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
Date25-Sep-2017
Article Type Article
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THE FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDETH SURE

 

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. 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. 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. 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.

 

Paul speaks of two men who proved themselves wicked, Hymenaeus and Philetus.  Scripture speaks of others:  Phygellus and Hermogenes. 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.”

 

    Yet, do not be shaken by such things. It is nothing new. 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 vessels to honor and some to dishonor, so it is in God’s house. “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.” 

 

    Still, remember, as heretics rise and fall throughout the ages, God’s church stands unmoved and unmovable on the church’s one foundation, Christ Jesus our Lord. Christ is the foundation on which this whole world is founded and by his covenant word upheld. (Heb 1: 3) Hymaneus’ and Philetus’ of this world may try to point us to other foundations but fact is “other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 3: 11) This is the foundation God our Father laid in eternity when he chose Christ to bring his elect to him without spot or blemish. Therefore, God our Father shall keep us believing only Christ and keep us hearing his gospel together with his saints. (Is 28: 16) This is why our foundation is sure. Christ entered covenant with the Father to save this people and present them faultless to the Father.  The word of his power is Christ’s covenant promise to the Father to lose none whom the Father entrusted to him. Our foundation is immoveable because Christ fulfilled the justice of God. God’s justice owes Christ our Redeemer every chosen child for whom he died and Christ shall have them.  Our foundation is not temporary. The things that are seen are temporal.  Our foundation is only seen with the eye of faith. It is not ice or earth or brick or stone. It is Christ Jesus and the Lord knoweth them that are his. This world and all the works thereof shall dissolve with a fervent heat but not before Christ calls all his people to repentance. Not one living stone upon this sure foundation shall be moved out of place. The Lord knoweth them that are his. Therefore our foundation is sure because Christ shall not and cannot fail!