If you knew that today would be your last day on earth, what would you want to say to those you love? That is what we have in Paul’s last letter in 2 Timothy. The Apostle was on death row, and wanted to give his young protege some final instructions for the church. His first call is to “Hold on!” He exhorts Timothy, “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (1:13). How can we hold on?
BY GROUNDING IN FAITH (v.1-7). Paul mentions the “sincere faith” (v. 5), the genuine faith in Christ that Timothy had received in his home that flowed from his grandmother Lois, to his mother Eunice, and now to him.
This is the ground upon which a life, a home, a church must be built—the solid Rock of Jesus Christ, whom we have received by a sincere faith. Is yours a “sincere faith” that fits you for heaven? Peter enjoined, “be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election,” (2 Pet.1:10). Having your name on a church membership roll won’t matter if it isn’t written in heaven in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Hear the words of Jesus in Matt.7:21-27.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
I am haunted by the fact that some people who have sat in pews under my preaching, or read these words that I am posting, will hear those awful words, “Depart from me.” If the foundation is not stable, then nothing else you do will stand.
Hold fast by grounding in faith, but also BY GROWING IN GRACE (v.8-12). The Apostle underscores the manner of salvation as the grace of God that has been bestowed on us (v.9).
This is God’s free gift. If we are saved, it is not based on anything we have done, but on Him. If you could lose your salvation, you would. But, it isn’t our commitment to Christ, but His commitment to us that takes believers from start to finish (v.12). We can hold on because He holds on to us!
Yet, there is always a danger that the fire of passion for Jesus may become a faint flicker (v.6). That devotion to Christ will require fueling. Do you need to be rekindled today? God’s Spirit is within us to empower us (v.7).
I’ve heard that some of us have Christianity like an old iron bedstead—firm on both ends and sagging in the middle! We are firm on the front end that God saves us from hell, and firm on the back end that He will save us for heaven, but right now we are sagging!
God’s purpose in giving us grace, is not to sit, but to serve (v.11). When can we stop growing and going? Not, “until that Day” (v.12). The old hymn exhorts: “We’ll Work ’Til Jesus Comes.” That is God’s intention for each of us. We may retire from a job, but we can only retire from serving Christ when Jesus comes for us. Our retirement community is called, “Heaven!”
So hold on by grounding in faith, growing in grace, and BY GRIPPING THE TRUTH (v.13-18). Paul is saying to this young preacher boy to get an unbreakable grip on the truth—sound doctrine and systematic theology.
Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest commented, “Particular words are to be retained and used so that the doctrinal statements of the truth may remain accurate and a norm for future teachers and preachers.”
Do you have a grip on the meaning of words like, “justification, reconciliation, sanctification, glorification,” and what do you believe about the nature of God, the work of Christ, the person of the Spirit, the authority of Scripture, the mission of the church, etc.?
False teachers are to be condemned (v.15). They are a cancer to be cut out!
Faithful workers are to be commended (v.16-18). Nothing so refreshes a preacher as to see those who serve diligently!
It burdens me at times when I see a post on social media or hear someone quote some false teacher—a doctrinal deviant! But, it blesses me when I see those who are solid in sound doctrine—who immerse themselves in truth and teach it. That is refreshing!
Pastors need refreshing! We get weary and worn and weak. We are not super human. I want you to make a commitment today to be a refresher to your pastor. So many have been to me! To all my pastor friends reading this—particularly those men who lead the Haywood Baptist Association member churches that I serve—know that I am here for you and praying for you!
Do you have a genuine faith? If you were to die today and stand before the Lord, and He asked you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” what would you say? I prayed a prayer. I got baptized. I try to be a good person. I believe in God. All that is good, but will not get you into heaven. A genuine faith is grounded in the work of Jesus Christ. You look to Him alone for your salvation.
Do you have a real faith, but it needs to be rekindled? Will you recommit yourself to be faithful until Jesus calls you home?
Are you committed to studying the Word, submitting to it, and sharing it? Will you say today, “I am going to be a refresher!”
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