2 TIMOTHY

2 TIMOTHY 2:1-7, 2:10, 2:12-15, 2:16-18, 3:14-15, 4:4, 4:6

Before going straight to the passages that are misinterpreted according to the NEST, we must become familiarized with certain aspects of the context of 2 Timothy. The context of 2 Timothy is much like the context of 2 Peter. The similarity is that Peter wrote 2 Peter from prison as he anticipated execution. Likewise, Paul is in prison and he is awaiting execution as he writes this second letter to Timothy who is the young man who is Paul's child in the faith. This really gives 2 Timothy a unique feel. It is Paul's final instructions, and farewell encouragement for Timothy in ministry before Paul leaves this world behind to be with the Lord. It is with this in mind, that we must pay attention to what Paul says to Timothy in his introductory comments concerning the two things we are interested in:

1) we are interested in proclaiming, and especially defending, God's great gospel of grace;

2) we are interested in the fact that this same gospel of grace is life and immortality in Christ--immortality being eternal life.

Coming into 2 Timothy, we read Paul saying,

"I [Paul] am reminded of your [Timothy] sincere faith ... For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God," (2 Timothy 1:6-7 ESV)

[Paul is about to go into the gospel that Timothy already knows, and the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to reiterate the facts; but first, Paul, speaking of the one true God of the "the gospel by the power of God," says,]

"9 Who saved us ..." (2 Timothy 1:9 ESV)

[Paul knows that he and Timothy's salvation has happened already by God's miraculous power. The fact that Paul and Timothy are saved at the moment Paul is writing the letter, is Paul's faith. This is what Paul trusts God for in completion of the gospel. It is what all saved people trust God for, because saved people know that there is nothing that can be done by us to earn salvation, or stay saved in salvation. The saving process happened by God through His power, through His Spirit, and so Paul says, God, who saved us. Paul continues, saying,]

"and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality ..." (2 Timothy 1:9-10 ESV)

[Notice that Paul says that the salvation is in Christ Jesus through grace that God gave. Salvation is a gift, and Paul says they ("us") possess the gift already. It is the same way with all saved people. At this point, we need to take special notice concerning what Paul says about salvation's endurance. After we die physically, we will receive immortal bodies. "Immortality" (cf. 2 Timothy 1:10) is eternality. As Paul goes on with his beautiful proclamation, he says that Christ "brought life and immortality;"]

"... to light through the gospel," (2 Timothy 1:10 ESV)

[The gospel is the good news of the truth of the New Covenant, where Jesus was crucified for sins, and resurrected from the dead--conquering death for all who are saved. Next Paul goes into the gospel's proclamation and defense. Paul says]

"11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me." (2 Timothy 1:11-12 ESV)

[Some translations translate Paul's Greek phrase as "guard until that day what I entrusted to Him," meaning Paul entrusted what He preached, and taught, to God until that day. The Greek is difficult here, and both translations provide a dynamic equivalent that has merit. In this analyzation concerning the great doctrine of being Once Saved In Eternal Spiritual Salvation (OSIESS), either interpretation of this passage will not compromise our assertion, and defense, of eternal security in Christ. Paul's main point here, is that Paul wants Timothy to know that Paul is convinced that Paul's ministry of preaching and teaching will never dissipate, and will remain effective until the end. Then Paul says what is his other main concern; he wants Timothy to do the same things according to Paul's example. Paul goes on telling Timothy]

"13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you." (2 Timothy 1:14 ESV)

These are vital considerations concerning what Paul's concern is in this epistle. The good deposit is the pattern of sound words in Christ Jesus. It is the same deposit of the doctrines of the faith that Paul said that he wanted Timothy to guard in 1 Timothy 6:20. It is the same good deposit that Paul says the he knows will be guarded by God, (2 Timothy 1:12). Paul deposited these same doctrinal truths to Timothy. Paul wants Timothy to guard them (as Paul has been doing) by the Holy Spirit. Paul is awaiting execution, and Paul realizes that he is not going to be around anymore to keep Timothy, or any of the churches, in check. So, the strong urging is to guard the pattern of sounds words. This is what keeps the church on target concerning God's will.

2 TIMOTHY 2:1-7

We have been looking at the introduction to 2 Timothy for the purpose of recognizing the tone of Paul's instruction. Paul is setting forth the importance of proclaiming and defending God's great gospel of grace for life and immortality in Christ--immortality being eternal, never ending, and not perishing, life. This is the good deposit. Now we can take a look at the first passage that is misinterpreted according to the NEST. It is the section of Paul's flow coming out of what we just analyzed. It is 2:1-7 where Paul says to Timothy;

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." (2 Timothy 2:1-7)

According to the typical interpretation of the NEST, it is asserted, concerning this passage, that if Timothy does not muster strength, suffer hardship, neglect the affairs of everyday life, and compete as an athlete does, according to rules that the NEST defines, or, work hard in the way that a farmer does, then Timothy will lose his salvation and be damned forever.

THE KEY

The NEST is wrong, and to understand why, we need to take the key that Paul left us for understanding his encouragement to Timothy, and then we need to use it to unlock this simple revelation. The key has to do with what all we just looked at in the preceding section of this chapter concerning what Paul has been saying about the work of ministry, the doctrines of the faith, the pattern, the good deposit and all those things covered from chapter one. Context is the key. Paul says here in verse 7,

"Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." (2 Timothy 2:7)

We recognize that when Paul says that the Lord will give Timothy understanding in "everything," Paul is not talking about Timothy understanding something like quantum physics. Paul is not saying that God will give Timothy understanding into the refractive index readings of the various crystal groups, or how to make a cheese souffle', and things like that. It is absolutely vital for us to understand that "everything" here does not mean omniscience, where Timothy becomes the ultimate genius. "Everything" is everything Paul has been saying from the context of the introduction of chapter one. We would not have known this, though, if we merely split open our Bibles and dropped our eyes down at the last couple of sentences of Paul's point, and then think we have it all figured out according to a Not Eternally Saved Theory. We must operate as responsible students of the Bible. Such a practice of skipping Paul's introductory comments flowing into this passage, is not how Paul intended Timothy to read this letter. Such a practice is not typically how anyone reads their letters. With these things in mind, we must ask ourselves why in the world we think that we today, who are breaking into Paul's conversation with Timothy, would have a right to do such a thing ourselves; we don't. Because we know this, and because we are good Bible students, we recognize that Paul has been making a comprehensive point since the beginning of his letter.

This passage is simple to understand when we consider that Timothy is already in the grace of Christ, (which is a fact that Paul just laid out). Paul finishes his point by simply saying to Timothy to guard, and put into practice, the truths of the good deposit, and share them with faithful men. To do this, Timothy must be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, which Paul encourages him to do. There are people in churches all over our contemporary world who are arm chair directors of the church. They are always telling Pastors how to minister, but interestingly enough they are not doing much of anything that amounts to ministry themselves. Many such people do not want to work with God's people, be patient, and stick it out; they will not patiently keep on working with God's people. They claim to be strong in the doctrines of the faith, but when it comes to actually doing something, which means ministering in enduring relationship to actual humans, they are weak in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. They do not want to suffer the hardship that comes with authentic ministry. Therefore, they are ineffective, impotent, sideline directors. Ministry requires sticking with people, who oftentimes, are, in a sense, going to stick the one ministering. The only way Christians are going to be effective ministers is to suffer, and stick with Christians, while being mistreated. The greatest ministers in the world look like pin cushions. The amazing thing about pin cushions is that the more pins that are stuck in them, the better they look; the more pins that are stuck in them, the more they are being used. An effective pin cushion has pins in it. Timothy is not going to be ineffective, so Paul lays out the plan. Notice Paul's metaphors;

"4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:4)

["To be "enlisted," is to be sovereignly inducted into both salvation, and ministry, by God's hand of solid determination. Paul, goes on,]

"5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." (2 Timothy 2:1-7)

As we continue to properly interpret this passage, we must also recognize the fact that Timothy is already in active service. This is why Timothy can entrust God's word to other faithful men in the first place. Paul already recognizes that Timothy is a warrior of Christ who is once saved in eternal spiritual salvation. Paul is saying, as the good apostle commander that Paul is, for Timothy to get with the plan and not get distracted concerning his ministry. Paul's first metaphor is that Timothy is to be a good warrior who makes it part of his mindset that he is going to suffer hardship without distraction. Now, comes Paul's second metaphor,

"5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules." (2 Timothy 2:5)

This is a point concerning a type of person who is focused on achievement and effectiveness. One of the rules of getting the prize from one's ministry is that the Christian actually puts effort into ministering, and the way for Timothy to do this is to suffer for the gospel, and entrust the doctrines of the faith to faithful men, who will do the same thing. When we recognize these important points, stick to context, and we do not add the contingency of gaining or losing salvation into Paul's point, then this makes sense. Next, Paul gives his third metaphor,

"6 The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops." (2 Timothy 2:6)

As in the other two metaphors, this describes someone who has a job to do. It is important that we notice that this particular metaphor has a special meaning for an apostle who operates in his mission of evangelism. The special meaning has to do with the reaping aspect of ministry. The hard working minister shares in the crops of which he plants the seed. God causes the growth, but the minister shares in the crop. In context, Paul is specifically talking about Timothy's ministry, and the results of Timothy's hard labor in serving the Lord. Focusing on the flow once again, we see;

1) Timothy, must fan into flame the gift of God, which is in him through the laying on of Paul's hands, (2 Timothy 1:6);

2) Timothy must not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of Paul, the Lord's prisoner, but is to share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, (2 Timothy 1:8) which is the same gospel that Paul was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher; the very reason why Paul suffers as he does.

3) But Paul is not ashamed, for Paul knows whom he has believed, and is convinced that God is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to Paul, (2 Timothy 1:11-12);

4) Timothy, Paul's son, is to follow the pattern of the sound words that he has heard from Paul, (2 Timothy 1:13);

5) By the Holy Spirit who dwells within both Paul and Timothy, Timothy is to guard the good deposit entrusted to him, (2 Timothy 1:14);

6) The things which Timothy has heard from Paul in the presence of many witnesses, Timothy is to entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also;

7) Timothy is encouraged to endure. Suffering is going to hurt and it is going to wear Timothy out. Ministry is not going to be easy. Therefore, Paul says for Timothy to suffer hardship with Paul as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Therefore, we recognize that this passage has absolutely nothing to do with Timothy losing spiritual salvation. It has everything to do with Paul's typical teaching style of urging Christians to do things in effective ministry--especially Timothy whom he calls his beloved son.

2 TIMOTHY 2:10

This leads us into the rest of Paul's flow of thought, and subsequently another sentence that is wrongly interpreted according to the NEST philosophy. Paul goes on to to remind Timothy to,

"8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!" (2 Timothy 2:8-9)

[Paul repeats here what he said earlier concerning "the gospel for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me," (cf. 2 Timothy 1:12). Paul is making the same point, "the word of God is not bound" (2:9) by imprisonment or heresies or anything else. God will guard the work he is doing through His apostles. This is why we have Bibles today. God guarded His work; preserving it for His church throughout all time. Paul continues, saying,]

"10 Therefore [Therefore means Paul is summing up what he just said] I endure everything for the sake of the elect, (in order) that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory:" (2 Timothy 2:10)

Right there is the sentence that the NEST uses, and so you might be wondering what part of it supposedly means you can lose salvation or somehow gain salvation. The part that they use, is where Paul says,

"10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, (in order) that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory:"

According to the typical NEST interpretation, Paul says that the elect may obtain salvation (as merely a possibility), instead of may obtain salvation (as a necessity), then Paul must necessarily mean that God's elect run the risk of not obtaining salvation. Further, there are some who believe in the NEST, who go so far as to say that if Paul fails, then the elect fail to get saved, and so because of Paul's failure, the elect are damned forever.

A good look at the passage demonstrates that Paul does not say any of those things. Paul says that he endures every hardship, affliction, and suffering that he goes through for the sake of the elect. Always remember that the word elect, eklektoi, when used in the Bible concerning God electing people, always means that people are elected for something. In other words, to not be elected for something, is to be ignored; in this case the election is unto certain salvation. Paul makes a good parallel statement concerning the types of things he endures in 2 Corinthians 1:6,

"If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer." (2 Corinthians 1:6)

Every minister has his sphere of influence where God is using him as a tool in God's hand to effect certain people, nations, and generations. The elect are God's business; the effect of the ministry is God's business. The Christian minister's business is to be faithful, hard working, and ready to suffer hardship. So Paul says that he endures all things for the sake of the elect, and it is for a positive reason. Paul is not suffering so that elect one's may not obtain salvation that is in Christ. Paul is suffering so that elect one's may necessarily obtain salvation that is in Christ. The word, "may" does not have a meaning of doubt, as is erroneously suggested. Paul gets this same point across, asking in Romans 10:14,

"14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14)

Paul is the preacher. He is like an athlete; a warrior; a farmer, and what Paul is doing is looking for those who are going to believe, which means that he is looking for the elect. Paul does not know that all who hear the gospel are of the elect, because all who hear the gospel are not the elect. But that does not matter to Paul. Paul only knows that he preaches the gospel to all people so that the elect may be saved, and he suffers in ministering to all people so that any elect ones, among all those he ministers to, may be saved. This is the necessity and commission of the Lord. No man knows who the elect are until after they are actually spiritually saved. Because of this fact, the Gospel is preached to all men so that the elect may be saved from among them.

At this point we also must notice where the salvation is located that Paul is talking about. Salvation, according to Paul, is in Christ Jesus. This means that the elect must be born again into the image and body of Christ. It is the great doctrine of the elect ultimately obtaining their salvation in the sphere of Christ. Along this line, Paul expresses the eternal aspect of what he is talking about. The eternal aspect of being once saved in spiritual salvation is what we are concerned with. Notice that Paul says,

"... the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:10)

The elect are, and always will be, saved in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. So, once again we see that Paul is not talking about a saved person losing salvation or earning salvation. What we see is that Paul is stating his ministry goal in preaching the gospel.

2 TIMOTHY 2:12-15

This leads us now into Paul's next statement which has been wrongly interpreted by some people according to the NEST. Paul is about to quote a familiar saying of that time, and culture, that Timothy is probably acquainted with. Paul repeats it, starting in verse 11,

"11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself." (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

According to the typical NEST interpretation concerning this early saying of the church, since Paul says "if we endure, we will also reign," Paul means that saved people run the risk of not enduring, and so in not enduring, they lose their salvation they supposedly had beforehand. Consequently they will be damned forever.

The NEST interpretation is quickly recognized to be wrong when we understand that Paul is quoting a proverbial adage of truth that is familiar to the Christians of that time. It may have been an early type of creed, poem, or a type of catechism. It seems to have an early origin in the church, as it appears to be based on various sayings of Jesus. We do not know who originated the saying, but we do know that Paul asserts that it is "trustworthy." The main point is that Paul quotes this statement as a teaching tool, and expects Timothy to also use it as a teaching tool, (cf. 2 Timothy 2:14). When we look at the saying, we notice that each point is a launching pad for teaching fundamentals of the faith. Paul's directive is meant to keep people from wrangling about words. Notice that first, the saying states;

A) "If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;" (2 Timothy 2:11)

This part of the saying has both a spiritual and physical application, and amazingly, is an assertion of eternal security in Christ. If someone has been crucified with Christ positionally in identification as Paul says in Galatians 2:20--then in being crucified with Him, the person nevertheless lives, yet it is not the person, but Christ who lives in the person. This is the initial spiritual application of the first point in the saying. There is also a physical application. The physical application has to do with leaving behind the mortal body in death. In the future, if we have died with Him, then we will be living with Him in an immortal body forever. Paul expresses this in Romans 6:8-9,

"Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him." (Romans 6:8-9)

It is also Colossians 3:4,

"When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:4)

Anyone who has died with Christ, is eternally secure. In Christ, who has abolished death, we who are spiritually saved, will live in immortal bodies forever. We must be mindful that Paul just spoke of this immortality a few verses ago,

"... our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel," (2 Timothy 1:10)

Secondly, we notice that the saying states,

B) "if we endure, we will also reign with Him;" (2 Timothy 2:12)

This has to do with the fact that only those who endure are manifest as being truly saved. Only the truly saved are able to endure. Only the truly saved will endure, and so we know that if we endure, we will also reign with Him. It is simply a truism concerning people. Unsaved people are incapable of enduring. An analogy of this enduring salvation, is likened to a watch that has an eternal-enduring power source. Saved people are like the watch. Saved people have the eternal-enduring power source that saved them and gives them eternal life. On the other hand, unsaved people have not been born again. They have not been given the life of Christ in salvation. Unsaved people are like a watch that is running on a temporary battery. It does not matter if they do religious looking things. It does not matter if they appear at the outset to be Christian eternal watches. Appearances are not what make people into authentic eternal watches. The enduring power source is what makes the authentic enduring watch. Our analogy applies to what Paul is repeating from the saying; namely, all of us true eternal beings, who are energized by the Spirit of God, in Christ, know that if we endure, we will also reign with Him, and since we must, will, and do endure, we will reign with him. This fact is reflected in what Jesus said,

"the one who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:13)

Since people are eternally spiritually saved in the present tense, we must understand statements such as this one from Christ in light of the fact that there are three aspects to salvation. There is the past point of initial spiritual salvation, which is the inauguration of salvation which never ends. When anyone receives Christ as their Lord and Savior by grace through faith, they are initially saved in this tense. Then there is the daily experience of salvation, where in the saved person's condition, the person is living out salvation on a moment to moment basis. In the saved person's condition, the body is subject to death. Finally, there is the future tense of the same eternal salvation, where the person will die and be resurrected in glory. In that aspect, all saved people will be saved from death in eternal immortality. All saved people will reign in perfect endurance as glorified endurers forever and ever.

The third truth listed in the saying that Paul quoted is;

C) "if we deny Him, He also will deny us;" (2 Timothy 2:12)

Again, we recognize that the saying is simply stating the facts of the way things are. If we humans deny that Jesus is the true Messiah, He will deny us. Historically, it is probable that this saying was started by Israelite Christians, and so it would originally have been referring to the Israelites denying their promised Messiah. The saying is true for Gentiles as well. The universal point is that the unsaved deny Christ. The saved do not. Jude says the unsaved are marked out for condemnation as those who deny our only Master [despotes], which is the Father in the Trinity, and Lord [Kurios], which is Jesus Christ in the Trinity. In a confirming statement, Jesus says,

"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This is the antichrist, [anti messiah] the one who denies the Father and the Son." (John 2:22)

Jesus is very straightforward, saying,

"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:33)

All of this is wonderful teaching, which is why Paul says to teach it, but the point is that the teaching does not apply to saved people because saved people do not deny Christ. To deny Jesus is the Messiah is to not be saved. Finally, the last part of the saying states,

D) "13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful--for He cannot deny himself." (2 Timothy 2:13)

The beautiful point here is that it does not matter if people are faithless, God remains faithful as the Person of Christ. Concerning this point, it is beneficial to recognize something similar that Paul says in Romans 3, in speaking of unfaithful Jews,

"3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar," (Romans 3:3-4)

God can not deny His attribute of faithfulness. As God, He necessarily must remain faithful. This last part of the saying is a short but huge statement of God's perfection. The summation then, is that this is a saying that was repeated outside of Paul's letter beforehand, and it has to do with anyone in respect to God. Additionally, this little saying never states anywhere in its wording that a saved person can lose salvation.

At this point in our analyzation, a question that needs to be asked is why did Paul quote this saying? This is a very important contextual question. The answer to it reveals a lot to us concerning the meaning of this passage. Paul tells us the answer in the next verses; verse 14,

"Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers." (2 Timothy 2:14)

It is clear that Paul quoted the saying because he wants Timothy to remind certain people of its truths, ie. "these things." The identity of the people Paul wants Timothy to remind is a very important detail. They are the only people that Paul mentioned for Timothy to teach and disciple up to this point. They are those "faithful men" in 2:2. Remember, Paul said,

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

This passage, then, is recognized as not remotely teaching that Timothy, or any other spiritually saved person, is in danger of losing salvation.

2 TIMOTHY 2:15

Paul is urging Timothy to remind "them"--those faithful Christian men of the things in the saying that Paul quotes in 2 Timothy 2:11-13, and quit getting into useless wrangling about words. Paul goes on with more urgings to Timothy which brings us into another verse that is wrongly interpreted from the NEST. Paul says,

"15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

Paul wants Timothy to be precise with the word of God. Approval as a minister who does not need to be ashamed, involves accurately handling the word of truth. According to those who believe in the NEST, this directive is supposed to be a lose salvation passage. Nevertheless, Paul is not talking about Timothy gaining his salvation by making himself approvable to God. Timothy is to be doing the logical thing that any minister should be doing by presenting himself as an approved, unashamed, accurate handler of God's word. To inaccurately handle God's word is shameful. To mishandle God's word in heretical fashion, is not something that is approved of by God. This, then, is not a passage that remotely teaches that Timothy is in danger of losing what can not be lost; namely his spiritual salvation. As we have seen, accurately handling God's word is Paul's whole contextual emphasis to Timothy in this letter, and it reflects what Paul goes on to say next. Paul says,

2 TIMOTHY 2:16-18

"16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:12-18)

According to the typical NEST interpretation concerning this section, Hymenaeus and Philetus have gone astray from the truth, and so therefor they must have gone astray from the gospel after being saved, thus resulting in eternal damnation, (which is said to be something that could happen to any saved person).

The primary problem with the NEST interpretation here, is that it is wrong.

Briefly as as a first consideration, we notice that nowhere does Paul say that Hymenaeus and Philetus were saved. If they were unsaved, they could go astray from the truth quite easily. Such actions are typical of lost people. Though that is an important point, it is not the main one. The main one is that the truth that these men have gone astray from is not the gospel of salvation. In fact, the text clearly states in obvious terms what Paul is talking about. Notice that Paul tells us in the same sentence that these men,

"... have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place," (2 Timothy 2:18)

Carefully sticking with the actual wording of the text, we recognize what "the" specific "truth" that Hymenaeus and Philetus were guilty of straying from. It has to do with an eschatological misunderstand of the actual facts of a specific element of the truth. With that misunderstanding, Hymenaeus and Philetus are upsetting the faith of many Christians with their bogus report that the resurrection has already taken place. Additionally, we need to recognize that upsetting "the faith," is terminology that refers to specific doctrines of Christianity, (Let the reader refer to the chapter that deals with 1 Timothy for a fuller explanation of the term, "the faith"). Paul puts the article "the" here because Paul is being very precise in his distinction. Paul makes it clear that he means "the faith," rather than a faith, or my faith, or his faith, and so forth. "The faith" of some Christians is not something that must be understood as equating to being dissuaded from personal belief in Christ as Lord and Savior. People of the NEST philosophy upset the faith of some Christians all the time with the false philosophy of the NEST, in misinterpreting "the truth" but this does not necessarily mean that those Christians, who are upset by the NEST, have turned away from Christ who has saved them. In other words, upsetting someone's doctrinal understanding concerning the timing of the resurrection is not the same as making someone reject the gospel of one's eternal salvation after one dies. The next verse is what is so beautiful about what Paul is saying. He says,

"19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from [depart from, turn away from] wickedness [unrighteousness].'"

Paul is talking about the solid foundation, and he says it is "firm." The foundation is what all else is built upon, and Paul says, "it has this seal," on it that identifies what Paul is talking about. Paul, in context, is giving the marvelous assurance that there are three truths that are unshakable even though people spread weird beliefs like the rumor that the resurrection has already happened. God's unshakable things are that:

1) there is that firm foundation of God, which is Christ as the New Covenant Savior through the cross--Christ the crucified and resurrected one in which we find our atonement, righteousness, and eternal life by grace through faith. This is the gospel;

2) there is the seal of the foundation, and that is that God is not confused. He knows who are the ones who are once saved in eternal spiritual salvation. He knows those who are His;

3) there is the other aspect of the seal of the foundation, and that is that all Christians are to seek to abstain from wickedness. This is the Lordship of Christ, and it is the direct result of the other two unshakables. This is the seal of daily turning from sin; repenting, sanctification, of fulfilling one's ministry; being discipled in biblical principles, and applying those principles to one's daily life. Finally, Paul goes on with further urgings for Timothy to be separating himself, so that Timothy will be,

"... useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21)

The wonderful underlying truth concerning 2 Timothy 2:21 is that it is a beautiful summation of Paul's urgings to Timothy who trudges onward after Paul is executed. It is Paul's marching orders to Timothy to be useful to the Master as the Christian leader in Ephesus and surrounding area that Timothy is called to be. It is not a passage that remotely teaches that anyone can lose their spiritual salvation that they already have.

2 TIMOTHY 3:14-15

Coming into chapter 3, Paul continues to urge Timothy to accurately handle the word of truth, and to be useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. As we proceed, we must remember that this is Paul's last epistle. He wrote it to Timothy fully expecting to be executed in but a matter of days. This letter is written from the concerns of God's apostle Paul, who knows that he will not be around anymore to nurture the church. The Holy Spirit led Paul to urge Timothy in his ministry with an emphasis upon doctrine, preaching, teaching and refuting false doctrines and false teachers; and to suffer for the gospel. Paul has been encouraging Timothy to stand firm--doing those things as a faithful minister all throughout the first couple of chapters. Paul is leaving this world behind. Paul is leaving Timothy, his son in the faith, behind. Paul knows this. So he leaves this letter behind as his farewell instructions to the one he urges to carry on the legacy in living the principles of the faith and grounding faithful men in the same. Timothy in turn has left this letter behind as Scripture for the church, as have all the generations who have followed over the last 2000 years.

With this background in mind, we come into chapter 3 noticing that Paul is now giving Timothy a prophetic warning concerning future events. Paul is prophesying. Paul says for Timothy to understand that in the last days there will be times of difficulty. People are going to be bad, and they are going to get worse. They will be self-lovers who are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Then Paul tells Timothy that they will be,

"5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and rejected in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men." (2 Timothy 3:5-9)

In other words, Paul is telling Timothy that the lowest of the low are coming. They are opposed to the truth. They are corrupted in their thoughts. What is worse is that they have the appearance of godliness, but they deny the power of godliness. They appear godly but they are really just religious acting people. They have not been transformed by the miracle of salvation through the Holy Spirit, which is the power-source of godliness. Paul tells Timothy emphatically to "Avoid such people." And so Paul points out to Timothy that their folly will be made plain to everyone. He reminds Timothy that Timothy has the facts from God's real apostle. Paul says,

"10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra--which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:10-13)

Paul is telling Timothy that to live as a minister in what is coming, is to live expecting that to desire to live godly in Christ Jesus, means persecution--persecution much like Paul experienced and is experiencing now. This is not all; evil wicked people and fakes will go from their bad state, to an even worse state. They are going to lie and mislead people through deception. It is horrible. It is a spiritual war. It is a war for the truth, and a battle on the side of Christ as one of His ministers. This is what Paul has been saying directly going into the sentences that are misused by the NEST, where Paul says,

"14 But as for you, [speaking to Timothy] continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:14)

According to the typical NEST interpretation, Paul's urging here is that Paul is telling Timothy to continue in what to believe because Paul thinks Timothy runs the risk of not continuing in those things that are in the sacred writings which are able to make Timothy wise for salvation. Accordingly, it is said that Timothy runs the risk of forfeiting his salvation. Additionally, the assertion is made that the sacred writings are merely "able" to make Timothy wise for salvation, but that Timothy has to persevere to really get that wisdom, and then he must hold firmly to that wisdom; subsequently he will be truly saved.

The NEST, interpretation is wrong.

It is easy to understand why the NEST interpretation is wrong once we recognize that Paul just prophesied and warned Timothy that evil impostors will get worse in deceiving people and in being deceived, and that Paul is making a contrast with those wrong men and their unprofitable philosophies of deception on one hand, over against Timothy and his ministry of truth on the other hand. Timothy is Paul's child in the faith who has been entrusted with the truth. Once we grasp that fact, and the importance of that fact in respect to this letter, then it becomes delightfully obvious that Paul is nowhere concerned about Timothy getting saved, working for salvation, remaining saved, or losing salvation. Timothy's secure salvation is already a given in Paul's mind. To further understand where Paul's real concern is, we notice that Paul tells Timothy to avoid the people who have the appearance of godliness but deny its power (cf. 2 Timothy 3:5). They do not operate in the truth. They are men who are corrupted in mind and rejected in regard to the faith, (cf. 2 Timothy 3:8). Why are they these things?--because they do not operate in the truth. Timothy, on the other hand, has followed Paul's teaching and conduct; aim in life, faith, and steadfastness (cf. 2 Timothy 3:10-11). What this means is that saved Timothy operates in the truth. Unlike the evil people and impostors who will go on from bad to worse because they are deceiving and being deceived as ones who do not operate in the truth, saved Timothy, (who is especially anointed for ministry through the laying on of hands, cf. 1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6) is to continue in every single thing he has firmly believed all along as normal doctrinal information in both what he has learned directly from Paul, and additionally from the sacred writings he has been acquainted with since he was a child, (which are the same sacred writings that are described as having the authority and substance in being able to make Timothy and anyone else who is effectually called, wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus). This is not an unusual way for Paul to encourage Christians that he has been out of contact with. Paul gives the same kind of directive to the Philippians. Writing from prison, Paul says,

"The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:9)

This is encouragement, but it is not a warning of the possibility of losing salvation. These are all the important things, so Paul says, "practice these things." The main point is that Paul's last letter to Timothy is encouraging and equipping Timothy for the future. He wants Timothy to always be mindful that the teachings of all those false teachers are useless; and they certainly do not make anyone wise unto salvation. Timothy has everything he needs to teach to faithful men (cf. 2 Timothy 2:2). Paul is about to die. Paul knows that Timothy needs to remember and practice and teach everything he has learned because Paul is not going to be around any more to set Timothy straight. So, clearly Paul's intention here is not for Timothy to get saved through the Sacred writings. Timothy is already saved and persevering, as all saved people persevere by the Spirit's perseverance. It is God's grip that is clamped onto Timothy's soul, and it is God's call that inducted Timothy into ministry. Anyone who is spiritually saved, in that they trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross and resurrection from the dead, in saving them from their sins, by faith in Him, through grace from Him alone, is in God's grip that clamps them and drags them home in love. Paul's encouragement is not according to a shallow interpretation that Timothy is somehow at risk of losing out on salvation if he does not get, and then keep, wisdom for salvation. Timothy is already wise for salvation, and has already been wise for salvation. Further, all of this exegetical analysis is in line with the fact that Paul thinks Timothy is the saved man that is going to be appointing elders and deacons in the church according to 1 Timothy 3. Keeping in mind that Timothy's salvation is not an issue here, we continue exegeting the next two verses, and what we notice is that Paul's emphasis is concerning the Scriptures and the veracity and importance of the sacred writings as opposed to the worthless teachings of those that Paul prophetically knows are coming. Looking at verses, 16-17, which is Paul's continual context, and flow, Paul asserts,

"16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

In other words, God breathed scripture is not empty philosophy like all the junk that is being propagated around Timothy. Timothy's doctrine is God breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, and the reason is so that Timothy and anyone else who is a man of God, " may be competent, equipped for every good work." Timothy is a man of God, and every good work is what Paul wants Timothy to be about. Paul is simply urging Timothy to stay with the word of God, (rather than the word of man) in Timothy's continuation of ministry after Paul dies. Therefore this passage is cleared up as not remotely teaching that one can lose one's eternal salvation.

2 TIMOTHY 4:4

The next passage out of 2 Timothy we will go into is 2 Timothy 4:4. Paul continues on in his flow of thought concerning Timothy's ministry and the importance of being accurate in the precepts of the faith. Paul says,

"I solemnly charge you [Timothy] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

According to the typical NEST interpretation concerning Paul's continuing marching orders here in His 2 Timothy letter, there is coming a time when saved people will not endure the sound doctrine of their salvation, and so they will look for some other salvation in the form of myths, and in so doing they will turn from their salvation and be damned forever.

The NEST is wrong.

To clear up the wrong interpretation of the NEST, we must look at what Paul says from verse to verse. We must remember what Paul is doing. Paul has been urging ("charging" he says in 4:1) Timothy to fight for the truth and continue to live by it, and disciple people in it. And so we find Paul continuing with his typical thrust. As we walk through this in verse to verse expository fashion, we notice that Paul says,

"I solemnly charge you [Timothy] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

One of the first things we recognize is that Paul continues to urge Timothy to be about the pure work of the ministry in building on the foundation with gold, silver, and precious stones. From this statement, Paul gives more reasons why preaching the word, reproving people, exhorting people, and rebuking people with patience is needed. He says,

"3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

In analyzing the flow of thought, we recognize that Timothy is going to need to have patience because this is a prophecy. Paul is foretelling what was about to happen. But, we must notice that Paul never actually says that the people who will not endure sound doctrinal principles are people who are going to lose their salvation by rejecting Christ. This fact is important. To say otherwise, is to put words in the text that those who believe in the NEST want to be there, but are not there. In actuality, Paul simply says that there are people called "they" who will not endure sound doctrine. We do not know who the "they" actually are, but Paul expects Timothy to know. In fact they will want to hear things that are ear-tickling things, and so what will happen is that they will listen to people who agree with their own views. In that respect, they will turn from established truth, according to the Scriptures, to start believing myths. This is something that happens in every generation, and we see that it happens to real Christians. People who believe that one can lose one's eternal salvation have done this very thing. They believe a myth. The NEST philosophy is a myth created by men. Whole denominations turn aside from certain truths to follow after myths. It has happened all throughout history, and it is happening in our day. Multitudes of Christians get into any new trend and philosophy that comes along and try to make it sanctified by calling it "Christian." There is a myth now that states that knowledge and doctrine are secondary in the church. What really matters is being "relational" and "conversational" but we should never assert anything dogmatically like we know the truth, because as their dogmatic philosophy goes, "we are only discovering the various truths." Of course this presses the question, "How do you know if you discovered the truth if you do not think you recognize it as the truth?" Additionally, asserting that one is only discovering (as in an ongoing but uncertain action) the truth, is an assertion of some sort of truth that must have already been discovered. Buzz phrases of this absurd belief system are, "truth is relative;" "Everybody's opinion is valid;" "What is truth for you, is your truth. What is true for me is my truth. We don't have to share what is true to be right." This philosophy is called postmodernism and it is a popular myth right now that tickles a lot of ears of saved people. There are English speaking Christians today who assert that the King James Bible (one that was published in 1611) is the only true word of God. This is a philosophical absurdity based on personal views of scholarship, preservation and interpretation that can be soundly refuted. The point is that it is a myth. It is an opinion; a tradition. It is a belief but it is a myth, and people rally around it all the time. Nevertheless, holding to such a belief does not necessarily mean that such people have lost their salvation. There is also the myth of the so-called prosperity doctrine. This is the one where scriptures are taken out of context to prove that God wants to make you rich according to human standards. This is a perfect example of a myth that is believed by tickled ears. Nevertheless, just because a saved person believes this myth, it does not mean they are lost. There are also all the myths that revolve around end times theories. The prophesied physical return of Christ is not a myth, yet there are dozens of myths that have arisen around the biblical fact. There are people who identify any sequence of numbers that are 666 as necessarily being something associated with an antichrist figure. Consequently, some Christians refuse to be comfortable with a phone number that has 666 in it, an address with 666, or anything numbered with those 3 numbers in sequence. The point is that people go from the clear biblically based prophetic teaching of Christ's coming, over to myths around the event, yet believing these things do not make one into an unsaved person. There are people who believe that God has put invisible codes in the words of the Bible that can only be identified by a computer. The same computer programs identify the same contrived messages in volumes of other works of literature. The whole thing is a myth that people want to believe. Nevertheless, just because one wants to believe that God puts hidden messages throughout the Bible that can only be detected by computer programs, does not mean the one who believes it is unsaved. Many more examples can be given which reflect the essence of what Paul is concerned with. Paul does not want Timothy to ever get distracted by any interesting teaching that is not proven from sound discipleship from Paul, the other apostles, and sacred scripture. With this in mind, Paul says he wants Timothy to be sober in everything in verse 5,

"5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

When Paul tells Timothy to be sober, Paul is using the Greek word in much the same way that he uses it in 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, and in much the same way Peter uses it in 1 Peter 1:13. Paul wants Timothy to be sober, as in full possession of his faculties, mentally alert, and vigilant. Paul wants Timothy, as a pastor (an overseer) to always be trying to be at his best in mental acumen. Which makes sense concerning this prophetic warning of how people all around Timothy are not going to be sober in respect to doctrinal purity.

It is with all the the considerations we have just covered, that we recognize that this is a passage that is cleared up as not remotely reflecting the false interpretations of the NEST. There is one last sentence that is used to build the philosophy of the NEST. It is Paul's sacred and intimate farewell, where he says next, in verse 6,

2 TIMOTHY 4:6

"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, [or race] I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6

According to the typical NEST interpretation, it is asserted concerning Paul's last recorded words before leaving this world behind, that Paul thinks he has insured his own salvation through his own strength by his own grip. It is said that Paul has insured his salvation because of the list of things he has done. He thinks he is saved because he fought the good fight, he finished the race, and he kept believing, and so it is because of all those things that he knows he is saved.

/1/
One of the first things we need to observe, is that nowhere in Paul's statement do we see that Paul makes his life's work, as an apostle, a contingency for eternal life. Looking at the context, what we find instead is that Paul merely states the facts of his history before going off to the executioner. As we look at the actual statement, we notice that Paul says he is being poured out as an offering. His exit is here. He has fought the good fight. He has finished the race. Paul is talking about the finalization of his life and ministry here on earth. Then, he says that he has kept "the" faith. Paul is just stating the way it is as a matter of review. But Paul is also saying the way it is going to be after execution. There is going to come a crown of righteousness as an award in the next phase of Paul's eternal life. At this point, we need to notice that no contingency is mentioned so far. In other words, Paul does not say that because he applied self effort, he is saved. Rather, Paul is saying that his saved life, that was secured by God's effort, has manifested the fruits of salvation, and so now Paul is going onto the next fruits of salvation, which are the glorified, perfect fruits of the resurrection. Nevertheless, a contingency in salvation is coming though. It is a contingency for eternal salvation. We will get to the contingency in a moment, but before we examine it, there is one more observation that must be mentioned.

/2/
The second observation is what has been covered previously in the chapter dealing with 1 Timothy, and also in previous sections of this chapter, which deals with 2 Timothy concerning a particular phrase the Paul uses. The phrase is "the faith." This is important because keeping "the faith" is not a reference to having faith. It is not a reference to generating faith, or maintaining faith. Keeping "the faith" is a reference to Paul as a keeper of the doctrines of Christianity. It is the designation of "the faith" as is so often referenced in Paul's epistles. If Paul would have mentioned faith as some sort of volitional hope in believing, he would have said simply "I have kept believing," or "my faith" or "a faith." Instead, he referenced "the faith" giving the article, "the" as referencing Christian doctrine--the very thing he's been talking to Timothy about since the opening of this letter.

/3/
There is a third reason why we know that the NEST is wrong concerning this verse, and that is because of what Paul says next. It is where he gives the contingency for receiving the crown of righteousness that he says he knows he will get. He says directly after giving the history lesson of fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith, that,

"8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8)

Evidently Paul is assured of his eternal life. Paul knows this is true because he sees himself as once saved in eternal spiritual salvation. If he did not, then how could he be so sure he is going to receive this award? How does he know it is really laid up for him? After all, he is still alive on earth. He must know for sure that he will not deny Christ in those remaining weeks, days, hours, minutes; even seconds before he is executed. He does know this, because he is the great preacher of eternal security. One could argue, by looking at what Paul said previously, that Paul looked at his life, and he saw that he kept "the" faith as a minister of the faith, and that his whole life was poured out as a drink offering. One could argue that Paul had fought the good fight, and somehow, whether by self assurance, or reflection, or supernatural revelation, or a combination of all of those things, Paul knows that he has finished the course. One might be tempted to think that there are reasons based upon self effort that encourage Paul to boldly assert that the crown is laid up for him, and it will definitely be his award. One could argue such things as some sort of self assured contingency, but how does Paul know that he will continue in this contingency until the end, if, in fact, it really is a contingency? The truth of the matter is that Paul's works are not a contingency, and so that is why Paul knows with precision that he will get the glorious life that is stored up for Him after he puts off his mortal body. The true contingency is the short statement,

"... and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8)

The question of contingency in eternal spiritual salvation has to do with whether or not one loves Christ's appearing. Loving Christ's appearing has to do with loving the fact that He came as a conceived human in the womb; His appearing in birth; His appearing in his growth into manhood; His appearing in His ministry; His appearing in His rejection, His torture, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and in His glory. The question is whether one has loved Christ appearing as Lord and Savior. Paul does not say, "but also to all who have seen His appearing." Neither does Paul say, "but also to all who have believed that he appeared." Paul says, "but also to all who have loved His appearing." For all those who have loved His appearing, Paul says that there is definitely, without a doubt, without equivocation or argument, absolutely, positively, unquestionably, laid up for those people in the future, the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to them on that day; and not only to them, but also to Paul the apostle.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great English expositor who was born in 1834 and went to be with the Lord in 1892, wrote about Paul's NEST obliterating assertion in this statement in his daily devotional. Spurgeon's timeless words of wisdom are immensely edifying.

"Doubting one! thou hast often said, "I fear I shall never enter heaven." Fear not! all the people of God shall enter there. I love the quaint saying of a dying man, who exclaimed, "I have no fear of going home; I have sent all before me; God's finger is on the latch of my door, and I am ready for Him to enter." "But," said one, "are you not afraid lest you should miss your inheritance?" "Nay," said he, "nay; there is one crown in heaven which the angel Gabriel could not wear, it will fit no head but mine. There is one throne in heaven which Paul the apostle could not fill; it was made for me, and I shall have it. O Christian, what a joyous thought! thy portion is secure; "there remaineth a rest." "But cannot I forfeit it?" No, it is entailed. If I be a child of God I shall not lose it. It is mine as securely as if I were there. Come with me, believer, and let us sit upon the top of Nebo, and view the goodly land, even Canaan. Seest thou that little river of death glistening in the sunlight, and across it dost thou see the pinnacles of the eternal city? Dost thou mark the pleasant country, and all its joyous inhabitants? Know, then, that if thou couldst fly across thou wouldst see written upon one of its many mansions, 'This remaineth for such a one; preserved for him only. He shall be caught up to dwell for ever with God.' Poor doubting one, see the fair inheritance; it is thine. If thou believest in the Lord Jesus, if thou hast repented of sin, if thou hast been renewed in heart, thou art one of the Lord's people, and there is a place reserved for thee, a crown laid up for thee, a harp specially provided for thee. No one else shall have thy portion, it is reserved in heaven for thee, and thou shalt have it ere long, for there shall be no vacant thrones in glory when all the chosen are gathered in." C.H.S.

According to all we have covered in this chapter and based upon the whole corpus of New Covenant scriptural revelation, we recognize that there is not passage anywhere in 2 Timothy that remotely supports the false doctrine of the NEST.