Words of Truth

Talk takes up a large part of life. It is forms a large part of Christian service, not least in the case of Timothy or any gospel preacher. Words have power to save or destroy. Paul warns Timothy about quarrelsome speech. We need to beware of what we talk about - church politics, futile speculation about unfulfilled prophecy, etc. Instead, we should base our talk on the Bible, Christ's person and work, and how the Spirit applies that in daily life. There are people who seem to thrive on controversy - if they are not contending for truth their quarrels will lead them into greater ungodliness. It is a cancerous growth, ruining the hearers by leading them to imitate such speech and developing wrong attitudes. IT can even turn people away from the gospel. Good talk focuses our minds on the Bible. It arises out of a godly attitude - awareness of being under God's Word and a desire to please its author. Paul mentions that some talk can overthrow people's faith. There is such a thing as passing faith (the stony ground hearer). But it is God who saves, and he lays a solid foundation from which no one can be moved. It was his purpose to save them. The new birth is into life that is eternal. the pardon is based on the irrevocable work of Christ bearing our sins for us. His work in us is like a seal that identifies and protects. That seal shows in obedience to God's call to holiness. Christ's servants may be like the beautiful items displayed in stately homes, or they may be like the brushes and shovels that are kept out of sight. If we pursue holiness we will be honourable, whereas giving way to sin leads to dishonour. The result of such cleansing is to be useful to Christ.