KEEP BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THE GOOD DEPOSIT
2 Timothy 1: 8-15; 2: 3-6; 19-22; 3: 14-17; 4: 11-14
I have read these scriptures in the second epistle to Timothy, dear brethren, because of their importance, which is indicated in the way we can enter into the recovery of the truth which characterises the last century. From time to time, it is necessary that we go over a little together the whole ground of the second epistle to Timothy. We find divine authority there to occupy according to God the position of separation to which we are called. It is the only position in which we can know the truth that has been recovered.
When Paul wrote this epistle, he was approaching the end of his course. All those in Asia had forsaken him. Now it was in Asia that his greatest works had been seen. Outwardly, all was lost.
On the day of his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul had heard the Lord say to him, “Why dost thou persecute me?” In that same moment, the Lord gave him a precious light, to know that the saints on earth composed His body. Marvellous light, that nobody before had had! And it is this distinct light which gives to Paul the whole character of his ministry. Such a minister should have more place in our spirits. The assembly is the body of Christ, it is of His flesh and of His bones; it also draws its character from Him. It is now on the point of being presented to Him, holy and blameless, so as to be always near to Him. At the day of Pentecost, all the believers, who were together in the same place, were baptised into one body. Although at that moment the truth of the mystery had not yet been presented, the saints were nevertheless united in love, apart from the world, attached to Christ. Later, Peter had a vision, a vessel descending from heaven containing quadrupeds, reptiles and birds. He heard a voice say to him, “Rise, Peter, slay and eat”, to which he had replied “In no wise, Lord …”. The voice says to him: “What God has cleansed, do not thou make common”. This was repeated three times and the vessel was again taken up into heaven. Gradually, Peter understood that God was on the point of introducing the nations in this vessel, the origin of which is in heaven and which is destined to be taken up into heaven. It has come down from heaven as a testimony, but it does not lose its heavenly character. Those who compose it are as to their traits according to nature like the quadrupeds or the reptiles. But God has finished with our old history. He has sanctified us by the death of Christ and by the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that the assembly is a heavenly vessel, living by the life of Christ. All Paul’s labours had in view that the saints should indeed be established in the truth, but the truth was gradually forsaken; the saints of the assembly became worldly. Such was their state when Paul wrote this second epistle to Timothy. It is necessary to understand that it is only at the cost of sufferings that the divine truth will be maintained. Everything current in the world is opposed to the heavenly character of the assembly. Paul wrote this epistle to encourage his child Timothy to accept the suffering, and the exercises and the rest, with the feeling that the thoughts of God will be maintained and realised. He calls upon Timothy to suffer for the glad tidings of which he had presented to him their elevated character. The glad tidings are not only that our souls might be saved. It is the means by which God claims those who are called according to His purpose. And Paul draws to Timothy’s attention “the testimony of our Lord”. He gives all this a very elevated place in his spirit; and he urges Timothy to accept the suffering: “Suffer evil along with the glad tidings, according to the power of God”. In a day of decline, he underlines the holiness of the calling, “called us with a holy calling”. In the epistle to the Philippians, he speaks of “the calling on high of God”, the call above literally. This is what governed the apostle’s heart. If in the Philippians there was found the character of the dignity of our calling, here its holiness is underlined, Christ Himself being the Holy the True. It is said of Abraham, who had answered to God’s call, that he dwelt “by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron”, Hebron representing the purpose of God. The oaks speak of what is stable according to the purpose of God, “according to His own purpose”, and not only this for it is added, “and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus”. The apostle speaks to Timothy in a stimulating way. Outwardly, all was discouraging, but the apostle appeared triumphant and victorious. It is in this victorious attitude that he maintains the truth, in spite of the sufferings and tests. He mentions incorruptibility, a thought which does not apply to our bodies, but which already comes to light because there is before God in Christ an incorruptible Man. The devil had done all that which was in his power to divert this Man and to corrupt Him; everything in Him was incorruptible, as He said, “The ruler of the world comes, and in me he has nothing”. It is in the measure in which we abide in Him that we are also incorruptible. Soon, our bodies themselves will know incorruptibility; we will have left every feature of the flesh behind.
Here we are presented with the great resources that we have in the Holy Spirit: “Keep, by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us, the good deposit”. God has entrusted the truth to the saints; we must therefore be faithful, possessing the power for this in the Holy Spirit “which dwells in us”. We are responsible to maintain the truth in its full extent.
In chapter 2, there are three instructive figures. There is first that of the soldier. What is implied in being a soldier? A soldier is under orders, and every natural consideration has to be set aside. The only thought of one going to war is to please Him who has enlisted him for the war. Then we have another figure, that of contending lawfully. There are many people who accept Christianity, but who think it can be modernised; such persons are not contending lawfully and they will not be crowned. To be crowned, it is essential to content lawfully according to divine principles. Finally, it is a question of the labourer who must first labour if he wants to enjoy the fruits.
In chapter 2, we are at the root of this epistle. The foundation is firm, having this seal, “The Lord knows those that are his”. On this matter, we leave everything to the Lord. Our side, our responsibility, comes next: “Let every one who names the name of the Lord withdraw from iniquity”. Iniquity is the operation of the will of man in God’s things; it is a slight on the rights of the Lord, introducing what is corrupt. This is the authority we have to withdraw from everything comprised by this term “iniquity”, including the religious denominations where the Lord’s commandments are ignored, as brought out in the first epistle to the Corinthians.
And the apostle speaks of a “great house”: this is what Christendom has become. There are vessels there to honour and vessels to dishonour. The apostle would have us desire to be vessels to honour, to honour the Lord. For this, we have to be ready to separate from vessels to dishonour. They may be true believers, but if they contribute to what dishonours the Name of the Lord, we have to separate from them. We recognise the authority of this word and submit ourselves to it. And if we do this, we will receive rewards in this way: “If therefore one shall have purified himself from these … he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work”. The natural heart may take this reasoning: If we take this path we will be limited indeed, driven by good works. But this is not the truth, for it is said that such persons are prepared for every good work. Is it not remarkable that Paul should speak of a man of God to a servant like Timothy: “Let no one despise thy youth”? Then, “pursue righteousness”, that is what is righteous in God’s eyes. It is necessary first to satisfy righteousness. It is the first principle which every believer should recognise: what is righteous in God’s eyes in the affairs of every day life, in our houses, in what belongs to the assembly above all. Then comes “faith”. Righteousness sets us in a path where we receive no outward support, as Peter who left the boat and walked on the water. In following righteousness and faith, I find other believers who are doing the same. It is in this way that we are ourselves recovered to the truth of the assembly. In this pursuit of righteousness and faith, our movements will be characterised by love and peace.
In chapter 3, Paul reminds Timothy of what he himself had done. We have the duty to consider those whom the Lord has raised up. They have been examples of the truth that they have presented. Paul says, “knowing of whom thou hast learned them”; but then he turns to the Scriptures and says, “Every Scripture”, the Old Testament scriptures as well as the New Testament, the one and the other useful for instruction. We can find in the Old Testament teaching about our addressing the Holy Spirit, and we are put to the test as to our spirituality; and the more we progress with the Holy Spirit, the more we discover that He Himself has given them their authority. Chapter 15 of the Acts is a striking example. When the question was raised about the circumcision of the Gentiles, James speaks after Peter and quotes Scripture that refers to the world to come (v 16, 17), but this Scripture governed the question that was before the brethren, and they wrote: “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us …”.
In chapter 4, who is still with Paul? He says, “Luke alone is with me”, and he adds, “Take Mark, and bring him with thyself, for he is serviceable to me for ministry”. The assembly must keep its heavenly character, taking its features from Christ Himself. Paul puts forward two men who are not apostles but who both contemplated Christ and who have been taken up by the Spirit to write their gospels. How much they had studied Christ! Luke presents the priestly side, and Mark the side of testimony. Both had Christ as a unique model. We have the tendency. We have the tendency to lower the divine level; for this level must be known in Christ. He mentions the cloak: Timothy was to bring it. Paul’s cloak gives Paul’s stature. We must not only grasp the perfection of Christ, but Paul also is before us, a man like ourselves, who had been a blasphemer, a persecutor, an insolent man; he had been formed according to Christ, and his cloak indicated his measure now. He speaks solemnly of certain opposing elements, like Alexander. He says on this subject that “the Lord will render to him according to his works”. This is what awaits those who oppose the truth. This whole epistle is of great importance, and it is very encouraging for us. “The word of God is not bound”. In spite of all appearances, the word of God continues its work. The question is simply to know if we are ready to go on with the Spirit until the end.
May the Lord help us, for the glory of His Name!
LORIOL
9th November 1954
From Paroles d’Édification Mutuelle
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