If you would, turn to 2 Timothy
chapter one. 2 Timothy chapter one. I'm gonna
read three verses. Beginning in verse 12. For the witch 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. Hold fast the form of sound words,
which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ
Jesus. That good thing which was committed
unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost, which dwelleth in us. I'm gonna stop right there. The title is Hold Fast the Form
of Sound Words. Now this is the second letter
of Paul to Timothy. Now if you've read through these,
and I hope you have at one time or another and will again. If it seems similar, the second
letter seems similar to Paul's first letter, that's okay because
it is. At least in theme. One of Paul's chief concern in
these two letters to Timothy seems to be about the preservation
of and the protection of and the proclamation of the gospel. However, it is also thereby about
the preservation and the protection of Timothy and those under his
care. Because these two things are
directly related. You can't separate the gospel
from the believer and you can't separate the believer from the
gospel. It's not possible. That's not
saying we won't fall, we won't stumble. It is possible we might
even forsake the assembling of ourselves together sometimes. But you can't separate the gospel
from the believer. Because this is to be jealously
Jealously guarded and zealously watched because there are those
around, and that's part of the warnings to Timothy in both of
these letters, who would destroy the gospel of Christ if they
could. But more commonly, there are
those who would distort the gospel if they could. Maybe just change
it just a little. That's all, you know, just one
little old thing. What did Christ say? A little
leaven leavens the whole lump. Because if you, you know it says
if you offend in one part of the law, you're guilty of all.
Okay, you take out one part of the gospel or you add one thing
to the gospel, you're destroying the gospel. For yourself, you're
not destroying it for believers, but that's what it is. A distortion
of the gospel is not the gospel. It's not another gospel. There
is no other gospel. Timothy is not only warned about
men who hold not to the gospel, he is told the ways that the
gospel of God's sovereign grace is attacked by men. And it comes down to this. Hold
fast to the form of sound words. And that's what I want to speak
to you today. Because if we fail in this, if we fail to hold the
form of sound words, we have lost the message of the truth
of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And that's as plain as I can
be about it. Because you're either believing the gospel, you're
preaching the gospel, you're hearing the gospel, or you're
not. But just a few things in verse
12, because I love this verse. For the which cause I also suffer
these things, this is Paul speaking, 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. And that day's coming. But Paul wrote it here, why do
I suffer? Why am I not ashamed? There's only one answer. I know
whom I have believed. Paul suffered for the name of
Jesus Christ. I mean, it's stated pretty much,
this is written while he was in prison at Rome. these letters
to Timothy. He said, come to me, bring me
my cloak, but above all, bring the books, bring the scrolls,
bring the scriptures, bring the letters. Paul was persuaded that he is
able. And that's the truth of the Lord
Jesus Christ. He is able, whether we're persuaded
or not. whether we realize it or not
at the time. Circumstances do affect us. Circumstances affect me. I was
listening to Earl coming up the road this morning and he said
it, he said, there are some times I don't want to preach. He says
there's sometimes I look at Union Teller, he says that I wish I
didn't have to preach today. And the beautiful thing about
that is, it's true. I mean, it is true. But the beautiful
thing about that is, Earl didn't say there was days that he didn't
want to come here. It's just days he didn't want
to preach. Because even when you don't desire
to preach, the desire to gather together with the people of God
is there. Sometimes my best thing about
Sunday is listening to Walter preach. It is. It's not listening to me talk.
I can talk. I can argue. I can dispute. And if you get me in the right
frame of mind and with the right subject, I can talk your head
off. But there's a difference when you stand behind this place
here. And you're trying to bring forth
what sayeth what sound words It can be really scary. It can
be really terrifying But by his grace we continue
Paul was persuaded he was able He's able whether we know it
or not whether we believe it or not, whether we feel it or
not, He's able. But it's good for you to be persuaded
that He is able. It's good for you. It's good
for you. Because sometimes it is the purpose
of God that you be afflicted. Tribulation worketh patience. But guess what? It's still tribulation. Chastisement yields the peaceable
fruit of righteousness, but it's still chastisement. No chastisement is joyful, but
grievous. But it does yield the peaceable
fruit. Why? Because he's able. He's
able to teach us. Even though that right now, as
a believer, myself standing here, there is in my flesh no good
thing. He's still able to teach me. And he's able to keep. That which I have committed unto
him against that day. What had Paul committed to him?
What has every believer committed to him? Everything we have. Every
single thing we have. My life, my hope, my love. And my life, my hope, and my
love all came from him. Because not only in my flesh
dwelleth no good thing, I find in myself a delight in God's
law. A delight in God that was never
there before. I am persuaded that he is able. That's his gift. By faith. But here he tells Timothy
next in verse 13, hold fast the form of sound words, which thou
hast heard of me in faith and in love, which is in Christ Jesus. Hold fast. And what that means
is hold fast. It means to hold on to. to clasp,
to grab, to keep it and don't let go. What Paul is telling Timothy
is this, this is something to hold on to. I'm persuaded that
he is able, but hold on to that. But this is something in particular
he's telling Timothy here to hold on to, to grasp. to lay
hold of and not let go. It's the form of sound words. Because this is important. Don't
let it go. Because some are going to try
to get you to let go. There's resistance. That's why
you are to hold fast. And we are surrounded by other
gospels, which are not another. We are surrounded by distorted
gospels, which are not another. We are surrounded by outright
heresy and outright blasphemy. And you, if you turn your television
on or your radio or you go to work or you see anybody, you
are going to be assaulted. And what they are trying to do
is to get you to not hold fast. You know that little 11, 11,
just compromise a little, Mason. Just a little. Just, just, don't,
don't, I mean, I'm not telling you to let go. Just don't quite
hold so fast. You don't have to let go. Oh,
hold on to Jesus. Jesus is very important. That's their attitude. Because
see, they've got other things that are just as important as
Jesus. Because they're not trying to hold fast, they're trying
to hang on. They're trying to hold out. No,
Paul says hold fast. Hold fast to the form of sound
words. There are those who will use
your own words against you. And trust me, I've got a lot
of them out there that could be used against me. because they'll just try, you
know, just give just a little, you know, maybe you can take the first step and
God will meet you there. No, that ain't holding fast.
And it sure ain't sound words. What Earl used to say, and I
remember this expression when I was writing this up, Hold the
line, and you point that finger. Hold the line wherever you go,
whatever the situation, wherever you are, and no matter the circumstance. Whoever you're talking to, you
hold the line. You hold fast to the form of
sound words. Second Timothy chapter four and
verse one. I charge thee therefore before
God. That sounds serious. And the
Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead
at his appearing in his kingdom. What does he charge, Timothy?
Preach the word. Second Timothy two. In verse,
2 Timothy 2, 2 Timothy 4, verse 2. Geez, I get it right. Be instant. Be instant. In season and out of season. So what is that? That's all the
time. You either in season or you're out of season. That's
all there is. Be instant, in season and out
of season. Oh, then it says reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering and what doctrine? Guess what? That's sound words. That's sound
words. Why? For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine. But after their own lust shall
they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and they
shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned
unto fables. Hold fast, hold fast. And sometimes holding fast means
talking. But it says, in particular here,
the form of sound words. This is what we are to hold fast
to, to cling on to, to not let go. And the word form means the
example, the pattern. And literally, it's translated,
because it was about this long, typification after, typification after. What Paul said to Timothy, the
way Paul said it to Timothy, the message that Paul preached
is an example of what we are to hold on to. The message, the message Because
sound words, if you want the short answer, sound words are
the gospel. Literally that means uncorrupted
speaking. I like that. It's actually the
word logos. The speaking. Hold fast to uncorrupted
speaking. And that's whether you're doing
the speaking or whether someone else is doing the speaking. Hold
fast. In every one of Paul's epistles,
you will read the gospel. He's wrote it in there somewhere.
And if you don't see it, it's probably because you missed it.
In every one of his letters, his epistles, you will see Christ
crucified and resurrected and what he accomplished in one place
or another. Right here in 2 Timothy, before
we got to this, for I'm not ashamed, I know whom I have believed.
You look in verse nine, well no, excuse me, verse eight of
2 Timothy chapter one. Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner. But be
thou partaker of the, what? Afflictions of the gospel. According
to the power of God, what? who hath saved us and called
us with an holy calling. How? Well, it wasn't not according
to our works. I like that he starts with the
negative. He saved us and he called us, but not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is
now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who
has, what, abolished death and brought life and immortality
to light, what, through the gospel. Hold fast to those sound words. Those sound words give all the
glory to Christ and the father They ascribe all the work of
this what? Holy calling of what who has
saved us? Everything is ascribed as according
to and done by God and That is sound words That's the gospel In 1 Timothy 6 and 3, it calls
it wholesome words. It's actually the same exact
Greek word. Wholesome words, sound words. In 1 Timothy 6 and 3, it talks
actually, if any man teach otherwise and consent not, what? To wholesome
words. Even the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ. That's sound words. The words of Jesus Christ are
sound words. The gospel of Jesus Christ is
sound words. Then Paul reminded Timothy where
he heard it from. He says, which thou hast heard
of me. which thou hast heard from me. Because Paul brought the gospel
to Timothy and to the Gentiles. And everywhere that Paul went,
he preached this gospel. Everywhere that Paul went, he
preached these sound words. Every letter he wrote, he wrote
these sound words. And we have them here. Timothy
heard them from Paul himself. We get to read them. And Timothy got to read these
letters. And we get to read these letters.
And we get to hear the truth of God in the face of Jesus Christ
as written by the apostle to the Gentiles. In Acts 20 and verse 20 he said,
and how I kept back nothing that was profitable to you. Speaking
to the Ephesian elders. But have showed you and have
taught you, what? Publicly. And from house to house. What was the difference between
Paul's public message and private message? Nothing. There's only
one message. There's only one message. And
he didn't keep back anything profitable to them, publicly or privately. I know there's people who won't
preach election because they're afraid they'll split their church.
Paul taught it clearly and plainly that God chose his people from
before the foundation of the world. And those that he chose,
he is bringing in every single one of them. And he's not bringing
in any extra. I mean, that's the truth. And
Paul taught that and wrote the letter to Ephesians boldly stating
that. Why? Because it was profitable. Sound words are profitable to
the people of God. Testifying both to the Jews and
also to the Greeks, what? Repentance toward God and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ. That's the gospel. Repentance toward God and faith
in our Lord Jesus Christ is sound words. And Paul spoke those sound words
to everyone and wrote those sound words to everyone. And he was
proclaiming the gospel of God's dear son. That was his ministry. And that was what he was about. Paul didn't make up the gospel.
It was given to him. Paul was given the form of sound
words. It says in Galatians 1, 11 and
verse 12, but I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which
was preached of me is not after man. It's not from man. Paul didn't get it from a man.
Because verse 12 says this, for I neither received it of man,
neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. That's where Paul got his sound
words. That's where Paul got the form of his sound words. The pattern of the uncorrupted
logos was given to Paul by Jesus Christ. It is not from man. And you can
easily discover that for yourself by talking to man about the gospel. This gospel was given to Paul
by Jesus Christ himself and it was passed on to us. Recorded as holy men of old moved
by the Holy Spirit. Inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote
it down for us And it's been translated into words. We can understand Timothy Hold fast the form of
sound words, which you've heard of me what in faith and love,
which is in Christ Jesus. There's no way to hold fast to
the form of sound words without faith. There's no way to know
the form of sound words, truly know without faith. It's not possible. Now you can
logically read it. Through reading comprehension
skills, write it down, but that ain't the same thing as holding
fast to the form of sound words. It's not mental assent. It's
not. It is a love for the Lord Jesus
Christ and what he has said and what he has done and what he
is doing for you. See this, this letter, I know
this letter is just personal, but I have to tell you that every
single one of you has to hold fast to the sound of, to the
form of sound words. I can't do it for you. You can't
do it for me. Which you have heard of me. But Timothy, you didn't hear
it in yourself. You heard it in faith and in
love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse five says, when I call
to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which
dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice,
and I am persuaded that in thee also. The only way to hold on to the
form of sound words is by the faith of Christ Jesus. Timothy, you've heard me in faith
and in love. And if you haven't heard me in
faith and in love, you haven't heard. I mean, that's just it. Hereby perceive we, what? the love of God, because he laid
down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the
brethren. Romans 5, 5 says this, and hope
maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. And I'm
gonna tell you something, that also includes the love to hold
fast to the form of sound words. It includes a love of the gospel.
You can't love Christ apart from his gospel. Because the gospel
is his story. It's his work. It's what he came
here to do. And it's what he came here and
did. Oh, I just love Jesus. No, no,
no, they don't. And if you tell them who Jesus
really is, you'll find out really quick, they don't love that Jesus.
They don't love this Jesus. They don't hold fast to the form
of sound words. Because if what Jesus Christ
said can drive you away, and it can, If you don't know him,
if he hasn't given you faith, it drove away multitudes while
he was here in person. His message drives away as well
as draws in. His messengers, his gospel is
the saver of life unto life. but it's the saver of death,
unto death, and it's the exact same message. It's the exact
same what? Sound words. That not only, see
the world won't hold fast to sound words. They'll throw down
and run the other way. After Jesus Christ spoke, what?
Many of them, what? Went back. And that's back words. and walk no more with him. Why? Because of sound words. You can't
tell me the words of Christ aren't sound words, even if my words
aren't. His words are sound. Through and through. We perceive believers have been
given the love of God. It's shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost And we receive sound words in faith and in love. And we do our best to hold fast. And we perceive it. That's the
part I like. We perceive the love of God. Blessed are your eyes, for they
see. We perceive because the good
shepherd laid down his life for the sheep and took it up again. Verse 14 says, that good thing
which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost, which
dwelleth in us. It's a good thing to hold fast
to sound words. and sound words have been committed
to you if you believe in faith and in love of Christ Jesus. Because of the form of sound
words, the gospel of Christ, the wholesome words of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that is a good thing. And it's committed unto
you. Keep by the Holy Ghost, but it's
committed unto you, each and every single one of his believers. The form of sound words is committed
unto you, and you are to be committed unto it. Keep. Keep. You can't keep it by yourself.
It does say keep by the Holy Ghost, but it does say keep.
We are to hold fast. And what's happening? Keep holding
on. Keep holding the line, as we're all used to saying. Don't
let things slip. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 15
says what? Study. To show thyself approved
unto God, a worketh that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth. The form of sound words is committed
unto you. Keep it. Study. Read. Study what? The scriptures. Study what? Sound words. Study what? The gospel, the words
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rightly divide the word of truth. But he doesn't stop there. But
shun profane and vain babblings, why? For they will increase unto
more ungodliness. What's the opposite of sound
words? Unsound words. What's the result of unsound
words? Ungodliness. And their word will eat as does
a canker. Of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus? Paul wasn't afraid to name names. What, who concerning the truth
have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow
the faith of some? Unsound words hurt. Nevertheless, 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 reason Timothy is told and
we are told to hold fast unto sound words is because there
are those who do not. And that's just the way it is. I looked at it just a second,
1 Timothy 6 and 3. It says, if any man teach otherwise and consent
not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to the doctrine which is according to godliness. If you
meet somebody that teaches otherwise, what is he? Well, he's proud,
knowing nothing. Now I'm gonna tell you something,
we're surrounded by people that don't know nothing. I don't know if that's good English
or bad English, but that's the way it is. They don't know a
thing about the Christ of the Bible. But doting about questions and
strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, and evil
surmisings, what else? Perverse disputings of men of
corrupt minds. And oh boy, is that around. And
here it is, destitute. of the truth. They ain't holding fast to the
form of sound words because they're destitute of the truth. They
got no idea what is sound words. Supposing that gain is godliness. Mason, that health and wealth
gospel was around 2,000 years ago. That's exactly it. There is nothing
new under the sun. Not in man. Not in God either,
but not in man. Because man has always been as
corrupt as he ever has been. Evil men and seducers shall wax
worse and worse. They may be getting more prolific.
I don't know if it's a percentage or if it's just the fact that
there's more of us now. But supposing that gain is godliness,
along with perverse disputings, destitute of the truth, proud,
knowing nothing, strifes of words, envy, strife, railings, and evil
surmising, from such, what? Withdraw thyself. Don't hang
around. Don't hang around. Hold fast
to this form of sound words is easier when you withdraw yourself
from stuff like this. And that's just the God's honest
truth. From such withdraw yourself, and what does that mean? That
means to remove, to desist, to desert, and to depart. You ain't gotta run them off,
just pull away from them. If that's where they, if they
go over there and that's what they talk about, what, don't
go there. Just don't. Because if they're destitute
of the truth, they won't know sound words if sound words bit
them in the nose. And we are told not to cast our
pearls before swine, lest they be trodden underfoot, and they
turn and they rend you. Now, we are also to preach the
gospel. In season and out of season,
be instant. We are told to be ready to give
an answer. And I heard Earl say that on
that tape this morning I was listening to. He says, but now, in order
to answer something, there's gotta be a question first. If
somebody's got a question, answer it. But don't go out of your
way to hang around people like this. And they're out there. That's what Paul was telling
Timothy almost 2,000 years ago. Guess what? There's more of them
now. And there are those who, if they
could, they would overthrow the faith of some. From such, withdraw,
remove, depart yourself. Love and faith are the gifts
of the Spirit. And they are given to everyone
that is born from above, that is born of God, and they are
kept by the power of God through faith. How important is the form of
sound words? They're vital for the soundness,
for the spiritual health of the believer. They're vital. And they are committed unto you,
they are committed unto me, and we are to do our best to keep
them by the Holy Ghost. Study. Everyone is to study,
not just Timothy. That's who the letter was written
to, but it's written for everyone. Timothy heard Paul in person
and got personal letters from him. And like I said, we get
to read them. Because we are to read and to
study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, someone who is holding fast to the sound
words, to the form of sound words. And you're not gonna find them
anywhere else but in the scriptures. If there's other books out there,
They may be good books and they may be true books. I've got some.
But the reason I know they're true, the reason I know they're
good is because they're talking about these scriptures. That's it. That's the form of
sound words. We have it given to us in this
book. Hold fast to it. hold the line
and hold fast to the form of sound words. Our heavenly father,
we're thankful again for this time. Most of all, thankful for
you who loved us and gave himself for us, our Lord Jesus Christ. Father, bless Walter as he comes to speak
here, give him the words we need to hear. And we'll give you all
the honor and the glory for it is yours now and forever. Amen.