Gospel of John [17:17-18]. The Lord's priestly prayer; part 38. 2Ti 2; Practical Sanctification.

Title: Gospel of John [17:17-18]. The Lord's priestly prayer; part 38. 2Ti 2; Practical Sanctification.

 

 

2TI 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.

 

2TI 2:21 Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

 

2TI 2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

 

2TI 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.

 

"Refuse stupid questions from the uninstructed which always cause contentions."

 

We are not to get involved in the stupid questions of the uninstructed. Satan's world system states that there is no stupid question and so the believer standing in the truth who refuses to get sucked into debates and quarrels over things that the uninstructed boast of knowing is labeled as unloving. We cannot be concerned about our reputation above the truth. When we compromise we hinder the truth and so hinder its effect on those who hear.

 

2TI 2:24 And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach [skillful in teaching], patient when wronged,

 

2TI 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance [change of mind] leading to the knowledge [epignosis - true or full knowledge] of the truth,

 

Those who place themselves in opposition to the true servant of the Lord and to true doctrine, are to be dealt with as tenderly and considerately as they who walk in error from right living.

 

God will give or grant them repentance only in accord with their free will. For the change of mind to take place there must be an understanding of the truth. For even the smallest understanding of the truth there must be a free-will decision on the part of the reversionistic believer or unbeliever to want to learn. No one can force another person to learn. God has the most effective means to motivate learning in a negative person through suffering, but even then, He does not violate their free-will. As soon as a person, believer or unbeliever, has a desire to learn, God the Holy Spirit leaps into action using the word given by the Church.

 

2TI 2:26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

 

This coming to their senses is like snapping out of a drunken stupor, for the word means to return to soberness. The liquor is ignorance of the truth through refusal of the truth. They are drunk with stupidity.

 

1CO 15:34

Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning [stating that there is no resurrection from the dead]; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

 

Just prior Paul writes that bad company corrupts good morals. The bad company they were keeping were lascivious Gnostics who taught that there was not a physical, bodily resurrection. Cleanse you mind from false doctrine by learning truth and so be sanctified or set apart in that truth.

 

Ignorance makes up the chains that the devil uses to hold mankind captive, whether it is the gospel (parable of the sower) or the truth for believers and since they are captive they do his will rather than God's. The devil is the cruelest master there ever was.

 

And so 2Ti 2 has given us some insight into practical or experiential sanctification which comes by means of the truth through the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He fills the heart of the believer who does not grieve or quench Him.

 

We should read through it one more time in order the solidify a bit more the wonderful things we have learned from this chapter.

 

2TI 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

 

2TI 2:2 And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

 

2TI 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

 

2TI 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

 

2TI 2:5 And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

 

2TI 2:6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

 

2TI 2:7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

 

2TI 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,

 

2TI 2:9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

 

2TI 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

 

2TI 2:11 It is a trustworthy statement:

For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him;

 

2TI 2:12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him;If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

 

2TI 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

 

2TI 2:14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

 

2TI 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.

 

2TI 2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,

 

2TI 2:17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

 

2TI 2:18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some.

 

2TI 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness."

 

2TI 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.

 

2TI 2:21 Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

 

2TI 2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

 

2TI 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.

 

2TI 2:24 And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,

 

2TI 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

 

2TI 2:26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

 

In this prayer our Lord states that the disciples were given to Him by the Father 'out of the world' in verse 6, that they therefore no longer belong to the world in verses 14 and 16, although they remain in the world in verse 11 and are not immediately taken out of the world in verse 15.

 

Our Lord's disciples are the hope for the world as they are today. There will always be believers that are useful to the Master and who become expert witnesses for Him. Until the Rapture of the Church the body of Christ exclusively represents the Head and so becomes the hope of the world. And as bad as the Church has been at times in history, He has still used her and that is a testimony to the greatness of the High Priest.

 

JOH 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.

 

JOH 17:18 "As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

 

"Thy word is truth." - the Bible is the truth. Not every person's commentary on the Bible is truth.

 

JOH 17:19 "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

 

If the disciples are to be effectively set apart for the work that they must do, the Son must first set Himself apart for the work which He must do.

 

Our Lord set Himself apart from His accusers - He did not fight back, but as the Lamb of God He remained silent before His shearers.

 

JOH 18:11 Jesus therefore said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"

 

Our Lord set Himself apart from the world, taking its thoroughly unjust treatment and set Himself apart to His Father. Father, your will, not mine, be done.

 

Sanctification - to be set apart from the world and unto God in order to do His work and will.

 

One cannot do the will of the Father without setting himself apart from the ways of the world system for the two are antithetical.

 

The manner by which we set ourselves apart to accomplish the ministry that God the Father has given each of us finds no greater example than the ministry of the Son of God. As our prototype He reveals how it should be done. It is of no use to mimic another man’s ministry, for no two are exactly alike.

 

1CO 12:4-7

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 

We all have the same Spirit, same Lord, and same Father to guide us in the unique ministry that God has given each of us. It is of no use to mimic another’s ministry.

 

Each believer witness relies on the ministry of God the Holy Spirit. The Spirit uses the positive witnesses as instruments in His common grace ministry.

 

It was not what His executioners did to Him, but His willingness to offer Himself for the life of the world.

 

JOH 10:14 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me,

 

JOH 10:15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

 

JOH 10:16 "And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.

 

JOH 10:17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

 

JOH 10:18 "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."

 

JOH 6:51 "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh."

 

Our Lord set Himself apart from Satan and the KOD. He denied Satan’s temptations in the desert and He denied defending Himself in front of all who shouted, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.” As always, He relied upon the Father and so He sanctified Himself unto the Father. Satan wanted Him to make bread out of stones, to jump off the pinnacle of the temple, to scream unfair at His unfair accusers and executioners, but if He had done any of these things He would have denied the perfect will and purpose of the Father. Now, since He has done so, He has through His death and resurrection given us the ability to do so. Every believer, without exception, can set himself apart from the sin nature, the world system, and Satan and the KOD through Him.