May God be pleased to bless us
together this morning as we consider his word. Let's turn to the second
epistle of Timothy, the second chapter, and we'll read verse
19. The second epistle of Paul to
Timothy, chapter two, and reading verse 19. 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. The apostle here is directing
the Church of God to look to the foundation of God, that standeth
sure, because of the opposition and because of the difficulties
which will arise in the life of the true Christian, the true
Church of God. Timothy is right, Paul is writing
here to Timothy, and instructing him really in that which he will
encounter in his Christian walk and Christian life. We know of
course that Timothy was called by God to preach the everlasting
gospel and therefore perhaps some of these statements have
a more particular reference to those who are called to preach
the gospel but nonetheless there is also a very continual and
general situation which has an application to the Church of
God. And the Apostle tells us, he
says, Thou therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in
Christ Jesus. He is directing Timothy to the
fact that he cannot be strong in himself. His strength is in
the Lord, and how we today need to recognise that very same truth,
that the Lord is our strength. And he tells Timothy, he says,
to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. And surely that directs us to
the truth that today we should therefore expect to have those
difficulties and those problems and those trying situations and
therefore to realize that this word is directed to us indeed
to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. We don't intend to go through
all this chapter this morning but we read it together and the
following one and there is so so much instruction in those
things and just to point out one or two things. The apostle
says, consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding
in all things. So we are blessed with the word
of God and we perhaps underestimate so often the wonderful privilege
it is to have the word of God that we're able to read and to
be instructed by and to be directed by in our daily life. And we
have, therefore, this blessed book which God has given to us,
and how we ought to look to it and resort to it for guidance
and direction, and to not just carry on in our own way. What
a wonderful thing it is, then, that Lord has blessed us with
these words. Again, the Apostle tells us something
of his own experience, he says, wherefore I suffer trouble as
an evildoer, even unto bonds. And of course he was not an evildoer,
but he suffered as though he was an evildoer. And therefore
we should not be surprised sometimes if we are addressed as perhaps
an evildoer when of course we are endeavouring to do those
things which are right and are in accordance with the will and
purpose of Almighty God. And the wonderful encouraging
words for the Church of God is this, as the Apostle says, if
we suffer, if we suffer for Christ's sake, it's an evidence that we
are amongst his people. And if we are amongst his people,
then there is a wonderful and blessed outcome. As we're told,
if we suffer, we shall also reign with him eternally in glory. What a wonderful prospect, what
a wonderful blessing that is to encourage us as we journey
through this world, this evil world, this dark world, this
sinful world, to realise there is that great and glorious prospect
to the Church of God. But on the other hand, we read
these words, if we deny Him, He also will deny us. So there's a very effective balancing,
is there not, of the two issues. and to be able to find in our
own spiritual lives the evidence that because we are a true follower
of the Lord Jesus Christ, not one that follows afar off, but
one who is blessed to walk closely with their God, to prove that they are those who
do suffer, and they suffer with him and the blessing is to reign
with him and not to be amongst those who deny him. You know
it's so easy to deny the Lord God. My friends no doubt we've
all denied him in essence perhaps in our actions when in the world
it's much easier to go along with a crowd it's so easier to
in effect deny the Lord than to stand firm for the great truth
of God. And so to think of the solemn
statement, if we deny him, he also will deny us. Well, the
Apostle really runs through these points and then he comes down
to this 19th verse and he tells us, nevertheless, notwithstanding
all these things, we can rely upon the Truth of God's Word. Nevertheless, the foundation
of God standeth sure. Having this seal, the Lord knoweth
them that are his. Now that is a wonderful truth. It's a truth which, of course,
many people will turn away from. They don't want to acknowledge
that there is a God, a great God, who knows us. and a God who knows that we are
his. This is the great foundation
truth and to know therefore that this foundation has a blessed
application to each one of us, the Lord knoweth them that are
his. So he does know, he knows everyone
indeed as he says in the 15th of John, you have not chosen
me, but I have chosen you and ordained you. You should go and
bring forth much fruit and that your fruit should remain. And
the truth is that it is God who does choose his people. And we
then choose God in return. It's not the reverse. God chooses
us. God has chosen us. He's chosen
us in eternity past. And what a great favour and what
a great blessing that is. And then as we're passing through
these trying situations to realise the wonderful Word of God and
how true it is still. The Apostle, when writing to
the Ephesians, he says in the first chapter, Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. who hath blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as
he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself according to the good pleasure of His will, to the
praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted
in the Beloved." How important it is for us to realize the great
truth of these words. And it is that He has made us
accepted in the Beloved. And we are therefore to the praise
of His glory. And it is because of those things
which He has done for us, chosen us in Him before the foundation
of the world that we should be holy and without blame before
Him in love. Well, I wonder if you and I have
the evidence in our own souls that this is true with regard
to us, with regard to us as individuals. You know the Apostle goes on
and he says, in whom we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Now,
these words really direct us to such a statement. Nevertheless,
the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord
knoweth them that are his. The Lord does know his people
and the Lord grants to his people the evidence that He has called
them, that He has chosen them, that He is with them, that they
are His people. And it's all of grace according
to the riches of His grace. It's a good expression that,
isn't it? The riches of His grace. Grace is the free unmerited favor
of God. And to realize what a rich blessing
that is. It's not something that has any
earthly value. But my friends, it has an eternal
value. and what a rich blessing this
is. It's far greater than anything
that you and I can possess in this vain, passing world. And yet we live in an age, a
terribly material age, when everybody is rushing around trying to improve
their own status, trying to make their life more easy on this
earth. And with no real concern about
the eternal state of their souls. No real concern to recognise
they are born in sin, shaped in iniquity, and they need and
must have their sins forgiven. And it's only through this one
and great and glorious way which the Apostle spells out so clearly,
in whom we have redemption, redeemed. Redemption through his blood,
forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace where
if he had abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence well
what a God we have what a great God we have what a merciful God
we have what a favorable God we have to grant these blessings
to his people those who he has chosen those who he has predestinated
you see The natural mind hates such truths because the natural
mind is proud. The natural mind wants to be
able to justify ourselves, but we cannot justify ourselves.
We're only justified by what Christ has done and to stand
therefore in his place because he's died to atone for all our
sins. He indeed has justified us. You see, what it does, it brings
us to the situation where we come without anything. We are
helpless. Nothing in my hand I bring. We have nothing of any value
that we can bring to our God ourselves because everything
is stained and died. with sin are all is nothing worth. We come, therefore, as a sinner,
depending upon the grace of God. And so here the Apostle speaks
these words to encourage us, nevertheless, the foundation
of God. This is a foundation, and it's
a foundation which has a seal. You know, a seal. We don't see
very much of seals today, do we? But there are still legal
documents which do have to be sealed. They have to be stamped. They have to be signed to prove
that they are, in actual fact, a valuable document. And it cannot
be changed. It cannot be altered. it is sealed. And we'd read of course, don't
we, in the Word of God there's occasions when kings sealed things. We read in Daniel's day those
things when the king sealed it, those statements, which therefore
then could not be changed. Well of course they were only
earthly things and we know they were changed. They were changed
in Daniel's time. But my friends, we're thankful
to know that the The seal of God does not change. Does not
change. I am the Lord, I change not.
Therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed. And so we have
this statement here. Nevertheless, the foundation
of God's stand is sure, having this seal, and this is the seal,
the Lord knoweth them that are his. The Lord knows those then
who are his. And the Lord indeed, he indeed
plants his people. In Matthew's Gospel we read about
the Lord planting and how good it is to realize that it is the
Lord that plants, it's not you and I that plant. In the 15th
chapter we read, Then came his disciples and said unto him,
Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended after they heard
this saying? And people are offended today
with the great truths of God. But he answered and said, every
plant that my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted
up. That means that all those false
professors, all those who pretend to be Christians, but who do
not rest upon the foundation truths of God, You see, they
shall be rooted up, and the Lord shall let them alone. They shall
be leaders of the blind, and if the blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch. So how important it is for us
to know today that we are planted by the good hand of God. He's
taken us and He's planted us and He's placed us in that good
ground whereby there is that growth, that spiritual growth,
there is that root which goes down to establish us in the things
of God. And there's a plant which grows
up to show forth the praise of our God. You see, those who are
planted by the Lord do just that. There's a good root, and there's
a good result, and there is fruit. So we should be concerned about
that as an evidence of the blessing of the Lord in our spiritual
lives to show forth that we are amongst those whom the Lord knows.
The Lord knoweth them that are his. We're not just forgotten. We're not just left to wander
on aimlessly. The Lord is round about us. He's
round about his people. Isn't that wonderful? To think
of that, my friends, round about us. individually, preserving
us, watching over us, directing us, as the devil does all he
can to destroy our soul. But you see, we are safe. We're safe in the arms of Jesus. We cannot be destroyed. We cannot
be taken away. We cannot lose the grace of God. And so for we see this great
truth, nevertheless, the foundation of God's stand is sure. Having
this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. Well, have we the
evidence in our souls today that we are the Lord's? And let me
put it this way. Has God done for us, done for
you, done for me that which we could not do for ourselves. You see, we read these words,
and you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and in
sins. Yes, the Lord has quickened his
people, he has indeed quickened the Church of God, and of course,
what's a wonderful chapter, that second chapter in the Ephesians,
and of course, coming down to the 20th verse, apostle tells
us this great truth when he says, and are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief cornerstone. You see, if the Lord has quicken
this, if the Lord has made us spiritually alive, then this
is the great truth that we are built upon the Lord Jesus Christ
himself. no one else, himself, built upon
this great and glorious foundation. All the apostles, all the prophets,
all the Church of God are built on this same foundation. We unite
together and we bless God for it, that we are founded upon
the Lord Jesus Christ. He is indeed the chief cornerstone. And the apostle goes on and says,
in whom all the blue building, that means all the church of
God, fitly framed together, there's all that unity, true unity in
the true church of God, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.
in whom ye also are builded together for inhabitation of God through
the Spirit. And remember what he said in
an earlier verse, for by grace are ye saved through faith that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Why? So that we
may give the honor and glory to our God. Why we may rejoice
in such a statement as this. Nevertheless, the foundation
of God standeth sure, having this to the Lord knoweth them.
that are His, well then, are we encouraged to realize, yes,
the Lord knows us. You see, God knew you before
you were born. My friends, and when you were
born, He knew where you were born. And my friends, He knows
where you've been since the moment you were born. Every place you've
been in, The Lord knows that he's been there and he's watched
over you. You might be very embarrassed
to have to confess where you've been, perhaps. My friends, the
Lord knows where we've been, but he's watched over us. And
he hasn't dealt with us as our sins deserve. We deserve to be
cut off. cast out, but his mercy endureth
forever. The Lord knoweth them that are
his." What a great and glorious seal this is, isn't it? What
a wonderful foundation this is, and it's something that will
never be moved. It is an eternal counsel of God,
an eternity past, It's a mystery which is beyond our comprehension
to realize that Almighty God in eternity past ordained there
would be a people that He chose in eternity past to show forth
His praise. And it is a foundation that standeth
sure and it is a wonderful seal that there is. What a mercy then,
to know that we are part of those for whom the Lord has looked
upon. And the Apostle says, according
to the, when he wrote to the Corinthians, according to the
grace of God which is given unto me as a wise master builder,
I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereupon. But
let every man take heed how he buildeth upon. For other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now that's the true foundation.
But the apostle goes on and says, now if any man build upon this
foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every
man's work shall be made manifest. For the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try
every man's work of what sort it is now, this true foundation
will not be burnt up. And that which is built upon
it, only that which is burnt up, which will be of the flesh,
that which is just wood, hay, stubble, but those things which
are built upon it, the precious stones, the great truths of the
Gospel, will only be more and more established and it will
be strengthening to our souls to realize, yes, the Lord is
gracious to us and he's dealing with us as his sons. The Lord
knoweth them that are his. Well, this morning, it's an encouraging
word for us to think that as we travel through this world
with so much opposition in one way or another, and there is,
my friends, much opposition, opposition from our own heart,
our evil heart of unbelief, opposition from the world, opposition from
the devil, continually trying to tempt us and turn us away
from the truth of God, from these soul-establishing truths, to
bring us to perhaps say well of course I don't think this
is fair I don't think this is just and I think that we should
all have you know our own way and our own choice and do what
we want to do well just realise that if you and I had our own
choice we should never choose God be quite clear about that
you and I would never choose God we'd choose the evil way
But it's only because God has chosen us that we choose God. And therefore, that is a foundational
truth. And it's something that you and
I can realise, a wonderful consolation, because it's that which Christ
has done for us. Not what we've done for Christ,
what Christ has done for us. If Christ has done something
for us, I believe there will be the outworking of that, that
we shall desire to serve the Lord. We won't want to just sit
at home in our armchair and let the world go by. We'll be concerned
to be found a true, willing servant of the Lord, serving Him. And there's very many ways the
Church of God are called to serve their Master. my friends we are
all all those who are amongst those who are blessed with this
sure seal the Lord knows that that are his are privileged to
be found serving the Lord and it's an evidence that we possess
this seal the evidence that we are desirous to serve God and
not to serve our flesh not to serve ourselves not to go about
just pleasing ourselves Yes, you know, sometimes I think it's,
you know, you lay in bed in the morning. Are we serving God? It's good to get up, isn't it?
It's good to get up and serve the Lord. The Lord's given us
nights rest and sleep. We found serving the Lord, not
to be left lying in bed. All my friends, what a blessing
it is when the Spirit of God takes possession of us, so that
we rejoice in the privilege we have of serving the Lord. And
so, here we have this great truth, the Lord knoweth them that are
His. Well, the Apostle Peter rejoiced,
did he not, in such a truth. And in his epistle, in the first
epistle in the second chapter, we read the truths of this great
point when he says, if so be, You have tasted that the Lord
is gracious. Well, this morning, have you
and I tasted? The Lord is gracious to us. He hasn't forgotten us. He hasn't
cast us off. But he's been gracious. Tasted. A taste, my friends. And it's not something which
the world does, because this is a very special taste. And the Lord gives us an appetite
for it. It's very different to the things
of the world. Because you see, tasting the
great truths of God, they do our souls eternal good. They build us up in the things
of God. They establish our goings. They bring life and strength
to our souls. And so the apostle goes on, he
says, to whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed
of men, but chosen of God and precious, ye also then as lively
stones. He said the church of God are
not dead stones. The church of God are lively
stones. built up a spiritual house and
holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ. And let us remember that a sacrifice
is what it means. In Old Testament times, they
would describe the sacrifices, the people brought their sacrifices. And what did it mean? It meant
they had to give something that they possessed. They had to give,
and it was an animal as such, and it was therefore a sacrifice,
they'd given it. No longer theirs, they'd given
it. And that is so today in our lives. We are to recognize there
are others in our life, we are to give ourselves unto the Lord. And so here, the apostle directs
us to this truth. Lively stones have built up a
spiritual house, not an earthly house, a spiritual house. And holy priesthood, serving
the Lord in holiness, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable
to God by Jesus Christ. And it is important for us to
realize the favor of this holy priesthood. because we are to
live a holy and a righteous life, indeed, as the Apostle tells
us here as we come on to, and let everyone that nameth the
name of Christ depart from iniquity. And that means we have here this
holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God,
by Jesus Christ, wherefore also it is contained in the Scriptures.
Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto
you, therefore, which believe." And this is a very testing point.
You know, people say they believe. Well, here is the evidence of
it. And to you therefore which believe, he is precious." That
means Christ is precious to our souls. So my friends, what do
we think of Christ? Is he precious to us? If we are
a true believer, he is precious. And he's precious because we've
been called, we've been chosen, And it is, therefore, that which
establishes us. And so he says, 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 corn, and the stone of stumbling, and a rock
of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient,
whereunto also they were appointed. ye are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should
show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light, which in time passed were not a people,
but are now the people of God, which had not obtained mercy,
but now have obtained mercy." Well, what a statement that is,
isn't it? What an evidence that is, to
encourage us and to be able to trace out in our lives whether
such a statement as this has a precious and blessed application
to our souls. This sure foundation, this seal,
the Lord knoweth them that are His, and the outworking of it,
you see, is like this, and let everyone that nameth the name
of Christ depart from iniquity." Turn our back upon those things
which do not lead us to Christ. How we need grace to do that.
How we need to realize that we're bought with a price, that price
of blood, that Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life, that we might
have life. He laid it down because He had
chosen us. Yes, He's called us. We are amongst
those whom He redeems. Those who He's loved with everlasting
love. Those who He gives faith to believe
the great truths of the everlasting gospel. See how much there is
here in this statement. What a wonderful encouragement
it must be to us today as we read these chapters in Timothy
and we read that second chapter which indicates to us something,
does it not, of the terrible state that the world would come
into, which it has come into, which it is. But my friends,
what a blessing it is that we have this Word of God and that's
why mentioned in prayers, the Apostle tells us all the scriptures
given by inspiration of God, it's God that gives the Word
of God, not man. and is profitable for doctrine,
the great foundational truths, for reproof, to bow down and
acknowledge the Word of God speaking to our heart and that we're approved
by it, for correction, we're corrected by it, for instruction
in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect throughly
furnished unto all good works." Well, may we bless God today
for the Word of God and realize how true it is. And may it be
these few things that we mentioned this morning be an encouragement
to us and an evidence that we are standing upon such foundational
truths as the Word of God sets before us. the great truth of
election, the great truth of God's love to unworthy people,
the great truth he led in his life to redeem those people,
those who were not worthy, those who were totally unworthy, those
who were black sinners. He came to save those who were
lost. Nevertheless, the foundation
of God standeth sure, having this seal, remember it's sealed,
it's signed, The Lord knoweth them that are his, and that every
one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Amen.