Be diligent to present yourself approved to God

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

“Be Diligent” • “Study” (KJV) – The idea of study is present, but more of the way we study—diligently – “But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire” (1 Thess. 2: 17, NKJV) SAME WORD

“Utmost” “Do your utmost to come before winter. . . ” (2 Tim. 4: 21, NKJV) “BE DILIGENT”

“Diligence” –Lost in the World • Worldly Definitions: – A good person (church or no church) – One who attends a church once in a while – One who goes to church regularly on Sunday mornings – One who goes regularly, sings a few songs, contributes some cash, ‘endures’ a sermon, takes Lord’s supper

“Diligence” • Luke 13: 22 -30 – “strive” versus “seek” Base “agone” the Greek Assembly for Contests “agonizomai”

“Strive” VS “Seek” Gk. “agonizomai” TRANSLATED (KJV): • Three times as “fight” • Three times as “strive” • One time as “labor” 1 CORINTHIANS 9: 24 -27

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

PRESENT YOURSELF • When we insist on baptism for salvation we are often accused of: “VOIDING CHRIST’S COMPLETED WORK ON CALVARY WITH MAN’S WORK” • Was Paul voiding Christ’s work by insisting that you “present yourself approved”?

Whose Responsibility? “So then each of us shall give account of HIMSELF to God” (Rom. 14: 12, NKJV). – WHO SHALL GIVE AN ACCOUNT? – GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF? – GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO?

“. . . approved to God. . . ” (2 Timothy 2: 15) 2 PETER 3: 14 “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless”

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

“A WORKER” • “A WORKMAN” (NASB) • IMPLIES A “WORK” (Jas. 1: 25) – “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2: 12) • OUR WORKS DO NOT NEGATE THE WORK OF CHRIST, BUT FURTHERS IT! – “for it is God who works in youboth to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2: 13)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 KINDS OF WORKERS • ASHAMED – WORKERS OF INIQUITY WILL BE ASHAMED (Lk. 13: 26, 27) • NOT ASHAMED – NOT ASHAMED WHEN SUFFER AS A CHRISTIAN (1 Pet. 4: 16) – NOT ASHAMED BEFORE GOD IN JUDGMENT (1 Jn. 2: 28, 29)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

“RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD” • IMPLIES THAT GOD’S WORD CAN BE WRONGLY DIVIDED – DEVIL IN TEMPTING CHRIST –MATT. 4: 6 • RIGHTLY DIVIDING & APPLYING THE WORD MAKES ONE APPROVED • WRONGLY DIVIDING & APPLYING THE WORD MAKES ONE CONDEMNED

2 PETER 3: 14 -18 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

How Do Men Mishandle God’s Word? • When they do not handle it all or very little • When they adulterate it/handle it deceitfully (2 Cor. 4: 1 ff) • When they reduce it to “one’s interpretation” • When they ignore the context

“RING AROUND THE ROSES” Context ORIGINAL RHYME 1665 LONDON: “Ring-a-ring o’roses, A pocket full of posies, A-tishoo! We all fall down. ” • ring o’roses – in reference to small reddish spots on skin • A pocket full of posies – belief that evil smells were the breath of demons, wore sweet smelling flowers to drive them away • A-tishoo! – the sneezing that accompanied the plague • We all fall down – death

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.