Sermon Tone Analysis

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

[1]

Apostolic succession is essential to a healthy church.

However, whenever we speak of “apostolic succession,” it is important to define what is meant.

When I speak of apostolic succession, I imply adherence to the model provided in Scripture.

I do not refer to the aberrations, however popular they may be, that occur in contemporary church life.

By “apostolic succession,” I mean that there is a continuation of the Apostles’ doctrine.

Our Catholic friends, Orthodox Christians and numerous Protestant communions as well, hold to what they call “apostolic succession.”

By this term these religions infer that they depend upon being able to trace the ordination of priests back to Peter.

Tragically, we are aware of the scandals that have marked many of the churches holding to this particular aberration.

Those who perpetuated and attempted to cover over crimes which were committed by priests were not at all living as Peter would have lived.

It is obvious that God could not approve of their actions.

They would argue, however, that because of a succession of ordination back to Peter, then doctrine and full fellowship are ensured.

[2]

Among some evangelical churches, and especially touted by one particular Baptist group, is held a form of apostolic succession that has caused great harm to the cause of Christ.

These churches do not argue that they have a succession of ordination; rather, they hold to “baptismal succession.”

Their argument is that your baptism is invalid if you cannot trace your baptism back to John the Baptist.

Their de facto argument is that only baptism administered by a church holding the name “Baptist” is valid; and all other baptisms are, by definition, defective.

[3] My wife is an excellent genealogist; however, not even my wife is able to trace such a lineage.

Apostolic succession, however, is readily witnessed by appeal to the Word of God as we hold churches to the mirror of the Word.

You will note a statement concerning the practise of the first congregation in Jerusalem.

“[Those baptised] devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching” [ACTS 2:42a].

These earliest Christians were committed to knowing and obeying what was taught by the Apostles.

That mark is witnessed to this day among churches that practise, whether they use the term or not, apostolic succession.

Apostolic succession is the succession of teaching that defined the first congregations and continues to mark those faithful congregations to this day.

In our text, Paul clearly tells Timothy that he is responsible to hold to what he has been taught.

Then, he is responsible to ensure that this truth is passed to others who themselves will faithfully hold these same teachings.

In this way, continuation of the apostles’ teaching is assured; this ongoing communication will transcend time, culture and language.

If we question whether the things taught from the pulpit align with what the apostles taught, we need but review what is recorded in the Word of God to give ourselves assurance.

Whilst the continuing communication depends upon those proclaiming the truths, those listening bear responsibility to know the Word and to hold what is taught to the standard of the Word.

*A FUTURE FOR THE FAITH* — “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

The text continues the primary theme of this letter—Timothy’s succession of Paul.

Paul had long served as God’s messenger—if not to others, than certainly he was such to Timothy.

Already restricted by incarceration, his death sentence made it obvious that the aged saint would shortly cease serving as God’s workman.

Though no one could have known it at that time, there would not be another Apostle to the Gentiles; Timothy would now be responsible to continue serving as elder to the Ephesian congregation without the Apostle’s encouragement.

His service was the precise reason he had been appointed by the Apostle to serve in that location.

In his earlier letter to Timothy, Paul had reminded the younger man of his responsibility in Ephesus.

“As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions” [1 TIMOTHY 1:3-7].

Timothy had received a charge to confront errant teaching, doing so in a manner that honoured the Master while revealing love for the Saviour.

He was to expose those individuals who erroneously promoted themselves as spokesmen for God because of self-appointment.

Opposition to error, and especially opposition to errant teachers, is seldom welcomed either by those confronted or by members uncertain and confused about the status of such individuals.

Now, Paul was reminding Timothy that just as the Apostle had limited time to continue his service, so Timothy would also need to recognise that his time of service was limited.

Ministers, and especially young ministers, must always know that the time afforded is limited—there must be an end to every ministry.

At Christ’s return all work shall cease.

If the return of Christ is delayed, then each of us knows that we must go the way of all the earth.

Whether it is because He has returned or whether it is that we must pass through the waters of death, whatever is done must be done now.

Jesus warned those who would follow Him, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” [JOHN 9:4].

Whatever we may hope to accomplish for the cause of Christ our Master must be done now.

We dare not delay serving His cause.

Just as the requirement to evangelise is urgent and our evangelism must be conducted now, so our ministry to the people of God is urgent.

The writer of the Letter to Hebrew Christians has cautioned disciples, “Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” [HEBREWS 3:13].

Paul had urged the Roman Christians, “You know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep.

For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

The night is far gone; the day is at hand.

So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” [ROMANS 13:11-14].

Elsewhere, Paul warned believers, “When anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.

Therefore it says,

‘Awake O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.’

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” [EPHESIANS 5:13-17].

At any moment in time, the Faith is but one generation from extinction.

Of course, I’m speaking from a human perspective.

I am fully aware that we serve God and that He is sovereign.

I know full well that His will shall be done.

However, recognising God’s sovereignty does not excuse our responsibility to fulfil His command to labour in His cause.

Our work must be done now; we do not have the luxury of fulfilling the Master’s command tomorrow.

Because Timothy is now being commissioned to succeed Paul, the Apostle issues three urgent commands—“be strengthened,” “entrust,” “share in suffering.”

The same commission is given to those who serve Christ in this day.

We are often prone to relegate what Paul has written in this instance to preachers.

After all, Timothy was an elder in the Church of Ephesus.

He served as an overseer as result of the Apostle’s appointment to that position.

Thus, it is easy to imagine that anything Paul has written applies at best to elders without any relevance for church members.

However, I contend that what is written applies to all believers—both generally and specifically.

Perhaps our contemporary view grows out of a distorted view of our concept of church.

We go to church—we are trained to think in that manner.

We preachers have done a poor job of teaching the saints the truths of who we are and of our relationship to our Sovereign Head, Christ Jesus our Master.

Thus, too often we see church as a spectator sport.

We go to church, watch a worship team worship and a preacher preach.

The entire event is treated somewhat as entertainment.

We seem to have forgotten that each individual is to meet the Risen Saviour, being lost in wonder, admiration and awe before His majesty and power.

We are responsible to meet Him; and we meet Him through the elements of worship—reading the Scriptures; prayer; singing hymns, psalms and spiritual songs; and through the preaching of the Word.

“[The first congregation met and] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.

And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” [ACTS 2:42-47].

This nascent church was marked by devotion to biblical preaching, devotion to unity as a congregation and devotion the Risen Saviour revealed through worship.

Consequently, church was a living entity for them.

These new saints attended and participated in the worship of the congregation because they had been transformed—each one knew that she or he had a vital role.

For each of these believers, church was not a performance—the church was the living Body of the Risen Son of God and they were each members of that living Body.

An old saying among the churches presented the truth that the workman dies, but the work continues.

God superintends His churches, ensuring that the Faith will not be extirpated from the earth.

However, it is the Master’s plan that He ensures continuation of the Faith through mere mortals.