Sunday, January 28, 2018

Paul's Epistles – II Timothy – Part 3: Stay True to the Teachings


Paul's Epistles – II Timothy – Part 3:
Stay True to the Teachings
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON INTRODUCTION
This second letter from Paul to Timothy will be the next “epistle” we examine.

After writing his first Epistle to Timothy, Paul left Corinth, and set sail with Titus for Crete, where he left him to set the Church in order (Titus 1:5).

The key-word in II Timothy is “Ashamed.”

“I must not be ashamed of my Lord, His Gospel, or His suffering saints (II Timothy 1); How can I become a workman that “needs not be ashamed” (II Timothy 2 & 3.), and then the Lord will not be ashamed to own and stand by me (II Timothy 4).


PREVIOUSLY
Introduction to II Timothy
  

TODAY’S SERMON
Appeal for Loyalty
  
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
II Timothy 2:1-13 (66 AD, approximately one year after the first Epistle to Timothy)
 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;

12 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.

If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;

13 if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,
    for he cannot disown himself.



The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

Loyalty to the Lord and Truth in the view of persecution and apostasy

I. A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST
a. Strength in Christ and His teachings
                                                                 i. Paul (calling Timothy his son once again) to be strong in the Grace found in Christ Jesus

                                                              ii. Grace is at the core of the Gospel, and one of the most important concepts in the Bible for you to understand

                                                           iii. Not only are we saved by Grace, but we are to grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18)

                                                            iv. God’s Grace motivates us to serve Him (I Corinthians 15:10; II Corinthians 9:8)

                                                               v. His Grace sustains us in trials (II Corinthians 12:9)

                                                            vi. When we are needy, we are invited to come to God’s throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16)

                                                         vii. We are told to fix our hope completely on Grace (I Peter 1:13)

                                                      viii. and the very last verse of the Bible reads “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” (Revelation 22:21)

                                                            ix. Paul also tells Timothy be strong in the things that he (Paul) said in the presence of many witnesses and entrusted to reliable people who are now qualified to teach others.


b. Be a good soldier of Christ Jesus
                                                                 i. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier

                                                              ii. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs

                                                           iii. but rather, tries to please his commanding officer



c. Do not try to cheat the system
                                                                 i. Someone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victors crown except by COMPETING ACCORDING TO THE RULES

                                                              ii. Then Paul instructs Timothy on his ministry and accepting support from the ministry

1. vs 6,7 “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”

                                                           iii. 1 Corinthians 9:7 “Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk?”



II.      THE GOSPEL TO PREACH
a. Christ descended from David
                                                                 i. This was important to reach the Jews

                                                              ii. From Judaism 101 website
1. The Mashiach (Messiah) will be a great leader from King David (Jeremiah 23:5)

a. Both Mary, Jesus’ mother, and Joseph, Jesus’ step-father, were from the bloodline of King David

2.  The Messiah will be well-versed in Jewish Law and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2-5)

a. Jesus was and is the ONLY one who not only observed all the laws, but did not break them.

3. The Messiah will bring spiritual and political redemption to Jewish people and restore Israel (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4-5)

a. Jesus established a NEW Kingdom, which is a Spiritual one, it is through this Spiritual Kingdom that “redemption” is coming to people both spiritually and politically, and Israel has been restored...Paul states that “we” believers in Christ, are the true Jews, circumcised of the heart.

4. He will establish a government that will be the center government (kingdom) for all the world, for both Jews and Gentiles (Jeremiah 33:18)

a. Christ Jesus has accomplished this, and the Kingdom IS for both Jews and Gentiles!

5. He will restore the religious court and law of the land (Jeremiah 33:15)
a. Christ HAS done this, and a Judgment Day is coming where we will all face the perfect Judge for this law of the land


b. Christ raised from the dead
                                                                 i. This was important to show that
1. God raised Jesus showing His FULL approval of Jesus and everything He taught

2. A “First Fruit” of our resurrection and receiving NEW bodies

3. Proof of “afterlife” which Sadducees taught there was none


c. Therefore, endure for the sake of the elect
                                                                 i. Paul wanted Timothy to know “why” he should endure the hardships that come with Christianity and teaching the gospel unto salvation

1. A believer “knows” his destination

2. But there are so many who do not know the Lord

3. Suffer these things so that others may also be “freed” from the chains of sin and slavery that leads unto death



III.   BASIC RULES OF FAITH AND TEACHINGS
a. If we died with Him, we will also live with Him
                                                                 i. Romans 6:6 “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;”

                                                              ii. 2 Corinthians 4:11 “For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

                                                           iii. Galatians 2:20 “"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

                                                            iv. Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”


b. If we endure with Him, then we will reign with Him
                                                                 i. Endure until when? Until the future when Christ will return and take the Throne of David on earth (Matthew 25:31)

1.  We have been made kings and priests (or a kingdom, priests to God), our reign is future and upon the earth: As kings and priests to our God; we shall reign on the earth.  Revelation 5:10


c. If we disown Him, He will disown us
                                                                 i. You cannot “disown” something you have never owned

                                                              ii. This verse shows we “can” desert our Lord, turn our backs on Him, walk away from everything He promises us.

                                                           iii. This is why we are told in scripture, “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20

1. Paul is speaking to “brothers and sisters”, believers.

2. If one of YOU (believers) should wonder from the truth


3. and someone should bring that person back” (the believer who wondered from the truth)

4. Whoever turns a “sinner” (the believer who wandered from the truth) from the error of their way”(turning from truth, sinning)

5. “Will save them from death”  The second death, hell, because we all will die the first death unless raptured

6. “and cover a multitude of sins” They can be forgiven if the repent!

                                                            iv. So if we “disown” or turn our backs on Christ Jesus (the Truth), He will disown us



CONCLUSION – if we are faithless

He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.
Losing our faith is not the same as disowning or turning from the Truth and Christ Jesus.
If we lose faith, it means we become discouraged, in those times Christ remains faithful, because we have not lost Christ Jesus, nor turned from Him, therefore, He remains within us!
He will remain faithful because He cannot disown Himself!!!

DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED
2 Chronicles 15:7 - Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded
Galatians 6:9 - Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go
Matthew 11:28 - Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest

 Next week we will begin looking at Paul’s letter to Timothy speaking on dealing with False Teachers



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