2 Tim. 4:9-22

God’s Grace To Finish the Race

Our Christian life is all by the grace of God.

We became Christian because of the grace of God, for He chooses us in Him before the foundation of the world. We were dead in sin, yet God made us alive in Christ, and so we believe.

We are sustained by grace, through the Holy Spirit, who is at work in our lives. He brought us to the church and gave us spiritual family to help us walk in love.

We will depart from this world by the grace of God, he will take us to His very presence.

from beginning to end, it’s by grace.

If there’s one thing that we can boast in this life - the grace of God!

That’s is how the Apostle saw the grace of God at work in his life...

In our passage today, Paul closes the letter with personal instructions to Timothy (2 Tim 4:9–18) and a final greeting (vv. 19–22).

He is now nearing the finish line or his departure, his death… (4:6-7)

There are 3 points that I would like for us to see how God’s GRACE sustained Paul and How God’s grace transformed Paul:

I. God’s grace is sufficient to sustain Paul to serve (vv.9-16)

a. Paul’s mind is fixed on serving God until the end (v.9, v.11, v.13)

even when he was imprisoned.

v.9 For the last time, so he can

Even when people abandoned him (v10, 14, 16).

He is not after revenge, but he offers forgiveness. Paul imitated Stephen, as Stephen imitated Jesus on the Cross, offering forgiveness to those who sin against him.

No amount of discouragement was effective against Paul because his source of strength and source of hope is Christ alone!

Galatians 2:20 NASB95

20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Titus 2:13 NASB95

13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

Only actual death can stop Paul from serving God, not imprisonment or threat of death.

The grace that sustained Paul is the same grace that we receive from Jesus.

II. God’s work in the past strengthened Paul to trust God for his future (vv.17-18)

a. Jesus stood and strengthened Paul all throughout his ministry so he can effectively proclaim that Jesus is the Christ (v17)

b. Jesus rescued Paul from the enemy and death many times in the past (v.17).

c. Paul is confident that Jesus will bring him safely to His heavenly Kingdom (v.18)

cf. 2 Tim 4:1

Jesus is the Judge! Assurance of Eternal life.

Death is not an enemy for A Christian, but just a door to pass so we can see Jesus in person!

d.Paul gives glory to Jesus (v.18).

He did not grumble against Jesus!

III. God’s Grace to the believers is Paul’s prayer for them (vv. 19-22)

a. Paul remembers his co-laborers in the Lord (v.19-20)

Final Greetings....

Acts 18:2 NASB95

2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them,

b. Support from other believers (v.21)

God has given the church to support us - through prayers and encouragement.

c. Prayer for the Church in Ephesus (v.22)

v22 - benediction and prayer for Timothy.

The LORD be with YOU - there is nothing more important in this life than to have the Lord Jesus Christ with our spirits, for in Jesus is the fullness of Grace and all Spiritual blessings.

Grace be with YOU (plural)

God’s GRACE is what sustained Paul (US)

God’s GRACE is what transformed Paul (US)

God’s GRACE is what enabled Paul to finish the RACE. (US)

Conclusion:

God’s grace is sufficient to sustain us to persevere until the end, but we must rely on God to finish the good work He started in us.