The Cost of Commitment. 2 Timothy 2

1 The Cost of Commitment 2 Timothy 2

2 The Cost of Commitment Introduction: I. 2 Timothy was written by Paul from Rome after Paul s second imprisonment in that Imperial City. Text: A. It is the last of the New Testament books written by Paul. B. Paul was writing to encourage Timothy to and ask him to come to Rome to help him. C. Paul was later executed for his service to Christ. 2 Timothy 2:1-26, 1. Timothy, my child, Christ Jesus is kind, and you must let him make you strong. 2. You have often heard me teach. Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others. 3. As a good soldier of Christ Jesus you must endure your share of suffering. 4. Soldiers on duty don t work at outside jobs. They try only to please their commanding officer. 5. No one wins an athletic contest without obeying the rules. 6. And farmers who work hard are the first to eat what grows in their field. 7. If you keep in mind what I have told you, the Lord will help you understand completely. 8. Keep your mind on Jesus Christ! He was from the family of David and was raised from death, just as my good news says. 9. And because of this message, I am locked up in jail and treated like a criminal. But God s good news isn t locked in jail,

3 10. and so I am willing to put up with anything. Then God s special people will be saved. They will be given eternal glory because they belong to Christ Jesus. 11. Here is a true message: If we died with Christ, we will live with him. 12. If we don t give up, we will rule with him. If we deny that we know him, he will deny that he knows us. 13. If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful. Christ cannot deny who he is. 14. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17. And their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; 18. Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master s use, and prepared unto every good work. 22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

4 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Background: Note: The cost of discipleship! We must not think that we will live life on flowery beds of ease because we are Christians. To the contrary! I. 2 Corinthians 11:21b-29, If they can brag, so can I, but that is a foolish thing to do. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Jews? So am I. Are they from the family of Abraham? Well, so am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a fool to talk this way, but I serve him better than they do. I have worked harder and have been put in jail more times. I have been beaten with whips more and have been in danger of death more often. Five times my own people gave me thirty-nine lashes with a whip. Three times the Romans beat me with a big stick, and once my enemies stoned me. I have been shipwrecked three times, and I even had to spend a night and day in the sea. During my many travels, I have been in danger from rivers, robbers, my own people, and foreigners. My life has been in danger in cities, in deserts, at sea, and with people who only pretended to be the Lord s followers. I have worked and struggled and spent many sleepless nights. I have gone hungry and thirsty and often had nothing to eat. I have been cold from not having enough clothes to keep me warm. Besides everything else, each day I am burdened down, worrying about all the churches. When others are weak, I am weak too. When others are tricked into sin, I get angry. II. We choose to suffer with Christ that we may be victorious with Christ. III. Anything of value carries a cost. For what we really want we are often willing to put forth unbelievable effort.

5 IV. Success is usually a mixture of talent and plain hard work. V. Acts 7:54-60, When the council members heard Stephen s speech, they were angry and furious. But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. Then Stephen said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God! The council members shouted and covered their ears. At once they all attacked Stephen and dragged him out of the city. Then they started throwing stones at him. The men who had brought charges against him put their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, Lord Jesus, please welcome me! He knelt down and shouted, Lord, don t blame them for what they have done. Then he died. VI. Galatians 6:17, On my own body are scars that prove I belong to Christ Jesus. So I don t want anyone to bother me anymore. VII. Choose carefully the star you will follow! Our lives are the result of the decisions we make. VIII. Keep our eyes, in spite of clouds and storms, focused on our star! IX. 2 Timothy 2:11, 12, Here is a true message: If we died with Christ, we will live with him. If we don t give up, we will rule with him. If we deny that we know him, he will deny that he knows us. X. Philippians 4:13, And, my true partner, I ask you to help them. These women have worked together with me and with Clement and with the others in spreading the good news. Their names are now written in the book of life. Commentary:

6 2 Timothy 2:1, 2, Timothy, my child, Christ Jesus is kind, and you must let him make you strong. You have often heard me teach. Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others. I. Timothy is exhorted to be strong in grace and in what he has heard, the apostolic gospel. A. 1 Corinthians 16:10, Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. B. 2 Timothy 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II. So what you have heard from me through many witnesses is not just a general statement. III. Timothy learned the faith from his mother and grandmother. Teaching the faith is not the task of apostles and preachers alone; it is the work of all God s people. A. Timothy was Paul s son in the faith. IV. The apostles faith is not to be handed down to just anyone. It is to be given to faithful people who will be able to teach others. V. Being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus is a call to faithfulness. 2 Timothy 2:3-7, As a good soldier of Christ Jesus you must endure your share of suffering. Soldiers on duty don t work at outside jobs. They try only to please their commanding officer. No one wins an athletic contest without obeying the rules. And farmers who work hard are the first to eat what grows in their field. If you keep in

7 mind what I have told you, the Lord will help you understand completely. I. The first metaphor is about soldiers as the model of obedience, loyalty and self-sacrifice. The Christian disciple is called to live out that model. II. The point of the metaphor is that the invitation to Christian discipleship is like military service. One cannot have divided loyalties; one must be committed to the legions and to the one who heads the legions (Christ, in the case of the church). A. Philippians 2:25, Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. B. Philemon 2, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house: C. 1 Corinthians 9:7, Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? D. Ephesians 6:10-17, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet

8 shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: III. The soldier s aim is to please the commanding officer. For Timothy, this means that he must cut out of his life everything that is not pleasing to Christ. IV. The second metaphor is about discipline. Athletes are not free to do as they please, not if they wish to compete. We have seen the winners in the Olympic Games receiving their medals. Not one of us believes these athletes were able to win without the discipline to work out every day, sometimes for hours, sometimes on top of a full-time job. V. Paul knew about the discipline required for athletic competition. The rules were strict: there was a prescribed ten-month regimen of preparation, diet and physical training. Anyone who did not follow the regimen was not allowed to compete. VI. The third metaphor is about hard work. The farmer who toils is the one who deserves the first share of the crops. This statement reminds us immediately of the fable of The Little Red Hen, who could not get any of her friends to help her raise the grain, grind it, or bake it but could find lots of friends to help her eat the bread. VII. Being a Christian is hard work, and Paul s words to Timothy remind us that we have to keep working at our faith and life. VIII. 1 Corinthians 9:7, 24-27, Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown;

9 but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. IX. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 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. 2 Timothy 2:8-10, Keep your mind on Jesus Christ! He was from the family of David and was raised from death, just as my good news says. And because of this message, I am locked up in jail and treated like a criminal. But God s good news isn t locked in jail, and so I am willing to put up with anything. Then God s special people will be saved. They will be given eternal glory because they belong to Christ Jesus. I. The theme of these verses is Christ, the source of and inspiration for Christian service. A. Romans 1:3, 4, Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: B. 1 Corinthians 15:4, 20, And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: II. It means to reflect on Christ and what the Incarnation and the Resurrection (the heart of the gospel) mean for our life.

10 III. The words, Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David, embody the basic truths of the faith: Jesus Christ is both divine and human. IV. Paul intensely suffered for Christ. A. Acts 16:23, And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: B. Ephesians 3:1, For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for your Gentiles, C. Philippians 1:12-14, But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. D. 2 Corinthians 6:3-10, Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11 E. 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Here is a true message: If we died with Christ, we will live with him. If we don t give up, we will rule with him. If we deny that we know him, he will deny that he knows us. If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful. Christ cannot deny who he is. I. Dying/living is surely a baptismal image. Romans 6:1-4 talks about baptism as a dying to sin and self and rising again in Christ. Because we have been baptized, we have also died and been raised. In our daily lives, if we suffer with Christ, we will be glorified with him. II. Romans 6:1-4, What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God s wonderful kindness will show up even better? No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? Don t you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his

12 death? When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father. III. Scriptures: A. 1 Timothy 1:15, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. B. Colossians 2:12, Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. C. Matthew 3:11, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: D. Romans 6:10, 11, For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. E. Romans 6:11-14, Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your moral body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

13 Song: F. Luke 9:23, And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. G. Revelations 22:5, And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. H. Matthew 10:33, But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. I. Numbers 23:19, God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? J. Romans 3:3, 4, For what if some did not believe: shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. K. Titus 1:2, In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Am I a Soldier of the Cross? Am I a soldier of the cross, A follower of the Lamb, and shall I fear to own His cause, Or blush to speak His name? Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease, While others fought to win the prize, And sailed thro bloody seas? Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood?

14 Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God? Sure I must fight, if I would reign; increase my courage, Lord; I ll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by Thy word. Amen. 2 Timothy 2:14, Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. I. Paul here instructed Timothy to deal appropriately with false teachers at Ephesus. A. Timothy was to put all in remembrance of the truths of the gospel. 1. 2 Peter 1:12, Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 2. 2 Peter 3:1, This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 3. Jude 5, I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. B. Timothy was to charge those in error not to strive about words. 1. The striving referred to here: a. was of no profit, value. b. would subvert those who heard this wrangling.

15 c. 1 Timothy 6:4, He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, d. Titus 3:9, But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 2. We must not major in minors, spend our efforts on matters of little importance while Christ is being crucified afresh. a. Let us stop bickering, complaining. b. Let us get on with advancing God s work on earth. 2 Timothy 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly diving the word of truth. I. Give diligence, Timothy, to present yourself: A. approved unto God. 1. Nehemiah 8:8, So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. B. a workman who has no need to be ashamed. C. a disciple who handles aright the word of truth. 1. Cuts the word straight, holds a straight course, expounds the words soundly.

16 2. Don t put any spin on the gospel. Tell it like it is! 2 Timothy 2:16, But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. I. Shun profane babblings, A. Shun, go out of your way to avoid... B. Profane babblings include striving about words to no profit. C. Profane may refer to the use of God s name without respect and/or without submission to his will. II. The result of continuing to wrangle over these matters is to cause people to go further into ungodliness. A. This striving over words, profane babblings is not the way to righteousness. B. Give diligence to engage in activities and a life style that lead to godliness. 2 Timothy 2:17, 18, And their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. I. This striving about words, profane babbling, if left unopposed, will spread, eat like gangrene, cancer, a deadly disease, a canker. II. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples of false teachers who have erred from the truth.

17 A. 1 Timothy 1:19, 20, Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. B. Philetus is mentioned only in 2 Timothy 2:17, 18. III. They taught that the resurrection was already past. A. This doctrine would undermine the faith of Christians who were in imminent danger of martyrdom. B. Gnostics may have been referring to a spiritual resurrection while denying a literal physical resurrection. IV. This false doctrine would overthrow the faith of some disciples if allowed to run its course. 2 Timothy 2:19, Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. I. The firm foundation of God stands! A. Timothy was to remain faithful no matter what! B. Nothing, not even the gates of hell, can prevail against the gospel and the church. II. The seal, stamp on the massive foundation is: A. The Lord knoweth them that are his.

18 1. Numbers 16:5, And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even tomorrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. B. Let everyone that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness. 1. 2 Corinthians 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2. Christians must live righteously! Saving grace is contingent on Christians serving God faithfully. 2 Timothy 2:20, But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. I. In a great house (mansion) there are vessels of many kind; viz., A. gold silver. B. wood clay. C. honor dishonor. II. It is not surprising that in God s house, the church, there are: A. Peter and Paul. B. Hymanaeus, Philetus and Alexander.

19 C. There are hypocrites in the church. This must not disillusion us. 2 Timothy 2:21, If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master s use, and prepared unto every good work. I. Christians must purge themselves of the profane babblings, subverting words before mentioned in this chapter. II. A person who does this will be a vessel: A. of honor. B. sanctified. C. suited for the Master s use. D. prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:22, Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. I. Flee youthful lusts. II. Follow after: A. righteousness. B. faith. C. love. D. peace.

20 III.... with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:23, But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. I. Refuse foolish and ignorant questionings. II. These things gender strife. A. Do we engender strife by: 1. teachings? 2. attitudes? 3. actions? Note: Shun, purge, flee, refuse evil! Strong words! Absolutely necessary then and now!... for Timothy and for us! 2 Timothy 2:24, And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, I. The Lord s servant must not strive, be contentious. II. The Lord s servant must be: A. gentle towards all. B. apt, able to teach. C. forbearing.

21 III. The characteristics of the Lord s servants are clearly differentiated from false teachers then and now. 2 Timothy 2:25, 26, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. I. The Lord s servant: A. in meekness is to correct them that oppose themselves. 1. Doing foolish, sinful things hurts the ones committing these infidelities. II. God may give the errant disciples: A. repentance unto the knowledge of the truth. B. recovery out of the snare of the devil. Conclusion: 1. Such people have been taken captive by the devil to do his will. I. Suffering is the result of living in a fallen world. A. We must take up our cross and follow Christ. B. Christians today need the all-consuming dedication which characterized Paul s life. II. We must hold fast the truth of the gospel in the spirit of Christ.

22 A. We must teach and live the gospel. B. We must oppose error always with the mind of Christ.

23 Questions 2 Timothy 2 1. In what ways was Timothy Paul s son? 2. Timothy was to be in the that is in. What does this mean? 3. Timothy was commanded to entrust the gospel he had heard preached by among many to men who had the ability to also. 4. Timothy was told to as a of. 5. The, and whole heartedly devote themselves to the tasks required and to not themselves in conflicting of this. 6. was from the. From Christ Paul suffered as an. Paul was bound, but the gospel was not.

24 7. Paul spoke of my gospel. Is it improper for us to speak of my church? Why or why not? 8. Paul all things for the s sake that they may obtain the which is in with. 9. Who are the elect and by what process were they elected? 10. How can those who are dead with Christ be said to live with him? 11. If we, we shall with him. If we him, he will us. If we believe not, what does Christ do? 12. Timothy was to charge false teachers that they not about to no, but to the of the.

25 13. to show yourself unto, a that needs not to be, rightly the of. 14. and : for they will unto more. 15. The words of and, two false teachers, spoke word that eat as a. These men have from the saying the is past already and, in this way, overthrew the of some. 16. What is the seal which the sure foundation of God has? 17. What kinds of vessels does a great house have? 18. What is the point Paul made with the vessels of the great house? 19.. Follow,,,,

26 with them that call on the out of a. 20. Avoid and because they. The of the must not ; but be unto all men, to, ; in instructing those that hoping God will grant them to acknowledge the that they may recover themselves out of the of the.