Called to a Sincere Faith

2 Timothy

We are beginning our series on 2 Timothy this week. As we leave the letter to Titus I wanted to remind you that the goal of Paul’s writing to Titus Key Theme: Moving the church towards godliness and good works. 2 Timothy is the final book in our series entitled the Church: Standards and Leadership

The key theme is:

Faithful to the End

We are inspired by endurance:

That runner that never gives up

The hero that risks everything to save a life

That parent that never stops praying

2 Timothy is Paul’s final letter. He is in prison, likely for the last time as execution awaits him because of his faithful service to Christ and the church. As the end approaches, his mind turns to his young friend who is now on the front lines, pastoring a church.

As the church of Jesus Christ, We did not get our standards from some mere book. We did not learn leadership from a seminar. As the modern expression of Jesus church we look back in gratitude toward those who went before us. We remember those who gave their lives so we could know and follow the Truth.

The standards of the church were given by God and lived out in the lives of believers throughout the centuries.

The model of leadership was passed down by faithful men who obeyed God and listened to the Holy Spirit.

The church is not some broken shadow of what should have been.

The church of Jesus Christ is his body! He is it’s head! The Word of God is our instruction! The Holy Spirit is our guide.

Like Paul, we are called to be faithful to the end. This letter is inspiring and I can’t wait to dig into it!

This morning we are looking at the fact that We are called to a Sincere Faith! Let’s get to it.

Read

2 Timothy 1:1–7 ESV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

What is sincerity?

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

How do we know if someone is sincere?

It is their actions. It is lived out. Life is the proof of sincere faith.

Jesus said:

Matthew 7:15–20 ESV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

What has happened to my faith?

2 Timothy 1:6 ESV

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

Sometimes we don’t fan into flame our faith. We let it dwindle down to a tiny spark. It is still real but it isn’t useful. It doesn’t produce light to see our heat for warmth. In the same way your life can have a kernel of sincere faith . . . you can be saved . . . and at the same time be useless for the kingdom. No one is seeing your light and if they do, they are shocked. No one feels the love of God that radiates from sincere faith so when you stand for the truth people don’t know where it came from.

James agrees with Paul here when he writes:

James 2:14–26 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Fan your faith into a Flame

We have to remember that we are not called to a life of mediocrity. We are called to live a life that shines and radiates the good news!

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Fear is the enemy of sincerity, but we have no reason to fear!

Overcome Fear:

Trust God in all things. Joshua 1:9

Joshua 1:9 ESV

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Even when you sin, he is there. Who forgives you? Who cleanses you? Who picks you up? Who strengthens you? Who stays with you? Who fills you? Who give you purpose?

Love as He loved us. 1 John 4:18-19

1 John 4:18–19 ESV

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.

Even when the world isn’t fair. When we battle illness. When we struggle with money. When we just can’t get a break. When we are overlooked. When we are wrongly treated. When liars, cheaters, and abusers seem to get away with everything. Love says, God can provide a better answer.

Live self-controlled. 1 Corinthians 10:13

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Even when it seems impossible. Even when it’s for the millionth time. Even though you should be over it. When we trust in God we will find the way to live self-controlled. When we live self-controlled lives in the Spirit we are free!

Overcome Fear:

Trust God in all things. (Joshua 1:9)

Love as He loved us. (1 John 4:18-19)

Live self-controlled. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

so first Paul reminds Timothy, and us, to have a sincere faith that shows itself in the way we live. Now he reminds us to

Guard what God has given us!

2 Timothy 1:8–14 ESV

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Never be ashamed to share in the suffering of Christ Jesus.

Romans 1:16–17 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Paul is in prison as he writes to Timothy. This is not a sterile or stern . . . just suck it up and do it mentality. Notice the love and emotion with which Paul has already written.

My Beloved child:

2 Timothy 1:2 ESV

2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Timothy 1:4 ESV

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

It is important to note that ours is not a life lived devoid of emotion. We live in real relationship with God and each other. To not be ashamed of the Gospel is not a call to ignore reality and pretend that suffering isn’t real. Instead, our sincerity of faith makes the suffering worth it.

Our sincerity of Faith guards the Gospel.

2 Timothy 1:13–14 ESV

13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Will anyone know?

Are you living out the sincerity of your faith?

Are you on mission for God?

Are you bearing fruit?