2 Timothy: Guard The GospelSample

How should we deal with people within the church who are deceived by error? There are two kinds of opponents. Firstly, imposters – people who have an appearance of godliness, but are not truly saved. Paul warns us about these people later (3:5–8). They are dangerous because they could lead us away from the gospel, and so we must avoid them. Secondly, there are people who genuinely want to follow Jesus, but have a wrong understanding of the truth. Perhaps you know someone like this.

These people must be ‘gently instructed’ (v. 25) – or corrected (ESV). The goal of this correction isn’t pointscoring, but repentance – a change of heart and of thinking. This is all God’s work. We can’t bring anyone to repentance ourselves, but we can be faithful in teaching the truth and in praying for God to transform hearts and minds. What a wonderful privilege. God has worked in our lives to bring us to repentance and now graciously uses us to speak the truth so that others will be brought to repentance too.

People who are deceived by error have been taken captive by the devil and need rescuing. They are deceived and enslaved by Satan. Those who seek to correct false doctrine are engaged in a war – an unseen spiritual battle for the minds of people deceived by Satan. They must remember this as they patiently and gently pursue those who reject or misunderstand the truth and persuade them to return to it. In this they reflect the way God relentlessly pursued us when we rejected him. They are not trying to win arguments, but hearts – so they are not quarrelsome, but gentle.

We need to pray for our church leaders as they engage in this battle. And we need to show the beauty and wonder of the gospel in our lives. We can pray that we will show how attractive and compelling Jesus is so that people are drawn to the truth.

Reflection

Who do you know who is sincere in their desire to follow Jesus, but misguided in their understanding of God’s Word? How could you gently correct their false thinking so they understand the gospel clearly? Ask God to give you opportunities to do this and pray he will bring these people to repentance and salvation.