, this forgiveness and cleansing is newness of love. We are not hypocrites, snobs, and protestors against people. We are saviors of sinners, merciful, holy, and kind (James 5:20). We are members of Christ and on His mission. He works through us now the way He worked on earth, loving and helping others know God - “Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance"(Luke 5:29-32).

This inheritance is given of God's goodness, and He makes us good thereby.

Ps 110:3

Ps 110:3, “Thy people offer themselves willingly In the day of thy power, in holy array: Out of the womb of the morning Thou hast the dew of thy youth.”

Ver. 3. —The subjects of the Priest King are willing soldiers. In accordance with the warlike tone of the whole Psalm, our text describes the subjects as an army. That military metaphor comes out more closely when we attach the true meaning of the words, "in the day of thy power." The word rendered, and rightly rendered, "power," has the same ambiguity which that word has in the English of the date of our translation, and for a century later, as you may find in Shakespeare and Milton, who both used it in the sense of "army". Singularly enough we do not employ "powers" in that meaning, but we do another word which means the same thing—and talk of "forces," meaning thereby "troops" ..." The day of thy power" is not a mere synonym for "the time of thy might," but means specifically "the day of thine army," that is, "the day when thou dost muster thy forces and set them in array for the war". The King is going forth to conquest. But he goes not alone. Behind him come his faithful followers, all pressing on with willing hearts and high courage.

Ver. 3. —In the beauties of holiness. This expression is usually read as if it belonged either to the words immediately preceding, or to those immediately following. But in either case the connection is somewhat difficult and obscure. It seems better regarded as a distinct and separate clause, adding a fresh trait to the description of the army. And what that is we need not find any difficulty in ascertaining. "The beauties of holiness" is a frequent phrase for the sacerdotal garments, the holy festal attire of the priests of the Lord. So considered, how beautifully it comes in here. The conquering King whom the psalm hymns is a Priest for ever; and he is followed by an army of priests. The soldiers are gathered in the day of the muster, with high courage and willing devotion, ready to fling away their lives; but they are clad not in mail, but in priestly robes; like those who wait before the altar rather than like those who plunge into the fight, like those who compassed Jericho with the ark for their standard and the trumpets tor all their weapons. We can scarcely fail to remember the words which echo these and interpret them. "The armies which were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean" —a strange armour against sword cut and spear thrust.

Ver. 3. —Thou hast the dew of thy youth. These words are often misunderstood, and taken to be a description of the fresh, youthful energy attributed by the Psalm to the Priest King of this nation of soldier priests. The misunderstanding, I suppose, has led to the common phrase, "the dew of one’s youth". But the reference of the expression is to the army, not to its leader. "Youth" here is a collective noun, equivalent to "young men". The host of his soldier subjects is described as a band of young warriors, whom he leads, in their fresh strength and countless numbers and gleaming beauty like the dew of the morning... It is as a symbol of the refreshing which a weary world will receive from the conquests and presence of the King and his host, that they are likened to the glittering morning dew. Another prophetic Scripture gives us the same emblem when it speaks of Israel being "in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord". Such ought to be the effect of our presence. We are meant to gladden, to adorn, to refresh this parched, prosaic world, with a freshness brought from the chambers of the sunrise.

The dew, formed, in the silence of the darkness while men sleep, falling as willingly on a bit of dead wood as anywhere, hanging its pearls on every poor spike of grass, and dressing everything on which it lies with strange beauty, each separate globule tiny and evanescent, but each flashing back the light, and each a perfect sphere: feeble one by one, but united mighty to make the pastures of the wilderness rejoice—so, created in silence by an unseen influence, feeble when taken in detail, but strong in their myriads, glad to occupy the lowliest place, and each "bright with something of celestial light," Christian men and women are to be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord.

Alexander Maclaren

It seems, the oriental writers delighted to represent the dew as a kind of birth, as the offspring of the morning. And if so, surely there could be no image in the whole compass of the universe better adapted to the psalmist’s purpose, or more strongly significant of those multitudes of proselytes, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God; by the powerful energy of his word and Spirit. Upon this supposition, the whole verse describes the willing subjection, the gracious accomplishments, and the vast number of Christ’s converts. 

James Hervey (1713-14—1758), in "Meditations and contemplations."

“That the Ministry Be Not Blamed” (2 Cor 6)

Trials prove that we are faithful:

“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.  But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God“ (vs3-4)

The Lord Jesus bids us to make our election sure by manner of life. Paul calls us here to receive NOT the grace of God in vain. We are not to hear the gospel unprofitably, but we’re to believe unto union with Christ in lifestyle - “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.  For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. “ (vs1-2)

He sets forth his own ministry as evidence of his sincerity: if he is real, then he is LIVING that men be reconciled to God, and his example is followed wisely (vs3-4).

God proves us FAITHFUL, not by the ease of life or eloquence of speech, but by the power of His love to CONQUER every trial and fear, producing faithfulness in us - “in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,  in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;  by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,  by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,  by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;  as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;   as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (vs4-10).

If a man’s ministry is true, then be like minded. Receive the minister and minister yourself in newness of life.  Old things are passed away, and we have a new way of living that SAVES others and HONORS God thereby - “O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.   You are not restricted by us [loved less], but you are restricted by your own affections.   Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.  Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?   And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?   And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?”  (vs12-16)

He will receive you, love you, and show Himself to you MARVELOUSLY, as you do His will. There are SECRETS only known by love - “For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.’  Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’   ‘I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." (vs16-18)

Bless the Lord’s people and bless yourself by ministering to men.

“Good or Bad” (2 Cor 5)

Judgment Day Is To Be Prepared For

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad” (vs10).

The Lord Jesus bids us to be reconciled to Him upon the basis of the blood that He has shed. He died for the elect, redeeming us to God and paying the penalty. And, He stands, by preachers, bidding ALL who hear to repent, to believe on Him (Acts 3:26). Be saved on His terms.  He isn’t stingy, nor is He merely calling His elect, but He wept over Jerusalem, and by preachers yearning and pleading, He bids you to be reconciled, whosoever you are, no matter what you’ve done - (2 Cor 5:20-21) “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him“.

Reconciliation is by God in Christ putting away sins. He punished the Son so that sins are gone. Upon this basis, receive NEWNESS of life freely. Receive the COMMISSION to live for Him because He died, and you died, in His cross - “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;  and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,   that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (vs14-19)

Heaven is SURE, and we desire it, longing for Him and relief. We desire to labor and suffer no more, to be in paradise - “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,  if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.  For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life” (vs1-4).   This SURE hope keeps us diligent; it doesn’t make us slothful, even as Noah’s promise of salvation CAUSED him to build the ark, rather than excused disobedience. He didn’t say, “God will save” and then not build. But, assured of salvation, he labored, in spite of falls, thorns, and hardships, and he built that which saved him - “Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.  So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.  For we walk by faith, not by sight.  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.  Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” (vs5-9)

Believers are ASSURED of everlasting life, and then we labor by assurance to make our calling and election sure. As ASSURED for heaven, we expect power to do good works.  We don’t have salvation saying, “I’m saved to live as I see fit”, but we have salvation saying, “I’m saved to please Him and be found pleasing to His greatness”.

We know the Judgment is true, so we PERSUADE men. We are not merely laying out facts, like the elect will hear, but we will not be disturbed.  Instead, we PERSUADE men with our own character, sincerity, and proof, preaching Christ to the wretched and the saved who both must be judged - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.  Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.   For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.   For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.   For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died“ (vs10-14).

Christ didn’t die to take away sins only; He died to make you live in newness, as forgiven, as a reconciler of others.  If you’ve obtained mercy, then make your election sure by STRETCHING out Christ to others, living by faith.