Teaching Tuesday: 2nd Timothy

Series: Through the Storm
Sermon: 2nd Timothy (9.1.24)

Happy Tuesday, all.

In 2nd Timothy Paul finds himself in a Roman prison for at least the second time. At the end of the narrative presented in the book of Acts, Paul was released from prison, returned to missionary and ministry activities, and was arrested again.

This time, Paul does not expect to be released. In fact, he believes he is awaiting his execution:

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2nd Timothy 4:6-8)

I’m always struck when I read these letters from Paul, especially the ones written from prison, that his attitude is not one of depression or despair. He’s not happy about his situation, but neither is he despondent. Paul believes he is suffering due to his insistence on living out a public faith in Jesus.

We read in Philippians chapter one that he’s even glad to be suffering because he believes his situation will bring even more glory to Jesus and contribute to the spread of the gospel:

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. (v. 12-14)

With little anger and no fear, Paul is resolved that his legacy will be one of faithfulness to his savior.

Paul’s a Christian; what else could his legacy be?

Back to 2nd Timothy, Paul says he will suffer, and he invites Timothy (and us!) to join him in suffering:

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. (1:7-8)

This doesn’t mean we should welcome or seek out pain and difficulty, but it does mean that our faith is going to cost us something and we should embrace the cost because making much of Jesus is the single greatest purpose our lives can have, and the reward will be glorious.

But, as I preached on our Sunday in Hebrews, our reward will not be received in this life, but in the eternal life to come. This life will be hard, we can count on it. But Heaven will more than make up for it!

In the meantime:

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. (2nd Timothy 2:8-10)

The example of Paul teaches me two things:

1. Christians should expect this life to bring hardship and suffering, and even opposition. Our faith is not a Get Out of Life Free card. Jesus said in John 16:33b: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
2. Even those in the faith will suffer and, according to Paul, we may even suffer because of our faith. Waging war against the sin in our own lives and a sinful world will not often make us popular. It’s possible we may lose comfort, friends, jobs, status, or freedoms because of our faith. We shouldn’t try to lose those things, of course, but if and when it comes to it, we must have the courage to choose faithfulness to God over everything else.

When we suffer, we should not despair. Christianity does not allow for despair; ours is a religion of hope! Often, when we look into the future, we worry, we fret, and we lament what we expect to lose, even though we know what we’re going to gain! Our hope is not ultimately in our personal abilities, or political candidates, or America as a whole, but in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus.

Take these words from the beautiful hymn with you this week:

O soul are you weary and troubled
No light in the darkness you see
There's light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace

Study for this coming Sunday: Jude

Know Him and make Him known!
- Pastor Brady