I've got it coming!
Serving the church - 2nd Timothy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:11:32
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Happy Endings
Happy Endings
Who does not like a movie with a happy ending. I think we all hope for happy endings. Paul lived knowing what he had coming and it made his outlook for the end a happy ending. May we learn and gain his outlook.
Tradition would have it:
The bible is silent about Paul’s death, but not in the preparation of his death.
Tradition has his death listed:
Paul, as a Roman Citizen was beheaded on the Ostian Road just outside of Rome (ISBE)
There is concurrent testimony of ecclesiastical antiquity, that he was beheaded at Rome, by Nero, in the great persecutions of the Christians, by the emperor, A.D. 67 or 68 (Smith)
What the bible has to say about his anticipation of his death is what we are looking at this morning.
His view of dying (2Tim4:6)
His precious memories (2Tim4:7)
His glorious hope (2Tim4:8)
As we look at Paul’s closing words to Timothy, we can look and come to understand that Paul was ready to die as a blessed (happy) man. Paul’s outlook on death was with serenity and joy.
What about your life, we know that death is imminent, we do not escape this world alive, but what is our outlook on it? Do we have fear, joy, apprehension, acceptance, what?
Let’s look at the passage together and see Paul’s outlook.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
and really I should bring in one more verse
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
His view of dying
His view of dying
Interesting view that Paul has about dying. Not that it is the end, but it is an offering and a departure.
His life was an offering (4:6; Num15:5, 28:7, 14)
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.
He used the term “poured out” and “offering” and that would mean something.
5 and you shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one-fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.
This allusion to he being poured out would be the anticipation of he being a drink offering for the blood that will be shed by him when he is beheaded.
Barnes Notes states about the drink offering this: “When an animal was about to be slain in sacrifice, wine was poured on it as a solemn act of devoting it to God.”
Num28:7 “7 ‘Then the drink offering with it shall be a fourth of a hin for each lamb, in the holy place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the Lord.” - - - and you can see it again in Num28:14.
His death would be a sacrifice, another sacrifice to God (Rom12:1-14; Php1:20)
Open your bibles to Romans 12, let me do a quick survey of this a portion of this chapter
(Insert a living sacrifice picture here)
First - Rom12:1 “1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Then, how we do it Rom12:2 “2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
What does it look like? Looks like many members working together and being devoted to one another giving preference to one another (vv.3-10)
This passage continues to be instructive when it comes to presenting your life as a living sacrifice
Rom12:11-12 “11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,”
Paul wanted, encouraged all to offer themselves as spiritual sacrifices to God.
Paul sought to magnify Christ even in his death.
20 My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die.
(Transition) something to consider, to think about, to ponder on and adjust if needed. Have we thought of our manner of death as a way to honour or to magnify Christ? Paul did. Now Paul died as a martyr and we may never die that way, but as a Christian we can die and demonstrate our hope in Christ and our eternal life with Him when we die.
His death was a departure (4:6; Php1:23; 2Cor5:6-8; Jn14:1-3)
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
Thayer speaking of departure, Greek word “Analusis” is a metaphor drawn from loosing from moorings preparatory to setting sail.
Barnes states “The true idea of death is that of loosening the bands that confine us to the present world; of setting us free, and permitting the soul to go forth, as with expanded sails, on its eternal voyage. With such a view of death, why should a Christian fear to die?” = = = = what a quote
Paul looked forward to his departure
23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
and that is not the only place, check this out
6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
It would be far better to be with Christ than to be here, that is a true statement
Jesus gives us a blessed assurance of when the time of our departure comes; not to be troubled.
1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 “And you know the way where I am going.”
(Insert way of the cross picture)
(STOP; EXPAND: the way of the cross - a couple of minutes on this)
(Transition) Death is a transition, do we view it is a part of our eternal journey. A part long anticipated and longed for? One that Jesus made the way for?
Your view will determine your attitude, your attitude can impact the kingdom, the kingdom now and the kingdom to come.
Paul shifts now from an offering and a departure to a memory, or memories in looking back at this life as he is being poured out.
Paul’s precious memories
Paul’s precious memories
We sing the song, and it brings a smile to our faces. We look at our lives, look back at what God has done and that too should bring a smile to our faces and hope to others by how we have lived our life.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
Paul remembers that he has fought the good fight (v.7; Eph6:10-17)
To the church at Ephesus Paul had this to say
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
eph6:12-13
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
The Christian life is hard fought and Paul compares to a war or as a conflict.
Soldiers in a war, trained for war are provided the appropriate equipment and you can read on in Eph6:13-18 for the equipment.
Barnes says “That noble conflict with sin, the world, the flesh, and the never, Paul now says he had been able to maintain.”
Paul is able to look back at his life, his memories with satisfaction (v.7; 1Tim1:12-15; Php3:12-14)
To Timothy, in looking back, he had previously written 1Tim1:12-13 “12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;”
A little while ago I mentioned the way of the cross, let me add this to it now too
14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
He came into the world to save sinners by the way of the cross.
Looking back, remembering that he fought the good fight and ran the race, but not perfectly but pressing to do better
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
(Transition) when we look back, when we remember can we say we have run the race well, fought the good fight? Completing the race of faith set before us? For may we remember also
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
As we look back, may we remember and press on too, and run our race, faithful til the end, just as Paul states in our verse.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Paul kept the faith (4:7; 1Tim1:11; 2Tim1:12)
Again, turning to Barnes he claims “I have steadfastly maintained the faith of the gospel” - IBID says “I have lived a life of fidelity to my Master.”
Paul could look back over his life with happiness, with joy for he was faithful to keep and guard the gospel entrusted to him.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
He maintained faithfulness despite the great suffering he had enduring
12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
Paul had been entrusted with the gospel, because of the one Paul had entrusted himself too and was faithful to the end.
(Transition) When we get to the end of our life can we look back and know we have kept the faith? We can if we hold fast the word of faith now, the words of eternal life that Jesus Christ has. - - - so, now from looking back, to looking forward.
His glorious hope
His glorious hope
Glorious hope! Ah, yes, Jesus is our hope (1Tim1:1) and here Paul tells us more about our glorious hope (we will couple this with 2Tim2:18 too).
He has awaiting a crown of righteousness (v.8: 1Cor9:24-25; Jm1:12; Rev2:10)
Crown, let me give you another passage and then will discuss a little
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
To the victor there is a crown, a “stephanos” - a wreath of garland given to the victor in public games (Thayer)
To the Christian it is metaphorically speaking of a crown given as a reward for righteousness. - Barnes “A crown won in the cause of righteousness.”
This is coupled with the crown of life as noted in
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
and you can see again in Rev2:10 if you want to note that down in your notes.
The crown given by the righteous judge on that day (v.8; Act17:30-31; 2Tim4:1; 2The1:7-12)
I think this passage fits, well fits all the time as a remembrance for us
act17:30-31
30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
Jesus is coming back to judge the world both the living and the dead
2tim4:1 “1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:”
When that day comes to some, to the Christian a great day to be glorified to others a day of condemnation
Consider what is says in 2The1:7-12, let me just give some high-lights
(Don’t read all the passage below due to time constraints but the bold read)
2The1:7-8 “7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
2The1:9-10 “9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.”
2the1:11-12 “11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Glorified for all who love his appearing (v.8)
Glorified for those who desire His coming (Rev22:20)
Glorified for those who set their hope in Him
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Part of our preparation is our assurance, our belief, our faith of our deliverance from evil
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Paul’s outlook was of optimism even in the face of death. Assurance of what was reserved for him in heaven, his final salvation.
(Invitation slide - pick one used previously)
May we have the same assurance by responding to the gospel; same assurance in remembering our obeying the gospel. The same assurance available to all who believe until the end.
(Song) (Prayer)