A man and his ten-year-old son were on a fishing trip miles from home. At the boy’s insistence, they decided to attend the Sunday worship service at a small rural church. The father forgot to bring any cash, so he reached in his pocket and gave his son a quarter to drop in the offering plate as it was passed.
As they walked back to their car after the service, the father complained. "The service was too long, the sermon was boring, and the singing was off key."
Finally the boy said, "Daddy, what did you expect for a quarter?
“A Bunch of Everlastings”
2 Timothy 1:8-18
Scripture Reading
Verse 12 - “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
Second Timothy could be called Paul’s last will and testament for he is in his last imprisonment and the signs of his impending death are everywhere around him, but there is no note of regret, on the contrary, there is one of the greatest statements of faith found anywhere in the Bible. It stands along side Job’s “my redeemer liveth…”as an expression of a heart that has settled the great issues of life. In life as in death Paul trusted in certainties, not speculations, to borrow from F. W. Boreham, Paul trusted in a, “Bunch of Everlastings.” Thankfully for us, Paul tells what those “everlastings” are!
I. The Simplicity of Paul’s Faith – “I know whom I have believed…”
Paul proceeds to explain both the cause and the willingness of his suffering in v. 12. He says “For the which cause I also suffer these things…” The cause mentioned here includes:
a. His past experience – This would include his persecution of the early church, his arrest by the Lord on the Damascus Road and his life of pain and hardship as he preached the faith that he once hated.
Acts 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
b. His present experience – In particular this would refer to his most recent discouragement and suffering in the Roman prison but in spite of all the suffering he has experienced he has no regrets. He still firmly believes that the cause is worth the pain, and he confidently recommends the same journey through life for Timothy and all others who would read his words.
c. His personal experience – “I have believed…” in the original, indicates a completed action accompanied by a continuing result (Greek perfect tense). There is no struggle in Paul’s faith at this point in his life and ministry. Christ has proved himself too many times; his faith is settled, sure, firm. Robert Picirilli in “The FWB Commentary”
ILL - Someone asked Melvin Trotter, who was a hopeless alcoholic before his conversion, "How do you know you are a Christian?" Trotter replied, "I was there when it happened!"
ILL - F. W. Boreham writes of a man who lay dying, and was being comforted by a friend. Seeking to fortify the dying man’s faith he read this passage, “I know in whom I have believed, and— but the sick man stopped him and exclaimed, “It is not I know in whom” but “I know whom” I cannot have even the little word “in” between me and Christ.”
John Oxenham’s poem – “Credo”
Not what, but WHOM, I do believe,
That, in my darkest hour of need,
Hath comfort that no mortal creed
To mortal man may give;--
Not what, but WHOM!
For Christ is more than all the creeds,
And His full life of gentle deeds
Shall all the creeds outlive.
Not what I do believe, but WHOM!
WHO walks beside me in the gloom?
WHO shares the burden wearisome?
WHO all the dim way doth illume,
And bids me look beyond the tomb
The larger life to live?--
Not what I do believe,
BUT WHOM!
Not what,
But WHOM!
II. The Security of Paul’s Faith – “…that He is able to keep…”
a. He trusted God’s way in salvation – Paul trusts implicitly in the love of God.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ILL - A well know Christian was being interviewed on the radio. The host asked, “How would you defend Christianity?”
“I can’t defend Christianity.”
“But I thought you were a Christian, why won’t you defend Christianity?”
“I am a Christian, but Christianity means something different to you and to me—there are as many different definitions of Christianity as there are listeners. I can’t defend Christianity, but I can talk with you about the love of Jesus and how he has changed my life.”
Bottom line—biblical Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship with Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God. The world does not need more “Christians.” The world needs more men and women who are more in love with Jesus.
b. He trusted God’s work in the Savior – Paul continues to explain why his faith is so firm. In the phrase, “…I have been persuaded… (literally)” he again uses the perfect Greek tense thus meaning “I am convinced” that the Lord is able (Greek dunatos). This word means “power” or “ability”. Paul’s faith is in the Lord’s ability to keep, (the verb form indicates a completed action), indicating a successful outcome. The idea of “to keep” is of a soldier or sentry who watches against an invasion of the enemy!
ILL - A college man walked into a photography studio with a picture of his girlfriend… He wanted the picture duplicated… The owner of the store noticed the inscription on the back of the picture, it said, “My dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart… I love you more & more each day… I will love you forever & ever… I am yours for all eternity…” It was signed “Diane,” and it contained a P.S.: “If we ever break up, I want this picture back…”
Friends, when Christ calls us & we follow Him, there’s no “PS” with Christ… You’re His & He’s yours…
SALVATION IS THE NET
ILL - During the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in S.F. that during the first half of the construction 23 men fell to their deaths in the waters below. It was so dangerous that they stopped construction. Then they built a huge net under the bridge at a cost of $100,000, so if anyone did fall they would not be hurt. During the second half of the construction only 8 men fell and of course, none of them died. But here’s the amazing thing.. during the last half of construction the work proceeded at 25% greater efficiency. Having the net under them didn’t make them more careless it made them more confident and more efficient. In order for us to be as efficient as possible in the Christian life, we must have confidence in our salvation.
c. He trusted God’s word in the Scriptures – Paul’s standard for faith and practice was not formed or founded upon any intuitive ideas of right and wrong or outward experiences of time and space; but it was formed entirely on what he held to be the revelation of the will of God in the written Word.
ILL - Feelings come and feelings go
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God,
Naught else is worth believing.
Attributed to Martin Luther, quoted in The Adversary, Mark Bubeck, Moody Press, p. 13.
III. The Serenity of Paul’s Faith – “…that which I have committed unto him against that day.” There is a wonderful translation of this phrase which is in noun form in the original. It literally reads, “He is able to keep my deposit,” (Greek paratheke), was a secular term used by the Greek bankers of Pauls’ day.
a. He had peace concerning his faith
ILL - A philosopher of last century, Bertrand Russell was an outspoken atheist. He even wrote a book called Why I Am Not A Christian. When Russell was 81 years old, he was interviewed on a British Broadcasting Corporation radio talk show. The interviewer asked him what he had to hang onto when death was obviously so close. Russell responded, "I have nothing to hang onto but grim, unyielding despair."
ILL - Names like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods roll from the lips of those who talk about golf’s premier event, the Masters. One name that will probably never surface in a conversation about golfing legends is Doug Ford. Few people would have any idea that Ford won the 1957 Masters. He never won another green jacket and he hasn’t made the cut since 1971 (four years before Tiger Woods was born), but he is invited to play in the Masters every year. The Masters’ rules include a lifetime invitation to every champion of the event. Ford only won the tournament once, hasn’t qualified with his golf skills in nearly three decades, and hasn’t been able to break par in the event since 1958. Nonetheless, he gets to play in the tournament every year because on one single occasion he won the jacket. Our salvation is similarly linked to a single event. Christ’s work on the cross was a one shot deal. He died once so that all could live eternally.
Houston Chronicle, April 10, 1998, p. 1B
b. He had peace concerning his fruit
Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
c. He had peace concerning his future
2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand,
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
ILL - When Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman was a student for the ministry at Lake Forest University, Illinois, he heard the famous evangelist D.L. Moody speak. Charmed by Moody’s simple presentation, Chapman followed him from one service to another. Finally one day he told Moody that he didn’t have assurance of salvation. Though he was studying for the ministry, one day he was sure he would be in heaven, then the next day was in despair for he did not know for sure if he were saved.
Moody pointed him to the verse, "He that believeth on the Son shall not come into condemnation" (see John 5:24). Moody asked, "Do you believe on the Son?" "Yes," replied the young student. "Will you come into condemnation?" "That’s what I don’t know for sure. That’s why I’ve come to see you," answered the young man. Then D.L. Moody said in his firm way of dealing with people, "See here, young man, whom are you doubting?" In a flash it dawned on young Chapman that he was doubting none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, whose word is truth and cannot be broken. That was the beginning of better days for young Chapman. He never doubted his salvation from that day on, and became an evangelist known the world over.
ILL - On the shore of beautiful Lake Como, nestled in the Italian Alps, is a lovely old villa, perhaps two or three hundred years old. For years the grounds have been immaculately kept by a trusted old gardener. One day some tourists were complimenting him on his work. “The owner must come here frequently to supervise your work,” one of them said.
“No, sir,” answered the gardener. “He has been here only once in fifteen years and then I did not see him.”
“Well, then, how do you get your orders?” came the next question.
“They come from the owner’s agent, who live in Milan,” the old man replied.
“Then he must come here often.”
“No, not often, perhaps once a year or so.”
“This is quite amazing,” said the tourist. “You have no one to supervise your work, and yet the grounds are as neat as if you expected the owner to come back tomorrow.”
“Today, sir!” came the old gardener’s firm reply. “Not tomorrow, today!”
