Shameless

Courage:

Unshakable Calling (1)

Genuine Affection (2)

Constant Prayers (3)

Fond Memories (4)

Settled Confidence (5)

Fan the Fire (6)

Identify the Spirit (7) - Power, Love, and Self-control

I. Shameless Gospel

A. Join the Suffering

2 Timothy 1:8 NASB95

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

positively - Be Unashamed!

Testimony = witness, “bring forth evidence” of our Lord

His prisoner = Paul. Paul was not a prisoner of Rome or of Emperor Nero or of the guards of his prison. He was a prisoner of Jesus Christ. It was all part of the plan of God. Part of His plan in having Paul as a prisoner was to write this very book so we would have these important truths.

Lets be careful about why we are suffering. We don’t want to suffer for the wrong reasons.

1 Peter 2:20 NASB95

20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

1 Peter 3:17 NASB95

17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

Suffering for the gospel. Paul was not suffering because of Paul’s personality, or his political bent, or his ethnicity. He is suffering because people hate Jesus. They can’t kill Jesus again, or beat Him, or mock Him so they are going to do the next best thing, they are going to mock Paul, beat Paul, and ultimately kill Paul because of his closeness and likeness to Christ. Oh, may we be so like Jesus that we are counted worthy of suffering for Jesus!

Suffering for the sake of Christ is almost guaranteed.

Get in the game! Join in the suffering of those who are unashamed of Jesus Christ.

B. Remember Your Calling

How could Paul do it? How could he endure and not shrink back in shame for the gospel of Jesus?

Because Paul understood the power of God in saving him.

1. God Planned It

2 Timothy 1:9 NASB95

9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

He Called us

Not according to our works

Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB95

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

According to His own purpose - He did not look through the corridors of time and see which ones would choose Him and then go back and elect them. No, that would be election based upon our purpose and works. He called us because He has a plan. Our plan, left to itself would would oppose Jesus with every cell of our body, every neuron in our brain, every feeling of our psyche, and every decision of our heart. Our purpose is to please the me, make my life easy, to give me what I feel I deserve, which is idolatry. But God’s purpose is grace. To reach down into our self-centeredness and save us from the worship of ourselves which only leads to momentary pleasure, disappointment, shame, regret, powerlessness, and ultimately judgement.

From all eternity - God planned all this before time began. before the angels sang His praises, before the first speck of dust was created, before the plants produced the first seed and the animal roamed the earth, God granted that you would receive His love before “time eternal.”

Robert Yarbrough:

The Letters to Timothy and Titus C. Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel (1:6–14)

Again Timothy’s gaze is directed not to himself but to a heavenly horizon, namely, to eternity itself, in which the mystery of divine favor toward underserving creatures53 is rooted.54 Temporal difficulties are daunting, but they pale next to eternity’s glories and mysteries,55 in which Timothy has been invited to participate

2. God Revealed It

2 Timothy 1:10 NASB95

10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

The most anticipated moment in history was the coming of the Messiah who was to bring salvation. This Messiah, first mentioned in seed form to Eve and developed throughout the books of the Law, the prophets and writings of wisdom and poetry, arrived and He did not disappoint. His appearing revealed the plan of God that began before the world was. It also accomplished 2 important things

a. Abolished Death

abolish = to leave unemployed or make no effect.

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 NASB95

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Death has no effect on us! Do you live like you are immortal? If you knew that no matter what people or even Satan might do to you, that you would never die how would it change the way you live? The thing is, through Jesus and the resurrection, it is true! Should we be ashamed of the one who killed death for us?

b. Illumined Life

The gospel is our source of life. When Jesus rose from the dead he secured eternal life for us. That one act published to the world that immortality is possible. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an immutable fact. There is more evidence that Christ rose from the grave than there is that you were born. You have the testimony of your mom and your dad as well as the doctor who delivered you into this world and signed his or her name to your birth certificate. For most people that’s it! But for the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 NASB95

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

1 John 1:1–4 NASB95

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

Matthew 28:9–10 NASB95

9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Luke 24:13–15 NASB95

13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.

Luke 24:36–43 NASB95

36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them.

John 21:4–7 NASB95

4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.

Acts 1:1–3 NASB95

1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

This is just a sampling of signed testimony from 4 different authors giving 1st hand testimony or reporting on others who were there and saw Jesus in the flesh.

Why does Paul mention these things? Because Timothy was tempted to be ashamed of the gospel and ashamed of Paul just as we are. So, Paul helps Timothy to take the focus off of his fears and place it on the marvelous Savior Jesus Christ. Do want to get over any shame you might have because men make fun of you and persecute you for being a Christian? Get your eyes off of your circumstances and place them God and His breath-taking plan of salvation. when you are overwhelmed with God’s power to save, you will be unashamed to suffer for Him.

II. Shameless Example

A. Appointed Example

2 Timothy 1:11 NASB95

11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.

B. Assured Example

1. Because of the Savior

2 Timothy 1:12 NASB95

12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

2. Because of His Power

2 Timothy 1:12 NASB95

12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

1 Peter 2:20 NASB95

20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

1 Peter 3:17 NASB95

17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.