My God and My Country

2 Timothy 2:24-25 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

24 But the servant of the Lord must not strive, but must be gentle toward all men, apt to teach, suffering the evil,
25 Instructing them with meekness that are contrary minded, proving if God at any time will give them repentance, that they may acknowledge the truth,

Father, help me to understand Your word this morning – amen

Brethren:

A continuation of yesterday's study, wherein we are told to be patient with all men, but not to condone their evils. Teaching them with love and meekness, but also reproving them if need be. This for those that minister the Gospel. God is not a God that wishes to see any person perish, but that all come to repentance. It is His grace and mercy bestowed upon us that redeems us to Himself.
R.P. Woitowitz Sr. 
 
“By "the servant of the Lord" is not meant any believer in common, but a minister of the word, as Timothy was; such an one ought not to strive about words to no profit, about mere words, and in a litigious, quarrelsome manner, and for mastery and not truth; though he may, and ought to strive for the faith of the Gospel; this is praiseworthy in him. Not only to troubled minds, and wounded consciences, by supplying them with the precious promises and truths of the Gospel; and to backsliders, by restoring them in a spirit of meekness; but even to those who contradict the truth, and themselves, by mild and kind instructions.

Repentance here designs a repentance of errors in principle, a change of mind upon conviction, and such as issues in a free and ingenuous confession, and acknowledgment of the truth before opposed; and such a repentance is the gift of God: it is he that opens the eyes of the understanding, and works conviction in the mind, and leads into all truth, as it is in Jesus; and induces men to repent of their errors, confess their mistakes, and own the truth; even as repentance of evil practices is not owing to the power of men, nor to the bare influence of means, but to the efficacious grace of God, it being a grant from him. And though this is not certain, that God will give repentance to such contradictors and blasphemers of his Gospel; yet as it is his will, that all his chosen ones should come to repentance, and that some of all sorts should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth; and seeing these things have been brought about under and by the ministry of the word, it is an encouragement to the ministers of the Gospel to continue their instructions in the manner here directed.” - John Gill