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Intro

This week we will be starting a new series going through the book of 2 Timothy. This week we will be taking a look at the first chapter of 2 Timothy.

About the Book

The book of 2 timothy is an interesting one, it is the second letter that Paul wrote to Timothy, while he was in prison for preaching the Gospel. At this time in the history of the church Rome still pretty much ruled the world. This is where we get the saying all roads lead to Rome, because of the fact that Rome pretty well controlled the entire known world at this time, or at least most of it.

Now the thing with the Roman rule is that Nero was the emperor of Rome, and Nero absolutely hated Christians, and the church so they were under a lot of persecution at the time. Also during this time period there were many false teachers traveling around teaching things that were not accurate.

So the book of 2 Timothy was written to Timothy who Paul treated as a protege to be able to continue the mission of spreading the Gospel after Paul had died, and this book is kind of like Pauls last instructions to Timothy.

So what can we see in these final instructions that we can learn from today.

Be confident in who you are serving

The first thing that we can learn, is that if you are following Christ that we should be confident in who we are serving.

2 Timothy 1:3 NIV

I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

Paul understands that even though he is currently in prison, and in chains he is confident that he has done nothing wrong because he is imprisoned due to his adherence to the Gospel.

So what does that mean for us. As we are going through out our lives whether it be at school or at work, practice, or just hanging out with friends. There will be times where you will be asked to do things that go against your beliefs. It is at this time that we have to make the conscious decision on whether we will follow God or follow after what our friends, or bosses want us to do.

Paul was informing Timothy that he has no regrets even though it led him to prison, because what he was doing was furthering the Gospel of Christ. He understood that even though what he did may have been against the laws of Rome, and may have angered other people he understood that following God was more important than making people happy.

John 15:18–21 NIV

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

So Jesus tells us here in John 15 that we will be hated for what we believe, and it is because we are not where we belong. So if you are a follower of Christ and you are having a hard time understanding why certain things are happening, or things just dont always make sense. Part of that is because this world is not our home.

Play building 429 Where I belong

Theres a couple of lines in that video that stood out to me.

So when the walls come falling down on me

And when im lost in the current of a raging see

I have this blessed assurance holding me

All I know is im not home yet

This is not where I belong

Take this world and give me jesus

This is not where I belong

When the earth shakes I wanna be found in you

When the lights fade I wanna be found in you

This is what Paul understood, this is what Paul was meaning when he was writing 2 Timothy 1:3

2 Timothy 1:3 NIV

I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

So as we see we have to make sure that we are confident in who we are serving which hopefully is Jesus.

Call others to join with us

Not only do we need confidence in who we are serving but we also should call others to join us.

2 Timothy 1:8–9 NIV

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. 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,

In this passage Paul is reminding Timothy not to be ashamed of him because of what we just talked about. But Paul doesn’t just tell him not to be ashamed but also requests that Timothy join him in suffering for the Gospel of Christ. Paul doesnt hold any punches here, Timothy knows what Paul is going through, and at this point Paul is not far from his death. Paul just straight up tells him come and join me on this journey of suffering.

Why would he do that? Why would anyone say you know what I see that you are in prison, and that you are about to be executed, I think I want to follow in your footsteps and do what you are doing. It doesnt make sense right. Except it does if the person believes that the suffering he is facing is worth it.

2 Timothy 1:10–12 NIV

but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, 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.

Paul is going through this suffering, and calling Timothy to join him because He believes that it is absolutely worth the sacrifice.

There is a quote by a missionary named Jim Elliot who said this.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.

Paul understood what Jesus said in Matthew 16:25-6

Matthew 16:25–26 NIV

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Paul was willing to give up his own life, to follow Jesus and receive so much more than he ever could have given up. So are you willing to give up your life for Christ, your dreams, your goals if that is what Christ is calling you to do. Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and have those 10 Gospel conversations?