Contending for The Faith
II
Timothy 2:22-3:5 defines both the problem and the solution. God
expects faithful believers to be proactive as these sinners are being
taken away by the mudslide of sin accelerating them towards the pending judgment of God on this world.
“22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow {chase after or steadily pursue} righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (II Timothy 2:22-3:5).
Contending for “the faith” is doing what is necessary to ensure that orthodoxy is transposed from one generation to the next. This
transposition of “the faith” from one generation to the next focuses on
reaching the next generation through Evangelism, which is primarily
discipleship focused. The faithful disciples of one generation must
lead the next generation to receive Christ as Lord and be perfected to
do “the work of the ministry” (Ephesians 4:12). Any local church that
does not have this missional vision has been corrupted. The local
church is the emphasis of II Timothy 2:22 in the words “with them
that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Any Christian that is not
fully invested in a local church that has this missional vision has also
been corrupted.
II
Timothy 2:23 tells the faithful believer with a Biblical missional
vision to “avoid. . . foolish and unlearned questions.” The reason
given to avoid these types of questions is “knowing that they do gender
strifes.” There are always those types of people who ask pointless
questions intent more upon arguing than upon edifying. The word
“foolish” is from the Greek word moros (mo-ros’).
This
admonition about avoiding “foolish . . . questions” is most probably
addressing the questions that came from those that were, or had been,
involved in the mystery religions such as Gnosticism.
Gnosticism was the original religion of Syncretism – blending, merging,
and integrating all kinds of religious beliefs together through endless Dialogue.
The wise disciple-maker avoids these foolish discussions because his
source of Truth (Epistemology) and faith is founded solely in the clear
instruction of the inspired Words of God. Since the Bible is the ONLY
authority for life and practice, what the Bible says is final.
Therefore, to such a person, endless debates and arguments about
extra-biblical views and the philosophies of men are pointless wastes of
time (“strifes”).
The
word “unlearned” simply means uninstructed. This refers to those who
have never been discipled in the Word of God. They may have numerous
educational degrees and even be very well read. However, they
are “unlearned” in the Scriptures. The danger is that they come into
local churches with an appearance of knowledge or have much knowledge
about religious ideas. They will be respected by many because
of their education and status in life. They will often be promoted to
leadership positions in the church for which they are not qualified.
The admonition regarding getting involved in these foolish discussions and debates is that “the
servant of the Lord must not strive” (II Timothy 2:24). The “servant
of the Lord” must be able to distinguish between the person genuinely
wanting the Truth and the person who simply wants to debate. Once the
disciple maker gives a person a clear Bible answer to a question and
that person disagrees with that Bible answer – WALK AWAY!
There is an old saying, “Convince a man against his will, He’s of the same opinion still.”
A person wanting to be right even when proven wrong is a fool.
However, he will not have a good opinion of the person that shows him to
be a fool. Therefore, Paul tells Timothy, “be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves” (II Timothy 2:24b-25). There is often a thin line between being pertinent and impertinent.
Once a person crosses that line, the damage is already done.
Possessing dogmatic knowledge does not mean that such a person has a
right to be obnoxious. There are five words in I Timothy 2:24b-25 that
give us directions for reaching people who think they have the answers,
but are really without a glue. If we want to be effective in
reaching another generation in helping them become followers of Jesus,
we must understand these five words and how they are applied within the
spiritual dynamic of soul winning and disciple making.
1. Gentle - from the Greek word epios (ay’-pee-os) meaning friendly, pleasant, and a person with which it is easy to talk. The gentle
person can disagree without being disagreeable. He can contend for the
faith without being contentious. Being kind to the people we are
trying to reach must be apparent. Attacking lost people for the sins
they commit and the sinful practices of their lives is not the same as
patiently trying to persuade someone that God has absolute boundaries
for righteousness. This opposite of gentleness is often manifested by
those claiming to be street preachers where they stand on a corner or in a park shouting condemnations at lost people for how they dress or how they live.
2. Apt to teach – is from one Greek word, didaktikos
(did-ak-tik-os’). The meaning is descriptive of a person whose
demeanor is instructive. A person can be instructive without being
condemning. Instruction from the Word of God has the power to convict
and condemn. Again, this instruction is intended to be directed to the
person asking questions with an interest in finding absolute answers.
This person “apt to teach” is willing to take the time to carefully
explain spiritual things to the person making inquiries.
3. Patient is from the Greek word anexikakos
(an-ex-ik’-ak-os). This describes the person willing to endure the
arrogant, obtrusive ignorance that often accompanies people antagonistic
towards spiritual absolutes. Another good synonym is forbear. To be forbearing means to hold yourself back.
Not everything that can be said should be said. To be forbearing
understands the concept of the right time, place, and circumstances
while being self-disciplined enough to wait for that right time, place,
and circumstances.
4. Meekness is from the Greek word praotes (prah-ot’-ace). The practical meaning is a gentle humility. This is directed towards the way we instruct those that “oppose themselves.” The opposite of gentle humility is rude haughtiness.
If there is an underlaying attitude of arrogance towards the ignorant,
that attitude will manifest itself to some degree in negative ways.
When arrogance is perceived by the hearer, most of what is said will be
rejected regardless of the fact it is Bible Truth.
5. Instructing is from the Greek word paideuo (pahee-dyoo’-o), which literally means to train up a child.
It is critical to understand that people learn through levels of
comprehension. Understanding the level of comprehension of the person
with whom you speak is critical to instructing him so he can understand
what you are saying. Secondly, since the person thinks he has a level
of comprehension far above what he actually possesses, care must be
taken so as not to be condescending in instructing him. To help a
person grow in understanding is often done in baby-steps. Be
careful not to overload a person with too much information or you will
overwhelm him. Be patient and carefully explain small portions of
Scripture each time you meet.
Most
importantly, remember the last part of II Timothy 2:25b - “if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth.” Although considerable doubt is expressed in the text about such
a person ever changing his beliefs or unbelief, there is hope when we
understand that God’s involvement is the major part of any hopeful
possibility. Long after the words we say and the moment of instruction
passes, God remains with the person. There are no doors to shut Him out
or time restraints upon His access to the human spirit.
II
Timothy chapter two explains how we are to deal with people that are
seeking truth, but are ignorant and confused. These people are
Agnostics. The word agnostic simply means - I don’t know. Jude
1:3-8 explains how to deal with the heretic who seeks to divide a local
church with false teaching. These types of people infiltrate local
churches and must be dealt with more swiftly and even harshly. These
are wolves intent upon carrying away innocent sheep. How many sheep
should be sacrificed to the wolf before the wolf is removed?
“3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common
salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once {for all} delivered {stewardship} unto the saints. 4 For there are certain
men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this
condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how
that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt,
afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels
which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he
hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of
the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities
about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and
going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the
vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities” (Jude 1:3-8).
Jude 1:3-8 clearly details harsh and swift retribution to the types of
deceivers mentioned in this text. Such people are extremely dangerous.
They can destroy work that has taken years to accomplish. Over the
years, it has become increasingly apparent that the corruption of
society and the perversion of truth has no limitations. Just as in the
days of Noah, God must intervene and bring His judgment on the world to
halt the advancement of Satan’s agenda of corruption. Each year the
world has proven itself capable of going ever deeper into the miry pits
of the filth and degradation of sin. Professing believers no longer are
amazed at the world’s propensity for perversion. These professors of faith march just a few steps behind the worldly bringing the world into local churches.
However, it is continually amazing to watch the willingness of professing Christians in their progressiveness
in this perversion by staying one step behind the world like a child
following a trail of bread crumbs. These deceived never seem to give
any considerations to where they are in their own digression of
corruption and defilement. “Lukewarm” churches, meaning compromising people,
have become so complacent to doctrinal error and worldliness that they
have become completely silent, accepting almost anything without
question or consideration. God’s will in these matters never seems to
be addressed, nor His Word consulted.
Instead, the matters of “the faith” are relegated to humanistic
rationalism while the definitive truths of God’s Word are mitigated into
obscurity and irrelevancy. For much of today’s professing Christians, “the faith” is nothing more than a hodge-podge of human philosophies amalgamated together to appear non-judgmental and to give everyone a warm, fuzzy feeling with little or no consideration to whether those beliefs have any foundation in Divine origin or authority.
This humanistic perversion of Christianity has little connection to the
idea of “the faith” as detailed in God’s inspired Word. In fact, for
this type of Christianity, God’s Word is only referenced to
maintain a semblance of connection to the real thing. The only reason
this fiasco continues is that the clear majority of real, Bible
believing Christians have become theological pacifists and given up on
contending for “the faith.”
“The faith” defined by Scripture is the body of divinely revealed truth
inscripturalized in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments.
Most of God’s communication with mankind has not come in a booming
voice from Heaven (although He has done so on a few occasions). God has
chosen a few men with which to speak and through which He spoke down
through the ages. These men were called Prophets of God. They were Mediators (middle-men) between God and men. The last Mediator (and only remaining One) is Jesus Christ.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5).
“19
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye
take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day
dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:19-21).
The words “more sure” in II Peter 1:19 are from the Greek word bebaios
(beb’-ah-yos), which refers to something that is stable, firm, or
trustworthy. This is followed by the admonition “whereunto ye do well
that ye take heed.” The words “take heed” are from the Greek word prosecho
(pros-ekh’-o), meaning to apply one’s self to, attach one’s self to,
hold or cleave to a person or a thing. It can also mean to be given or
addicted to something or to be devoted to a thought or effort.
This statement is immediately followed with a warning regarding “false
prophets.” These were men that distorted and perverted God’s Words for
selfish purposes to gather a following so as to “make merchandise” of
those followers. Of course, in doing so, they must lead those followers
away from following Christ.
“1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise
of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their
damnation slumbereth not” (II Peter 2:1-3).
It is amazing how little concern people give to these warnings
regarding “false prophets” and their destructive “heresies.” Contending
for “the faith” involves every believer in the battle-arena for the
preservation of God’s Word by “contending” with these “false prophets”
and their manipulation of people through the distortion and perversion
of the Word of God. The grave danger of theological inclusivism is the
willingness to accept or tolerate obvious distortions and perversions of
the Word of God. Theological inclusivism ceases to contend for “the
faith” and, in doing so, allows for the distortion and perversion of
that “faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3).
The word “once” in Jude 1:3 is from the Greek word hapax (hap’-ax), which means once for all. The word “delivered” is from the Greek word paradidomi
(par-ad-id’-o-mee) and refers to something being given into the hands
of another to keep, use, take care of, and manage. In other words, the
Word of God was deposited into the hands of the Sanctified Ones
(Saints). God will hold us responsible for its preservation both in the
written documents (Apographs) and in the maintenance of doctrinal
purity.
The written composite of these ancient Mediators is called the Holy
Bible. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments reveal God’s
historic dealings with mankind from the beginning of time. They reveal
His will in minute detail. The revealed will of God detailed in these
sixty-six books is what God’s refers to as “the faith.” Believers are
commanded to “keep the faith” and “contend for the faith.” The former
is about living “the faith” and the latter is about ensuring that God’s
revealed will is not changed, distorted, or perverted by mankind. This
is about what Jude warns in Jude 1:3-8.
Believers preoccupied with these two commands are called “the faithful.”
The “faithful” are concerned about any perversion of God’s revealed
will due to the propagation of false doctrine and lifestyles, including
their own, that lead people astray from the paths of righteousness
(right living). The “faithful” are unwilling to consent to any form of
perversion of truth to any degree. The moment they do, they cease to be
“the faithful.”
The word “contend” of Jude 1:3 is from the Greek word epagonizomai (ep-ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee). It is a derivative of the Greek word agonizomai (ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee) with the epi (ep-ee’) prefix added to it. Agonizomai is the word from which we get the English word agonize. The epi
(ep-ee’) prefix heightens its meaning to the highest level. When it
comes to “the faith,” the believer is commanded to endeavor with the
highest level of strenuous zeal to insure the purity of theological
content and the clarity of meaning. This is the subject matter of all
twenty-five verses of the book of Jude, warning about those who turn
“grace” into “lasciviousness” (liberty into license).
If there ever was a day in history that this admonition is relevant, it
is the twenty-first century. Today’s Christian seems to argue that
being out from under the Law and under grace means we can live any way
we want because then we let God do want He does best, i.e., show mercy
and forgive sin. This only goes to prove that “The thing that hath
been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing
under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The same old nonsense just keeps
re-arising out of the slime-pits of human corruption with new names on
it, but it is still nonsense.
This rationalistic scum on the pond of human depravity has been a
historical problem from the days of Apostolic Christianity. Paul had to
deal with it in his epistle to Rome in 50 A.D., less than twenty-seven
years after the resurrection of Christ.
“1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein” (Romans 6:1-2)?
This is what is known as Antinomianism.
This is what any deviation from “the faith” does. It perverts God’s
will and gives man permission to do what God forbids. It is not only a
perversion of the doctrine of grace (Divine enablement); it is a mockery
of the Lordship of Christ and denies the practical application of that
Lordship in the believer’s life.
This is one of the things that the Apostle Peter refers to in his
second epistle as “damnable heresies.” “Heresies” is from the Greek
word hairesis
(hah’-ee-res-is), referring to false teachings that lure men away from
right practice and capture the deceived to form their own following.
The person thus deceived ceases to be a disciple of Christ and, in fact,
ends up becoming a disciple of the person that deceives him; forming
his own sect, yet still calling this perversion of truth Christianity. In doing so, the person deceived denies both the Lordship of Christ and “the faith.” The two are equal in scope.
Satanic attacks on “the faith” come on two fronts: questioning God’s
Word (distorting what God has said) and denying God’s Word (has God
said?). This is particularly evident in Satan’s deception of Eve. Be
aware of such nonsense and guard against it with every fiber of your
being!
Although a believer should contend for “the faith,” he is not to be
contentious (argumentative) or involve himself in raising questions
regarding theological issues to which the Word of God does not clearly
speak.
“9 But avoid {shun; i.e., do not answer} foolish questions, and genealogies {Jewish pride of ancestry}, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition {calling attention to an error} reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted {turned around and hardened in his thinking}, and sinneth {false doctrine perverts practice}, being condemned of himself” (Titus 3:9-11).
When dealing with someone holding to obvious theological heresy, we are
not to keep trying to change his mind. In fact, we are commanded not
to admonish him to change his beliefs more than two times, after which
we are commanded to “reject” the heretic. The word “reject” is from
the Greek word paraiteomai (par-ahee-teh’-om-ahee). It does
not refer to excommunication from the church, although that should be
required if the person’s doctrine disagrees with the church’s doctrinal
position. It means to shun or avoid. It literally means to have
nothing more to do with him. The reason behind this is stated in Titus
3:11. The word “subverted” is from the Greek word ekstrepho
(ek-stref’-o). It refers to something that is twisted or turned inside
out, or someone that is corrupt and perverted in his thinking. Changing
this type of person’s mind must be done by God. We should pray to that
end. Only God can open the eyes of the blind and cause the deaf to
hear, while the devil provides every opportunity for the dumb to speak.
“16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that
they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and
crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not
forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods” (Isaiah 42:16-17).
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Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist.
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.
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