The Promise Of Life

The Promise of Life

2 Timothy 1:6-12

Introduction

The Gospel is the Good News that through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus we have the assurance of eternal life. This is not just to get us to the Christian life. It is the sustaining power of the Christian life. The Gospel-powered life will see us through our troubles, help us grow in discipleship, overcome fear, and face our eternity. The Gospel-powered life is the Jesus-centered life.

2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy is likely Paul’s last letter, thought to have been written just weeks before his death at the hands of Emperor Nero. He is grateful for young Timothy’s faith, but knows he is going to face some difficult challenges. All of us face life challenges that impact our faith. The promise of life in Christ Jesus will give us the strength we need for each of the day’s challenges. In the verses that follow we have three qualities of the life to be found in Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 1:6-12 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

A Bold Life (1:6-8)

Fan into flame - AMP= “rekindle the embers, keep burning” - Don’t let the fire go out! What are some things that can extinguish the fire? Shame Guilt Doubt Fear Failure- Not ONE of these come from God’s Spirit.So where do they come from? The THEIF who comes to steal and kill and destroy! (John 10:10). 4th Century Church Father John Chrysostom wrote: "For it is in our power to kindle or extinguish this grace.… For by sloth and carelessness it is quenched, and bywatchfulness and diligence it is kept alive."

The Spirit-led life is one of Power, Love, and Sound Mind (AMP= Calm and well-balanced mind). Power comes from God, not ourselves. Love comes from God, we give to others. Sound Mind comes from God through His Word, following His eternal truths. This is a bold life in terms of how we relate to God within ourselves, and also how we relate to the world around us.

Never be ashamed to be a follower of Christ! (8) Three times in this letter Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed. There will always be those who mock Jesus and those who follow him. The earliest known picture of a crucifixion

comes from Rome. Called “The Alexamenos Graffito” the sketch is of a human figure on a cross, but the crucified man has the head of a donkey. A young man is beside the cross looking at the crucifixion and the caption reads, “Alexamenos worships God!” (Merida).

Mark 8:38 “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

We are called to live a Bold Life as Followers of Jesus!

A Holy Life (1:9) (a holy life is focused on a Holy God!)

He saved us & called us - our life is all about what God has done and not our list of great deeds and accomplishments.

“Our only hope is grace. We cannot make ourselves alive; we cannot atone for our sins; we cannot cleanse ourselves. We need that which we do not deserve - saving grace. We cannot ‘do it,’ but there is One who has already ‘done it!’ (Merida)

2:1 “…Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” To be strong in grace is to know that all we have is from him.

“God loves you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because nobody is as they should be.” ? Brennan Manning, All Is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir