Legacy of Grace

Introduction: I want you to do me a favor- imagine a scenario that may be difficult for us to grasp. Imagine with me that we don’t live in the U.S. We don’t have this nice building to meet in, we have to hide in obscurity. We don’t have religious liberty or freedom to worship where, when, or how we feel led. If we are found to be Christ followers, we will most surely be imprisoned and might possibly be put to death. Now, imagine you live in that scenario and in the face of those threats you are still willing to share the Gospel and endure faithfully the consequences of your discipleship. Why would a person be willing to endure that? That is the very scenario we find in the text tonight.

, Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.

12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

Context: Let me remind you of how we’re approaching 2nd Timothy as a letter from Paul to his dear son in the faith, Timothy, about what Paul was leaving to him that Timothy was to leave to others. In chapter one we talked about leaving a Gospel Legacy in our families and churches. In chapter two, we’re talking about leaving a legacy of grace. In vs. 1 Paul told Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and then detailed how Timothy could and should leave that legacy to others by making disciples who would make disciples makers- 4 generations: Paul, Timothy, faithful men, others. I submit to you that we haven’t really been true disciples of Christ if we haven’t obeyed the most important commandment of Jesus- make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey all he has commanded us. You see, we get caught up on the “teaching them” part of the verse instead of the obedience part of the verse. A disciple of Jesus obeys the commands of Jesus and makes disciple-makers for Jesus that obey the commands of Jesus = replication.

In this sermon, we’re going to talk about a second way that disciples leave a legacy of grace, and that is by enduring faithfully. When disciples endure suffering they don’t give up. Why?

Four reasons disciples endure faithfully:

8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.

For if we died with Him,

I was struck when reading this by three phrases that are all very similar. In vs. 1 Paul told Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” In vs. 3 he said to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” In vs. 8, “remember Christ Jesus.” Three times in 8 verses Paul invokes the name of Jesus Christ as our Savior, Leader, and Lord, and here reminds Timothy of the importance of keeping Jesus in first place in our lives and ministries. Two things he said to remember about Jesus Christ-

We shall also live with Him.

He was descended from David (seed of David, earthly royal lineage of Jesus as rightful heir)

He was raised from the Dead (Lordship, resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith)

The New King James Version Chapter 1

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Romans 1:1–4 NKJV

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

, Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Greeting

This gospel is what Paul lived his life by and for, it’s what he entrusted to Timothy, so he could commit it to others. The Gospel is the very reason Paul suffered (v. 9) but the very thing he suffered for was his strength in the suffering. Disciples endure because they are rooted in the Gospel.

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

This gospel is what Paul lived his life by and for, and entrusted to Timothy, so he could continue to entrust it to others. The Gospel is the very reason Paul suffered (v. 9) but the very thing he suffered for was his strength in the suffering. Disciples endure because they are rooted in the Gospel.

I want you to see how this plays out through the lens of discipleship. I want to do is connect each point with one of these faithful sayings in vss. 11-13. The resurrection is central to the Christian faith, yes, but it is so much more than that. It is the hope of each believer. A disciple is willing to endure anything for the sake of the Gospel because of the hope of the resurrection. Vs. 11, Since Christ died and rose from the dead, if we die in Him we will rise again. , if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Since He died and rose from the dead, if they die in Him they will rise again, vs. 11. , if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

Paul was in prison for preaching the Gospel, a subversive message to the Roman empire. He was imprisoned as an evildoer (criminal) for preaching the message of Christ as King. This wasn’t the first time he was chained for the Gospel, but it would be his last. In his first imprisonment he was on house arrest (), this time he was put into the infamous Mamertime Prison (e.g. of similar prison), lowered down into a hole by a rope where there was no hope of escape, and even chained. But God’s Word was not chained. Everywhere Paul was imprisoned he preached God’s Word- to guards () and even to Caesar’s household (). Paul was chained but God’s Word was not chained. It accomplishes whatever the Lord sends it to do.

We shall also reign with Him.

He died and rose from the dead. vs. 8

The Word is FREE, even if they are not. Vss. 9 & 12

, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,

And do not return there,

If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

But water the earth,

So the Gospel was why Paul suffered but it was also his strength in suffering. He preached it even while in chains, because the Word is free even if the disciple is not. Disciples endure and don’t give up because they know God’s Word is going to accomplish what God sends it to do.

And make it bring forth and bud,

That it may give seed to the sower

Watch what happens when a disciple endures faithfully, vs. 12. If we endure, we shall also reign with him. Since Christ rose in glory and ascended as Lord, when disciples rise again they will reign with Him (co-heirs with Christ). There is a negative side to this as well- if we deny Him, He also will deny us. , But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. True disciples will not deny Him, but will faithfully endure all things for the sake of the Gospel and the purpose of God’s Word.

And bread to the eater,

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

If we deny Him,

Their suffering is not in VAIN, people will be saved. vss. 10 & 13.

He also will deny us.

Paul endured imprisonment for preaching the Gospel because his life and ministry were rooted in the Gospel. He endured chains for preaching the Word of God because he knew God’s Word was not chained, it would accomplish what God sent it to do. He endured suffering because he knew that it was through suffering that God’s people would be saved.

It is the suffering of Christ that saves- his body that bore our sins was broken for us, and his blood was shed to wash away our sins. It is by Christ’s suffering that we are saved, and it was through Paul’s suffering that people would hear about Christ’s suffering and be saved. He endured all things for the sake of those who would hear the message, believe the Gospel, and be saved. This is why we need to take heart in sharing the Gospel, because no matter what it seems like, people will still be saved.

ILL: The Parable of the Sower (Soils, Matt 13)- as the sower went out to sow, seed fell in 4 places; 1) the wayside, or path & birds ate the seed; 2) rocky or stony ground, where it grew quickly but was scorched by the sun because it had no root; 3) among thorns, that choked it out; or 4) good ground that yielded a harvest.

This is why we need to take heart in sharing the Gospel, no matter what it seems like, people will still be saved.

Whenever we share the Gospel, you can be sure of two things- at least 3/4 of the time it will bear no visible fruit (at least that we will be able to see in this life), and that people WILL be saved. It was for that reality that Paul was willing to suffer because his suffering was for the salvation of people. Disciples endure because people will be saved. How do you know?

could keep on preaching becayw

How do you know?

, He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Christ will receive the reward of his suffering and so will they. vs. 13. Our faithlessness does not nullify God’s faithfulness to complete His mission. Disciples must endure because God will use their ministry to complete His mission.

13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

Since He rose in glory and ascended as Lord, when they rise again they will reign with Him.

He remains faithful;

Since He both died and rose again, ascended as Lord, and reigns forever, that Christ will receive the reward of his suffering and so will they.

Let’s unpack these truths through the lens of discipleship. Disciples endure faithfully because they trust Christ and these truths:

He cannot deny Himself.

Let’s unpack those truths through the lens of discipleship. Disciples endure faithfully because they trust Christ and these truths:

Since He died and rose from the dead, if they die in Him they will rise again, vs. 11. , if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

, if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Since He rose in glory and ascended as Lord, when they rise again they will reign with Him, vs. 12 (co-heirs with Christ). There is a negative side to this as well- denying Christ. , But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

, But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

By God’s grace we have not yet experienced the kinds of persecution and suffering that many of our brothers and sisters around the globe have endured, but we might. The true test of our faith will be if we endure faithfully and do not give up.

Christ will receive the reward of his suffering and so will they. vs. 13. , He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Our faithlessness does not nullify God’s faithfulness to complete His mission.

, He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.

By God’s grace we have not yet experienced the kinds of persecution and suffering that many of our brothers and sisters around the globe have endured, but we might. The true test of our faith will be if we endure faithfully and do not give up.

11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

This text is a kind of litmus test for how we would respond if faced with that: are we already rooted in the Gospel? Are we already freely sharing the Word while we are still free to do so? Do we see our sufferings as an opportunity for someone else to be saved? Do we trust Jesus that if our discipleship cost us freedom or life itself, that we will rise again, reign with him, and receive our reward?

For He shall bear their iniquities.

Introduction: I want you to do me a favor- imagine a scenario that may be difficult for us to grasp. Imagine with me that we don’t live in the U.S. We don’t have this nice building to meet in, we have to hide in obscurity. We don’t have religious liberty or freedom to worship where, when, or how we feel led. If we are found to be Christ followers, we will most surely be imprisoned and might possibly be put to death. Now, imagine you live in that scenario and in the face of those threats you are still willing to share the Gospel and endure faithfully the consequences of your discipleship. Why would a person be willing to endure that? That is the very scenario we find in the text tonight.

, Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

Context: 2nd Timothy is a letter from Paul to his dear son in the faith, Timothy, about what Paul was leaving to him that Timothy was to leave to others. In chapter one we talked about leaving a Gospel Legacy and in chapter two, we’re talking about leaving a legacy of grace.

Last week was about leaving a legacy through disciple-making. In this sermon, we’re talking about leaving a legacy of grace through faithful endurance. When disciples endure suffering, they don’t give up. Why? Four reasons:

I was struck by three phrases that are all very similar. In vs. 1 Paul told Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” In vs. 3 he said to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” In vs. 8, “remember Christ Jesus.” Three times in 8 verses Paul invokes the name of Jesus Christ as our Savior, Leader, and Lord, and here reminds Timothy of the importance of keeping Jesus in first place in our lives and ministries. Two things he said to remember about Jesus Christ-

• He was descended from David (seed of David, earthly royal lineage of Jesus as rightful heir)

• He was raised from the Dead (Lordship, resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith)

, Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

This gospel is what Paul lived his life by and for, it’s what he entrusted to Timothy, so he could commit it to others. The Gospel is the very reason Paul suffered (v. 9) but the very thing he suffered for was his strength in the suffering. Disciples endure because they are rooted in the Gospel.

Paul was in prison for preaching the Gospel, a subversive message to the Roman empire. He was imprisoned as an evildoer (criminal) for preaching the message of Christ as King. This wasn’t the first time he was chained for the Gospel, but it would be his last. In his first imprisonment he was on house arrest (), this time he was put into the infamous Mamertime Prison (e.g. of similar prison).

He was lowered down into a hole by a rope where there was no hope of escape, and even chained. But God’s Word was not chained. Everywhere Paul was imprisoned he preached God’s Word- to guards () and even to Caesar’s household (). Paul was locked-up, but God’s Word was free to accomplish its purpose.

, For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it

10 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it

The Gospel was why Paul suffered but it was also his very strength in suffering. He preached it even while in chains, because the Word is free even if the disciple is not. Disciples endure and don’t give up because they know God’s Word is going to accomplish what God sends it to do.

Paul endured imprisonment for preaching the Gospel because his life and ministry were rooted in the Gospel. He endured chains for preaching the Word of God because he knew God’s Word was not chained, it would accomplish what God sent it to do. He endured suffering because he knew that it was through suffering that God’s people would be saved.

It is the suffering of Christ that saves- his body that bore our sins was broken for us, and his blood was shed to wash away our sins. It is by Christ’s suffering that we are saved, and it was through Paul’s suffering that people would hear about Christ’s suffering and be saved.

Paul endured all things for the sake of those who would hear the message, believe the Gospel, and be saved. We need to take heart in sharing the Gospel, because no matter what it seems like, people will still be saved.

ILL: The Parable of the Sower (Soils, )- as the sower sowed, seed fell in 4 places; 1) the wayside, or path & birds ate the seed; 2) rocky or stony ground, where it grew quickly but was scorched because it had no root; 3) among thorns, that choked it out; or 4) good ground that yielded a harvest.

When we share the Gospel, you can be sure of two things- at least 3/4 of the time it will bear no visible fruit (at least that we will see), and that people WILL be saved. It was for that reality that Paul was willing to suffer because his suffering was for the salvation of people. Disciples endure because people will be saved. How do you know?

I want to connect each point with one of these faithful sayings in vss. 11-13. The resurrection is central to the Gospel message and a core doctrine of the Christian faith, yes, but it is so much more than that! Resurrection is the hope of each believer. A disciple is willing to endure anything for the sake of the Gospel because of that hope.

Vs. 11, if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. Since Christ died and rose from the dead, disciples will rise again. , if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection…

Watch what happens when a disciple endures faithfully. Vs. 12, if we endure, we shall also reign with him. Since Christ rose in glory and ascended as Lord, when disciples rise again, they will reign with Him (co-heirs with Christ). It’s also true that if we deny Him, He also will deny us. , But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. True disciples will not deny Him, even in the face of severe suffering. Why?

Suffering is not in vain; people will be saved. Vs. 13, If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. Christ will receive the reward of his suffering. , He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Our faithlessness does not nullify God’s faithfulness to complete His mission. Disciples must endure because God will use their ministry to complete His mission.

By God’s grace we have not yet experienced the kinds of persecution and suffering that many of our brothers and sisters around the globe have endured, but we might. This text is a kind of litmus test for how we would respond if faced with that. The true test of our faith will be if we endure faithfully and do not give up, but is that already true?

- Are we already rooted in the Gospel?

- Are we freely sharing the Word while we are still free to do so?

- Do we see suffering as an opportunity for someone to be saved?

Do we trust Jesus that if our discipleship cost us our freedom or life itself, that we will rise again, reign with him, and receive our reward?

Legacy of Grace

1. They are ROOTED in the Gospel. Vs. 8

2. The Word is FREE, even if they are not. Vs. 9

3. Their suffering is not in VAIN, people will be saved. Vs. 10

3. Their suffering is not in VAIN, people will be saved. Vs. 10

1. They are ROOTED in the Gospel. Vs. 8

2. The Word is FREE, even if they are not. Vs. 9

3. Suffering is not in VAIN, people will be saved, vs. 10.

4. They TRUST Jesus and the truth that is in Him, 11-13