Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleThe Foundation of God Standeth Sure
Bible Text2 Timothy 2:15-21
Synopsis As heretics rise and fall throughout the ages, God’s church stands unmoved and unmovable on Christ our Foundation. Listen.
Date21-Sep-2017
Article Type Sermon Notes
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: The Foundation of God Standeth Sure (32 kbps)
Audio CD Quality Listen: The Foundation of God Standeth Sure (128 kbps)
Length 45 min.
 

Title: The Foundation of God Standeth Sure

Text: 2 Tim 2: 15-21

Date: September 21, 2017

Place: SGBC, New Jersey

 

2 Timothy 2: 15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

1 Corinthians 11: 19: For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

 

We know the messenger God has approved because he preaches the message God has approved—the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.  He does not become taken up with proving profane, vain, irrelevant things. Those things would make God’s preacher ashamed.  So as long as God has his hand on his preacher, God’s preacher shuns such things.

 

2 Timothy 2: 16: But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17: And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18: Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

 

What a devilish thing to overthrow the faith of some. If men are drawn away from following Christ who then are they following?

 

Acts 20:30: Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

 

But every true child of God needs to focus and hear this next word:

 

2 Timothy 2: 19: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

 

Nor should we ever think that it is a new thing when men arise speaking heresy. Listen to this next word:

 

2 Timothy 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. 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.

 

Subject: The Foundation of God Standeth Sure

 

After the happenings this past week in which a few men publicly erred from the truth, I debated whether I should preach about it directly or email each of you.  But due to the fact that I have had so many—both in this congregation and from without—who have contacted me with questions, I thought it best to preach on this directly.  My prayer is that God would use this to comfort his people.

 

Proposition: As heretics rise and fall throughout the ages, God’s church stands unmoved and unmovable on Christ our Foundation.

 

Paul speaks of two men who arose from within the church and began teaching lies—Hymenaeus and Philetus. Scripture speaks of others:  Phygellus and Hermogenes; Demas and Alexander the coppersmith and here Hymenaeus and Philetus.  It is interesting that they came in pairs.  When Christ is not a man’s strength, it is impossible to stand alone. He must have a fleshly companion to embolden him to speak his lies.

 

A common question I received this week is how do you know when men have erred from the truth into heresy?  When men make irrelevant doctrine to be what you must believe or you shall perish then it is heresy.  When men turn believers from focusing entirely upon Christ, from the fundamental truths of the gospel and preach obscure doctrine, saying without believing my new doctrine you cannot be saved—it is heresy.

 

Christ is our Banner!  Christ is the one we rally unto.  But false preachers and cult leaders have to create another banner.  It is usually some obscure, doctrine of error.  But it becomes all they see in scripture and all they preach.  It becomes that rallying point that separates them from all others.

 

The apostle compares their word to a canker—a cancer or gangrene—“their word will eat as doth a canker.”  False doctrine and the devilish spirit in which errors are preached must be regarded as a cancer and we are to shun them like we would a cancer—“Shun profane and vain babblings.”

 

But when men arise preaching lies do not be shaken by such things. It is nothing new for men to arise from within the church speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves.  Hymeneus and Philetus were not the first and certainly not the last. 

 

Nor should we be surprised that such men arise from within the church.  Has there ever been a community or a family or a church that was without their hymeneus’ and philetus’?  The first family had a Cain. Noah’s family had a Ham. Abraham had an Ishmael. Isaac had an Esau. The church in the wilderness had their Korah, Dathan, Abiram.

 

In a great house there are different kinds of vessels, so it is in God’s house—“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. 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.”

 

In a great house there is fine gold and silver vessels and instruments used for beauty, to dine with, for special occasions. These are vessels of honor.  They bring honor to the master of the house. And they bring honor to the house—to the servants who serve the master of the house.

 

But there are also vessels of dishonor. You would not invite guests into your home and there on the dining room table amongst the silver have the shovel you just used to dig a sewer ditch.  Such a vessel would dishonor the master of the house and dishonor the servants who serve the master.

 

So what are we to do? This is a common question I received this week—“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.”  If we do not purge ourselves from such then we will end up like those Paul mentioned whose faith was overthrown.

 

Yet, we have this assurance, God shall keep his people. He shall keep us believing only Christ and keep us hearing his gospel together with his saints.

 

GOD’S FOUNDATION STANDETH SURE

 

2 Timothy 2: 19: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,…

 

God’s people are established by God on our one sure foundation.  This is the foundation God our Father has laid.

 

Isaiah 28: 16: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

 

Who is this foundation but Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior:

 

I Corinthians 3: 11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 

God laid this foundation. This is why our foundation is sure.  In his eternal purpose and decree God the Father chose his Son, Christ Jesus. Christ is the Firstborn Son of God chosen to manifest God's glory. He shall not fail!  This is why our foundation is sure!

 

God sent Christ to manifest his glory to a people that God chose freely by his grace in Christ before God founded this world.  Christ entered covenant with the Father to save this people and present them faultless to the Father.  This is why Christ is the foundation of the world. He holds this terrestrial ball in place by his covenant word:

 

Hebrews 1: 3: Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and UPHOLDING ALL THINGS BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

 

The word of his power is Christ’s covenant promise to the Father to manifest the triune God in a body, to manifest the righteousness of God, to finish the work of honoring and magnifying his law, to fulfill all that is written, to live as the Righteous Representative of his people and lay down his life in their place and put away their sin and make them righteous. He finished the work.

 

Our foundation is immoveable because the justice of God is fulfilled. God owes Christ our Redeemer every chosen child for whom he died and Christ shall have them.  Christ is our Foundation because he is our Righteousness and he is the Righteousness of God in whom God is glorified by saving every chosen child.  Therefore our foundation is sure because Christ shall not and cannot fail!

 

Also, Christ was chosen of God to build his Father's house—he is the foundation of the house and he is he who builds up all his living stones into his house upon him.  Ephesians 2 tells us Christ is our Peace because he established peace for his people on the cross and then came and preached peace to us and established peace in our hearts.  Then it speaks of him building us up on this sure foundation:

 

Ephesians 2: 20: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21: In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

1 Peter 2: 4: To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6: Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7: Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8: And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

 

Let men deny Christ, let men concoct lies, though they may appear to overthrow the faith of some, know this: the foundation of God standeth sure.  Our foundation cannot be moved and we cannot be moved because we are founded upon Christ our Rock!  Immovable!

 

THE SEAL

 

2 Timothy 2: 19: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.

 

God our Father knows each of his people because he chose each one in eternity.  God wrote the names of each one in his book in eternity.  God knows each one that is his just as he knows his own Son.

 

Christ knows his people. He had the names of each one on his breast when he bore our sins at Calvary. He engraved us on the palms of his hands.

 

Isaiah 49: 13: Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. 14: But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. 15: Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. 16: Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

 

Our risen Shepherd is calling out his sheep by name from his throne in glory even now.

 

John 10: 3…the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4: And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5: And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

 

Christ gave that parable then he told us exactly what it means:

 

John 10: 27: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29: My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand

 

Brethren, the word of his power is the foundation of this world. It is Christ’s covenant word to call each one of his redeemed to repentance and faith in him and present them without fault to the Father which upholds this world. Peter said this world shall melt with a fervent heat. But not before Christ calls all his people to repentance.

 

Oh, brethren, our foundation is not some temporary foundation. The things that are seen are temporal—temporary.  Our foundation is only seen with the eye of faith. It is not ice or earth or brick or stone. Our foundation is sure.  It is Christ Jesus in whom God’s justice is satisfied.  We are members of Christ’s own body.  If he loses one, his glory suffers far more than we do—that can never be! Not one living stone upon this sure foundation shall be moved out of place. God knoweth them that are his.

 

INSTRUCTION WE ARE TO OBEY

2 Timothy 2: 19:…And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

 

Paul must have in mind what God said to Moses and Aaron when Korah, Dathan and Abiram arose speaking lies against Moses. God sent Moses to speak his word:

 

Numbers 16: 26: And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

 

God separated them so as not to destroy the whole congregation.  Then God opened the earth and swallowed up those wicked men.  So Paul says to us—as part of this sure foundation—God commands, “Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

 

It is very hard, I understand. It is hard, especially, when it is someone you love who is preaching or supporting lies.  But we stand for the truth best, by departing from them for the place where we can hear the gospel of Christ preached in truth. We stand for truth when the church puts away the preacher preaching lies.

 

God people shall obey this word—“If a man therefore purge himself from these [vessels of dishonor], he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”  God’s people shall obey this word by Christ through the Holy Spirit working his will and good pleasure in them.  He purged us from freewill, works religion.  Christ will also purge us from men who arise speaking perverse things.  Christ alone is able to make his vessels to be vessels of honor. Christ alone is our Sanctifier who sanctifies us. He is our Master and he alone makes us meet for the Master’s use and prepared for every good work. We shall be made to depart but we give Christ all the glory for working it in our hearts.

 

We know Christ shall bring out his people because this is part of our sure foundation, “the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his! And he says Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

 

I have had so many calls, texts and emails over the past few weeks.  One thing each one has said—even today a brother said this—the only thing all this has done is bring Christ’s sheep closer together and focused more on him! That is why God sends the trial of heresies.  As I said at the beginning,

 

1 Corinthians 11: 19: For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

 

2 Timothy 2: 15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

We know the messenger God has approved and the people he has approved because his messenger preaches the message God has approved and his people will only hear that message—the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.  God will not allow his messenger to become taken up with attempting to prove profane, vain, irrelevant things. Those things would make God’s preacher ashamed.  So as long as God has his hand on his preacher, God’s preacher shuns such things. And so do his people.

 

Brethren, be strong in the LORD! Christ is our banner—our ensign—our flag!

 

Psalm 60: 4: Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. 5: That thy beloved may be delivered;

 

Believer, depart the place preaching lies. Rally to that place where you hear this Banner flying high! God will be with you! There will be plenty of sheep to take you in!  Do this knowing “the foundation of God standeth sure! 

 

Amen!