Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

and really I should bring in one more verse

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)

He used the term “poured out” and “offering” and that would mean something.

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.

(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)

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

and that is not the only place, check this out

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.

(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

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.

Paul remembers that he has fought the good fight (v.7; Eph6:10-17)

To the church at Ephesus Paul had this to say

eph6:12-13

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

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

(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

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.

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.

He maintained faithfulness despite the great suffering he had enduring

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

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

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

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

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:”