2Timothy1v8to12: SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPELIntroduction. Read 2Tim1v8to12. Paul made three testing demands of young Timothy. They were:
These were not very agreeable prospects! At least we do not find them so in modern day Britain. Many Christians today are prepared to talk at great length about their children and grand-children but rarely show the same enthusiasm for chatting about Jesus. It is not as if we are going to be put into prison or executed for being Christians. The worst we face is a certain amount of ridicule, contempt and ostracism. Some Christians are reluctant to show solidarity with those more outspoken than themselves and who suffer some degree of reproach for Jesus' sake. Suffering loss for the gospel is not a pleasing prospect for many believers in Christ. It is undoubtedly possible to suffer loss as a Christian in secular Britain. A Christian might lose his job, miss out on promotion, remain unmarried, have fewer friends and so on. Paul finds it necessary to chivvy Timothy up - a timorous young man who was probably not desirous of getting into trouble. So Paul gives him seven reasons to be prepared to suffer for the gospel. He should do so because: (1) In the process he tapped into the power of God. v8. Timothy would not be facing difficulties alone but with the assistance of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit would come along side like a strong friend and give help to conquer self, to master circumstances and to go on living when life became intolerable. A few weeks ago I had two problems that I couldn't fix myself. My oven stopped working and I had a light fitting into which I was unable to fix the bulb. I would still have these problems if I hadn't phoned for an electrician. I called in someone with superior knowledge and skill. We Christians are very foolish. We so often try and fix problems in our own strength when we could call on the power of the mighty Spirit for help. (2) The gospel is the means by which God saves and sanctifies. v9. The gospel is God's good news. The good news is that on the cross of Calvary Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice to atone for men's sin. God in grace accepted this sacrifice and showed that he had done so by raising Jesus from the dead. Everyone who believes this and relies on what Jesus has done for him or her will be forgiven all their sins. The apostle Peter, at the very beginning of the church age, made the centrality of Christ's role clear. He told the rulers and elders in Jerusalem: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given to men by which we must be saved." Acts4v12. Furthermore, when a person trusts in Jesus for salvation he or she is adopted into God's family and given a new life with the Holy Spirit as helper. There are innumerable dramatic instances of sinners being transformed by the power of God, shedding the old life of defeat and degradation and living victoriously for Jesus. It is a long time ago now that I met young Robin. He was a teenager at the Christian camp for which I was the sports organiser. He enjoyed the sports and the wide games but he seemed to have a chip on his shoulder and could be quite antagonistic and disagreeable to staff. But the thing I remembered most about Robin was the change that occurred in him when he became a Christian. After he submitted to Jesus he was helpful, cheerful and enthusiastically on our side. It was a remarkable turn round and impressed me greatly. Eventually he became the skipper of Pioneer Camp and he has been the valued secretary of a local Grace Baptist Church for many years. Robin is just one of so many who have experienced the transforming power of the gospel. (2) The gospel has its origins in God's purpose and grace. Paul wrote: God has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. v9. Salvation is of God's grace and cannot be earned or won. It isn't the reward for a righteous life. We cannot persuade God to save us by keeping his laws or doing good works. In the words of William Barclay, 'It is the free gift of God'. And in words of Paul: Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom3v22and23. It follows that if salvation is by grace the gospel can be proclaimed to all. If it was only for Jews there would no point proclaiming it to Gentiles; if it was only for white people it would be foolish offering it to blacks; if it was only for the intelligent no purpose would be served declaring it to the foolish; if it was only applicable to good people it would be futile proclaiming it at all. But salvation is God's free gift and CAN be offered to everyone. It becomes effective through faith - by the sinner accepting what Jesus has done for him/her. (4) The gospel was planned before time but became effective with Christ's coming. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus. v10. It would be very wrong to think that God cobbled together a plan of salvation in response to unfolding events here on earth. He wasn't caught out by Adam's sin! It would also be incorrect to see God as the stern, unfeeling law giver of the Old Testament only to express his love in the coming of his Son to earth. The fact is that in the early history of the Jews sacrifices were made as atonement for sin. God in mercy and grace accepted these token payments to forgive sin. As William Barclay writes: From the beginning of time God's love has been seeking and searching for men; and God's grace and forgiveness have been offered to men. (5) The gospel promises men eternal life. Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. v10. Paul also wrote to the Corinthians: If only for life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1Cor15v19and20. These verses and verses like them emphasise the wonderful, wonderful message of the gospel that if men and women believe in Jesus they will receive eternal life. True, they may die, their spirits may rest awhile in God, but the day will come when Jesus will return to this earth. When he does, Jesus will bring with him all those who believed in him. Jesus will have raised them bodily from the dead to be with him forever. No one else has made a credible offer of eternal life because no one else has risen from the grave like Jesus. He alone could say to Martha: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." Jn11v25. (6) The gospel needs its heralds, apostles and teachers. Paul was all of these! He didn't rest on his laurels content to be saved by grace. He spent all his life after his conversion serving his Lord as: Herald. The herald has an announcement to make. He is a bit like the Master of Ceremonies at a banquet or festival. Paul announced that God had sent to earth Jesus, his only Son, to be the Saviour of mankind. Apostle. The apostle was God's messenger. God's message was the gospel - namely, that sinful men and women could be saved the consequences of sin through faith in Jesus. This was the message Paul famously gave the Philippian jailer who cried out to the apostle in prison, "What must I do to be saved?" Today, the role of herald and apostle is combined in those we call evangelists. They are the ones who call on men to repent of their sins and turn in faith to the only remedy for sin - Jesus and him crucified. Evangelists, and there have been many, use all their powers to persuade men and women to rely on God's provision in Christ for new and eternal life. They appeal to men and women to believe in Jesus - to cast themselves upon the love of God. Teacher. Paul also carried out the third requirement of the Great Commission: "Teaching them (Jesus' disciples) to obey everything I have commanded you." Converts to Christ need to be taught what it means to be a Christian. They must learn the discipline of the Christian life. William Barclay puts it like this: The flame of evangelism has to be followed by the steady glow of Christian teaching. A chemistry teacher might perform a series of dazzling experiments in a demonstration lesson to impress pupils and get them to opt for his subject. But then, if some choose to study Chemistry, begins the long, slow, unspectacular process of actually teaching them the subject. This is far harder than doing a few dramatic, eye-catching experiments. So, perhaps, William Barclay is right when he writes: It is certain that the task of the teacher is very much harder than the task of the evangelist. Yet, strangely today there are few evangelists. (7) The gospel's adherents, devotees and proponents are secure in God. Paul could write: I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced, that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. v12. Paul entrusted his legacy and his life to God. I sometimes wonder what will become of my website when I die. I have invested many hundreds of hours of work in it. When I die, will it die with me? Paul could have thought like this about his life's work of making Gentile converts to Christianity. Would the Gentile churches peter out after his death? Instead the apostle was confident his legacy would be preserved because he trusted in God and 2000 years later we see that Paul's trust was well founded. In 2015 millions of Christians continue to benefit immensely from Paul's epistles. He remains a hugely influential figure. Paul was in no doubt that as a servant of the living God and the gospel he was safe. God was not in the habit of letting down his faithful servants. Paul was convinced that nothing in all creation was able to separate him from the love of God that was in Christ Jesus his Lord. See Romans 8v37to39.
I know in whom I have believed,
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