Page 77 - Pastoral Epistles I & 2 Timothy, Titus

at work in the sinner’s heart. It is the Spirit’s job to convict. And what is the most basic sin of which the
world is guilty? Jesus specifies it as unbelief. The convicting power of the Holy Spirit is at work in the
world “because they believe not in [Christ].” Once a person responds to the Spirit’s conviction and turns
to faith in Christ, the other sins he practiced will be taken care of. It is the sin of unbelief—a refusal to
trust in Jesus—that is primary.
So, while God sovereignly chose those who would be saved according to his foreknowledge, every man is
responsible to respond in faith and will be held accountable for accepting or rejecting Christ. Both God’s
sovereignty and man’s free will are taught in Scripture!
Our duty is to share the Gospel with everyone!

When people are asked to rank their greatest fears, the fear of death ranks second after the fear of speaking in
public! I don’t know where the fear of confronting someone who is in sin would rank, but I suspect that it would
be somewhere near the top of the list.
2 Timothy 2:23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish arguments, because you know they
produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to
everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that
God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will
come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his
will.

Many pastors are afraid to deal with sinning church members.
Whether we like it or not (and we probably should not like it!), we all need to learn how to
give biblical correction to those who are in sin or in serious doctrinal error. Without
correction, churches and families tend to fall apart. In our text, Paul shows Timothy how to
carry out the gentle art of correction. It applies especially to church leaders, but it also applies
to every Christian, because we all have relationships that require, at times, if we truly love others, for us to offer
biblical correction. So, although it is never a pleasant task, it is a part of biblical love.

Paul shows that we should not argue or quarrel, but he also says that we should correct those who are in
opposition to the Lord. He gives us three guidelines:
1. Correction must be done wisely
V 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they
produce quarrels.
2. Correction must be done with gentleness.
V 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance,
leading them to a knowledge of the truth.

3. Correction must be based on god’s Word.
V 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance,
leading them to a knowledge of the truth.

The standard for all such instruction is God’s Word of truth. In other words, we should never attempt to correct
by saying, “I think,” or “in my opinion, you’re wrong.” Our opinion carries no weight. God’s Word is what
matters!

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