Man Your Post!

Title: Man Your Post

Title: Man Your Post

Text:

Series: Book of II Timothy

What is Paul saying?

(v. 8) Paul is plainly telling Timothy to not be ashamed of witnessing for the Lord or of those who suffer for Jesus, but rather share in the sufferings.

(v. 13 - 14) Secondly, Paul is telling Timothy to (v. 13 - 14) guard the sound doctrine that has been deposited into you.

The gospel is central to this section: v. 8; v. 10 (11 & 12 in reference only)

Summary:

Timothy, you have been saved, called, commissioned - so man you post! Don’t desert Christ or those who are the servants of Christ!

Proposition:

So it is that all who are in Jesus Christ may be tempted to desert their post for Christ, under duress; but it is with the passion and zeal of the apostle that we must accept this exhortation: Don’t desert your post!

Why is Paul saying this?

1. Don't desert your post because of the power of God (v. 8 - 10)

v. 8 Two commands:

(1) don't be ashamed of witnessing for the Lord or for those who suffer for the Lord

(2) Be partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, in accordance to the power of God.

v. 9 Further defines this power of God that allows us to enter into afflictions:

(1) Who hath saved us (delivered us)

(2) Who hath called us to holy life

The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus No Cause for Shame (1:8–12)

here the implication is that it is “to a holy life.” The NIV infers this from the dative phrase meaning (lit.) “with a holy calling.”

First Corinthians 1:2 says we are “called to be saints [or to be holy].” According to 1 Thessalonians 4:7, “God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life [lit., in holiness].”

Also, "holy" could not be separated living since Paul was already living ascetically when the Lord saved Him. What then is this holy calling? Context would appear that the calling was to first be in Christ, but secondly to "hold fast the form of sound words...by the Holy Ghost..."

(3) Who has his own purpose -

v. 10 - HOW WAS THIS PURPOSE ACCOMPLISHED?...

(4) Who has provided grace in Christ Jesus

(a) eternal, timeless provision

(b) has accomplished this in his willful timing (consummation) (v. 10)

(c) has sent Jesus* No mistake calling him Savior - this name ties back to the fact that God "saved" us.

(i) Who abolished death

(ii) Who brought to light life

(iii) Who brought to light immortality

The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus No Cause for Shame (1:8–12)

This section can be literally translated, “who on the one hand had destroyed death and on the other hand has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

* the channel through which these three things are accomplished is the "gospel"

2. Don't desert your post because of the preservation of God (v. 11 - 12)

Now, having explained/drilled down to why the gospel is so precious, he sets forth to explain why he is suffering in relation to the gospel:

(i) Because I am an appointed preacher, sent one, teacher of the gospel (to the Gentiles), I am suffering these things

preacher - herald (the announcement)

apostle - sent one

teacher - (explanation of God’s truth for edification)

(ii) But I am not ashamed because I am convinced of the one I have believed:

* He is able

3. Don't desert your post because of the Person of God [in you] (v. 13 - 14)

Guard, by the Holy Spirit's help, what has been deposited into you. The One who, I am convinced will keep what I have committed, is with you to help you keep what has been committed to you. (SAME WORD USAGE)

The NIV Application Commentary: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus Keeping the Pattern of Sound Teaching (1:13–14)

term sound teaching through the Pastorals (1 Tim. 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim. 4:3; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1–2; see esp. the discussion on 1 Tim. 1:10, which is important for the understanding of the meaning of “sound teaching” here). The Greek word translated “pattern” in verse 13 can have any one of three meanings: a sketch or outline, a model or pattern,

4. Don't desert your post because of the prospect [future event] before God (v. 15 - 18)

The rest of the chapter seems to illustrate further what has been said. In contrasting accounts, there are the deserters and those who are faithful. What is the implication about what they protected/guarded that allowed one to remain faithful and the others to desert?

The pattern of sound teaching that is rooted in the gospel doctrine [meaning, it has been provided by God's sovereign provision in the gospel], he has just set forth -- it is this that leads Paul to be so convinced that he's willing to wait through the suffering rather than desert his post.

Why is Paul saying this?

What is the principle?

Don’t desert your post because:

(1) The God who saved you and called you powerful

(2) What you commend to the Lord: your soul and your faithful service is preserved by this powerful God

(3) You have been give sound teaching and the power of the Holy Spirit to stay true to this teaching.

(4) You get to stand before the Lord where all will be vindicated one day.

How does this apply?

(1) Be clear on what is fundamental, sound doctrine and what is not!

(2) Have more faith in the power of God over the power of the power of persecutors.

(3) You have been entrusted with sound doctrine, and you faith is not in self to stay truth but in the Spirit that you have received to stay true.

(4) Set your sights on the future day where mercy will be realized!