Faithful Until the End
Faithful Until the End | 2 Timothy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 16 viewsPaul encourages Timothy to stay the course through his own example of faithfulness until the end.
Notes
Transcript
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Introduction
As I drove down a road once before, I observed a church sign that read, Be the person your dog thinks you are. I have thought of that over and over. As I come to our text, I am reminded of that sign. No, Paul is not talking about dogs and their opinion of their owner. He is, however, revealing to Timothy he has been the example he wanted him to be. That brings me to the point, be the example you wished you had received from others. Be the example of one who is faithful until the end.
Focus Passage
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Outline
Willing Sacrifice (v.6)
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
Paul wrote to the church at Rome, that we as believers, are to live our lives as living sacrifices. He writes, Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1). His directive to the church at Rome, was a directive in which he himself lived out. He stands at the end of his life, the time of my departure is at hand, and declares what he was and we ought to be.
Paul was a living sacrifice - “…I am already being poured out as a drink offering...’
His life was a life of sacrifice to the Lord. Paul uses a metaphor, a picture from the Law to reveal this picture to Timothy. Within Numbers 15, we see the pouring out of wine in an Old Testament drink offering (Nu. 15:1-10). This would also accompany the burnt offering (Nu. 28:7). The picture being shown here is the picture of the wine being completely poured out. There would be nothing left, all would be exhausted. This is a metaphor that Paul would use elsewhere.
17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
He was a willing sacrifice. He suffered all that he suffered, willingly. He was willing to suffer for the Lord. He was willing to suffer for others.
Paul was ready for his homecoming - ‘…the time of my departure has come...’
Once again, Paul uses a metaphor to reveal a spiritual truth. He uses the picture of ship breaking port and heading on her final voyage. Paul knew where he was going and was ready to be with the Lord. He knew it was far better than his current situation.
23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
Faithful Until the End (v.7)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
Paul wanted to encourage Timothy to keep the faith. There was still work to be done. He had done to Timothy what he encouraged Timothy to do to others.
2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.
He had discipled Timothy to keep working, keep fighting, keep the course. Paul once again draws on an image that was very familiar to his time and very relevant to our time, the image of the athlete. An athlete is committed. They are self-disciplined. They are sacrificial in their preparation. They are focused and fight through the wall. As Paul comes to the close of his life, he reveals to Timothy that he was Faithful Until the End and follow his example.
Paul writes...
I contended faithfully until the end - ‘…I have fought the good fight...’
I completed faithfully until the end - ‘…I have finished the course...’
I continued faithfully until the end - ‘…I have kept the faith...’
He has been faithful until the end. He encourages Timothy to do the same. As wrote previously...
5 But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
He states, make full proof of thy ministry. He wanted him to complete his ministry. How one finishes their ministry, their life, is just as important, if not more important then how they began.
Finally, in the end Paul gives Timothy his reason for remaining faithful.
The Reason to Remain Faithful (v.8)
8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Salvation awaits
Paul tells Timothy, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.
Paul was fighting for the prize. He was fighting for the crown to come.
Paul was remaining faithful for the salvation to come. He knew that he was saved. He knew that his eternity was secure in the Lord. However, he knew that that his salvation was not fully in view just yet. This is true for all believers today. Our salvation is not in full until we are with the Lord. We are to remain faithful until the end.
Hope awaits - ‘…but also to all who loved His appearing...’
Conclusion
Do you have this hope? Do you have this salvation? Are you remaining faithful?