Not Ashamed of the Gospel - 2 Timothy 1-18

Intro:

2 Timothy 1:1–2 CSB

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, for the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus: 2 To Timothy, my dearly loved son. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Point #1: Again, As Paul Begins His Letter, We See the Standard Letter Writing Form of the Ancient Near East in the First Century!

Once again Paul begins identifying himself as the author of this letter...

Back in the olden days we us to get letters in the mail and we would immediately go to the last page to identify who was sending us a letter!

In the ancient near east it was customary to start with who the author is...

Paul!

Paul then references his office in The Lord...

An Apostle of Jesus Christ...

By God’s will...

Then Paul eludes to his mission...

For the sake of the promise of life in Christ Jesus!

Paul then identifies his audience/ the recipient of the letter...

Timothy...

My dearly loved son!

Then he shares his standard greeting...

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

His desire for the very best of God’s blessing for Timothy!

Continuing in 2 Timothy 1:3

2 Timothy 1:3–7 CSB

3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also. 6 Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

Point #2: Paul Shares His Heart for Timothy!

Paul shares a sentiment of thanksgiving...

3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,

when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.

4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.

Paul’s thankful for Timothy and for his family!

5 I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.

Paul then gives Timothy a charge...

6 Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

Continuing in 2 Timothy 1:8

2 Timothy 1:8–10 CSB

8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Point #3: Paul Calls Timothy Not to Be Ashamed of The Lord or Himself, Because Jesus Has Saved Us and Called Us!

8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.

Philippians 3:7–11 CSB

7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling,

not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Continuing in 2 Timothy 1:11

2 Timothy 1:11–12 CSB

11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, 12 and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.

Point #4: Jesus Guards What Has Been Entrusted to Us, He Still is the Good Shepherd!

We don’t have to do it on our own, Jesus will do it with us and through us!

Jesus preached the Gospel...

Paul was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher!

That is why Paul was willing to suffer “these things.”

Even though suffering, Paul is not ashamed...

because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.

Continuing in 2 Timothy 1:13

2 Timothy 1:13–18 CSB

13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 15 You know that all those in the province of Asia have deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from him on that day. You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.

Point #5: Hold on to the Pattern of Sound Teaching, Guard the Good Deposit Given Us!

13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

14 Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

15 You know that all those in the province of Asia have deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from him on that day. You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.