The gospel was Paul’s life. As Paul wrote 2 Timothy 1:8-11, he couldn’t mention the gospel without taking a little digression to open it up, showing us that it is a gospel that saves. This salvation was applied by an effectual call, granted on the basis of grace, planned before time began, accomplished by the death of Christ, and results in abolishing everlasting death for all God’s people!
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A Gospel Worth Suffering For
2 Timothy 1:8-11
The book of 2 Timothy was written at a time of great persecution. It is widely believed that the Emperor Nero had actually set fire to Rome in July of 64 A.D., and then to divert attention from himself, had blamed it on the Christians. Instantly Christians became an enemy of the State. Paul had been arrested on a capital crime and imprisoned in a dungeon in Rome. It was a time of great terror for the church. To identify oneself as a Christian meant risk and danger. One by one Paul’s friends left him. Paul couldn’t ask Timothy and Titus to testify on his behalf because they were his associates and fellow accomplices. When he asked for notable Christians from Asia to come and testify on his behalf, they all deserted him. Therefore, Paul testified on his own behalf, proclaiming the gospel, showing that it was not a seditious sect. The officials could not execute Paul because of the force of his defense. Thus, they adjourned for further study, but Paul knew it was only a matter of time before he was executed as a martyr. In his own words, he was “already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of his departure had come” (2 Tim. 4:6).
Since Paul knew he was going to die soon, he needed to prepare his son in the faith to carry on the work in his absence. Thus, he wrote 2 Timothy to exhort Timothy to preach the gospel, guard the gospel, and entrust the gospel to faithful men. Timothy was naturally timid, and inclined to shrink from suffering. In this letter Paul wrote to him to encourage him to stand strong in the face of suffering and hardship.
In our passage this morning, Paul reminded Timothy that we have a gospel worth suffering for. Notice that our text begins and ends with a mention of “the gospel” (vs. 8,10). The word “gospel” functions as bookends to this section, letting us know that this is what Paul is really interested in expounding on. Everything that comes between these two mentions of “the gospel” actually explains what the gospel is all about. Verses 9 and 10 are a summary of the gospel. Here we have one of the single greatest statements in all of the Bible on the doctrine of salvation.
Notice that the gospel has to do with salvation – “join with me in suffering for the gospel, according to the power of God, who has saved us.” Ephesians 1:13 speaks of “the gospel of your salvation.” The gospel is the Good News about God’s salvation. You might call it the Glad Tidings about God’s Rescue Operation. Salvation is God rescuing poor, perishing, condemned sinners from the misery of sin. Here Paul is going to delve into the glorious gospel of the blessed God (1 Tim. 1:11). The gospel is the treasure which Paul has entrusted to Timothy (2 Tim. 1:14). This treasure is so valuable that it is worthy of every bit of suffering we will ever experience on its behalf.
Do not be ashamed.” Don’t quit preaching because the times are tough! In verse 12, Paul says that he was not ashamed. In vs. 16 he says that Onesiphorus was not ashamed. Therefore, Timothy, you don’t be ashamed either! In 2 Tim. 3:10 Paul says that Timothy had already followed Paul’s teaching, conduct, purpose, etc. Now he urges Timothy to come up another notch and keep following him even in suffering.
of the testimony of the Lord – This is really just another way of speaking about the gospel.
Or of me His prisoner – to identify with Paul meant to invoke the same suffering that he experienced. Notice that Paul never saw himself as a prisoner of Nero. Rather, he saw himself as a prisoner of Christ. Paul believes so strongly in the sovereignty of God in every detail of life, that he knows he is in prison according to His will.
Join me in suffering – Notice that “suffering” appears in vs. 8 and vs. 12. Twice Paul speaks of how he is suffering, and urges Timothy to embrace it as well.
According to the power of God – God’s power can enable Timothy to bear this suffering and persevere to the end. Paul has just said in vs. 7 that God has given us a spirit of power. This same Spirit gives believers today in countries around the world to endure torture, beatings, separation from families, imprisonment, and even death for the gospel.
In verse 9 and 10, we have a short digression from Paul’s main flow of thought. Paul mentions the gospel in verse 8, but loves it so much, that he can’t just mention it without expounding on it a little. And, oh, this is a glorious digression! This passage teaches us that salvation was applied by a holy calling, granted on the basis of grace, planned from all eternity, accomplished by the work of Christ, and results in deliverance from eternal death!
1. The Application of Salvation
Called us – How did any of us ever get saved? How was it that we came to possess salvation? Well, Paul explains that here. We got saved, because God called us with a holy calling. The Bible tells us that we can’t come to Christ, we can’t understand the things of God, that we love darkness rather than light and won’t come to the light, and are dead in trespasses and sins. Therefore, for any person to ever be saved, God Himself must effectually call him. When I speak of God calling a person, I’m not talking about God inviting the sinner to be saved. I’m speaking of something much more powerful and effective than that. If all God did was invite us, we would all turn down the invitation and end up in hell. When anyone hears the gospel and is invited to come to Christ, there is a Gospel Call. However, what Paul is talking about here is the Effectual Call. It is an irresistible summons. This call brings a person out of darkness and into light, out of sin and into fellowship with God’s Son. When God calls a sinner, He implants a new nature in him, changes his heart, and brings him from spiritual death to spiritual life. It’s like what Lazarus experienced when he was dead in that tomb for four days, and then Jesus called Him to come out. Lazarus experienced an effectual call, and every person who has ever been saved has experienced it as well.
With a holy calling – Notice that this call is a holy calling. In other words, ever person who is saved is called to a life of holiness. All those who are called, end up repenting of their sins and begin to strive to become like Jesus Christ. Why? Because in the call, God grants a new nature. Just as their old heart loved sin, their new heart loves Christ and righteousness. One of the ways you can determine if God has called you is to discern whether you have an inner desire to please God and live a holy life. If you are living comfortably in sin you have no reason to believe God has called you.
2. The Basis of Salvation
Not according to our works – Well, on what basis was the salvation and calling granted to us? Why did God save us? According to our text, it was not according to our works. Our good works or deeds of righteousness were not the basis by which God granted us our salvation. This is a truth that is spelled out for us everywhere in Scripture. In Is. 64:6 were are told that all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment. In Rom. 3:20 we read that by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight. In Eph. 2:8-9 the Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one would boast. In Titus 3:5 we read that God saved us, not on the basis of deeds of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy. God hates the boasting of sinful man. What would we do, if we could obtain our salvation by doing enough good deeds? We’d go around boasting and bragging about how good we are, and what we did in order to earn heaven. So, God put an end to that forever, by determining that salvation will never be granted on the basis of good works. However, no matter how clear the Bible is about this truth, most of the people you meet and talk to won’t get it. Of the scores of people I have asked why God is going to let them come into heaven, the vast majority point to themselves, and the good things they have done, and the fact that they are a good person. OK, let’s grant for a moment that God is going to judge us based on our works. What is the standard going to be? How good do the works have to be, and how many of them do you have to perform? God is morally perfect, so the only standard He could ever accept would be moral perfection. Jesus said, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48). The only one who has ever lived a lived of absolutely moral perfection was Jesus Christ. But, if we will put our complete trust in Him, He will put His righteousness to our account. Praise God!
But according to His own grace – No, the basis of our salvation is not our works. Rather it is His grace. Grace is God’s free favor; His undeserved kindness to hell-deserving sinners. And grace and works are like oil and water. You will never be able to mix them together. In Romans 11:6 Paul said, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” Grace and works are absolutely opposed to one another. Grace is God saying, “I know you don’t deserve this. You haven’t earned it. You haven’t done anything to work for it. But I love, and I’m just going to give it to you for free!” Oh, I’m so glad that salvation is by grace! If it wasn’t I know that I would never have it, for I can never be good enough or do enough good works to earn it.
3. The Sovereignty of Salvation
His own purpose – If you trace a river back to its source, you will eventually come to its source. If we were to trace our salvation all the way back to its source, where would we find ourselves? We would find ourselves staring into the sovereign purposes of God. Notice, that our salvation originates from “His own purpose.” It is not from our own purpose. Salvation does not originate with man. It doesn’t originate with man’s purpose, man’s will, fate, or luck. If you were saved, it was not ultimately because you purposed to be saved, but rather because God purposed to save you. Let’s look at a few passages that throw some light on God’s purpose.
Is. 46:9-10: “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, `My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’”
Acts 4:27-28: “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.”
Rom. 8:28-29 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren”
Rom. 9:11-13 “for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”
Eph. 1:11 “also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will”
Heb. 6:17 “In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath”
Which was granted us from all eternity – This is an eternal purpose. It speaks about what God has decided to do before time began. You see, salvation is not dependant upon you because God’s purpose of salvation was already set in place before you even existed; in fact before time existed. When God formed this purpose of grace, He didn’t consult you or I, or even the angels, for nothing else existed.
Eph. 1:4 “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”
2 Thess. 2:13 “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
Rev. 13:8 “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”
In Christ Jesus – God’s eternal purpose was to unite us to Christ. None of the grace that God had planned for us could ever come to us apart from union with Christ. God’s plan was for His Son to become the representative of all God’s chosen people. In time He would unite all of them to Christ, as branches are united to a vine, and members to a head, so that we would receive all the grace that is in Him. That plan was formed before time began.
4. The Accomplishment of Salvation
But now has been revealed by the appearing – God’s purpose was formed by Him alone in eternity past, but it was hidden from us. God made His purpose visible by sending Christ into the world. In the incarnation, God became visible to men. Jesus Christ came and made God’s purpose of grace known in His teaching. Jesus said such things as:
Luke 19:10 “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Mt. 20:28 “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Jn. 6:37 “all that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
Jn. 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Of our Savior Christ Jesus – God’s purpose of grace was not just revealed in Christ’s teaching, but it was also revealed in His death. It was at the cross that our salvation was actually accomplished and secured, although not applied. Christ, in His perfect life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection, obtained our eternal redemption. Of course, no one is actually saved until they are born again by the Spirit. We are born into this world children of wrath, in a state of sin and condemnation. However, everything necessary for our redemption was purchased by Jesus Christ our Savior at the cross.
Heb. 9:12 “through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
Heb. 10:14 “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”
5. The Results of Salvation
Who abolished death – Paul isn’t talking here about physical death, but rather eternal death. This is not the death of the body, but the eternal destruction of the soul, the 2nd death.
Rev. 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.”
Rev. 20:14-15 “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Jesus Christ has abolished eternal torment in hell for all of God’s chosen people, who are saved and called. They will never face the wrath of God!
And brought life and immortality to light through the gospel– Abolishing death is to eliminate the negative. Bringing life and immortality to light is bringing about the positive. In the Old Testament, little was understood of life beyond the grave. The Old Testament is not very clear about what happens to a believer after death. But in the New Testament, the gospel brings eternal life to light. It’s like taking a portrait out of a dark closet into the light so we can see it. Now, the New Testament Scriptures, we can see clearly, that to die is to be forever with the Lord, in His glory and kingdom, to reign with Him, to worship Him, to serve and love Him forever. The result of salvation is not just the elimination of hell – it is also the adding of everlasting glorious life in the presence of God!
Rom. 6:23 “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Life Application
For which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher – Paul had given his entire life to preach this gospel of salvation, to plant churches based on this gospel of salvation, and to teach these new converts the principles of the gospel of salvation. This message we have been talking about this morning was Paul’s life! And so, should it be our life as well.
So, what does this text call us to Bridge?
1. Friends, this is a gospel worth suffering for! Let’s be bold to believe it, to preach it, to confess it, to guard it! Let’s not be ashamed of it! It is our very life and soul! Oh, let’s rejoice in it, and worship God for it! So what if we catch flack from folks when we speak of this glorious gospel. It is the sinner’s only hope. This gospel is so incredible, that no suffering should make us stop proclaiming it. Oh, don’t be ashamed of this gospel! It is the power of God unto salvation!
2. God deserves ALL of the glory? Folks, who saved who here? Our text says that “God saved us.” We didn’t save ourselves. We didn’t save ourselves with God’s help. God didn’t save us with our help. God saved us! He did it all alone. We are not co-saviors with Christ. When Jesus cried, “It is finished!” He meant it. It was done. The only thing remaining for us, is to embrace it with faith, and even that is a gift of God. No wonder the Psalmist wrote, “Not to us, not to us, but to Your name give glory!” (Ps.115:1). God planned our salvation before time began. He sent Jesus Christ to accomplish it through His life, death and resurrection. He then sent the Spirit to effectually call us so that we might repent and believe the gospel. And one day He will abolish death for all time for all His chosen ones, and cause us to enter into eternal glory.
3. If there is anyone here who has not been saved, why not? Don’t excuse yourself by saying you’re not good enough to be saved. Friend, no one is good enough! Remember, the basis for salvation is not our works, but His grace. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you’ve done. You can be the worst sinner on earth, and God’s grace is big enough and great enough to save even you. Then, come to Him. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” All you have to do is come. Trust Him. Bow before Him. Determine that you will begin to follow Him from this day forward. May God grant it for Jesus’ sake.
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