Angelic Conflict part 83: Angelology 102; Basic facts – 2Ti 2:1-26; Joh 14:15; Mat 10:32-33.

Title: Angelic Conflict part 83: 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.

 

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 place with] to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

 

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 [opposition].

 

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 [as opposed to the lazy 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 [call to battle], 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 [positive believers only]; If we deny Him, He also will deny us [rewards];

 

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.

 

All four cherubs in Eze 1 go the same way and at the same time. There is to be unity in the body of Christ based on sound doctrine. Fringe doctrines that cannot be known completely should not be used to build foundations of unity.

 

The noun of this word is used in:

 

1TI 6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness [the spiritual life],

 

1TI 6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words [logomachia], out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

 

1TI 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth [this states that they once had the truth but traded it in for Gnosticism most likely], who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

 

1TI 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment [as opposed to disputes, envy, strife, and evil suspicions].

 

It is very interesting to me that we fight our own conflict on our own, yet we are called to be united and fight together as a body. It seems to me that we are constantly preparing to do both and will be thrust into battles involving both uses of power.

 

GAL 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

 

GAL 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

 

This is conflict in another believer’s life where others can help ease the burden. The cherubim touched wings and went in the same direction showing unity.

 

GAL 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

 

GAL 6:4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

 

GAL 6:5 For each one shall bear his own load.

 

This is conflict within oneself that no person can help with, arrogance in the heart of a believer. Only the word of God can make a person humble.

 

PHI 2:2

make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

 

This doesn’t at all mean that we have to hang out with each other, but it does mean exactly what it says, that we believe the same sound doctrines (no bickering over minor stuff), that we have the same agape love, that we have the same motivation to glorify Christ, and the same purpose to share in His glory.

 

Roman soldiers would often lock shields when they were under artillery barrages.

 

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.

 

You’ve probably heard “rightly dividing” so often because that is the KJV. The word means to cut straight which was applied to laying a road properly and so means to teach accurately as opposed to the false teachers who should be ashamed and will be ashamed before Christ. I would, in my own words state it as, “work diligently in order to be accurate with the word of truth.”

 

All of us should treat the word of God with awe and as precious, which in fact implies, as Christ said - guard as precious My commands - that we hold fast to protect it in our souls as the cherubim protect the holiness of God’s throne.

 

PSA 138:2

For Thou hast magnified Thy word according to all Thy name.

 

If we look again at the soldier, athlete, and farmer they each have tools that they have to take care of in order to be effective. In the first century the soldier would care for and sharpen his sword. The athlete takes care of his body. The farmer takes care of his seed and farming tools. These instruments don’t do anything on their own just like the word sitting dormant in your Bible, notebook, or even in your soul, doesn’t force you to work, but you can’t possibly work without it as these professions cannot effectively work without their cared for instruments.

 

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 [despite the false teachers], 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."

 

The foundation is Christ and built upon Him is His church. The honorable vessels is describe as gold or silver.

 

1CO 3:11-13

For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.

 

The seal upon the foundation is that the Lord knows who are His. This is the seal of position. Yet, there is another seal of experience - “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.”

 

“wickedness” - avdiki,a[adikia; negative “a” with “dikia” = righteousness] = unrighteousness, whatever isn’t right, or to do wrong.

 

It is usually translated to do wrong.

 

The foundation is composed of your union with Christ and your equal privilege and equal opportunity to execute God’s plan for your life, which amounts to potential.

 

That’s the foundation (position and potential) and now for the house:

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

 

“honor” - valued or valuable or costly. Literally price paid. Dishonor - not valuable.

 

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.