Continuing on in our series Making Disciples from 2 Timothy, we have seen that we are to Go make disciples. In obeying this great commission we learned last week that part of discipling and being discipled is to Remind each other to remember the foundation and fruits of our faith and to be courageous in the use of the spiritual gifts of grace that God has given us so that we might edify the Body. This week we will learn that if we are to make disciples and be discipled then we must Share. Specifically, Paul tells Timothy to share in the sufferings that accompany the gospel and faith in Christ.
In order to share in the sufferings, we must not be ashamed of Christ, the gospel, or of other Christians who suffer for telling the truth. We also see that suffering is a privilege and gives us reasons to rejoice. Suffering, after all, is under God's sovereign control.
The question is asked though, "Why do we suffer?" And Paul answers that question by explaining salvation. Because we have been saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, called with a holy calling, chosen by God according to His own good pleasure, and appointed as preachers of the gospel the world will hate us and despise us. For as we live and speak forth the gospel we point them to Christ. Do not be fooled; the world hates Christ!
The gospel message is a message of how a Savior saves His people, abolishes death, and gives them eternal life. As John MacArthur has written in his commentary on 2 Timothy:
God sovereignly designed salvation, and He sovereignly initiates, sustains, and completes salvation. He has forgiven us, justified us, and delivered us from sin and Satan, from death and hell. In every sense and in every tense – past, present, and future – God is our Savior.
As we suffer then we learn the true power of assurance. With Paul we can say that we know whom we have believed and are persuaded that He is able to guard and keep those things that we have committed to Him.
Here is the outline for this message, the audio will be available later today to download or listen to for free (click the message title below for the audio link):
III. Share – 2 Timothy 1:8-12 A. Do Not Be Ashamed (vs. 8a) – power, love, and a sound mind
1. Of the Gospel – do not be afraid to speak the truth 2. Of Paul (His prisoner) – do not be afraid to be associated with others who speak the truth
a. Eph 3:1 b. Phil. 1:12-14
B. Share with Me in Suffering (vs. 8b)
1. Suffering is a Privilege – 2 Cor 6:4-7 2. Suffering is a Reason to Rejoice – Acts 5:41; 2 Cor 12:7-10 3. Suffering is under God’s Sovereign Control – 1 Peter 1:3-9
C. Why Do We Suffer? (vs. 9-11)
1. Saved
a. Not According to Works – Eph 2:8-9; Rom 11:5-6 b. According to His Own Purpose – Eph 1:4; Rom 9:10-12; 1 Thess 1:4; 1 Peter 1:1-2 c. By Grace through Christ
1) Revealed as Our Savior – Matt 1:21; Luke 2:10-12; Phil. 3:20 2) Who Abolished Death – to render inoperative – 1 Cor 15:54-57 3) Who Brought Eternal Life – John 3:16; 10:10
2. Called – with a holy calling – Rom 1:5-7; 8:28-30; 1 Cor 1:9; Eph 4:1, 4 3. Appointed
a. Preacher – Rom 10:14-17 b. Apostle – Gal 1:1 c. Teacher – Matt 28:18-20
D. Assurance (vs. 12)
1. I Have No Shame – Rom 1:16 2. I Know Whom I Have Believed – John 10:14; 17:3 3. I Am Persuaded that He is Able – John 10:28-29 4. I Have Committed Myself to Him – 1 Peter 1:5
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