Angelic Conflict part 82: Angelology 102; Basic facts – 2Ti 2:1-26; Joh 14:15; Mat 10:32-33.

Title: Angelic Conflict part 82: Angelology 102; Basic facts - 2TI 2:1-26; JOH 14:15; MAT 10:32-33.

 

 

Of all the specific types of angels the cherubim are mentioned the most. They are a privileged group who guard the holiness of God, not that He needs them to, but as God shares His glory with His creatures, He allows them the privilege.

 

This brings to mind a verse, but I want to read this verse in the context of its chapter. 2 Timothy is the last book written by Paul who is aware that he has been sentenced to death. These are the words of a dying man inspired by G/HS. And he is passing the torch of the gospel into the care and supervision of a younger Timothy, his friend and co-worker.

 

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

 

He instructs not to be strong in morality or divine establishment, that follows the strength that is in grace 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.

 

“entrust” - parati,qhmi[paratithemi] = literally: to put near. To place with someone, to entrust, or commit.

 

This implies a protection or guarding of that which is placed with someone. The thing entrusted is all the doctrine or things which Timothy heard from Paul in the presence of many witnesses.

 

JOH 14:15

If you love Me, you will keep [tereo = to watch over, to preserve, to guard] My commandments.

 

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

 

Why would there be hardship as a pastor teacher or any active soldier in the CA host of the Lord? Opposition to the truth.

 

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.

 

There is a story about a Civil War soldier who happened to be a watchmaker. One day the bugle sounded and the men were told to break camp. "But I can't go now!" the soldier complained. "I have a dozen watches to repair!" It is desirable to take care of details, but it is a shame to be entangled in them so that they take precedence over God’s will for your life.

 

The cherubim go when God says go and they go in the direction that God chooses. They have a sole purpose.

 

The more I study them the more I see that the limited aspects of their lives that are shared with us in the Scripture are for our benefit in seeing what a man or woman of God should be because of their position in Christ. We are higher than them in position as well as being closer to the throne of God since we actually positionally sit with Christ.

 

From the soldier to the athlete:

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

 

From human viewpoint both Christ and Paul were losers, but in God’s eyes they were winners for competing according to His rules.

 

Christ was forsaken by His disciples and crucified and Paul was forsaken by the churches and imprisoned and executed. But in God’s eyes they are winners forever because they competed with vigor and proper motivation and did so according to God’s rules, the true Judge, and not the rules of the world, whose prince has lost.

 

The cherubim do what God tells them to and go where God tells them to and as such serve as an example.

 

From the athlete to the farmer:

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

 

This refers to the hard-working pastor teacher who should be supported by the congregation and also for all believers who produce gold, silver, and precious stones and receive their reward at the JSOC. The CWL does not ever indicate laziness, but vigor, diligence, and endurance under the grace of God.

 

PRO 6:6

Go to the ant, O sluggard,

Observe her ways and be wise,

 

PRO 13:4

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

 

Distracted soldier, cheating athlete, lazy farmer - none of them win.

 

Distracted soldier - worried about the details of life.

 

Cheating athlete - trying to live the CWL and simultaneously live in the world system.

 

Lazy farmer - apathetic towards the word of God.

 

At any time any of us can fall into one or more of these categories, therefore we must be alert for the devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone’s spiritual life to destroy.

 

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

 

Timothy is an individual with a different personality than Paul’s and he lives different circumstances than Paul, so although Paul instructs him in the word of God and the plan of God, Timothy must understand everything directly from the Lord and he must personally learn to hear the voice of the Lord.

 

Every believer comes to an understanding directly from God and not from others.

1CO 3:6

I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.

 

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

 

This is a call to battle, like “remember the Alamo” or “remember Pearl Harbor or 9/11.” Risen from the dead refers to His strategic victory by which He has placed us on the high ground; making us more powerful than angels through His power and omnipotence.

 

EPH 1:19-20

and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places

 

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

 

Paul was bound but the word of God can never be bound.

 

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.

 

Paul endured all things for the sake of all chosen and he did not differentiate.

 

There is far too much bickering in the church over minor things or arguments over words [vs. 14]. I’m not talking about major doctrines concerning the person and work of Christ, but silly stuff.

 

2TI 2:11 It is a trustworthy statement:

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

 

This seeming paradox only makes sense in view of the gospel and the work of Christ.

 

2TI 2:12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him [positive believers only]; If we deny Him, He also will deny us [rewards];

 

MAT 10:32-33

"Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. "But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

 

REV 2:26-27

And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations;  and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father

 

REV 3:21 [nikao believer]

'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

 

EPH 2:6 [all believers]

and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus

 

The latter one is a positional truth for all believers and the former a reward for the overcomer or winner believer. There is added privilege and authority for the former.

 

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

 

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.

 

“wrangle about words” - logomace,w[logomacheo; present active infinitive] = to strive or dispute about words.

 

If someone tells me that salvation is by works I’m going to dispute that, no question, but if someone wants to argue with me over the use of acknowledge, confess, or name and cite, then I’m not entertaining that dispute. Someone disagrees with my interpretation of the four faces of the cherubim, fine, God bless ya, but I’m not arguing about it because in the end no one knows but God who has chosen not to reveal it, and it is inconsequential to my spiritual life.