You Are Forgiven by Brother Duke Hansen

        This morning we are going to the book of 2 Timothy. We will be in chapter 2 and verse 19. Most of what Paul had written that was collected in the New Testament were primarily focused on correction, reproof, and guidance to the new church. Paul's letters in the New Testament are 13 books, so he was a significant contributor to the New Testament. These two letters written to Timothy have a different tone because they were written in love. Paul was bearing witness to a 2nd generation believer who was coming up. Let us read shall we?

        19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

        The translation here is you stop doing things your way and let God move. If you take on the name of Jesus you should depart from iniquity and sin. How do you take on his name? Through water baptism. 

        Let's talk briefly about the 1st generation of believer. This goes back to a conversion from one mindset to the truth. A mindset that was developed and brought up in world ideologies, carnal ways of thinking. Paul is a good example of a 1st generation believer. There are too many people who live lives of unrighteousness yet prop up and enforce standards and rules for everyone else to follow. 1st generation believers are not like that. They strive towards holiness. Other characteristics of 1st generation believers. There's a willingness to follow. 1st generation believers stand in the truth no matter the cost.

        In preparing this message, I did some study on proselytes in the Bible. In those times, the Pharisee would go and preach to Gentiles and convert them. Then they would go and baptize the Gentile in their name. From that day on, the Gentile was seen as a Jew under the Pharisee's name. Pharisees would be in fierce competition among themselves. These are distinctive parallels to how pastors and church leaders act in public today.

        When you are a 1st generation believer, you are going to fight. Not fight in the sense of fist fighting other people. You are fighting strongholds in your life, curses that have been carried in your blood line, your flesh with all the failures, mistakes, and extra baggage it wants to carry. You aren't battling things just for your salvation and entering into heaven, you are also fighting to cover your children. If you are living in obedience to God's standard as a 1st generation believer, then the 2nd generations life is not as harsh or painful. That covering you have placed over them protects them until they come to an age of accountability. The deeper the hole you dig in the world, the harder it can be to climb out of it.

        Fight for your ground, keep your ground, stand for your ground in your walk. Know that if a house is divided, the covering we pray for is split as well. We have a responsibility to pass on knowledge and wisdom to the next generation. You live your life right and in good standing. Let's move down a few verses in chapter 2 to verse 22.

        22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

        23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they gender strifes.

        24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 

        25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

        We have a great difficulty in separating the spiritual and the physical. We don't need to be heard in the flesh. Shut your mouth in public and not be in strife with others. Be apt to teach and be patient. Be a strength and a guide to someone who God very well may be working on in their life. The book of 2nd Timothy is rooted in the 2nd generation of believers. Let's look at chapter 1 verse 5.

        5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

        Paul would not have wasted his time with Timothy had he not had this. The 2nd generation believer needs to keep the faith. Be a peacemaker at all times. No doubting on your walk. Not given to wine. Not to lay hands or hit someone. Not be greedy or covetous. Paul warned not to pick up what was put down from the 1st generation.

        There are people in this life who don't have any remorse. A question I have is that if you don't have any remorse, how can you be truly repentant? On the other end you have people who have too much remorse. They show remorse over behaviors hidden by their flesh or reconcile themselves. The answer is repent and move on in life. Don't let your failures and mistakes dictate your days. Your faith should be in your obedience to God and what he finds acceptable. We keep the failures alive in the present day and into the future because we don't allow God to forgive us. To be truly forgiven is ask Jesus to forgive and apply your faith in your obedience.

        Blindness and doubt will afflict us but won't change the facts or your outcome if you have no obedience. Only that obedience will deliver you from that outcome. I want to speak next about self discipline. Self discipline needs to be steady and consistent, not only for yourself but for your children. Discipline in the spirit is you have to separate your spirit man from your carnal man. Accept the penalty when you run aground and fall short. Don't carry the hurt into the future.

        The final thing I want to speak about is the idea of lost ground. If you have gone 8 weeks putting something down, whether its drinking or smoking cigarettes, and then you fall short and fail. You aren't exercising faith but rather excessive discipline on yourself. You are forgiven already. God knows the truth. When we have faith in the power of the blood. We need to have the faith that we are forgiven. How you leave and teach the next generation is on you. Faith is more than just the healing of your body. It's the healing of your mind and your spirit. True repentance is not to do what you've done before and to be led in obedience.