Sunday, February 23, 2025

PT-1 "False Teaching Characterizes Those Who Do Not Belong to the Lord" (2 Tim. 2:19)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/23/2025 8:04 AM

 

My Worship       Time Focus: “False Teaching Characterizes Those Who Do Not Belong to the Lord”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                    Reference: 2 Timothy 2:19

 

            Message of the verse:  19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."

 

            This morning we begin the last danger of false teaching which is mentioned here, and that it fits those who are unsaved and ungodly.

 

            As we look at the first word, nevertheless we can see that Paul is again making his point by contrast, he continues the firm foundation of God stands.  Now unlike those who trust in a satanic scheme of religion, those who are truly saved, who are God’s spiritual children and genuine disciples of Jesus Christ, are part of the firm foundation of God.

 

            Now in this context, writes MacArthur, the firm foundation of God seems most likely to refer to the church.  In the previous letter to Timothy, Paul speaks of ‘the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth’ (1 Tim. 3:15, emphasis added).  The foundation of Christ’s church stands on the truth, ‘and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it’ (Matt. 16:18).

 

            “On that promise, we have God’s seal.  A sphragis (seal) was a sign of ownership and God has placed His divine seal of ownership on the church.  In the end times, those ‘who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads’ will be tormented by the locusts (Rev. 9:4).  It is also doubtless that God’s seal on their foreheads will protect believers from taking the mark of the beast (see Rev. 13:16).”  “16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.”

 

            One more quote from MacArthur’s commentary for this SD as today is Sunday and my Spiritual Diaries are rather short on Sunday mornings. 

 

            “God’s seal of ownership is on the church in two ways.  First, every member of the body of Christ, the church, has God’s divine assurance of election, in that ‘the Lord knows those who are His.’  The source of this quotation is not certain, but is possibly from the book of Numbers.  When some Israelites were about to rebel against the Lord and His appointed leaders Moses and Aaron, Moses declared to Korah and the other rebels, ‘The Lord will show who is His, and who is holy and will bring him near to Himself; even the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself’ (Num.16:5).”

 

Spiritual Meaning for My Life Today: I am thankful to know that the Lord has chosen me to be His child, and for that I truly do not understand, but truly am thankful.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I am trusting the Lord for His will to be done as my wife has some surgery on Tuesday afternoon.  It is suppose to be short, but this is something that I have to trust the Lord to do His will, and to comfort her during and after the procedure.

 

2/23/2025 8:31 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment