Not Ashamed
Notes
Transcript
Claim (of the passage): We are saved freely according to God’s will and called to the privilege of living a holy life - he will not fail.
Focus (of the sermon): God’s grace is more than sufficient to sustain us in guarding the gospel truth and living a holy life even in the face of suffering and persecution
Function (of the congregation): To renew our commitment to holiness and God’s word because we’re overwhelmed by the grace of God.
Pray
Like the best kind of massive sandwich,
There is a LOT in these few verses! Paul goes deep, theologically and in calling to bold and brave action.
And he really wants to emphasis how passionate and certain he is: about what he has to say,
So enthusiastic is he that in the original Greek, v8-11 is 1 very long sentence!
Don’t breath, don’t pause - read it as one.
So let’s get into it.
v8 begins with the word ‘so’
in other words what he is about to say is all based on what he’s just said in v7 -
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
So, In light of God giving Timothy Power, love and self discipline, not timidity -
v8-11 - 1 long sentace:
proclaim the Gospel, stand by Paul (even though he is suffering for the cause) and in-fact, join in with the suffering.
BUt he doesn’t just stop with the instruction to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus and join in suffering becasue God has empowered him to do it,
He can’t but contain himself as he declares how privileged Christians are to be recipients of God’s grace, accordings to God’s will.
And as such - there really is no other way than to declare the truth of God
- whatever it means for Timothy
- becasue the promises of life and salvation,
the free gift of grace is certain and wonderful.
Let’s unpack all this a little, verse by verse.
1 - Do Not Be Ashamed
1 - Do Not Be Ashamed
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
Clearly teaching and telling people about the testimony, the life, of Jesus - was at this time - attracting some pretty negative attention.
Timothy is reminded not to be ashamed of doing it.
I’ve only seen 1 or 2 International Rugby matches, and that’s partly becasue when you support England - you’re normally going to feel ashamed to be wearing a white scarf by the end.
We watched a SA v England game once, in Bloemfontein (shout out to Hennie and Marie) South Africa, and were surrounded by SA’s who by the end had given us their green scarfs to hide our shame!
We fitted in much better with Springbok scarfs,
just as often keeping quiet about Jesus, or behaving like our mates rather than Jesus,
can help us fit in in life.
We put on worldly ways, worldly voices, even worldly clothes and lifestyles to cover up our shame.
For Timothy and Paul the temptation to compromise on teaching the gospel of Jesus and living a holy life must have been far greater than ours though.
Paul is writing this letter - in a dank and dark dungeon in Rome becasue of his preaching about Jesus.
Chained to the wall - v16,
Cold, uncomfortable and bored - 4v9-13
Fail to have any defendant witnesses at his first trial - 4v16.
And is expecting the next event for him to be death - 4v6-8
He’s Even abandoned by those he thought were faithful friends and followers of Jesus:
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Roman Asia is what is now modern day western Turkey.
The whole region has abandoned him - ashamed, embarrassed - scared of His chains and fate.
Even Phygelus and Hermogenes - they were so reliable and faithful to me and Jesus - or so Paul thought.
Why would you keep proclaiming Jesus as Lord and saviour when everyone thinks you’re a looser!
Would we have abandoned Paul as well?
‘He can’t be a true apostle, God’s hardly looking after him - he’s in prison.
‘Oh, Paul well, he’s a good bible teacher and I would stand by him, but I have my family to consider - I’ll say a prayer for him,
‘Paul! Always going on about belief in the resurrection of Jesus, and that we must repent of our sins to escape the eternal judgement of God! - Yeah, never liked him.
We’d all be tempted to put on the green scarf wouldn’t we?
Dont’ be ashamed though says Paul.
If it means even joining in suffering and persecution by standing by Paul the apostle and the gospel of Jesus - do it - join me he says.
Why?
(God)
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
Proclaim Jesus becasue God has saved you and called you to a holy life!
Familiar words to most of us - but honestly they should never ‘feel’ familiar!
Without God, saving us - we would face his right and eternal judgement in hell.
Forget a dank Roman dungeon, chained legs and boredom - Hell is worse.
And it’s what we all deserve before an Almighty and holy God.
But - he by his will and choice He saves us and calls us to a holy life!
We didn’t earn it by good behaviour,
we haven’t worked out our salvation through obedicene to God the Father - as Jesus did.
No.
Not because of anything we have done but becasue of his own purpose and grace.
2 - By Grace: Saved and Called to a Holy Life
2 - By Grace: Saved and Called to a Holy Life
It’s a mystery we cannot fathom, or work out. But for God’s own purposes - he has decided to save a people for himself.
The only clue we get here as to why a Holy God would save for himself an unholy people - is that it’s to fit his purpose and grace.
In other words he reveals himself to humanity as a God of grace - by saving people who don’t deserve it.
He freely gives what we don’t deserve. A gift from a generous and unconditionally loving God.
This was his plan from before the beginning of time.
He is a God that has ways and wisdom and power beyond are understanding,
beyond the bounds of our thought processes.
And far beyond what we deserve to know and be loved by.
And yet!
He has saved us and called us to a holy life.
What a privilege - and joy.
Freed from death, judgement and hell,
freed from the pointlessness and hopelessness of this life,
and given freely a life with the Lord God almighty.
And it’s all made clear and available to us because of the Jesus - we are tempted to be ashamed of?
Not an option is Pauls’ point.
If God has called you, he has done so through Jesus - so you can proclaim and live a holy life for him:
As he says..
but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
3 - The Gospel of Jesus Alone Reveals God’s Grace
3 - The Gospel of Jesus Alone Reveals God’s Grace
This is why it’s so important to live like and preach Jesus if we claim to be Christians,
becasue it is only through his life, death and resurection that we can know about the promise of eternal life.
He appeared as a human - so that he could live the perfect life we never could or would,
He died to take the punishment of judgement we deserve in our place before God,
He rose again to show that he has now defeated death - life eternal is now available without judgement.
He has ascended to heaven to prepare and secure the a place for those how repent and believe by the grace of God.
And it is this proclaiming, teaching, preaching of Jesus that brings to light this good news - the Gospel.
It is why Paul points out he’s an apostle as he started his letter to Timothy and repeats it now.
And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.
The Gospel that declares Jesus is anyone’s only hope.
So don’t be ashamed - and as it requires - suffer greatly rather than give up on Jesus.
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Jesus Wins - and so therefore will His People.
Repent and believe - accept Him as Lord - and do not be ashamed of his gospel or his call to live a holy life, v9.
Pause
Now, If you’re a Timothy, with the responsibility of public word ministry there is specific application here:
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
4 - Guard the Good Deposit (The Bible)
4 - Guard the Good Deposit (The Bible)
It’s sad how many so called Church ministers have not ‘kept the pattern of sound teaching’
, who have not ‘guarded the good deposit’ that the apostles and eye witnesses of Jesus resurection passed on to us through the bible.
For example: The church of England - has abandoned the teaching of the bible about marriage being for 1 man and 1 woman - undermining the very created order that the bible tells us God has designed for our good.
They are encouraging people to sin - not to holy living.
And so many faithful C of E churches are now stuck in a denomination that denies the power of God.
There are other churches who think Christianity is all about love and moral living - good things of course
- but salvation is not earned by good behaviour
and love is not love without warning people of their sin and coming judgement.
- salvation is only revealed to us when we hear the Gospel of Jesus’ death and resurection proclaimed!
Love is only love when we trust the whole truth of God’s word the bible - when we guard the truth.
Otherwise being ‘loving towards people’ is not loving at all.
It leads them away from Love unless we show them the love of Jesus in the scriptures.
SO guard the good deposit.
again,
12 b - .. this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
And as we guard the bibles truth - God guards us and keeps us for salvation!
When you teach in Sunday school, at Roots or Ignite, or Xplode,
When you teach your own children
= teach Jesus. Teach the whole truth of the bible.
No picking and choosing.
Don’t fear that people will reject you or God if you teach them the whole truth.
ironically - they reject God the moment you compromise on His word.
What about when we’re not teaching the word directly - are we involved in guarding the good deposit?
Paul thinks we are:
and it’s by supporting the ministry of the WOrd through practical care, work and support.
In other words
5 - Word Ministry is a Team Game
5 - Word Ministry is a Team Game
Phygelus and Hermogenes have all abandoned Paul. They are ashamed of Paul’s chains, and so are demonstrating their shame towards Jesus and the apostles teaching.
Their distancing from Paul undermines HIs teaching.
The implication is that they may be found to have no faith at all on the day of judgement.
But
May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
Onesiphorus was not ashamed of Pauls chains,
he didn’t care what the world, his mates, his family thought of him as he searched every dungeon of criminals in Rome looking for Paul the apostle.
Onesipherous chose to enjoy God’s free salvation and his call to holiness - far above any worldly comfort.
He wasn’t preaching,
He presumably brought fresh water, money for his needs and friendship and encouragement as he visited Paul.
But what a difference and joy it brought to Paul.
Onesipherous was just getting on with a normal life, likely doing a normal job.
but his priority was living a life of holiness in obedience to God’s word.
He trusted the good deposit, the sound doctrines, the gospel of Jesus,
and so he was not ashamed of anything or anyone who proclaimed this truth.
His work collegues knew he was a CHristain,
he’d leave the office dead on 5pm so he could search the dongeons for Paul - disgusting they thought - he’s a frined of crimnals.
He prayed regualrly for he knew only the HS could help him keep going.
His neighbours knew that he believed Jesus had risen from the dead and that we are all sinners in need of forgivenss.
They didn’t like hearing that message - thought he was a bit odd - But Onesipherous wasn’t ashamed.
His kids at school didn’t go to the parties where everyone else got drunk,
They didn’t wear revealing clothes or use foul laanguage,
They didn’t have access to social media until they were older so they weren’t tempted and led astary by the world.
Their school frineds often through they were a bit weird as a result - but they weren’t ashamed,
they prayed for their friends and took opportunities to invite them to youth or tell them of their faith.
his son off to uni did not vaulter in his godliness because he believed Jesus promises above ther worlds
They gave money gerously to the church to further the Gospel,
They were a family who never put on the green scarf - they were never ashamed of Jesus or God’s Word.
And they did all this while standing by, supporting, encouraging and sacrificing so the ministry of the Word could go forward.
Word Ministry is a Team Game!
Why did they do all this?
Becasue Jesus wins - meaning his people who remain faithful win as well.
Maybe they learnt v9-12 as family motto to be encouraged to keep going:
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
There is no better way to live, no better hope to have, no other God to live for, no other saviour,
no other grace in life, no other way to enjoy eternity,
no other than Jesus -
Don’t be ashamed - you’re saved, be holy and tell of Jesus.
(We aren’t apostles, but we’re part of the team) So
Let’s say this creed together if you want to be reminded of how great our Saviour Jesus is.
Learn it.
Time of quiet to think about:
1 - What situations am I ashamed to live a holy life and or proclaim the truth of Jesus?
2 - How can I be holier in my daily life?
3 - How can v9-12 motivate me to live as the Word calls me to?