Proclaim the Message

Context

Paul writing to his protégé, co-worker, and dear friend, Timothy. Pastor at Ephesus.

In this portion of the letter Paul is describing the godlessness and wickedness which will be characteristic of the last days.

The “last days” are for Paul a literal future event… the end of time…and “last days” is also a moniker for the temptation to drift from the truth that the world always presents and that Christians have to endure.

In the last days — in every generation — Christians will be tempted into vices through erroneous spiritual teaching, variously described:

wrangling over words (2 Tim. 2:14)

profane chatter (2 Tim. 2:16)

swerving from the truth (2 Tim. 2:18)

stupid and senseless controversies (2 Tim. 2:23)

All resulting in losing grasp of gospel truth.

So, Pauls word to Timothy is to stand firm in the gospel and proclaim it with perseverance.

Text

2 Timothy 3:14–4:5 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.”

Introduction

Paul’s concern is that Timothy is faced with a congregation being overwhelmed by false messages.

Jesus not the Christ, or not the Son of God made flesh, the resurrection has already taken place, mythological genealogies, secret teachings.

End result: some members of the congregation losing hold of the reliable truths they have believed in and starting to be spiritually and morally unanchored.

Our world today. We can appreciate that concern.

We’ve all probably noticed the we are inundated with messaging more than any previous generation — and not all of it helpful: rise of social media “echo chambers”, alleged biased news, alleged “fake” news, controversy, conflict and violence.

Has many of us wondering in new ways: Where can I find truth? What difference will truth make in my life? How can I share in it with others?

Paul is aiming at these very questions.

Exegesis 1: Truth is in the Scriptures

Paul writes to Timothy: 2 Timothy 3:14–16“…You, however, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings …the Scriptures, which are inspired by God.

The world around you is going in the direction of speculation and confusion…but that is not to be true of you.

You are to cling to the Scriptures.

Timothy: Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed through the Scriptures.

Scriptures are reliable.

All Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16)

Inspired - God in-spirited. God-breathed.

Compare the Scriptures to Adam becoming a living being.

Human being wrote the Scriptures…but their minds and spirits, were infused by God’s own spirit.

picture of Matthew writing the gospel…an angel looking over his shoulder…

Key point: Scriptures are not just human compositions…but God’s Word.

Not merely humans talking to humans…but God talking to humanity.

So, Paul says: don’t abandon this divine resource you have rightly and firmly believed.

Reminds Timothy that the inspiration of the Scriptures is not Paul’s claim alone…the Christian community as a whole has known this:

He learned it from his mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois) and Paul and the early church.

And the Jewish communities before that:

“Thy Word, O Lord, is a lamp unto my feet and light upon my path.”

To have known the Scriptures — as Scripture - God’s word — from a young age is a gift.

they have been an reliable anchor over the years.

Do not lightly discard what has made you who you are today.

People around you are getting lost and confused but you can stand firm in the real truth of Scripture.

Application 1: Rely on the Bible

We may feel overwhelmed by messaging in our world causing us to wonder what we really believe….

But we are called to not give into the drift.

Rather, to stand firm on the reliable truth of the Scriptures.

Westminster Confession, Ch. 1.

It pleased the Lord, …for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the establishment and comfort of the church … to commit the same (the truth) wholly unto writing; which makes the holy Scripture to be most necessary…

We need a touchpoint of genuine, unshakable truth: God has given us the Scriptures for that purpose.

News scroll, important…not Scripture

Pod casts, interesting…not Scripture

Debates of the day, opinionated…not Scripture

High caliber writers:

Plato, Aristotle, Socrates…philosophy, not scripture.

Tolkien, moral fiction…not scripture

Lewis, apologetics…not scripture

The Bible is not a book among books, but Scripture, Word of God about God…so that we can have a sure truth.

Passed down to us through family, the church…

Especially good if it has been a part of our lifelong development.

Old VHS tape of a swim training session underwater camera. “You had good training when you were young.”

Muscle memory for life.

If our parents gave us a Bible, took us to church, we should be thankful. Spiritual muscle-memory for life.

A member of our congregation so many Bible verses memorized as a child.

But not too late for any of us. We should get back into the Bible. Read it as Scripture.

pray.

A little every day.

Special place on the shelf…top shelf…

Nice copy. A new Bible to reinvigorate.

Physical gesture. kneel.

What a privilege and joy — to have a sure truth in life!! Thank you God!

Exegesis 2: The Scriptures lead us into goodness

Paul emphasizes to Timothy that the Scriptures are the truth of God…then he moves on to WHY it important it is to know and love the Scriptures.

A life that is in accordance with God.

2 Timothy 3:17 “so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”

Proficient. Knowing how to do something. How to do something well.

Our finance team — proficient in money.

Property team — proficient in fixing things.

Fellowship team — proficient in hosting people.

Scripture: proficient in goodness.

The Scriptures help you to get good at being good.

Clear commands and examples.

Trust in God to save…like Moses leading the people..

Be bold for God…like David striding up to meet Goliath.

love one another…like Ruth loved Naomi, like Jesus washing his disciples feet.

Forgive…as Jesus forgave on the cross.

Have hope….how? Jesus appeared resurrected!

Paul’s point: the Scriptures are from God..and they bring us toward God.

Application 2: Let the Scriptures improve you

Read the Bible as a special book…for a special purpose.

To be changed. Improved.

Not just to know something, but to become someone: the person God is calling us to be: good.

PCUSA Foundational Principles: That truth is in order to goodness; and the great touchstone of truth, its tendency to promote holiness, according to our Savior’s rule, “By their fruits ye shall know them.”…otherwise it would be of no consequence either to discover the truth or to embrace it.

We know the Scriptures are the truth of God. We embrace that truth so that we can become the people God is calling us to be. Otherwise what is the point.

Example of a bow and arrow. Take this bow and arrow, pull back…but no target??!

Proficient in goodness.

Thank God we have a target: goodness.

Exegesis 3: Share it with others in love

Lastly, in our lesson, Paul encourages Timothy to see that the truth of Scripture is something that he can and must share with others.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.”

God does not want people to be deceived, to wander away and God does not want them to be “lost” — that is to miss out on the forgiveness of sins and eternal life Christ alone offers.

So Paul solemnly charges Timothy that he can and must share the gospel — and listen to the references to the final judgement:

2 Timothy 4:1 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message”

in light of the fact that Jesus will judge — separate those who are his own from those who are not…

Preach the message…give people around you a chance to turn toward God and get ready to meet him.

This is your ministry. (2 Tim. 4:5) charge from God.

Earnest charge, edgy charge. Paul is subtly reminding Timothy that he and Paul too will also stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

And they will be held accountable…did you share what I entrusted to you? Alllusion to:

Ezekiel 33. If you do not warn (preach the message) to sinners and therefore they do not repent, they will suffer the consequences…and I will hold you responsible.

We have a duty to share the good news!

A duty of love. God so loved…we must in love share. God was willing to suffer…we must be willing to suffer to share: If not, God will say, where was your love for your brother, sister?

Application 3: Share the truth for the sake of love

The truth of Scripture, it’s saving power, not just for us.

It is for the world around us too. This media saturated world..

Temptation: Well they should figure it out for themselves.

Not the right spirit. not very loving.

The right attitude is to say, I am duty bound in love to share with you the good news.

Our message is to go out in love.

Brad’s friend: “I’m going to heaven when I die, and I would love to see you there.”

Love, humility, clarity…earnestness about eternal life.

Gospel shared like: one beggar showing another where to get bread.

The scriptures are like bread from heaven.

The Scriptures point to Christ, the bread of heaven. (2 Tim. 3:15)

God loves people and wants us to share the truth of Scripture in his love.

At any time

Favorable — in my study here at the church.

Unfavorable — sitting in the lobby of a business, strangers listening in…

Out of your comfort zone for someone else.

Think of all the options you have:

Example, pamphlet, gift Bible, conversation, rebuke and correction, invitation to church, or a family night, or a mission in the community

Share the truth because a lot is riding on it.

At the last day each of human being will stand before Christ.

We don’t want someone to say, well I didn’t know, they never told me..

But what joy to have them standing beside us before the Lord…here I am and everyone, by your grace, I could bring with me!

Conclusion

Overwhelmed by competing claims to truth.

We don’t have to be overwhelmed.

We can trust the Scriptures.

We can let the Scriptures shape our lives.

We can share the truth in love.