The Reward of Faith
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
How many of you have trophies from your accomplishments laying around your house? Some of you may have them in a box in the attic, but you probably don’t have a trophy cabinet in your house.
Think back to when you got that trophy. How did it make you feel? You probably swelled with pride at your accomplishment and felt pretty good about yourself.
But none of the accolades and rewards we can receive can compare to the satisfaction we will have by hearing Jesus say, “Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter in to the reward that has been prepared for you.”
Tonight we are going to talk about the reward of faith as we look at Paul’s final exhortation to Timothy.
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 race, I have kept the faith.
8 Henceforth there is laid up 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.
Pray
1. The Departure (v.6)
1. The Departure (v.6)
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
Paul uses a couple of metaphors that were common to his audience to show us the real reason for this final letter that he’s written to Timothy.
He knew that his death was imminent. He may not have known exactly when that date would come, but he knew that he would probably not be getting out of prison this time.
Paul was not a stranger to imprisonment. He had been in prison with Barnabas and had even been sent to Rome and as under house arrest. Paul was eventually set free, but now Paul is certain that his imprisonment will lead in death.
To illustrate his coming death, Paul uses two metaphors.
The first is that of a drink offering. He says that he is already being poured out like a drink offering.
When you look at all of the sacrifices in the Old Testament, there is an element of the sacrifice that represents the death of Christ that had to occur for us to be saved. However, there is also and element of the sacrifice that points to fellowship with God and His people.
This fellowship is represented in the form of sharing a meal with God. The worshiper would eat along with the priest and would also drink from the cup. Since God can’t physically eat or drink, other than through the Person of Jesus, God’s portion was offered on the altar and the consumption of the offering on the altar represented God taking His part.
The drink offering was also the final offering that was given on the altar. All of these symbols point to Paul’s final time on this earth.
Now, imagine pouring a cup of wine on the altar. What would it do? It would fizzle up and turn to steam.
Paul uses this imagery to describe his life as going up to the Lord like a vapor. It’s almost gone where you can see it no longer.
In addition, Paul uses the illustration of a ship tied to a dock. He describes his death as “the time of my departure has come.”
This was an ancient euphemism for death. The word used refers to loosing something, like a ship moored to a dock.
You’ve probably seen a movie with a scene like this where a character drifts off out of sight and into a mist and it represents their death.
Both of these illustrations point to Paul’s soon departure from this life to the next. The point for us is that we too have only a short time on this earth. We need to make sure in that short time that we pay attention to the next thing Paul speaks about.
2. The Race (v.7)
2. The Race (v.7)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Paul now turns to a couple more metaphors for living out his life. He describes his life as fighting a good fight and winning a race.
Paul loved to use sports illustrations. The Greeks and Romans both loved competitions and games. Boxing and running were two of the most popular sports.
Paul is telling Timothy that he hasn’t thrown the fight. He’s given it a good go.
He then says that he has finished the race. He didn’t quit or become disqualified.
Again using the imagery of an athlete, Paul talks of the discipline that and athlete must have.
27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
This disqualification can come from our own lack of self-control or from following after false teaching.
Paul says that he has fought the good fight and finished the race and kept the faith.
In all of Paul’s tribulations and persecutions, he never lost his faith. He kept it.
When you get beat down, do you think of throwing in the towel? You would not be alone. That’s what the whole book of Hebrews is about. It was written to show that Jesus is worth fighting for.
3. The Reward (v.8)
3. The Reward (v.8)
8 Henceforth there is laid up 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.
Paul speaks to Timothy of his reward, lest Timothy should grieve for him too much.
For everyone that keeps the faith and finishes the race, there is a reward laid up for them in Heaven.
What is the reward that we receive? There are two ways of reading this verse.
The crown of righteousness
The crown that comes from righteousness
Revelation is clear that we receive robes of righteousness. We know that we do not have a righteousness that is from our own or that comes from our works, but one that is given to us.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
In this same passage, Paul also uses the imagery of running a race.
When a runner won a race, he didn’t get a Tshirt or a trophy like we do today. He got a laurel wreath that was placed on his head like a crown.
There are several crowns mentioned in the Bible.
Crown of Life (James 1:12)
Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:19)
Imperishable Crown (1 Cor. 9:25)
Crown of Glory (1 Pet. 5:4)
Crown of Righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8)
All of these may have their inspiration from these laurel wreath crowns, but the point Paul is making is that he will be rewarded for his faith in Christ and the perseverance of a life lived for Christ.
This reward is a shared reward that we all have if we have the same faith and love His appearing.
Conclusion
Christ has already appeared once and revealed His righteousness. He is coming again and will reveal it again.
In Revelation 19, John saw Jesus coming. He wrote,
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
You and eye have this King and this Savior to look to as our motivation to remain faithful and finish the race.
Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Keep fighting, keep running, keep trusting and you will receive your reward.