Eph_2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
2Ti_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.
Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Paul is writing this second epistle to Timothy his son in the faith while a prisoner at Rome. It is the mid AD 60’s and Pauls life is coming to a close. Therefore he desires to exhort Timothy one last time regarding church issues.
Context: Albert Barne’s Notes
This chapter, 2 Tim. 2, is made up of various exhortations and encouragements to duty. The apostle exhorts Timothy to be strong in the Christian graces 2Ti_2:1;
to commit the great trust which he had received to faithful men 2Ti_2:2;
to endure hardships like a good soldier 2Ti_2:3-7, and refers him:
(a) to the case of one who goes to war, whose great business it is to
(b) please him in whose service he is 2Ti_2:4;
(b) to the case of one who strives for a crown at the games 2Ti_2:5, and,
(c) to the husbandman who looks onward for the reward of his labor; 2:6
In order to encourage him to be patient in enduring the trials to which he would be exposed, Paul refers him.
(a) to the certainty of the truth of that religion in whose cause he would suffer 2Ti_2:8;
(b) to his own case, reminding him how much he had endured in that cause 2Ti_2:9-10;
(c) to the fact that our sufferings here will be crowned with certain glory hereafter 2Ti_2:11-12; and,
(d) to the assurance that the Lord Jesus will be faithful to all his promises to his people; 2Ti_2:13.
Timothy has been experiencing great division and strife within the church and Paul needs to give both comfort and instruction.
The Church today is in turmoil all around the world. Persecution, heresy,conflict, strife, all exist within the body of Christ – and it will only become worse the closer we get to Christ’s return.
But despite the persecution, heresy, and turmoil Paul says to Timothy remember:
2Ti 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.
a meteorologist stated that they had all been “Living in a fool’s paradise hoping that the levees would hold”
The problem is that New Orleans, built on organic swamp land, is shrinking. The land is made up of decaying organic materials.
While Katrina did greater damage in other areas, no place had a weaker foundation
The storm surge and rain overwhelmed the inadequate defenses of New Orleans
Paul was facing storms that would have devastated many lives
False doctrine is being taught, good people are going astray, Paul is imprisoned for preaching the Gospel He is separated from friends and partners in ministry
It sure seemed as if the world was haywire, as if no one or nothing was dependable
But Paul could withstand the storms because the Foundation of God stands sure!
God’s foundation “stands solid” and is impenetrable and reliable
When our world is in disarray, we can trust God implicitly- He won’t leave nor forsake us
Though Paul was chained and imprisoned, he said, "But the word of God is not bound."(2 Tim 2:9)
Paul could be safe and call Timothy and other believers to faith and faithfulness because of a sure foundation
Jesus is the foundation of our faith and none of the storms of life can shake Him
False doctrines will not shake the foundation of God.
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."
1 Corinthians 3:11 says, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
What is the foundational underpinning of your life? Do you have adequate defenses?
We can’t prevent the storms of life, but you can survive them with Jesus as your foundation
Not only do we have a sure foundation, but there is an inscription upon that foundation
This is the mark or sign of God’s authority. His stamp of approval that certifies the work
Though the levees bore the seal of the Army Corps of Engineers, they were not guaranteeing it and they knew New Orleans was in trouble
In fact, the US Army Corps of Engineers had done 3 previous studies precisely predicting that chain of events that occurred.
If those who constructed it and certified it have no confidence, that doesn’t bode well.
The New Orleans levies were only built to weather Cat 3 hurricanes, while Katrina made landfall as Cat 4
None of those things would inspire confidence and certify safety
But consider the foundation of God which bears the seal of our security with Him
God knows those that belong to Him and there isn’t a storm that can separate us from Him
Romans 8:37-39 tells us, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
None of us measure up. We are sinful and inferior, but if we are saved, God sealed us
Those who are saved are sealed with the Spirit and guaranteed to remain secure in Him
The second portion of the inscription on this foundation of God deals
with purity
There is a tidal surge of sinfulness and immoral reasoning that wants to inundate us
We need to evacuate (DEPART) the low-lying areas of our lives to avoid the danger
Some parts of New Orleans are 12 feet below sea level. The average height is 5 feet below sea level. It is surrounded by levies to keep the waters from flooding in.
Sin seeks to find its way into our lives but we have the choice to resist
New Orleans came within a hair of escaping tragedy, but didn’t
A metereologist interviewed said, “We were like the proverbial Dutch boy with his finger in the dam but without the Dutch boy."
We are told here to depart from sin, to withdraw from areas of weakness
Galatians 5:24 says, "And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
The devil wants us distracted, sidetracked and fighting amongst ourselves
Those who didn’t evacuate early suffered the greatest losses and hardships
Some were simply trapped by their circumstances and had no way to leave
Some want to remain in sin for as long as possible and hope to escape at the end
They hope to continue as they are without suffering the consequences
While you still have the chance, leave the low-lying areas of sin before you are trapped
There are two basic concepts Paul is sharing with Timothy, they are:
The surety of God’s Foundation
The Sanctity of it’s Seal
The first truth is the “Surety” of God’s foundation – it will never be moved! The gates of Hell shall never prevail against it!
We have already read how God is building His Church, how that Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone
2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2Ti 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
2Ti 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
2Ti 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
2Ti 1:17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
2Ti 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
The foundation is sure now I would like to look at the “Two Seals” upon
that foundation this morning, that is:
The Lord Knows them that are His And
Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity
These seals give the foundation it’s sanctity.
By sanctity we mean it’s “setting apart” for God’s service; the fact that this seal will help all who behold the foundation to see that it belongs to God almighty Himself.
Having this seal - The seal here is one that was affixed to the foundation, and seems to refer to some inscription on the foundation-stone which always remained there, and which denoted the character and design of the edifice. The allusion is to the custom, in rearing an edifice, of inscribing the name of the builder and the design of the edifice on the cornerstone…
So then the church of Christ is a building reared by the hands of God.
Its foundation has been firmly and securely laid, and on that foundation there is an inscription always remaining which determines the character of the edifice.
-Albert Barnes
The Lord knows them that are His…
What a glorious statement! That God “Knows” His children. This satement speaks of the intimacy with which He attends to all His Children who truly believe.
