Greetings, radio friends, in the precious name of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Please tune in with us today. Second Timothy, and the exposition of that portion in verse nineteen and twenty and twenty-one. May I read the words again? 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 the Lord depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from thee, He shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good word. May God bless the reading of his word. Very earnestly and humbly we pray that it will be the Holy Spirit who will enlighten our minds and hearts in regard to the truth and the exposition of these wonderful words. Now we have been seeing that in the days of evil when the truth is not held very tightly, but rather the truth is strayed away from and denied that the Lord knows who belong to him. And God requires that everyone who names Christ as their Lord should depart from iniquity. Now may I state, there are two kinds of iniquity of great importance to consider. One is moral iniquity, and the other is doctrinal iniquity. Doctrine can also be evil, as well as morals can be evil. And as I see the Word of God, there are, though time doesn't permit a detailed study of it, there are certain moral sins. that required the discipline of God within the house of God. There also may be found the need of discipline not alone for moral evil, but for doctrinal evil. For the two men who were in the preceding verses named Hymenaeus and Philetus were guilty of doctrinal evil. regarding the doctrine of the resurrection, and they were overthrowing the faith of some. And I would suggest the expression depart from iniquity implies depart from that which is moral evil, as well as that which is doctrinal of evil in its character when it is a fundamental importance. Now the Spirit of God likens the testimony of the days at the end of Christianity to a great house in verse twenty. In our first epistle of Timothy which we studied, we found the theme of that epistle, the house of God. We learned from the context of that holy epistle the divine order to be carried out within the house of God and the behavior of the believer in relation to it. Well, when we look at the epistle of Second Timothy, the house is in great disorder. And when you and I look at the condition of the prevailing church today in its public testimony upon the earth, it is in great disorder. And when one sees it, how we can recognize within the great disorder of the house, there are different classifications of vessels. Vessels of gold, vessels of silver, vessels of wood, as well as vessels of earth. And just as he likens a great house possessing vessels which can be honored, vessels which cannot be vessels of honor, how the Spirit of God would remind us that in the last days of the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ in the church, We have these conditions prevailing, where there is a great mixture of vessels, some to honor, some to dishonor. Now let me just emphasize two words particularly. Now you can find vessels of gold, vessels of silver, vessels of wood, vessels of earth. Some of them are common vessels. Others of them are glorious vessels. But all of them may be and can be useful. But says God, there are some that can be honored. There are some that can be dishonored because of their character. And, O beloved, as we thus see the condition of the house at large, let us recognize there is a responsibility for every believer to realize, as well as to discern, what may need to be separated from. So we read these words in verse twenty-one, words of great importance, if a man therefore purge himself, From these. Now, beloved, let's look at it carefully. In the days we live in, there are two great evils in relation to the professing church. And I'm going to name them, as I've already done so, unmistakably. There is moral evil of such character that God says a Christian should not go along with it. and then there is doctrinal evil of such character that God says one of his own should not go along with it. Oh, beloved, may I say, the word of God is very explicit. I suggest this. If you will read First Corinthians chapter five, you will have drawn out in detail the experience of the church at Corinth in relation to moral evil. Then if you will read the second epistle of John, you will find as well as the third epistle, but the second epistle in particular, I believe, you will find the Spirit of God through John warning the believers in regard to doctrinal evil. May I just read John's word? As I read, if I may please, in the second epistle of John, first of all, and verse six. This is the commandment, according as ye have heard from the beginning, that ye might walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, they who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver, and the Antichrist. See to yourselves that we may not lose what we have wrought, but may receive a full reward. Now note, whosoever does not abide in the doctrine of the Christ has not God. And he that abides in the doctrine, he has both the Father and the Son. And if anyone come to you and bring not this doctrine, Do not receive him into the house, and greet him not. For he who greets him partakes in his wicked works. Now the word of God stresses two evils, and both of them are wickedness. One is moral evil, moral wickedness, and the other is doctrinal evil, or doctrinal wickedness. Now this may seem a strange statement to some. But the word of God supports the statement. God recognizes that wicked doctrine is just as bad as wicked moral evil. In fact, may I say that as I read the word of God and see the conditions of the prevailing church, I feel more persuaded that the greater evil of the two is doctrinal evil. And I'll tell you why. It is because doctrinal evil can lead and usually does lead into moral evil. When men stray away from the truth, they also stray in not practicing the truth. They stay away from the practice of the truth. But both are evil. Now let's go back to Second Timothy chapter two again, and recognize that from moral evil and from doctrinal evil, the word of God says, If they man, therefore purge himself from these, and the word purge is very strong, to separate himself and not go along with the moral evil, not walk in fellowship with the doctrinal evil. If such a man will separate himself, he shall be a vessel unto honour. He will be set apart, sanctified. He will be neat for the master's use and prepared unto every good work. Now, beloved, I want to make this frank statement. If you and I as a Christian desire to be used of God in the last days of Christianity, We must of necessity be very careful that we are not associated with what God calls moral evil in his sight, and also with what God calls doctrinal evil in his sight. Both are bad. And may I state that in walking in harmony and in fellowship with such evil, will not make you a better Christian than a one that is worse. and one that cannot be a vessel unto honor for God to honor you, and for God to set you apart for his glory, and to be made meat for the master's use, and prepare them to every good way. There's no compromise when it comes to the truth of God, whether it be doctrine or whether it be moral evil. Hold a line of demarcation God makes, not me. and oh my radio friend, my fellow believer, God wants clean vessels. But may I stress, that if you will purge yourself from what you know is displeasing, dishonoring, as moral evil, as well as doctrinal evil in the sight of God, and walk in fellowship with Him, you'll be a vessel of honor. You'll be set apart, and you'll be a vessel that's meet, suitable for the master's use. Prepare unto every good way. My dear beloved fellow Christian, listen please. The most important thing for you and me to consider is not what can we do, but rather am I a clean vessel. For if I am a clean vessel in the sight of God, He will use me. He states that. And if I am suitable for His use, He will not seem to use me. Whether I am a vessel of gold, whether I am a vessel of silver, whether I am a vessel of wood, whether I am a vessel of earth. Regardless of the character, the description outwardly, God will use a clean vessel. And my fellow believer, we better be clean. God help us to be clean for His glory. Time has gone rapidly again. Let us pray. Father again. These are words of such timely admonition and warning. We need them. Will you not sanctify them and bless them to the glory of God, the exaltation of Christ, and the stirring of thy people, and even the salvation of sinners? In Jesus' name, amen.