Sermon Tone Analysis

*2 Timothy 2:8-14.*

- Paul has been writing to Timothy urging Him to preserve the message, guard the treasure - had to fight and work hard, suffer for that which was of supreme value

- Paul called it "my Gospel," not because he conceived it, but because God entrusted it to him - gave him the message as a stewardship to invest it, deliver it, proclaim and plant it among the Gentiles and thus reap a harvest for his LORD.

Paul had seen much falling away (1:15) and was concerned that Timothy’s faith remain true - this is ensured by *remembering* *Jesus Christ* - His death and resurrection - the Gospel.

.-

What is it that’s worth preserving, worth guarding?

- the Good News of Jesus Christ *[OHP1]*

*Remember** Jesus *- who is Jesus?* *Will the real Jesus please stand up! Do you know Jesus?

- Remember Jesus!

He is the Messiah, the Promised One, raised from the dead, that is the Gospel - Jesus, the Messiah rose again from the dead this implies that He first died.

Here is the Gospel!

- It is so easy to get diverted from Jesus get taken up with healing, experiences, spiritual warfare, fancy obscure doctrines, eschatology, numerology, versions, a multitude of religious diversions.

The GOSPEL is the only message - do we know what it is? - attract people with fine music, social program, gymn - anything but the Gospel!

- What is the Gospel?

- “raised from the dead” [*1 Corinthians 15:3,4*/ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures/]

- importance of resurrection (2 Tim 2:8, 11, 18) this is the Gospel - it is the only means by which salvation comes - everything hangs on the resurrection - to attack it is to undermine the Gospel, leads to godlessness (2 Tim 2:16, 18)

- why is the resurrection so important?

This is the doctrine that gets attacked - many church leaders do not think an actual physical resurrection took place - does it matter?

- indeed it does!

Why did Jesus die? - for our sins.

Rebellion against God, that is doing what I want, carries a death penalty!

(Testimony about rebellions son).

- Jesus was a sacrifice in my place [*Isaiah 53:6* /All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all o fall on Him./ *1 Peter 2:24*/ and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed./]

- So if death dealt with sin why is the resurrection so important?

It demonstrated that Jesus was sinless - death had no hold on Him because He had no sin - Here is the essence of the Gospel we rely on Jesus as the only absolutely  righteousness One, the only worthy sacrifice.

- But the Good News not of salvation but the /Kingdom/ - descendent of David - both John and Jesus preached the Good News of the Kingdom - repent and believe.

- It is here!

He is the Messiah, /descended from David/, the promised King - people expected Him but not that He’d die, let alone rise again - this is the Gospel

- we preach the Gospel of Salvation but how seldom do we hear the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Jesus is absolute Monarch - He reigns!

What He ways goes!

- Met someone the other day who had recently become a “Christian” yet she still thought she could do what she wanted, didn’t know that Jesus is King - still thought there was good in her and totally shocked at message that you had to die, repent from you own way.

- Gospel was an offense to her - it causes a reaction!

Paul was in chains!

He endured suffering for the sake of the Gospel - it was worth enduring anything for the sake of preserving this precious treasure.

The Gospel is everything!

- Don’t get caught up in esoteric doctrines (cf. 1 Tim 1:4-7; 6:2-5, 20) - there is only one message that matters - don’t get distracted from it.

Keep the cross central (cf.

*1 Corinthians 2:2*/ For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified./)

*Remember Jesus! - *The communion is an essential factor in preserving the faith because it is a continual reminder of the death and resurrection of Jesus (cf.

Luke 22:19) (1 Cor 11:24-26) - a remembrance and a proclamation of His death until He comes - an identification with Jesus in His death and resurrection - we are ONE with Him *[OHP2]*

*One with Christ:*

*In His suffering (2 Tim 2:9):*

-  This simple message is an offense to man, to the world who trust in themselves.

Thus they will persecute you for it - and, if we stick to the simple pure Gospel, we will suffer.

We are *one* with Him - His life is our’s - so too is His suffering

- This Gospel, holding to this belief caused Paul suffering - it still does.

Why?

- imprisoned as a criminal - why such a reaction to a faith?  - you can believe you come back as a butterfly, that a stone statue controls the weather, that the dead speak through mediums, but that Jesus rose from the dead - suddenly there is a reaction.

When I told that new Christian that you had to die, give your own life away, not do what you want, she was offended - people still don’t like the simple message because it is the only religion in which there is no room for self - no self effort, no earning, just submission

-  Paul was expressing the Spirit of Jesus in his willingness to suffer all things for the sake of the elect - he was sharing in the sufferings of Jesus

- for this is precisely the attitude of Jesus - He was willing to suffer all things for the sake of the elect - those who were given Him - even to die for them, bear their sin and condemnation in order to save them from the coming wrath (cf.

John 10:11-18; 6:37-40).

- Paul’s great longing was for men to receive the salvation God freely offered - salvation that is in Christ Jesus alone (cf.

Rom 9:1-3; 10:1).

- the message goes on, it must be preserved at all costs because it is eternal - but if we hold fast to the truth we will suffer - all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer

- so he willing bore the shame associated with the Gospel for Jesus sake and for the sake of those who would be saved by it

*In the shame of His Gospel (2 Tim 2:8,9):*

- Paul was not concerned with his chains but he was concerned about the chaining of the Gospel.

He didn’t  care about his own imprisonment so long as the Gospel still had free course.

Satan can (does and will) persecute the believer, the one promulgating the message.

He hates the message and does all he  can to stop it - he can ensure those proclaiming it are captured, persecuted, imprisoned or killed; but he cannot imprison their message!

- they can kill the messenger but not the message.

Hallelujah!

He has power over men’s bodies but not over their minds, thoughts, beliefs, over their souls or spirits.

The record of history is a wonderful testimony - many were martyred for their faith in Jesus, but though many died the message never did!

It spread more and more!

The more satan persecuted the more the church grew!

The Gospel is not imprisoned!

Hallelujah!

What a joy and encouragement this is to those who are suffering persecution for the Gospel - their temporal body may be suffering but satan is powerless to defeat the message for which they live and suffer.

No chain can bind the truth!

Praise God!

*In His glory (2 Tim 2:10):*

- if we share Christ’s suffering we also share His glory - but no glory without suffering

- So Paul endured whatever might come his way - he did it for the sake of the elect, those who would believe, receive the Gospel and obtain salvation that is in Christ Jesus - the chosen believing, relying totally on who He is and in His death and resurrection.

As an outcome of this obtaining LIFE! Eternal life!

Life that carries through to eternity, to God’s presence, sharing His glory forever!

Hallelujah!

- Paul was treated as a criminal but he gladly endured any temporal suffering for the sake of the precious, glorious, eternal Gospel.

He would endure anything just so long as the message of salvation came to those who were chosen to receive it.

He had eternal glory in view and when we have this perspective the suffering of this life fades, is bearable when the glorious end, that hope is in view.

(cf.

*Romans 8:17-18; 8:23-25*/ and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it./)/

/

- Paul was living and working not for a merely earthly objective but for eternity!

- not for earthly riches but for eternal glory!

A glory that will never fade away nor can be taken from you (1 Peter 1:4-7; 5:4).

Suffering is an unavoidable prerequisite to obtaining glory  (Rom 8:17).

Paul’s desire was that these elect may also obtain that glory - share Christ’s glory (*Col 3:1-4*/ When Christ appears we will appear with Him and share His glory/).

*In His death (2 Tim 2:11):*

* *- The principle, patience through suffering - discipline reaps a future reward: (athlete, soldier, farmer) if we die, suffer - we live.

- We only live in union together with Christ if we have first died with Him - died to sin and self i.e. repentance (cf.

*Luke 9:23,24*/ And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it./

*1 Peter 2:24*/ and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that *we might die* to sin and live to righteousness/ *2 Corinthians 5:15* /and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf./)

- We must continually reckon ourselves "dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus

- to have resurrection life we must first die!