"THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL PART II"
Notes
Transcript
Last week we started looking at 2 Timothy 2:8-9 this week we will finish these verses up.
Proposition - Last week we looked at the first principle which was: 1) the motivation for ministry, we are going to look at the next two principles today 2) the commitment to the ministry, and 3) the promise of the ministry.
Interrogative question - Where does your daily drive come from? Another way we could ask this is my saying - What motivates you?
I submit to you this morning that if your motivation is not because of the Gospel then there is a massive misunderstanding of the Scriptures.
As with the preceding verbs “be strong” (v. 1), “entrust” (v. 2), and “consider” (v. 7), the Greek verb rendered remember is an imperative—as also are the following: “remind” (v. 14), “be diligent” (v. 15), “avoid” (v. 16), “abstain” (v. 19), “flee” and “pursue” (v. 22), and “refuse” (v. 23). These are gentle commands, but commands nonetheless. For a faithful and productive spiritual life, they are not options but imperatives, because they all characterize the sinless life of our supreme example, Jesus Christ. MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1995). 2 Timothy (p. 55). Moody Press.
1. The Motivation for Ministry - vs. 8
1. The Motivation for Ministry - vs. 8
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,
a. Remembering Jesus Christ -
b. Remembering the Resurrection -
c. Remembering the Fulfilled Lineage -
2. The Commitment to the Ministry - vs. 9a
2. The Commitment to the Ministry - vs. 9a
9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.
a. A willingness to Suffer -
“I suffer hardship” - (kakopatheo) - verb, present, active, indicative, first person, singular - finite verb - suffer misfortune -
Sense: to suffer (pain) - to experience harm or emotional pain -
Notice how this idea is taught throughout Scripture -
“Suffer Hardship “
2 Timothy 2:9 (NASB95)
9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.
“Endure Hardship”
2 Timothy 4:5 (NASB95)
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
“Suffering”
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
On the one hand, he suffered as a prisoner (“to the point of being chained”). Elsewhere the allusion to his fetters 20 was sufficient to indicate his incarceration (Phil 1:7, 13–14, 17; Col 4:18; Phlm 10, 13). It carried the connotation of shame for wrongdoing, 21 even if Paul boldly called himself Christ’s prisoner (Eph 3:1; 4:1; Phlm 1). Towner, P. H. (2006). The Letters to Timothy and Titus (pp. 502–503). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2 Corinthians 11:23–28 (NASB95)
23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
b. A willingness to be Imprisoned -
“imprisonment” - (desmos) - noun, genitive, plural, masculine - prepositional object - bond; fetter; bonds
Sense: imprisonment - chain - the state of being imprisoned, conceived of as chains.
“imprisonment”
Acts 23:29 (NASB95)
29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.
Acts 26:31 (NASB95)
31 and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment.”
Philippians 1:7 (NASB95)
7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.
13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.
2 Timothy 2:9 (NASB95)
9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.
Philemon 10
10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,
Philemon 13 (NASB95)
13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;
“A criminal” - (kakourgos) - adjective, nominative, singular, masculine - subject of the dependent clause - criminal
Sense: evildoer - someone who does evil deliberately; especially someone who deserves to be punished for their acts.
Luke 23:32–43 (NASB95)
32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him. 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”
38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
Then we see this word in our text -
2 Timothy 2:9 (NASB95)
9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.
This is the great proof of his divine mission, and therefore a great confirmation of the truth of the Christian religion; and the consideration of it should make us faithful to our Christian profession, and should particularly encourage us in suffering for it. Let suffering saints remember this. Observe, 1. We are to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and has now sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, Heb. 12:2. 2. The incarnation and resurrection of Jesus Christ, heartily believed and rightly considered, will support a Christian under all sufferings in the present life. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2361). Hendrickson.
3. The Promise of the Ministry - vs. 9b
3. The Promise of the Ministry - vs. 9b
9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.
“is imprisoned” - (deo) - verb, perfect passive, indicative, third person, singular - finite verb - tie; bind
Sense: to be restricted - be bound - to be or become restricted, conceived of as being tied up or imprisoned.
Mark 15:7 (NASB95)
7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection.
Acts 24:27 (NASB95)
27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.
Colossians 4:3
3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
2 Timothy 2:9 (NASB95)
9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.
Others will carry on when I leave this earthly scene. The authorities have put me in this dungeon, but they cannot imprison the gospel. It will triumph. It will perform its pre-ordained mission on earth. No enemy can thwart it. See the beautiful commentary which Scripture itself supplies in such well-known passages as Is. 40:8; 55:11; Phil. 1:12–14; and 2 Tim. 4:17. Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles (Vol. 4, pp. 251–252). Baker Book House.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.
Whether or not he was familiar with Peter’s first letter (written several years before 2 Timothy), he certainly would have agreed with the attitude of his fellow apostle, who, as quoted above, wrote, “If when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:20–21). Paul was “well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak,” he testified, “then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1995). 2 Timothy (pp. 58–59). Moody Press.
John Bunyan wrote his most famous work, Pilgrim’s Progress, while jailed in Bedford, England, for preaching the gospel. Yet for several centuries that book was second in sales only to the Bible. Bunyan’s cell window faced a high stone wall that surrounded the prison, making it impossible to see into or out of his cell. On many days, however, he would preach loudly enough for his voice to be heard on the outside of the wall, where hundreds of listeners, believers and unbelievers, eagerly awaited his proclamation of God’s Word, which was unconfined by stone walls or iron bars. MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1995). 2 Timothy (p. 60). Moody Press.
Before the Communist conquest in the late 1940s and early 1950s, there were more than 700,000 Christians in China. During the subsequent “cultural revolution,” at least 30 million Chinese were slaughtered, including most of the Christians. Yet, after more than forty years of brutal oppression, imprisonment, and executions, the church of Jesus Christ in that vast country has a current membership of an estimated 30 million to 100 million. Although written copies of Scripture are still scarce, the truth of God’s Word endures in their hearts. Its power cannot be bound. The more it is assailed, the more it prevails. MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1995). 2 Timothy (p. 60). Moody Press.
SO WHAT?
Where does your daily drive come from? Another way we could ask this is my saying - What motivates you?
