2 Timothy 4:6-22 - Finish Well
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
The late RC Sproul told this story about his father.
His father was sick for quite some time at the end of his life, and RC would have to carry him back and forth from the bed to a chair at the table and to the sofa. One day when taking his father back from the table to the bed, his father asked him to set him down on the sofa for a few moments. He then looked at RC and told him that he had fought the good fight and finished the race. RC, not a believer at the time and unfamiliar with the Scriptures, told his father not to say that and took him to his bed. Little did RC know, those were the last words he would hear his father speak this side of eternity. His father had a massive stroke that night, never regained consciousness, and died.
It would be some years later that RC would get saved and read the words that his father quoted from 2 Timothy 4.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.
Those words would continue to have new meaning for RC the rest of his life.
RC’s father knew where he was going. He knew his eternal state to come. As we go through our Scripture today, I want you to consider the following question:
Could you, like RC Sproul’s father, say that you have fought the good fight and finished the race?
To clarify this further…
Do you know where you are going when this race called life is over?
Prayer
Today we are going to see three important aspects of a believer’s life as he or she follows Christ. The first is…
I. Following Christ Takes a Strong Commitment (6-8)
I. Following Christ Takes a Strong Commitment (6-8)
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
Paul starts off by referencing the Old Testament. He states that he is being poured out as a drink offering.
The Old Testament had different drink offerings that would be poured out to the Lord. The drink offering consisted of wine and would be poured out alongside the lamb sacrifice.
With these offerings, there would usually be a statement after each one:
“A pleasing aroma to the Lord.” (See, Exodus 29:40-41, Leviticus 23:13, Numbers 28:7-8)
These lamb sacrifices and wine poured out as a drink offering ultimately pointed to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. His death paid for the sins of the world. His resurrection proved his power over death and the grave.
Christ was the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament.
However, Paul used this analogy to identify with Christ’s death. He, likely more anyone before him, understood that his death would not pay for his sins. But he took comfort in living his life as a willing vessel for Christ. He had prayed that his life would be a pleasing aroma to his Lord.
Though we may or may not be called to sacrifice our lives literally as Paul did, may we live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
Then, using language of a ship being loosened from its moorings and released to the sea, he states that the time of his departure that had come. He speaks this in the present tense because of the assuredness of his martrydom to come under the evil emperor Nero. We see that he likely had a little time left as he asks for Timothy to visit and bring some things. However, his time was short and he knew it.
Paul loved giving sports analogies, so I will give a good basketball analogy of what Paul is saying. He had proverbially left it all out on the court. He had played his heart out to the very last minute. And now he had come down to the end of the fourth quarter. And because of Christ’s work in and through him, he knew the outcome of the game. Victory was sure in Christ.
He then goes on to say…
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Continuing in this analogy of sports, he states that he has fought the good fight. This statement could have an athletic analogy or even a military analogy.
Either way, he states that this had been a difficult battle. He reflects on the work that he had done through the power of Christ, and realizes that it had been difficult work.
Yet, he had finished the race. He had kept the faith. He remained faithful to the end. Namely he had maintained the integrity of the Gospel message and continued in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ without wavering.
Brothers and sisters, some of our races are closer to being completed than others. Paul had the strange blessing of knowing that his race was about to end. Some of us don't know when our race is going to end. Some of us may feel like we have quite a distance to the finish line, and yet it lies right around a bend on the path and the finish line will come out of nowhere.
Friends:
Are you ready for the finish line? Do you know what lies on the other side of the finish line for you?
If you are in Christ, you can know that victory is sure. Like Paul you can confidently run toward that finish line. As the following verses will state, blessing and rewards await on the other side.
Yet, for those who have not repented or turned from their sins and not fully placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior - Believing that He lived the sinless life that we couldn't live, died our substitutionary death on the cross in our place, and rose from the dead three days later thereby defeating death and the grave. If you have not done this, the Bible teaches what the outcome of the race will be for you. And it is tragic.
Sadly, many are running a race that is not the Christian life. They are running after the pleasures of this world. They are running after worldly fulfillment. And unfortunately, whenever they reach the end of their race, there will be no reward. They will receive the wages that they have earned. As Paul states in Romans…
For the wages of sin is death…
And the Bible tells us about the second death that they will experience after their judgement - they will be sentenced to an eternity suffering in hell.
But no one's race needs to end that way. God, in Ezekiel 33:11, states that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Instead, He desires that the wicked turn from his way and live.
Listen to rest of Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus has offered a better way – the only Way as He calls Himself in John 14:6. He is the Way and the Truth and the Life – and no one comes to the Father except through Him.
Don't run this life aimlessly. But run aimed toward the Savior. Only then can you run with endurance, the race set before you.
For those who are in Christ, He promises to carry you home to the finish line. Listen to His promise in Philippians 1:6:
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Understanding these truths, Paul completes his thoughts in verse 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, with the finish line in full view, knowing that his blood is about to be poured out as a drink offering before the Lord as he suffers martyrdom by the Roman government under the tyrannical hand of the emperor Nero, looks forward to his reward in heaven.
He knows the crown of righteousness awaits him. This crown of righteousness is available to Him because of the finished work that Christ has done on the cross. He knows that he is not righteous in and of himself. As he had already stated in Romans 3, he knows that no one is good - other than our wonderful Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This crown of righteousness is also mentioned in James 1:12 as well and is called the crown of life.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Friends, this crown is a crown that you cannot earn. It is a crown gifted by Jesus Christ. When you repent of your sins and place your faith in Christ, He imputes his righteousness to you. He takes your rap sheet and gives you his righteousness. This free gift is far greater than any gift we could imagine.
I love that Paul, despite his suffering in this wretched prison, and despite knowing that his life would be over soon, encourages us even today.
He reminds each of us that we have the same promise for finishing the race. All who have loved His appearing will be blessed. He uses the phrase that day, likely referring to the end times. The statement likely refers to the Rapture of the Church - the event that will occur just before the Tribulation. We discussed last week the Bema seat judgment of believers, where each believer will be rewarded. This likely refers to that wonderful, blessed time where Jesus rewards His faithful servants. Yet, this crown will be given to all who are Christ’s. It is not one that we can earn - it is one that He has earned for us. And may we praise God for such a wonderful gift of eternal life!
My friends, Nero may very well declare Paul guilty to death. However, his verdict is temporary. The righteous judge of all of the earth will one day declare him righteous. And His is the only verdict that lasts into eternity.
Each of can take hope in that as well. Don’t live your life for the verdicts of the world - your friends - or even for your unbelieving family. Their verdicts and opinions are but temporary.
Only one verdict matters in the end. And that is the one that comes from Christ.
Scripture References: Drink offerings (Exodus 29:40-41, Leviticus 23:13, Numbers 28:7-8), Romans 6:23, Ezekiel 33:11, John 14:6, Philippians 1:6, Romans 3, James 1:12
II. Following Christ Will Bring Worldly Conflict (9-10, 14-18)
II. Following Christ Will Bring Worldly Conflict (9-10, 14-18)
Do your best to come to me soon.
He speaks with some urgency in verse nine. He knows that his time is short. He misses his beloved spiritual son, Timothy, and understands that the trip from Ephesus to Rome will take around 4-6 months over land and sea. Rome, not unlike the US, had a justice system that wasn’t the quickest. So he had hope that Timothy would make it to see him before his execution would take place.
Yet, as he waited for Timothy, he reflected on some struggles that he had experienced since they had last seen one another.
For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.
Paul reminds Timothy that following Christ will bring conflict and struggle.
As if things could not get any worse with him being in an awful dungeon, he has been abandoned by one he thought was a close companion. Demas had been mentioned in Colossians 4:14 as well as Philemon 24 as a coworker of the Gospel. Demas had likely spent years in ministry with Paul.
Yet, here we are told that Demas was in love with this present world and had deserted Paul and gone to Thessalonica. This trusted friend proved to be a false convert. How difficult that must have been for Paul?
When Paul needed him most, Demas deserted him. And Paul’s rebuke seems to indicate that Demas was apostate. This didn’t appear to just be a sinful event in the life of Demas. Demas went all in on rebelling against God.
Some commentators are softer on Demas than others. However, it appears that Demas’s heart was like the thorny soil described by Christ.
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Demas proved unfruitful in the end. When the road became difficult, he was done.
Like Judas betraying Christ, Demas betrayed the Apostle Paul.
Jesus also said the following:
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Sadly, Demas chose the wrong master - he chose money and the things of the world instead of the Lord Jesus Christ.
My friends, following Christ will bring conflict. It will also bring pain and heartache.
Reeling from the hurt that Demas caused him, he is reminded of a couple of other wonderful companions who are still serving the Lord - but serving elsewhere. Paul does not rebuke these two men, but shows his need for Timothy to visit because of his loneliness and struggle.
Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
We are told that Crescens had gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia.
We do not know much about Crescens. But it appears that he was a faithful man serving Christ for the Gospel. He was not a deserter but was sent to help lead the church in Galatia. Although much is unknown about him in our Scripture, the Lord knows all he did to advance the Gospel.
Titus was sent to Dalmatia. Paul actually wrote a letter to Titus that is dated between 1 and 2 Timothy. Titus was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and is mentioned some 9 times in 2 Corinthians and twice in Galatians. He was a trusted church elder and pastor who was sent to strengthen the local churches and raise up leaders.
These two men were great friends to Paul. Yet, their work was needed elsewhere and their absence left his heart broken.
This is a good word for us as well. There are times when the Lord calls us to send out others. We have, as part of our church mission strategy, an intentional emphasis on sending others out. Should the Lord multiply our fellowship, we hope to send out another church planter one day and start a new fellowship. However, sending out friends is extremely difficult. But we must remember that the work of Christ is worth it. We must hold our friends and even family loosely and be willing to send them out should they be called to go elsewhere - despite the pain it may cause us.
Paul gives one final encounter of conflict and pain that he had encountered in the following verses…
Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.
Paul was always one to name names. Here he does again – not just any Alexander – but a specific Alexander – Alexander the coppersmith. He warns Timothy about the danger of this man. And he reminds Timothy that this man will suffer for his evil deed of opposing the Gospel.
There is some debate on who this man was - all would be conjecture as Alexander was an extremely common name in the first century. However, this man obviously made life tough for Paul. He warns Timothy about him - which makes many commentators believe that Paul thought Timothy might run into him on the way to Ephesus - perhaps as he traveled through Troas.
Paul then reflects back on how he ended up in prison before moving toward the end of his letter…
At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Paul’s forgiveness of those who deserted him is wonderful to see as well. He asks that the Lord not hold it against them. At Paul’s weakest moment, many of his friends deserted him.
It is likely that Luke and some of the other faithful brothers had not quite arrived to be in defense of Paul during this initial trial. However, many others such as Demas, left Paul hanging.
Although Paul knows that community is important – as we will see him continue explaining in a moment – he knows who is his Rock. The Lord stood by Him. He was never alone. He was strengthened by Christ to preach the Gospel.
He finishes verse 18 with an assurance of his eternal life. Although he had already alluded to his imminent death, he knew that the Lord would bring him safely home to heaven.
Scripture References: Colossians 4:14, Philemon 24, Matthew 13:22
III. Following Christ Requires Gospel Community (11-13, 19-22)
III. Following Christ Requires Gospel Community (11-13, 19-22)
Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.
In the midst of discussing the difficulties that he had experienced - conflict, desertion, and loneliness, he brings up some positive notes as well.
We are told that Luke is still with Paul. This really gives me a lot of respect for Luke. This beloved physician, as Paul affectionately called him (Colossians 4:14), was by Paul's side until the end. When many fled, he stood by Paul.
A few early church historians taught that Luke was eventually martyred the faith as well. He was a faithful follower that stood the test of persecution and hardship. Unlike Demas, he persevered to the end.
In the middle of this, we see a resolved conflict that is beautiful as well. We see a restoration of Gospel community between Paul and John Mark.
When persecution heated up, Mark had fled from Paul and Barnabas on Paul’s first missionary journey while they were in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13). This abandonment led to Paul and Barnabas splitting up on Paul’s second missionary journey as Paul refused to take Mark (Acts 15:36-40). Mark was a cousin of Barnabas which really heated up this disagreement.
However, God was not done with Mark. Although failing the test of persecution as a young man, he was developed into a faithful follower of Jesus. 1 Peter 5:13 shows Mark at Peter’s side serving the church.
Despite being a missionary failure early in life, God still had a plan for young Mark. He would go on to write the Gospel of Mark - likely under the direction of the Apostle Peter.
Now, nearing the end of his life, we see Paul speak affectionally of Mark. Whereas Demas had deserted the faith, Mark had strengthened and had become a man of courage.
Paul asserts that such a man is very useful to him for ministry.
My friends, you may have failed in the past. Your whole life may have been one failure after another. But know that our God is a God who restores the prodigals.
He runs with open arms toward those who return to Him. He embraces us as the father embraced the prodigal son in Jesus’s parable. Despite the stench of our sins, He is willing and able to forgive us and welcome us home with Him.
What an amazing God we have! Run toward the Father in your times of failure - not away. He will lovingly embrace you and not cast you out.
Moving forward, we continue to see the community that Paul experienced. He had sent Tychicus to Ephesus – presumably to get Timothy and deliver the letter of 2 Timothy. Tychicus, although little known in the Scriptures, was a man who was a huge blessing to the Apostle Paul. He had been sent to Crete to relieve Titus (Titus 3:12), and now he was being sent to Ephesus to relieve Timothy. He was a strong man of God who could be trusted as the interim pastor and elder of the various churches. As Warren Wiersbe asserts, he is like a relief pitcher that may not get all of the glory, but he may help win the game.
Practically speaking, Paul asks Timothy to bring a few things:
1 - Cloak
Don’t discount the practical needs of ministry and life in general.
Paul requests a cloak before winter comes. He is in a cold and damp dungeon and a cloak would make this much more endurable.
Unfortunately, sometimes the church misses the practical needs of their pastors and missionaries.
I know of many pastors who are providing full time spiritual care for their flocks but are struggling to make ends meet. Although statistics are difficult to nail down, more than 50% of pastors across America do not receive health insurance from their full time pastorate - with many of these pastors having to rely on Medicaid. Missionaries can also suffer a lack of having their practical day-to-day needs met as well. May we as believers, consider those who are working to advance the Gospel and be sure to meet these practical needs for those we support.
Next, Paul asks for…
2 - Books and the Parchments
These certainly included the Old Testament and some of the New Testament writings that Paul desired to read. This likely was the good deposit spoken of earlier in the letter. Paul charged Timothy to guard the good deposit - meaning the Gospel including all of the writings of the Scriptures.
After these practical requests, we will fast forward to the end of the letter and address the rest of the beautiful community that Paul had experienced in his ministry.
Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.
Paul continues his references to his wonderful community that he has experienced throughout his ministry. He recalls those who had served faithfully with him shoulder to shoulder.
He greets fellow tentmakers Prisca (also known as Priscilla) and Aquilla as well as his Ephesian Christian brother Onesiphorus who had showed Paul special kindness by traveling to visit him all the way over to Rome.
He sends his greetings to Erastus who is serving the church of Corinth, and he expresses concern for Trophimus who was ill and left in Miletus.
This side note regarding Trophimus is an important one for us to consider for a moment.
Paul was an Apostle who cast out demons (Acts 16:16-18), healed many (Acts 14:8-10, Acts 28:1-10, Acts 19:11-12), and even raised a dead young man back to life named Eutychus in Acts 20:9-10.
It is clear that Paul was gifted, empowered, and more than capable of healing, casting out demons, and raising the dead.
Yet, take a moment to review a few of these facts seen in the Scriptures:
1- Here we see Paul leave Trophiumus behind because of illness (2 Timothy 4:20).
2 - We actually have seen Paul mention a remedy to Timothy for his frequent stomach ailments back in 1 Timothy 5:23.
3 - When we studied Philippians a few years back we saw Epaphroditus ill and almost die in Philippians 2:25-26.
4 - Paul also mentioned a thorn in his flesh which may have been a physical ailment according to scholars and commentators (2 Corinthians 12:7).
These accounts are important because they show that sometimes the answer of healing is no. Or in Epaphroditus’s case - it was much later. Although God certainly has the power to heal anyone He chooses, His will is not always healing. And even if it is to heal - it may not be on our timeline.
These Scriptures clearly debunk the false healing claims of the name-it-and-claim-it charismatics of our world today.
All of us will be fully healed one way or another - it just may not be until eternity.
May we pray for healing fervently and faithfully. But may we understand that as we pray, we are always to pray that the will of God is what ultimately occurs. May our will be aligned with His.
1 John 5:14-15 beautifully says…
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Moving to our final two verses…
Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Paul practically would like Timothy there before winter because of the difficulty of such travel as well as his need for the cloak during the cold season.
He now mentions four other believers who send greetings. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia. Many theories exist regarding who these people were. Some scholars have suggested that Pudens and Claudia were married and had Linus as a son who eventually became a bishop in Rome. However, most of this is conjecture. What we do know, is that Paul had formed a wonderful Gospel community. He understood the need of doing life together as a church family.
In fact, the final statement from Paul here shows the need for the church community.
Paul ends with a loving statement of blessing and grace. And in this, he shows the need for the local church. His statement that the Lord be your spirit contains the singular pronoun for you - namely directed at Timothy. Yet the final statement:
Grace be with you contains the plural pronoun you - showing the need to read this letter to the church in Ephesus as well as to the churches throughout the world.
Paul understood the need for true Gospel community.
May each of us prioritize doing life together.
We are doing Fellowship Fridays as well as Wednesday Night Bible Studies to build such Gospel community. I encourage all of you to come out to these and make Gospel community a priority for your life. Following Christ requires true Gospel community.
Scripture References: Colossians 4:14, Acts 13:13, Acts 15:36-40, 1 Peter 5:13, Titus 3:12, Acts 20:9-10, 1 John 5:14-15
Conclusion
As we come to a close, we have seen that finishing well requires at least three important things.
We must be sure that we have made a strong commitment to Christ. We must be all in. We must have fully trusted in Christ, repented of our sins, and placed our faith in Him and Him alone.
We must be sure that that we are ready for the worldly conflict that is sure to come. May we not be like Demas who fled when times got tough. But, instead, may we persevere like Luke who stood by Paul’s side to the end.
And finally, may we understand the need and requirement for true Gospel community. The race of this life is hard. But having others running side-by-side helps encourage you to run harder, faster, and with endurance.
Brothers and sisters - may you finish well.
