Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

We have gathered this morning in order to remember a very dear brother in the faith.

Bob was a man who had a deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and lived his life with great joy and delight in serving Christ.

Christ was his all, and this was evident through his manner of life and his treatment of others.

In fact, it was said of Bob by one other godly man that, “Bob was probably the most godly man that he ever knew.”

But what was the reason that this was a man so well loved and respected?

What was the reason that he lived a life so radically different from so many in the world?

The reason was the grace of God that transformed his life, and shaped his manner of life.

And so this message is not so much about Bob, but rather about the one that transformed Bob into the man that he was.

While we remember our dearly beloved brother, the glory and praise must go to the One who so powerfully worked in Bob’s life - God Almighty!

As we do that in this time of rememberance, it is fitting that our focus is on the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

After all, it is this Gospel that transformed the life of our Brother, and the Gospel that he so beautifully conveyed through his life, and the Gospel that he loved to tell others of.

As we consider this Gospel then, we will do so from some passages that were held particularly dear to Bob himself.

As we do that, I want us to note three particular aspects or implications of this Gospel that was so beautifully lived out and displayed by our brother.

Firstly…

Two Characteristics of the Gospel

As we consider these verses, two things stand out in particular with regards to the Gospel that Bob held dear in his own life.

Gospel of Peace

We see here that this Gospel is a Gospel of peace, or a Gospel that bring peace.

Paul begins this section by urging Timothy (and the church) to offer up prayers to God, with the purpose being that life may be tranquil and quiet, and may be lived in all godliness and dignity.

As we consider the world around us, I’m quite certain that we all see and know of the effects of a world at war.

Even if this is not the full-scale war as we see in Ukraine / Russia, there is general sense of a lack of peace in this world.

Every man is pursuing his own goals and agenda in life, leading so often to strife and conflict.

This state of conflict can make its way across all levels of society, including families, workplaces, world leaders… A sin-cursed world will inevitably be marked by a lack of peace.

But Paul here entreats the church to pray to God, ultimately for the gospel to be proclaimed.

Paul is saying to Timothy that through the proclamation of this Gospel, there may be peace.

In verse 1 he calls for prayers for all men.

A little further on he speaks about God desiring “all men” to be saved (v.4).

And then in verse 6 he says that Christ died for “all men.”

It is thus clear in Paul’s mind that if there is going to be genuine peace, that the Gospel needs to be proclaimed.

If there would be peace among men, the Gospel of peace must be brought to bear in the lives of people.

In Ephesians 6:15, Paul specifically refers to the Gospel as the “Gospel of Peace.”

The Gospel is indeed a Gospel of peace.

It is a Gospel that brings peace, not only between God and men, but between men themselves.

Those who have been transformed by the Gospel are those marked by a life of peace.

So it was with Bob - a man at peace with God and with men...

Gospel that Saves

Notice further that this is the Gospel that saves.

The Gospel means “Good News...”

In Isaiah 52:7 which we just read about the feet of him who brings good news.

That’s the picture that Paul used in Ephesians 6:15 as well.

It is also the phrase that Paul uses in Romans 10.

We see then in Romans 10 that the good news that is spoken of here is a message that leads people to call upon the name of the Lord in order to be saved.

The Gospel really is a message of being saved.

Just briefly, notice some important aspects concerning the saving Gospel.

The salvation brings about reconciliation between God and man.

In the context of 1 Timothy 2, this reconciliation is shown through Christ being portrayed as a mediator.

Bound up in the idea of a mediator is one that stands between God and man.

It is through the Lord Jesus Christ that reconciliation has been brought between man and God.

It is through this mediator that sinful man may come before a holy God.

We see also, as a critical element of this Gospel that saves, that Christ gave himself as a ransom in order to save.

Jesus is the Saviour...

The Apostle Peter refers to Jesus as the Saviour…

2 Peter 1:1 (NASB95)

1 ....To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

Christ is the Saviour, and he saves through giving himself as a ransom for our sins.

In this sense, he saves from the wrath of God…

Paul writes in 1 Thes 1:10 about...

1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NASB95)

10 ....Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

Christ is the Saviour, the ransom paid, the one who saves from the wrath of God to come, all who believe in him, and place their faith in him.

But this salvation also has practical implications to every day life.

In other words, when this salvation is effected in a person’s life, there is a radical transformation as God works his power in them.

Christ saves from physical danger.

Christ saves us from the condemnation of the Law…

Christ saves from the power of death…

This salvation brings a freedom from condemnation, a freedom from fear, even of death.

The writer to the Hebrews speaks about Christ who

Hebrews 2:15 (NASB95)

15 ....free[s] those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Now, this brings radical transformation to a person.

This is really what brought transformation to the life of Bob, and what enabled him to live a life of peace and joy....

Why does a man live with contentment, joy, enthusiasm, graciousness, peace of heart in this manner???

Because of the Gospel.

Bob’s life was a testimony of the powerful, transformative work of the Gospel.

When Paul writes to the Corinthian believers, he says in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

That’s essentially what Bob sought to put on display in this world in his own life.

Was he imperfect?

Of course!!

Did he get it wrong at times?

Of course!

But on the whole, his life was a testimony of the grace of God, which was put on display as Bob sought to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ.

This leads us to consider another very important dimension of this glorious Gospel.

The Power Behind the Gospel

And so we read another verse that was deeply loved and appreciated by Bob…

The context of this verse In Luke 18 is that of a rich young ruler that comes to Jesus and wants to inherit eternal life.

This man had tried with all his might to live a good life, to live a life pleasing to God.

Why?

Because he wanted eternal life…

Now, Jesus immediatley knew this man’s heart, and where he was held captive.

This man was confronted at a point of weakness, where he still held on to things in this life.

Jesus said to him that he would need to forsake all things of this world, and would need to trust completely in God’s means for salvation.

But this was beyond the rich man’s abilities, and he walked away.

The reason Jesus said this was because of the manner in which the things of this world tend to hold sway of the hearts of man.

it may be that the things of this world hold sway in the lives of people because they bring them comfort.

It may be that the things of this world bring them pleasure and enjoyment.

It may be that the things of this world bring them a sense of security.

It may be that the things of this world provide a hope for these people.

Whatever the reason… whatever the motivation, Jesus was essentially teaching here that to hold onto anything in this world, for whatever reason, above a deep trust and confidence in God, is idolatry of the heart, and needs to be forsaken.

Now, the disicples were taken aback at this teaching.