This sermon is from the Rev. Charles G. Dennison sermon archive, part of the “II Timothy” series, and was preached at Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Sewickley, PA, during a worship service on Sunday, April 10, 1988.
Our Scripture reading this morning is Second Timothy chapter two. We are reading from verse fourteen once more to the end of the chapter. Second Timothy two, verse fourteen, hear the word of God of these things, put them in remembrance charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the heroes. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness, and their word will eat as doth a canker, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus who concerning the truth have urged, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.
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. 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 honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and suitable for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts that follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart, but foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strife. And a servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God, peradventure, will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
It is a glorious, glorious text. Not often do men run to 2 Timothy to find a glorious text, but there is one here, sadly overworked by many. the foundation of God standeth firm. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth firm. If you were to memorize these words, if you were to carry them with you, You would have great advantage in the matters of life that concern you. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth firm. The passage actually has two central pieces. one relates to the controversy at Ephesus, the involvement of Timothy in that controversy and the significance of those men, Hymenaeus and Philetus. But even beyond the matter of controversy and the figures of those who bear office, those also who assault the church, is this second thesis, that this passage, glorious as it is, has as much application to the people of God as a whole as it does to ministers, to servants of the word. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standard.
What is the specific focus. Of these words. How does Paul intend them to be taken. First of all over against the false teaching that has come in over again the figures of Hymenaeus and Philetus. The foundation of God stands firm in opposition to them and to their teaching, what they purport the gospel is all about. We’ll hear them, hear them. Paul has summarized their teaching for you. He has told you that they are those who teach that the resurrection is past already. Let that sink in. Do you understand what it means to hold such a doctrine? Consider the seriousness of it. The resurrection is past already. Now, there have been many attempts to get to the heart of the air embraced by Hymenaeus and Philetus. But what is the heart, truly, of their position and the falsehood that they have embraced?
The resurrection is past already. That means there is no future resurrection. No. Future. Resurrection. In other words, whatever the resurrection is, it’s already here. Period. But to deny that there is a future resurrection, what implications does that have? It means as well that you will deny the world to which that resurrection leads, and you will conclude that this world is the only world. And whatever there is of the resurrection has occurred in it, and that’s it. Period. So no future resurrection and no future world. There is no world above. There is no dwelling above. There is no habitation above for you.
This is it. Paul counters. In the face of this false doctrine. Nevertheless the foundation of God standard. How are these words specifically apply to the circumstance. To the problem emphasis. Why hymen is and the leaders have transformed Christianity into a religion of this world. Over against that then comes. These words. But. You’re asking how do these words specifically answer to the difficulty that has arisen, how do they speak to this case?
After all, to talk about a foundation brings to mind something that seems quite earthy, quite earthy, quite attached to this world. Paul, however, with these words, is directing Kenneth to something that carries his mind beyond this world and to the heart of what God has done for his people. We read about foundations in the Old Testament, specifically as the foundation applies to the structure that stood central to the life of the people of God. Foundations as they related to the tabernacle, but specifically to the temple. It is against that background that now Paul speaks. For as he makes mention of the foundation of God, he has in mind that to which those foundations pointed, those foundations that were established in the Old Testament.
Disobedience arose, the people were judged, the temple that stood at the center of their life was overthrown, not one stone left upon another, all reduced to rubble. But in the midst of that devastation, there comes the prophetic word. That stone rejected by the chief builders, I will make the chief cornerstone. I will lay a stone in Zion, and upon that stone foundations will be laid.
Blessed is every one that trusteth in me, is not offended by me in laying that foundation. So then away from that focus and concentration upon foundations that are simply of this world. Foundations rather now that are apparent only in Christ and in that which he is establishing, an eternal dwelling, not made with hands, for his own, who he is now drawing to himself. The foundation of God stands firm. In fact, it cannot be shaken. Why? Because it is eternal. Look at the foundations of this earth. Are they not bullshit?
Does it matter how pretentious they become, even in their religiosity? The focus, nonetheless, upon this world a habitation here, and what this world can offer. Over against the false doctrines of Hymenaeus and Felicius, then, there comes a message about the foundation of God that stands firm, and that, yes, at the heart of the gospel.
What will men preach? Will they preach to you the better lives? or will they preach to you. What will the church offer you. A life in which increases are guaranteed in which your family is secure a woman looking for a Christian man why because she knows he won’t leave.
Maybe. the rewards of this life, the rewards of this world, how we set our eye upon them and live for them as if they were all. In actual fact, these things are far removed from the heart of the gospel. Actually, you see, the church that follows those things is actually, you see, following the teachings of Hymenaeus and Philippe. The foundation of God that stands firm is eternal, it is unseen, it is perceived by faith, not by sight. And what about the general comfort of this glorious passage? What about the vicissitudes of life? The troubles that overtake you? The distress from day to day? The anguish of soul? Your worry? Your anxiety? The foundation of God stands firm. It is internal habitation. It is internal development. To the degree that our eye is diverted, we begin to teeter. To the degree that we no longer see clearly, the end of our faith, we fail in its daily operation. Our faith caves in because we no longer see eternity, a firm foundation for our lives.
Nevertheless, Paul says The foundation of God stands firm. And that is the bedrock of all true, proper gospel preaching, and that is the bedrock of all proper, true Christian living. We let loose of it to our detriment, but we hold it fast. to our good and God’s glory.
Let us pray. Our God, as we consider the foundation which you have established in Christ, may we realize that this foundation was costly to you, that Jesus Christ came into the world and he gave his life that the eternal dwelling may in fact be opened up to a people belonging to yourself. Without the shedding of his blood then, Without the forgiveness of our sins, there is no access. But we rejoice today that the message of the gospel is that access is ours through the shed blood of Christ. And that we who believe do, in fact, have eternal life. Bless us, Lord, your servants as we come together now to partake of the supper which Christ instituted in the days of his flesh. Amen.
The sermon text provided above is derived from the sermon audio recording making use of generative tools. It has not been manually edited. While transcription tools have a high degree of accuracy, the output may include generative textual, punctuation, and/or formatting errors.