Sunday, September 25,
2011 pm
APPROVED OF GOD
2 Tim. 2:15
2 Tim 2:15-16, “Be diligent to
present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Overwhelming, it is a rule of humanity that we all need somebody.
As we go through life, we want to be accepted by others.
We seek the approval of those around us.
No one likes to be rejected and quite often we will take steps to
avoid such. Some of the
personal tragedies we read of, if we were to examine the motives and
circumstances behind them we would find those who doubted their
self-worth and those who could not cope with the rejection of others.
There are some who will go to great lengths to find approval.
Some will compromise their beliefs, while others will engage in
bad conduct simply because of their craving for the approval of others.
To seek the approval of others is not necessarily wrong or a bad
thing. In fact, it can be a
good thing, PROVIDED we are seeking approval based upon what is RIGHT.
Romans 14:18 says, “For he who
serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
“ The things he did which
were acceptable to God were righteous and considerate of his brethren.
Sometimes our desire to be approved of others results in us doing
the right thing.
·
For example, a child who
seeks the approval of his/her parents might be encouraged to do the
right thing. It could be
that their love for their parents keeps them on the right path.
I once heard that the attitude of a child who honors his parent
would not say, “If I do that, my parents will kill me.”
Instead, he will say, “If I do that, it will kill my parents.”
·
IF we care about our
brethren, we will seek their approval in our actions, even if it means
sacrificing our liberties for the good of the body (without compromise
of course). Paul dealt with
this as he wrote to the Corinthians.
Having said all this, the approval of man is not the most important thing. There is one Person’s approval who ought to mean more to us than any other. We ought to be seeking God’s approval. In our text (2 Tim. 2:15) we find that such ought to be our goal. With that in mind, let us make application of this text as it applies to seeking God’s approval.
I.
What God’s approval is
not
a.
Sinless perfection –
i.
Rom. 3:9, 23 tells us
that we are all guilty of sin.
ii.
1 John 1:8-10 says that
if one says he has not sinned he is a liar.
iii.
What we need to
understand is that we CAN be forgiven.
It matters not what sins we have committed.
If we truly repent we can be forgiven.
b.
One who commends himself
–
i.
We are frequently
reminded in this society of those who think too highly of themselves.
ii.
2 Cor. 10:18, Paul
reminded these brethren that it is not about what you think but what God
thinks. It is the one whom
He commends that will be saved.
iii.
IF we want God’s
approval, we cannot set our own standards.
c.
Simply one approved of
others.
i.
God’s approval does not
depend on whether or not others are pleased with us.
We mentioned in our introduction that seeking one’s approval is
not necessarily bad, BUT there are those who to achieve approval will
compromise God’s word.
ii.
How much time does this
world spend seeking the approval of others?
Looks, actions, putting on a false front, going to psychologists,
etc.
iii.
The Bible gives examples
of seeking the approval of men:
1 Sam. 16:17 – because God had rejected King Saul, we read that a
distressing spirit troubled him.
To relieve his troubles, Saul said, “Provide me a man who can
play well, and bring him to me.”
Notice how King Saul’s concern was NOT to find one who would help
him find God’s approval. His
approval was based upon outward appearance.
in seeking King David we read that God doesn’t look at
appearance.
John 12:42-43, “Nevertheless even
among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they
did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43
for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
Matthew 23:5-7 Jesus
said of the scribes and Pharisees, “All their works they do to be seen
of men…”
iv.
But God doesn’t seek
approval in the same way. He
doesn’t look at outward appearances and standards:
1 Sam. 16:7, when God to
Samuel to find a replacement for King Saul among the sons of Jesse.
IT was observed by looking at his older sons, “surely
the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” (vs. 6)
Vs. 7 says, “But the Lord
said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical
stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man
sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the
heart."
Matt. 23:27-28 – Jesus in rebuking the Pharisees and scribes noted that
their outward appearances were deceitful.
Luke 16:15 – “And He said to them,
"You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your
hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the
sight of God.”
II.
What the one approved of
God is:
a.
He is diligent -
i.
A word that means to
hasten to do a thing. IT
involves putting forth sincere effort.
This is not one that flippantly deals with circumstances.
ii.
The word also suggests a
degree of urgency. Like one
bitten by a poisonous snake takes quick action to save himself, so one
realizes that pleasing God is not something that can be put off until
later.
iii.
Abraham, “the friend of
God” (Jas. 2:23), by faith offered up Isaac (Heb. 11:17-19).
If you go back to the original text, you will notice that after
the Lord told him to offer his son that “he
arose early in the morning to saddle his donkey, and took two of his
young men with him, and Isaac his son…” Gen. 22:3
iv.
The KJV uses the word
“study” which we have noted on numerous occasions cannot be fully
realized without diligence.
But the word is also found in other texts that we ought to consider:
1.
Eph. 4:3, “Endeavoring
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
2.
Heb. 4:11, “Let us therefore be diligent
to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of
disobedience.”
3.
2 Pet. 1:10, “Therefore, brethren, be even more
diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these
things you will never stumble.”
4.
2 Peter 3:14-15,
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be
found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;”
v.
IF we fail to put forth
diligent effort, we will not receive God’s approval.
b.
He is a worker –
i.
This goes hand in hand
with the diligence we just discussed.
ii.
The term is found 10
times in the teachings of Jesus (Matthew & Luke) and is usually
translated laborer. It
indicates one who puts forth the necessary effort required to accomplish
his job.
iii.
IF we are to be approved
of God, we HAVE TO WORK! The
religious world at times implies that work is optional for one’s
salvation. We have dispelled
that in recent lessons (i.e. “once saved, always saved”, sincerity
outweighs conduct, etc.)
iv.
Phil. 2:12 says, “Work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
2 Cor. 5:9, “Therefore, we make it our aim, whether pleasant or absent
to be well pleasing to Him.”
1 Cor. 15:58, we ought to be “always abounding in the work of the Lord.”
c.
He is not ashamed –
i.
Matt. 10:32, 33 – Jesus
said of confession, what we do will determine what He does for us when
we stand before the Father seeking approval.
Mark 8:38 says, “whoever is
ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of
him the Son of Man will also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of
His Father with the holy angels.”
ii.
Rom. 1:16, Paul was not
ashamed of the gospel
iii.
Paul would encourage
Timothy, “Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor
of me his prisoner…”(2 Tim. 1:8).
In vs. 12 Paul said, “For
this reason I suffer these things, nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I
know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what
I have committed to Him until that day.”
iv.
Friends, do we truly let
our light shine? Do we put
it on a lampstand for all to see?
Or do we serve Him quietly and fail to defend Him when we ought
to? If you are ashamed of
God, HOW can you expect Him to approve of you?
d.
He rightly divides the
word of truth
i.
Here is the specific
example in our text. He
applies God’s word accurately.
That means He doesn’t use gimmicks to reach a conclusion that is
inaccurate.
ii.
The NASU says that he is
“accurately handling the word of truth.”
iii.
We MUST take the word of
God seriously! IT is not a
toy to be manipulated. It is
the word of God (Heb. 4:12), the “oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11), it is
“inspired” and “profitable for…” (2 Tim. 3:16,17), it contains, “all
things that pertain to life and godliness.” (2 Pet. 1:3)
iv.
Rightly dividing the
word of God means we accept ALL of it.
NOT just the parts we like.
The preacher preaches “in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2)
He preaches “without partiality”, cf. 1 Tim. 5:21
Phil. 1:10 says one needs to “approve the things that are excellent,
that you may be sincere and without offense in the day of Christ.”
v.
Sadly, the word of God
is not always rightly divided:
1.
Some twist it to their
own destruction – (2 Pet. 3:16)
2.
Some pervert it (Gal.
1:6-9)
3.
Some take it out of
context, approach it with wrong motives, etc.
vi.
Rightly dividing the
word of truth is more than reading and studying.
It is also APPLYING it to our own lives
1.
Jas. 1:21, with meekness
we will receive it
2.
Jas. 1:25 – doers and
not hearers only.
3.
Luke 6:46, Jesus said,
“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do the things which I say?”
Truly, we MUST seek God’s approval.
A failure to do so will have
eternal consequences. And it
will make this life more unbearable.
No one can seek His approval without approving of those things He
approves of. Will we accept
His church, His conditions of pardon, His work and worship? Let us
therefore, study His word regularly and apply it completely to our
lives.