Summary: Do you know what you believe? Are you just following the crowd? As believers we all should know what doctrine we follow.

Affirm Your Doctrine

2 Timothy 1:13-14

INTRODUCTION

1. Knowing that his death was imminent, Paul charged Timothy regarding his duties as an evangelist...

a. To stir up the gift of God given him - 2 Tim 1:6

b. To not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, or of those

who suffer for Him - 2 Tim 1:8

c. To hold fast to that which he has heard, and to keep that

committed to him - 2 Tim 1:13-14

2. It is the charge in verses 13-14 that I wish to focus our attention in this study...

a. For it describes the duty that we have today regarding that

taught by the apostles of Christ

b. Whether evangelists or not, the duty remains the same for

all Christians

[For like Timothy, all Christians have been the beneficiaries of that revealed by the apostles; with the blessings we have received come the responsibilities as well. For example, consider our duty to...]

I. THE WORDS TAUGHT BY THE APOSTLES

A. WE MUST HOLD THEM FAST...

1. The words of the apostles are "sound words" –

1 Tim 1:10; 6:3; Tit 2:1

a. hugiaino - "to have sound health, that is, be well

(in body); figuratively to be uncorrupt (true in

doctrine): - be in health, (be safe and) sound, (be)

whole (-some). - Strong

b. They are "sound" because:

1) They are the words of God - 1 Thes 2:13

2) They are the commandments of the Lord –

1 Cor 14:37

2. We are to hold them fast

a. By continuing in them - 2 Tim 3:14; cf. Act 2:42

1) This was Paul’s charge to Timothy as an evangelist

2) This is what characterized the early church from

The beginning

3) This implies that we are "doers" of the word, and

Not "hearers only" - James 1:21-25

b. By contending for them - Jude 3

1) "The faith" (i.e., that which we are to believe)

has been delivered "once for all"

2) We need not look for latter day revelation

a) For God has given us "all things that pertain

to life and godliness" - 2 Pet 1:3

b) The Scriptures are sufficient to make the man

of God "complete, thoroughly complete for every

good work" - 2 Tim 3:16-17

3) Our duty is to "contend earnestly" for the faith

-- Are you "holding fast" the teaching of the apostles by

Both continuing in them and contending for them?

B. WE MUST DO SO IN FAITH AND LOVE...

1. What others have said this means:

a. "Hold these truths with sincere faith in the Lord

Jesus, and with that love which is the best evidence

of attachment to him."- Barnes

b. "in the exercise of faith, and from a principle of

love;"

2. Thus we must believe in that which we are holding fast

a. In what we are holding fast (i.e., the doctrine)

b. In whom we are holding fast (i.e., the Person)

3. Thus we must possess the spirit of love while holding

fast

a. Love for God and His Word

b. Love for man (including those with whom we differ)

Eph 4:15; 2 Tim 2:24-26

-- In holding fast to the apostolic doctrine, are you doing

So with sincere faith in Jesus and love for both God and

man?

Such is our duty to those things taught by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. So important is this duty that Paul reiterates the idea in slightly different words...

II. THE GOOD THING COMMITTED TO US

A. WE MUST SAFELY GUARD IT...

1. Note first the committal process of the gospel

a. The gospel was committed to the apostles - 1 Tim 1:11

b. They in turn committed it to men like Timothy –

1 Tim 6:20

c. Who in turn were to commit it to faithful men who

teach others - 2 Tim 2:2

2. Those who have received it must "keep" or "guard" it

a. phulasso - "denotes

(a) ’to guard, watch, keep watch,’

(b) ’to keep by way of protection,’

(c) metaphorically, ’to keep a law, precept,’

b. This is Paul’s charge to Timothy - 2 Tim 1:14

c. This is the charge of all who have received the

gospel

-- Are you safely guarding what has been committed to you,

By virtue of your own acceptance of the gospel?

B. WE MUST DO SO BY THE HOLY SPIRIT...

1. What others have said this means:

a. "By the aid of the Holy Spirit. One of the best

methods of preserving the knowledge and the love of

truth is to cherish the influences of the Holy

Spirit."

b. "Keep it by the help of the Holy Spirit."

2. Review what the apostles themselves teach us about the

Holy Spirit and the Christian:

a. The Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian –

1 Cor 3:16; 6:19

b. By the Spirit God strengthens the inner man –

Eph 3:16,20

c. The Spirit produces wonderful fruit in those led by

Him – Gal 5:16-23

d. A means by which He does this is through the very

Word we are to guard - Eph 6:17

3. Thus we must equip ourselves with the Word of God

a. Receiving it, as it "effectively works" in those who

believe it - 1 Thes 2:13

b. Doing it, as it blesses those who are "doers" and not

"hearers only" - James 1:25

-- Are we letting the Spirit’s Sword equip us that we may

in turn guard it safely?

CONCLUSION

1. "Our Duty To Apostolic Teaching" is very clear...

a. We must hold fast the pattern of sounds words, in faith and

love which are in Christ Jesus

b. We must keep (guard) that which has been committed to us,

by the Holy Spirit in us

2. It is not enough to simply know the words given to us by the

apostles...

a. We must continue in them and contend for them, in both

faith and love

b. We must safely guard them, with the aid of the Holy Spirit

The fact that we are Christians today is evidence of previous

generations being true to this charge; will the same be said of us? Will later generations be grateful that we were faithful in keeping "Our Duty To Apostolic Teaching"...?