IN the First Epistle to Timothy, we are taught how men ought to behave themselves in the House of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground (or stay) of the truth (1 Tim. 3:1515But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)). But in the Second Epistle the language of the Holy Spirit changes profoundly. Denial of fundamental truths, such as saying the resurrection is past already (2 Tim. 2:88Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: (2 Timothy 2:8)); forsaking of Paul and his special ministry by all in Asia (1:15); the Church no longer upholds the truth practically.
Only what is of God remains firm. Man has failed, as he always does, to maintain what is committed to his responsibility. “Nevertheless the foundation of God remains sure; having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His, and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity” (2:19). The foundation of God, even Jesus Christ: “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1111For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)).
But what a change! In the early days of the Church (Acts 2:42-47, 4:31-35), the disciples were publicly manifested as one company in the faith of the Lord Jesus, in heart or brotherly affection, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Iniquity was at once purged out, as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). The Lord’s prayer (in John 17:2121That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)), “That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me;” this prayer was then accomplished in the Church.
But at the time of Paul’s second letter to Timothy, error, false doctrine, iniquity, self-will had so prevailed in the Church, professors so abounded, that the words, “The Lord knoweth them that are His,” are the resource of the faithful in a time of ruin so complete that in the Church iniquity had reared its head almost unchecked, and it became the duty of the faithful to separate, not indeed from the Church, but from iniquity in it, “Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
As “in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth, some to honor and some to dishonor,” so also in what bears the name and has the profession of being the Church of God, there are likewise “vessels” of precious value and others burnable in the fire. But whatever the intrinsic value of the “vessels,” in a day of ruin none is “unto honor,” unless it be purified, separated from those unto dishonor. “If a man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
“Meet for the Master’s use,” is not that, beloved brethren, the heart’s desire of every one who says by grace, “He loved me, and gave Himself for me”?
“Meet for the Master’s use and prepared unto every good work.” Many a sincere Christian who has not learned from God what the Church is for Christ, to whom the unity of the Body of Christ is a doctrine rather than a reality, who is occupied with Christians and with souls rather than with Christ, fears to narrow his circle of service and of usefulness by a too thorough obedience to the divine Word. He prizes the Word of God, and yet to escape from the force of it on his conscience, he reasons it away, till he persuades himself that separation should not be so thorough from all vessels to dishonor, as the Word of God specifies,
The number of those thus purged may be small, but in the Lord’s faithfulness a few will always be found till He come (Rev. 2:24, 25, 3:7-11). Their path is not only separation from evil in the Church, they are to “follow righteousness, faith, charity (love), peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Righteousness, faith, love, peace are the path, the pursuit of those who are become vessels to honor. The Master’s yoke, true peace of heart, is the portion of those who walk therein, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:2929Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)). The Lord’s grace is ever there to cheer and to encourage, “Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:11Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)). “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20:21).
Such is the path in a day of ruin for the man of God.
Just as Elijah built an altar of twelve stones, “according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob,” when Israel was serving Baal; just as Hezekiah, King of Judah, commanded that the burnt-offering and the sin-offering should be made for all Israel, at a time when the ten tribes were being carried away from their land, and only a few were left; just as Joshua and Zerubbabel at the time of the return from the captivity of a few Jews and Levites, built the altar of the God of Israel, so at the present time, “the faith which was once delivered to the saints,” is what we should earnestly contend for, the whole faith and not merely a part of it (Jude 33Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)).
“Hold fast that which thou hast,” is the exhortation for a time and state of weakness. And what have we, beloved brethren? Have we not everything which depends on the Lord’s faithfulness? What the Lord is to His Church, His presence in the midst of two or three gathered to His name (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20); Rev. 3:11And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Revelation 3:1)); the presence and power of the Holy Spirit who distributes gifts in the Church to every one severally as He will (1 Cor. 12:1111But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:11)): the gifts of the glorified Head, “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come unto the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto the perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:10-1310He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:10‑13)).
Dependence on the Lord, confidence in His grace to maintain the full character and testimony of the Church of God; without the slightest pretension to be the Church of God; no truth discarded, no power in ourselves, but faithfulness in weakness and dependence on God.
For discipline, faithfulness is required. To “put away from among yourselves that wicked person,” is a matter of obedience and purifying from evil (1 Cor. 5:1313But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:13)). To “turn away” from any who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof (2 Tim. 3:1-51This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1‑5)), is the duty of those who fear God in perilous times. To refuse those who bring not the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9-119Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 9‑11)), is the responsibility even of sisters, as of every one who loves the Lord.
The Son of man, in the first chapter of Revelation, holds in His right hand the seven stars, the fullness of government in His assembly, and thus. He presents Himself to the assembly at Sardis, in conjunction with the fullness of the Spirit “He that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars” (Rev. 3:11And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Revelation 3:1)). Nothing is lacking which depends on Him.
May we therefore be encouraged, beloved brethren, to walk in the path of separation and true dependence on the Lord.