2 Timothy 2:15

1. 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2. 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

3. “Be Diligent” • “Study” (KJV) • The idea of study is present, but more of the way we study—diligently • “But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire” (1 Thess. 2:17, NKJV) SAME WORD

4. “Be Diligent” • “Utmost” • “Do your utmost to come before winter. . .” (2 Tim. 4:21, NKJV)

5. “Diligence” –Lost in the World • World Defines a Christian as: • A good person (church or no church) • One who attends a church once in a while • One who goes to church regularly on Sunday mornings • One who goes regularly, sings a few songs, contributes some cash, ‘endures’ a sermon, takes Lord’s supper

6. “Diligence” • Luke 13:22-30 • “strive” versus “seek” (think about, meditate upon, inquire) Gk. “agonizomai” {ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee} Base “agone” {ag-one’} –the Greek Assembly for Contests

7. “Strive” VS “Seek” Gk. “agonizomai” {ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee} • to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games • to contend with adversaries, fight • metaph. to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers • to endeavor with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something

8. “Strive” VS “Seek” Gk. “agonizomai” {ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee} Do you see how there were many who were eating in the presence of Jesus but were still lost? • TRANSLATED (KJV): • Three times as “fight” • Three times as “strive” • One time as “labor” 1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27

9. DOESYOUR CHRISTIANITY: • FIGHT? • CONTEND? • STRUGGLE? • STRIVE? IS IT PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY? IF IT NO LONGER “STRUGGLES” OR “STRIVES,” IT MAY BE DEAD!

10. WE NEED TO BE A PEOPLE OF: HOLY AMBITION RATHER THAN HALFHEARTED RELIGION!

11. 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

12. PRESENT YOURSELF • WHEN WE INSIST ON BAPTISM FOR SALVATION WE ARE OFTEN ACCUSED OF: “VOIDING CHRIST’S COMPLETED WORK ON CALVARY WITH MAN’S WORK” • WAS PAUL VOIDING CHRIST’S WORK BY INSISTING THAT YOU “PRESENT YOURSELF APPROVED”?

13. PRESENT YOURSELF • INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY • “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (PHIL. 2:12, NKJV) • “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 TIM. 4:16, NKJV)

14. PRESENT YOURSELF • DO SOME THINK: • IT’S MOM AND DAD’S RESPONSIBILITY? • IT’S THE PREACHER’S RESPONSIBILITY? • “So then each of us shall give account of HIMSELF to God” (ROM. 14:12, NKJV). • WHO SHALL GIVE AN ACCOUNT? • GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF WHOM? • GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO WHOM?

15. “. . .approved to God. . .” (2 Timothy 2:15) 2 PETER 3:14 “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless”

16. 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

17. “A WORKER” • “A WORKMAN” (NASB) • A “WORKER” IMPLIES A “WORK” (JAS. 1:25) • “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (PHIL. 2:12, NKJV) • OUR WORKING DOESN’T NEGATE THE WORK OF CHRIST, BUT FURTHERS IT! • “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure”(Phil. 2:13, NKJV).

18. 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

19. 2 KINDS OF WORKERS • ASHAMED • WORKERS OF INIQUITY WILL BE ASHAMED (LK. 13:26, 27) • NOT ASHAMED • NOT ASHAMED WHEN SUFFER AS A CHRISTIAN (1 PET. 4:16) • NOT ASHAMED BEFORE GOD IN JUDGMENT (1 JN. 2:28, 29)

20. 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

21. “RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD” • IMPLIES THAT GOD’S WORD CAN BE WRONGLY DIVIDED • DEVIL IN TEMPTING CHRIST –MATT. 4:6 • RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD MAKES ONE APPROVED • WRONGLY DIVIDING THE WORD MAKES ONE CONDEMNED

22. 2 PETER 3:14-18 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

23. How Do Men Mishandle God’s Word? • When they do not handle it all or very little • When they adulterate it/handle it deceitfully (2 Cor. 4:1ff) • When they reduce it to “one’s interpretation” • When they ignore the context

24. “RING AROUND THE ROSES” CONTEXT • ORIGINAL RHYME 1665 LONDON: “Ring-a-ring o’roses, A pocket full of posies, A-tishoo! A-tishoo! We all fall down.” • ring o’roses – in reference to small reddish spots on skin • A pocket full of posies – belief that evil smells were the breath of demons, wore sweet smelling flowers to drive them away • A-tishoo! – the sneezing that accompanied the plague • We all fall down – death

25. CONTEXT “RING AROUND THE ROSES” Thus, this unfavorable and ominous tune which was born out of the worst plague to ever hit the human race, the black death, has become a nursery rhyme today because of the loss of context.

26. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.