“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2Timothy 2:19)
Paul begins this verse with the word “nevertheless.” It’s necessary to find out why Paul wrote this verse. In the prior verses he wrote about Hymenaeus and Philetus who were teaching that there was no body resurrection, believing that the references to the bodily resurrection were figurative or metaphorical. This erroneous teaching had derailed the faith of many in the church. And then Paul writes “Nevertheless.”
In our years as Christians, we will hear many teachings. It’s imperative that we keep in mind that the enemy of God will try to bring divisions about various Truths in the Bible. We have God’s Word and the Holy Spirit Who will show us the Truth and keep us in peace. Many different denominations have grown out of these divisions. It’s imperative that we keep in love and cling to the foundations of the Gospel. These Truths are unchanging. And any change in the Gospel is heresy. All other “opinions” not supported by the Bible are heresy. And it’s God Who determines Truth, by sealing those who belong to Him and live in the Spirit.
Then Paul makes this plea, “Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” What is the motive of those who bring division by bringing up perspectives and conclusions that are contrary to the established foundations laid down by those who were with Jesus, walked and talked with Him, learning from God Himself, whose understanding of all the words and teachings of Jesus were opened up and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit? “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;” (Ephesians 2:19-20) We cannot know the hearts of those who bring division, we only know that only that it’s demonic and intended to destroy God’s plan. The Lord will bring all things to light.
The commandment given to us is to depart from iniquity. When we hear something that is not from God, our human spirits will immediately know. We have the Holy Spirit Who puts a question mark on any comment contrary to God’s Truth. And because we read and keep rereading God’s Word, we recognize the Truth. What is not Truth hits us like a ton of bricks and we recognize it as foreign. If we don’t know the Truth in God’s Word, it’s easy to get derailed and confused.
We have God’s Word to guide us. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (1John 2:19) This verse is like a spotlight. If these divisive troublemakers and their divisive conclusions had been in the Truth and in the Love of God, they would have continued to be a necessary part of the church, but instead they leave the church. And I add, taking those gullible and unestablished with them.
Again, our commandment is to depart from iniquity, in our hearts, in our words and in our actions. We must be saddened for our deceived brethren and in love help them see the error of their thinking. If they don’t see the Truth then it’s hands off and pray that the Lord deal with them. Our hearts should be love for the brethren, our words about them filled with sorrow and our actions should be prayerful, like Luke who is the presumed author of Acts and wrote about how he reacted to deceivers: “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:31) Warn those who are easily swayed because they are new Christians or weak Christians. Warn them with the Truth of the Word.
This teaching certainly took an interesting journey. We must teach the whole Word of God. And this does happen in churches more often than not. Luke follows his writing about warning everyone about the deceivers with this Scripture: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32)
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