2 Timothy 2:20-26

2 Timothy 2:20-26

How Do We Deal With Brothers and Sisters in Christ Who Have Fallen into False Teaching?

2Ti 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. 

2Ti 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. 

2Ti 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

2Ti 2:23  But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 

2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 

2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 

2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 

1. Become a Vessel Fit for the Master’s Use by Purging Your Self of False Doctrine. – vs. 20-21
1. The true gospel purifies our heart and give us genuine love for the brethren

                                                               i.      1 Peter 1:18-22 

2. Run Away from Lust – Run Towards Righteousness. – vs. 22
1. A lack of moral purity in the life of the believer is the first indicator of wrong doctrine.

                                                               i.      3 John 1:11 

3. Avoid the Petty Debates of the Unlearned. – vs. 23
1. Titus 3:5-9 
4. Do Not Fight With Other Misguided Believers, But Instead Respond in the Following Manner: - vs. 24-25a
1. Be gentle unto all men

                                                               i.      This clearly implies that truth should be self evident. A Christian should never need to resort to violence or coercion to force others to his point of view.

1.      James 1:19-20 

2. Be quick to teach effectively

                                                               i.      Titus 1:9 

3. Patient
4. Teach those that oppose you with humility
4. The Optimal Resolution to All Controversy in the Church is Restoration not Excommunication. – vs. 25b-26
1. You should want to see those that fall into error be restored to fellowship with other believers in the following ways:

                                                               i.      God gives those that have fallen into error repentance through the acknowledging of the truth.

1.      Galatians 6:1 

                                                             ii.      The acknowledging of the truth sets the believer free from the immobilizing captivity of the Devil.

1.      Since Satan cannot take away the salvation of a believer, the next best thing is to immobilize them through false doctrine and wrong ideas.

a.       Peter’s work had become immobilized by false doctrine, but when corrected by Paul he changed and returned to salvation by faith alone.

                                                                                                                                       i.      Galatians 2:11-16 

                                                                                                                                     ii.      1 Peter 1:18-19