Legacy pt1

How are we going to be remembered?

That’s a question we don’t ponder a lot in the midst of our day to day lives. We get so busy just living and going from one thing to the next that pausing to consider what our lasting impact, our legacy if you will, is going to be is probably the last thing on our minds. Not to mention, that considering our lives ending means we have died, isn’t the most enjoyable way to spend an evening.

But it is a reality. At some point we are all going to be at the end of our days, and what we have done, and who we have impacted will be all we have left.

2 Timothy is that letter. It is Paul’s final words- his legacy, his passing the torch- because Paul has the luxury of knowing that his days are about to be at an end.

He’s in a Roman prison- a less nice one than the last time, and he’s resigned himself to this being the end of the road. Tradition tells us he was correct. That after this letter, his final one, Paul would be beheaded on the Appian Way, close to the same time Peter is crucified.

With their deaths, we are pretty sure only John was left. And the first generation of apostles, the ones who actually saw Jesus, would be gone.

What would happen after they were gone?

This is Paul’s legacy, his instructions to his spiritual son, Timothy. What would he be remembered for?

For the next eight weeks I want to invite you to consider what legacy you are leaving behind. For many of us, there is still time to change that legacy. The one we are leaving right now, may not be the one we want to leave behind. I want us to consider, who is our life pointing to?

We are going to start this morning in 2 Timothy 1:1-14.

So start with the intro, the first 2 verses and we see Paul’s heart on his sleeve from the jump.

Timothy is his beloved child- not in the flesh but in the faith. The guy who he saw as his heir to his ministry and truthfully, the fidelity of the Gospel.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. Recipient (1:2a)

He did want to express affection for him, and the expression “my dear son” constitutes an affectionate greeting. Paul’s words in

Which is what Paul sandwiches this greeting inbetween.

“the will of God according to the promise of life in Christ…”

“…Christ Jesus our Lord.”

For Paul, at the beginning and thru the whole letter, it is all about Jesus.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 1. Author (1:1)

The phrase beginning with “according to” emphasizes the goal and purpose of Paul’s apostleship. His mission was to make known that eternal life becomes a reality through fellowship with Christ. Paul was teaching that life becomes available only in Christ. Anyone who has responded to Christ in faith has put on Christ

When we start examining our legacy one question we should ask ourselves is what will out live us?

We talk about inheritances and property. We write wills to bequeath our worldly possessions in a certain manner. But those things are all going to go away.

Someone can juice your life savings in an afternoon, sell all your heirlooms, and auction off your house to the highest bidder.

But what you were about cannot be changed.

Paul was about Jesus. It is what he has given his life to, and he wants to remind Timothy, right from the start, that his relationship with Timothy is because of Jesus. And sustained by Jesus. And will not end because of Jesus.

Look at verses 3-7.

There is a legacy of faith here. Paul references his ancestor, Timothy’s grandmother Lois, and his mom Eunice, in addition to himself.

The faith that Timothy has, that Paul is thankful for, is part of a long lineage. And notice something else- it is now Timothy’s faith- not just someone else’s faith that Timothy mimics.

Paul says it twice- “your sincere faith” and “dwells in you as well.”

Part of Paul’s legacy is helping Timothy to make his faith his own.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus II. The Gratitude of Paul (1:3–5)

he commended Timothy’s faith as “sincere” (“genuine,” Williams). The faith to which Paul referred was a faith in the God of the Old Testament who had revealed himself in Jesus. Timothy’s trust in Jesus had led him to a faithfulness in action

Church we need to remember this. We want to help people not to have an imitation of faith, but their own faith- their own encounter with Jesus.

That means answering tough questions. That means growing together. That may even mean acknowledging that someone is not yet ready to follow Jesus and trusting Jesus with their struggle, rather than trying to push them into something they are not ready for.

What is awesome about that is what we see in verses 6-7.

When someone comes into their own faith it is a a FIRE. They are not just someone who gives acknowledgement to Jesus- they are consumed. And transformed.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (1) A Call for Courage (1:6–7)

The expression “fan into flame” describes the act of rekindling the embers of a dying fire. The command does not imply that Timothy had let his spiritual flame go out. It is an appeal for a continual, vigorous use of his spiritual gifts. Timothy was already using his gifts vigorously (

Timothy has experienced this. Paul has seen it. And in Timothy he sees a part of his legacy. That is why he thanks God for his memories of Timothy and longs to see him one more time to be reminded of who Timothy has become.

Part of our legacy is the people who we lead to Jesus and who we help to follow Jesus more closely.

How does Paul now desire to see that faith emerge, given his present circumstances? Well look at verses 8-12.

Paul wants Timothy to embrace his own calling and build his own legacy. And he offers himself, despite his imprisonment and impending death, as an example of how God works out all of our lives for His glory and purpose.

Part of a legacy is defined by what we are BOLD about. Paul uses the word “ashamed” in verse 8 and in verse 12. Bookending this section.

He tells Timothy not to be ashamed of the Gospel (or Paul’s imprisonment- probably not the best advertisement for following Jesus- get saved and go to jail!) And says that he, himself, is not ashamed because of who he has trusted to get to this point.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (2) A Readiness to Suffer (1:8–12)

Paul warned Timothy against being ashamed of testifying about the Lord and about him. Timothy may have been embarrassed that some of the mockers saw Jesus as no more than a dead Jew.9 Timothy may have wanted a more powerful vindication of the Christian message for others to see before he proclaimed the gospel. Timothy could also have been humiliated that his leader was a prisoner. Paul may have viewed himself as the Lord’s prisoner, but Timothy may not have been proud to serve in the company of an inmate. Paul clearly did not see himself as a victim of the Roman state but as the prisoner of Jesus. Such an attitude was transforming in its faith and commitment

We are known for what we are bold for. And I am afraid that at some points in my life, I have been bold for the wrong things. If someone knows us more for our favorite sports team, or band, or BBQ, more than they know us for Jesus, we may be bold for the wrong things.

And why should they? All those things are not evil, but they are not ULTIMATE. And Paul reminds Timothy that it is the ultimate that matters the most in these verses. Look at verses 9-10.

What has God done?

Saved us

Called us

Redeemed us

In short, brought us from death to life. If someone had the cure for cancer and spent all their time talking about the Dallas Cowboys and never told anyone we would think they were foolish. Their legacy could have been saving lives, but instead it is an obsession with a mediocre football team.

What a legacy. Womp womp.

Paul says in verse 11 he was appointed as a preacher, apostle, and teacher of the GOSPEL. Your calling may be different, but the intent of the calling is the same. To make Jesus known.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (2) A Readiness to Suffer (1:8–12)

Paul was not informing Timothy of his call to preach, but he was reminding him that God had put him into his present circumstances. Paul may have been reminding Timothy that he also could expect such an appointment in his preaching of the gospel

In your cubicle, classroom, cab, or cash register…when the opportunity shows up to share about Jesus, or the latest market report, choose Jesus.

And that calling, and that faith gave Paul, in the opening of the letter, the confidence to make the statement he makes at the end of verse 12.

He is sure that his legacy is in the hands of the ONE who can sustain it. That the Gospel that will lead him to prison and death is true and will live on beyond his mortal body.

So he concludes the intro in verses 13-14 and the following challenge. Follow my pattern as it leads you to Jesus. And trust the Holy Spirit to lead you on beyond my steps.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (3) An Imitation of Paul’s Example (1:13–14)

The term “pattern” (“example,” Williams; “standard,” NASB) is the same word as “example” of

Church if you asked someone to follow your pattern, where would it lead them? If they took being like you seriously, what direction would they go?

I think all of us would have places we know we could do better. We need grace for a reason. Paul was not perfect. Neither were those that followed him. But they left a path, a pattern, that moved the Gospel forward, pointing other people to Jesus. Guided by the Holy Spirit as it passed from person to person and generation to generation.

And now to us. Our legacy. What will it be?