Instructing even those that oppose themselves - is a tough duty for the servant of God
2Tim 2
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Who are those that oppose themselves, you may ask? If you don't, you had better start cultivating the art of asking the wise and precise questions if you wish to learn and rightly divide the word of truth.
Those who oppose themselves are also capable of being instructed the word of God; they are not those dead in trespasses and sins, such can't discern spiritual things. These are capable of being brought to the acknowledgment of the truth of God through the ministry of the word.
Wise men don't oppose themselves, fools often do. How do fools oppose themselves? By denying and repudiating the truth of their redemption by the free and sovereign grace of God in Jesus Christ, and applied to them freely and sovereignly by the Spirit of God. Instead, they are ensnared to believe lies and fables.
There are foolish children of God; among them were the bewitched Galatians. Some have never been taught the sound doctrines, others are tossed about to and fro by every wind of doctrine. and still, others are stunted at the elementary level (Heb 5:12). Apostle Paul said so.
They are not to be given up. A servant of God must be apt and PATIENT to teach, in meekness, the brethren who are afflicted with falsehood; teach them the truth of God patiently. The Lord may yet have mercy on them stiffnecked brethren. He has shown abundant mercies on me; He has saved me from the falsehood of popular calvinism! Multitudes stagnate there; they think they have arrived!!! Lord have mercy!
Acknowledging the truth will recover them out of the snare of the devil. When was the last time you consciously abandon an interpretation that your realized was a just plain error? Are you being converted? When was the last time you abandon a falsehood? "False brethren" are brethren who embrace and cherish their falsehood; they oppose themselves!!!
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posted here initially:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208956807692903
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posted here initially:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208956807692903