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The Acts of the Apostles
and His Son. His soul goes out in longing desire to do acceptable
service for the Master. And as he advances in the Christian pathway
he becomes “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” This grace
enables him to be a faithful witness of the things that he has heard. He
does not despise or neglect the knowledge that he has received from
God, but commits this knowledge to faithful men, who in their turn
teach others.
In this his last letter to Timothy, Paul held up before the younger
worker a high ideal, pointing out the duties devolving on him as a
minister of Christ. “Study to show thyself approved unto God,” the
apostle wrote, “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth.” “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow
righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out
of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing
that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not
strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness
instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will
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give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.”
The apostle warned Timothy against the false teachers who would
seek to gain entrance into the church. “This know also,” he declared,
“that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers
of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedi-
ent to parents, unthankful, unholy; ... having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
“Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,” he continued,
“deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which
thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou
hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy
Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.... All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the
man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
God has provided abundant means for successful warfare against the
evil that is in the world. The Bible is the armory where we may
equip for the struggle. Our loins must be girt about with truth. Our
breastplate must be righteousness. The shield of faith must be in our
hand, the helmet of salvation on our brow; and with the sword of the