Sincere Faith and Last Words

Introduction and Greeting

1. There is a gap between 1 and 2 Timothy of one to six years

2. Paul is now in prison in Rome, facing his death.

3. Notice a few subtle differences between the greeting in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy:

a. Will instead of command. (vs 1.)

b. Promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus instead of our hope (vs.1)

c. My beloved child instead of my true in the faith. (vs. 2)

Ancestors and Parents (vs. 3 & 5)

1. Paul could be thinking back to Acts 23-25 when he was being accused by the Jews in Jerusalem.

2. Paul is reminding Timothy of the heritage of faith in Christ.

a. As those in Christ are Abraham’s children.

Galatians 3:29 (ESV)

29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

b. Moses taught about Christ.

Luke 24:27, 44

Luke 24:27 (ESV)

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:44 (ESV)

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

3. The heritage of faithful parents is a generational blessing.

a. Look at the impact of a grandmother (Lois) and mother (Eunice).

Clear Conscience

1. Paul has been faithful to the Gospel and the Word of Christ.

2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2. He knew that he was cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

Hebrews 10:22 ESV

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Constant Prayers

1. Paul was consistently praying for Timothy and for his ministry to be faithful.

Fan the Flame of the Gift of God.

The Power of the Gospel for Sustainment

1. Many people think of the Gospel is the message of salvation.

2. This is an incomplete thought and undervalues the power of the Gospel.

3. The Gospel is also for our sustainment.

Dan Doriani and Richard Phillips provide five ways the Gospel is for Sustainment.

a. The gospel of peace for peace with man and God.

Ephesians 6:15 (ESV)

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

b. The gospel of the grace of God helps us in our guilt, as we have justification and propitiation in Christ.

Acts 20:24 (ESV)

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Romans 3:24–25 (ESV)

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

c. The Gospel frees us from slavery to sin.

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Romans 6:17–18 (ESV)

17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

d. Through the Gospel, we have been adopted into God’s family.

Romans 8:15, 23

Romans 8:15 (ESV)

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!

Romans 8:23 (ESV)

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

e. Through the Gospel of reconciliation ,we are reconciled to God and this can help to reconcile our relationships with other people.

2 Corinthians 5:18 (ESV)

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

Romans 12:18 (ESV)

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Spirit of Power

Paul is encouraging Timothy to trust in the power of the gospel, to not fear the world

Romans 8:31–39 (ESV)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. This power is made perfect in our weakness and Christ’s strength.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

3. We are called to love others, even when we are admonishing each other.

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

1 John 3:18 (ESV)

18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

4. We are called to be self-controlled.

Proverbs 25:28 (ESV)

28 A man without self-control

is like a city broken into and left without walls.

2 Peter 1:6 (ESV)

6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,