The title of the message today is Sanctified Vessels of Honor. Sanctified Vessels of Honor. And I took that title from verse 21, and here's what he's talking about. You know, both John and Paul, the apostles, and Peter also, I'm mentioning them because they were used of God to write epistles to the church. to believers and they were well aware that the church on earth, and I believe this is a valid distinction, the true church of the living God is made up only of true believers, the elect of God. The true church, the spiritual church, the eternal church, church meaning the called out ones, And when you talk about who are members of the true church, I've had people ask me, how do we join the church? You join the church when God the Holy Spirit brings you in the new birth to Christ. And that's what we call the universal church. Universal not in the sense that everybody's a member who says they are. But the true church of the living God, God's elect whom he chose before the foundation of the world, and gave to Christ, put all their salvation in the hands of Christ, on His shoulders, made them His surety. Christ has been our surety from the beginning. He's the surety of an eternal, everlasting covenant. And that covenant has no beginning and no end. And those covenant terms were always placed upon His shoulders. And I believe that's what it means when it says the government will be upon his shoulders in Isaiah chapter nine. But anyway, the true church, that's the elect of God, the people of God, and they are known as the Holy Spirit, brings them under the true gospel, and gives them life from death. the new birth, regeneration and conversion, the calling, the invincible calling brings them to Christ. And that's when you actually join the church. That's when God brings you from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear son. But now that's the universal church. That's the spiritual church. That's the true church. Now here on earth, where you have churches, plural, and you have local congregations, like our congregation here, and how many congregations around this city? That calls themselves a Christian church. Well, first of all, you identify a local church as a true church where the gospel is preached, where the gospel of God's free and sovereign grace in the salvation of sinners based upon the blood, the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Now where they preach salvation conditioned on sinners, that's a false gospel. That's not a true church. That's a tear. And I know sometimes we use the word tear to refer to individual false believers, but I believe the essence of the tears in the parable of the wheat and the tears is true churches and false churches. And the reason I believe that, and I won't go into all that, because that's another sermon, but the reason I believe that is because Satan sows those tares in the world. So it's not talking about Satan working inside the true church like he does in local bodies sometimes. That's another matter. But anyway, either way, whether you refer to a tare as an individual false professor or a church, a body of people, who claim to be Christian, but there's no gospel there. And you know there's many of those. Many of them. More than we can count. But where you find a local congregation on this earth, now, where the gospel is preached, there you have a true church, because of the gospel, the true gospel, God's grace, salvation conditioned on Christ, who fulfilled those conditions, in order to save and secure his people unto glory, you still have a mixed congregation. You'll have believers and unbelievers. You'll have true believers who really believe that gospel because of the power of the spirit within them, the unction, John said, but you'll have false professors who just merely claim to believe the truth. And that's what Paul's dealing with here. Look at verse 20. He says, but in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth and of some to honor and some to dishonor. Now, Paul dealt with it. Peter dealt with it. John dealt with it, didn't he? Jude dealt with it. or the epistle to Jude. And John, when he talks about it, he tells the congregation, I believe in Ephesus is who he wrote the three letters to, or at least the first one. He told them, he said, now, don't be amazed. that this is a situation because the church here on earth is not a perfect church as far as all the congregants of the church. And he said, some that you thought were saved will apostatize, fall away from the church, from the truth, and deny Christ and oppose him. So when he talks about vessels of gold and of silver, he's talking about the work of God. You remember how Ephesians 2, eight through 10 states it? It says, for by grace are you saved, through faith that not of yourselves. It's the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. And then it says, for we are his workmanship. If I'm a vessel of gold and of silver, and a vessel unto honor, it's because of the grace and the power and the goodness of God. It's nothing inherent in me. Because we're sinners. We have no worth in and of ourselves. Our worthiness is Christ. Worthy is the Lamb. Accepted in the beloved, see? So these vessels of gold and of silver, who are vessels of honor are those who are trophies of God's grace and glory. You see that? And that's a true believer. That's a sinner saved by grace and who will exist in the new heavens and the new earth in glory with Christ. But now if I'm a false professor who just has a mere profession, then I'm a vessel of wood and of earth and unto dishonor. what Paul is telling Timothy is realize that there's both in the congregation now where you preach and he mentioned, you remember back up in verse 17? He talked up, well look at verse 16, he says, but shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase unto more ungodliness and their word will eat as doth a canker a gangrene of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus. There are two vessels of wood and of earth, vessels of dishonor. See? So one of the things that we want to watch out for is that we don't align ourselves with people like Hymenaeus and Philetus who deny the truth, says, I think they said they denied the resurrection of Christ, the future resurrection of Christ. You don't wanna align yourself with such people. You wanna align yourself with those who have put all of their eggs in one basket. And that's Christ, the simplicity that's in Christ. and don't be steered away from it. You know, we've seen it happen now, haven't we? People get caught up in the law, they get caught up in personal experience, imparted righteousness, that kind of thing, and it gets your mind off Christ. I remember Randy telling me, telling a preacher, that after he preached, you weren't encouraged to look to Christ, you were encouraged to look to yourself. And that's the kind of thing you don't wanna align yourself with, see? And so, that's the vessels of, the difference between the vessels of gold and of silver. That's a sinner saved by grace, kept by grace, and glorified by grace, righteous in Christ. I have no righteousness but Christ, and that's enough gold and silver to get me through.

But those who are vessels of dishonor, look at verse 21. He says, if a man therefore purge himself from these. Now, what is he talking about? Well, you know what purging is, it's cleansing. And what he's saying is don't align yourself with such vessels of dishonor. Don't encourage them and don't let them encourage you. You say you purge yourself from these. Now, you might have associations with them in other areas, but you cannot have religious fellowship with them. That's really what it's talking about.

If a man goes astray or a woman goes astray, I've got to pray, Lord, don't let me go astray with them. Keep me focused. Keep my heart established with grace. Don't let me go the way of false doctrine. and all that. So he says, if a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor sanctified, set apart, and meet, that is qualified for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. And so that's a lot. You think about what all he says there.

If a man stays away from the company of heretics and their heresy, their errors, I got in your lesson, the influences of these dishonorable vessels, he can be an honorable and useful vessel set apart by God, that's what sanctified is. Because listen, you all know as well as I do that if it's left up to us, if it's our goodness and our power, we'll fail. We'll fail. So we set ourselves apart.

You know, just like over in Romans chapter 12, when Paul begins what some people refer to as the practical aspect of the book of Romans. I don't like that. I think the whole thing's practical from chapter one on. But Romans 12 one. Listen to what he says. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, now that holy means sanctified, set apart, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world. Don't be conformed to these vessels of dishonor, that's included.

He says, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. So you present yourself unto God as a sinner saved by grace who has no hope but salvation and glory by the imputed righteousness of Christ. And that's it. So you present yourself in that way.

So all of this, I think the Bible says evil communication and companions corrupt good manners. That's the kind of thing that Paul's talking about here. Purge yourself from these association with unregenerate, murmuring, indifferent, troublemakers in the church have a corrupting influence, that kind of thing. It causes confusion. It causes ungodly fear and ultimately it causes division.

You know, when I was going through a lot up north concerning people dividing, you know the scripture that kept in my mind that probably more than any other scripture caused me to be frightened for them. And it's in Proverbs chapter six, if you'll look over there. And I preach several messages out of this passage. And it says in verse 16 of Proverbs chapter six, it says, these six things doth the Lord hate. Now, when I see something in the scripture that talks about the Lord hating it, That causes me to perk up, how about you? I want to know what God loves, and God is love, and he loves his children in Christ. Here it says, these six things God hates, yea, seven are an abomination unto him. The reason it says it that way is because of emphasis. Even seven.

And he says, number one, a proud look, verse 17. You know what keeps people from coming to Christ and bowing to Him? It's pride. Religious pride, human pride. And that's why the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. He takes that wind out of our sails. He takes that pride away. And then it says, not only a proud look, a lying tongue. And I can't think of a greater, you know, we talk about lying, okay, but I can't think of a greater lie than telling sinners that they can be saved by their own power and their own will and their own works. That's a lie.

He says, and hands that shed innocent blood. Now I know anybody who's a murderer, you know, we could put them in that category. Not everybody, I mean, you know, We can go back in the Bible, but what I'm talking about, anybody who preaches a false gospel is a soul murderer. Now they may be unaware of it, maybe, suicide's what it is, preaching a false gospel.

And then he says in verse 18, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, and he says feet that be swift in running to mischief, and a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Now think about that. Well, go back to 2 Timothy now.

So he says, if a man therefore, verse 21, purge himself from these, these vessels of earth and dishonor, who deny what they once claimed to believe. That's what he's talking about. He says, if you purge yourself from these, you'll be a sanctified vessel of honor set apart by God and a vessel of honor because you're a trophy of God's glory and grace.

So understand now, he's not pumping them up saying, you know, if you do this, God will give you a cookie or something like that, no. He's saying this is what you are if you purge yourself from such people who try to draw you away from Christ and His blood and righteousness as your only ground of salvation.

So he says in verse 22, flee also youthful lust, but follow righteousness, faith, Charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Now all of this, you know, all men and women should flee, fight, sin, in any capacity now. There's no question about that. But I believe that what Paul in the context here, he has in mind encouraging Timothy who was a young man, who probably you could say is more apt to fall prey to youthful lust.

And it's not that old men and old women can't lust. I mean, I'm not saying that. But I think he's telling Timothy, giving him some very practical information as a minister, as a leader, that you need to fight this and follow righteousness. Well, how do you follow righteousness? You follow Christ. He's not telling Timothy, now make yourself righteous by your works because that doesn't happen.

So you follow Christ, you follow faith, believe in him, rest in Christ. Charity is love. Peace is peace among brethren. He's not telling you to go make peace with Hymenaeus and Philetus back here in their false doctrine. He'd tell Timothy, you go tell them these men are in dangerous, that they're in danger. because you're denying the, you deny the resurrection, the future return of Christ.

And the resurrection, you deny Him, you're denying the gospel. And so to say that Christ is not coming back in the future is to deny the gospel. That's essential doctrine. So don't go make peace with them, tell them the truth, tell them the danger they're in. And he says, with them that call on the Lord, Now, what he's talking about is people there who are totally, 100% dependent upon the Lord. They're not dependent upon each other. You know, we like to depend on each other as friends, but we don't look to each other and depend on each other for our salvation or our blessedness.

And the reason I say that is because I know people who as long as they got the word of some admired preacher, they were all right. I know people like that today. I know people like that who are preaching justification today by an imparted righteousness, that in order to be comfortable with that, it's false doctrine, but in order to be comfortable with that, all they need is the word of a particular preacher that they admire. And so that's what I think this is talking about. You look to the Lord. You call on the Lord out of a pure heart. And what is a pure heart? Does that mean that my thoughts, my images, my dreams are always pure and perfect? No. If it is, then I'm in trouble. A pure heart is a heart purified by the blood of Jesus Christ. The legalism, the ungodly fear is removed as we look to Christ. Now we struggle sometimes within ourselves, but that's what a pure heart is. You can read about that in Hebrews 10, we won't turn there.

But he says in verse 23, but foolish and unlearned questions avoid knowing that they do gender stripes. And you know in religion, foolish and unlearned questions are Abundant. People ask questions that mean nothing. And we'll do nothing except confuse each, it confuses, it raises doubt, and it ultimately divides. So if you're gonna talk about the gospel, the scriptures, talk about something that means something, that'll edify, build up, God's people, and not gender strifes, arguments, division.

And so verse 24, he says, and the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. Verse 25, in meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves. Now, what do you mean oppose themselves? Well, whenever somebody gets dragged off into a side issue that means nothing but takes their minds away from Christ, they're their own biggest enemy. And they don't even know it. They don't even know it. They're the ones that are doing the worst damage to themselves. And they oppose themselves. They oppose the word of God. and they in turn oppose themselves because any man who opposes truth does so to his own ruin. And that's what that's talking about.

So if God peradventure will give them repentance, now that's key to the acknowledging of the truth. If any of us are brought to repentance in any fashion at any time, there's that initial repentance at conversion where we are brought to Christ by the Holy Spirit and we are brought, we turn away from ourselves, from our dead works, and then as we go through life as believers, we might get in trouble, we might do this, do that, we might be confused about this, and we are brought to that continual repentance, that's godly sorrow over sin, okay? If we get repentance in any capacity at any time, it's God who gives it. It's not something we muster up within ourselves. The Holy Spirit is within His people, and He is the continual spirit of conviction for us. When He shows us our sin, why does He do it? Not to leave us in the, as Bunyan said, the slew of despond, but to drive us more to Christ and to stick with Him, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. So it's repent, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. And that's, you know, when you deal with people like these two that Paul mentioned back in verse 17, Hymenaeus and Philetus, when you go to them and talk to them, that's what you pray for, isn't it? Lord, bring them to repentance. Bring them to godly sorrow over sin. Bring me to repentance if there's anything I need to repent of at this time in this vein.

So he says in verse 26, and that they may recover themselves. And that means, literally, you may have a concordance there on this, if I can find it. Yeah, when it says recover themselves, it's literally awake. A person, by nature, is incapable of recovering themselves, but they can wake up if God wakes them. And that's really what that means, and that they may awake out of the snare of the devil.

I think about when Christ talked to Peter. And he said, he said, Simon, Satan desires to sift you as wheat. And so, what did he say next? Do you remember? He didn't say, now Peter, buckle up and get ready to fight him, you know. No, he said, Peter, I prayed for you. His intercessory work. That's how we defeat Satan or any problem.

But anyways, out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will to do his bidding. Satan will attack. You can read about it in Ephesians chapter six, put on the whole armor of God. Satan's going to attack. But I love that verse in Revelation chapter 12. Because it says there, that when Satan accuses the brethren, and that's what he does a lot of the times, how do they turn him back? And it says in Revelation 12, by the blood of the lamb. That's how we turn Satan back. It's the power of Christ and his blood, his righteousness given to us. Okay.