If life be long, I will be glad,
That I may long obey;
If short, yet why should I be sad
To welcome endless day?

Christ leads me through no darker rooms
Than He went through before;
He that unto God’s kingdom comes
Must enter by this door.

Come, Lord, when grace hath made me meet
Thy blessèd face to see;
For if Thy work on earth be sweet
What will Thy glory be!

Then I shall end my sad complaints
And weary sinful days,
And join with the triumphant saints
That sing my Savior’s praise.

My knowledge of that life is small,
The eye of faith is dim;
But ’tis enough that Christ knows all,
And I shall be with Him.

Singer Hoagy Carmichael, the story goes, once decided to take up golf. So, lessons were arranged with an instructor. At the first session Carmichael was patiently shown the basics of the game: how to hold the club, how to stand, how to swing, etc.

            Finally, after a half hour of this, the instructor felt Carmichael was ready to drive a few toward the first hole. The ball was teed up. Hoagy stepped up to it, swung, then watched the ball sail down the fairway, bound onto the green and roll into the cup–a hole in one!

            The instructor was dumbfounded. Hoagy nonchalantly flipped the club to a caddy, then turned to the still speechless instructor. “OK,” he said casually, “I think I’ve got the idea now.” 

            Some people are quick learners!

Two pals were sitting in a pub watching the eleven-o’clock news. A report came on about a man threatening to jump from the 20th floor of a downtown building. One friend turned to the other and said, “I’ll bet you ten bucks the guy jumps.” His buddy said, “I don’t think he is going to jump. It’s a bet.”

            A few minutes later, the man on the ledge jumped, so the loser handed his pal a $10 bill. “I can’t take your money,” his friend admitted. “I saw him jump earlier on the six-o’clock news.” “Me, too,” said the other buddy. “But I didn’t think he’d do it again!”

            Other people are slow learners!

Indeed, some people are fast learners and some people are slow learners, but we all need to be life-long learners. The term “lifelong learner” has become a buzzword and cliché in many education circles—it refers to the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge. Many schools have adopted this term into its mission statement, striving to not only produce graduates, but to inculcate a love for learning the will continue to develop throughout the duration of one’s life. Whether we pursue formal education through college or graduate school courses or whether we simply spend time with someone who knows something that we don’t know, it is vital for us to continue to learn—for when our minds stop learning, they start dying!

            Scientist Albert Einstein once said, “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” General Robert E. Lee said, “The education of a man is never completed until he dies.” Industrialist Henry Ford said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” Chef Julia Child once said, “You’ll never know everything about anything, especially something you love.”

            Life-long learning is not only imperative for the mind, but it is vital for the soul. Like the mind, whenever the soul stops growing, it starts dying! That is why, throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, God highlights the importance of Christian learning. From Moses and Joshua in the Old Testament to Jesus and Paul in the New Testament, there is a clear theme of Christian learning for the health of the human soul.

In II Timothy 3:10-17, the apostle Paul places a special emphasis on Christian learning. As Paul approached the end of his life on earth, he wanted to commend Timothy for how much he had already learned and to challenge him to continue in what he had learned. He focuses on two crucial aspects of Christian learning: method and content. The method is learning from Christian mentors and the content is the Christian Scriptures.

1.) Learning from Christian Mentors (10-13)

Just as Jesus had mentored the twelve disciples, Paul spent a number of years

mentoring Timothy in the Christian faith and ministry. He begins this section by praising Timothy for following his example. Paul opens with the adversative conjunction “You, however” to contrast him with the false teachers who were polluting the Ephesian church. Whereas the false teachers had turned away from Paul and his gospel, Timothy had followed Paul’s “teaching, conduct, aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, and sufferings.” Timothy learned all of these virtues from his mentor while they were together on Paul’s second and third missionary journeys.

Timothy followed Paul’s way of life—a life that was centered the person and work of Jesus Christ. Like his mentor, Timothy had put his faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and was now working to spread the good news of forgiveness of sins and the hope of heaven to others. Paul’s words to Timothy highlight the importance of learning from Christian mentors.

The term “mentor” comes from Homer’s Odyssey. Odysseus, king of Ithaca, fights in the Trojan War and entrusts the care of his household to a man named Mentor, who serves as teacher and overseer of Odysseus’ son, Telemachus. Because of Mentor’s close relationship with Telemachus, the name Mentor has been adopted in English as a term meaning someone who imparts wisdom and shares knowledge with someone less experienced.

            Today the word “mentor” means trusted advisor, friend, teacher, and wise person. Mentoring is a fundamental form of human development where one person invests time, energy, and personal know-how in assisting the growth and ability of another person. History offers many examples of mentoring relationships: Socrates and Plato, Haydn and Beethoven, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, Master Yoda and Luke Skywalker.

            Like Timothy, we all need a mentor in the Christian faith. We need someone to model a holy Christian life for us! We need someone to walk with us through times of difficulty and speak words of Christian wisdom to us. We need someone to show us how the Scriptures address the big issues of life! Do you have a Christian mentor?

In verses11-13, Paul focuses on one of the aspects of his life that he wanted Timothy to remember most from their mentoring: enduring persecutions and sufferings. He reminds Timothy of what happened to him many years earlier in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, which was Timothy’s hometown. Timothy witnessed it firsthand Paul being seized by a violent mob and was stoned almost to the point of death. Timothy also saw how God preserved his life and used him to spread the gospel despite the sufferings that he faced. Paul reminded Timothy of these events to encourage him to endure persecution and suffering for Jesus Christ in his own life. Paul goes on to make the blanket statement for all Christians: all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

            This statement is as true today as it was when Paul wrote it 2000 years ago. Have you ever caught flack from someone because you made a stand for Jesus Christ? Has anyone ever gotten angry with you because you insisted on going to church on a Sunday morning when they wanted you to do something else? Have you ever been mocked by a group of people who are getting drunk because you have said you have had enough? Have you ever been laughed at because you committed yourself to a life of sexual purity?

            The easiest way to avoid persecution is to sin like everyone else. But if you desire to live a godly life, you will be persecuted! Have you learned that lesson yet?

2.) Learn from the Christian Scriptures (14-17)

In verses 14-17, Paul shifts from the method of Christian learning to the content of Christian learning: God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures. In verse 14, when Paul tells Timothy to “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you have learned it”, he is referring to what Timothy had learned from their mentoring relationship and to the fact that he had learned the sacred writings from his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (II Tim. 1:5). These “sacred writings” certainly refer to the Old Testament Scriptures and possibly some of the early New Testament writings (Some of them were written and in circulation at this point). These writings are the content of Christian learning because they have the power to make people “wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” The Scriptures do not have the power to save a person’s soul, but they point to Jesus Christ, the one who can save!

The Old and New Testament writings are merely the product of human minds and pens; their origins are from God himself. Though the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, God himself breathed the very words that we find on these pages! That is why they are useful for the tasks of ministry. “God’s word is useful for teaching”—this refers to the fact that the Bible teaches us what we need to believe to gain salvation and how we are to conduct our lives as Christians. “Rebuking and correcting” speaks to the disciplinary function of Scripture. It shows us our ungodliness, convicts us of sin, and shows us how to make our souls right with God and other people. “Training in righteousness” refers to the way the Bible gives guidance for maturing in the faith progressing toward godlier conduct.

The purpose or goal of the sacred writings is revealed in verse 17, “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” God’s Word is meant to convict people of their sins, point them to faith in Jesus Christ as the only hope of forgiveness and eternal life, and to nurture and mature that faith in such a way that they become competent to share this message in ministry to other people!

Today the vast majority of American universities teach that the Bible is simply a collection of ancient human writings, and that it is not historically accurate. But here in this passage, the Bible claims to be the very Word of God, divine in its origin, containing the power to make us wise unto the salvation that is offered through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Do you believe that this book was written by God? Have you experienced its power?

            It is quite appropriate that we would study these verses on Reformation Sunday, when we remember “Sola Scriptura” or “Scripture Alone” which was one of the key doctrines heralded by Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformers!

            The Formula of Concord is an authoritative statement of faith that was produced by some of Martin Luther’s early followers. I would like to read the portion of it that speaks to the Bible as being the content of Christian Learning. The Solid Declaration reads:

                        We pledge ourselves to the prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New                              Testaments as the pure and clear fountain of Israel, which is the only true norm                               according to which all teachers and teachings are to be judged and evaluated.

            The Bible is indeed the standard whereby every thought, action, idea, philosophy, and belief is judged!

            Every time I think about the topic of education, I think about a song that I used to listen to when I was back in high school. I bet most of you have heard these words at some point in your lives. The song goes like this:

We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey teacher leave them kids alone
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall

            Unfortunately, this song hasn’t only been the anthem of disgruntled high school students, but the attitude has also worked its way into the church. The truth is that we do need education and we do need thought control! As Paul told Timothy, if we are to live healthy Christian lives, we need to learn from Christian mentors and we need to learn from the Christian Scriptures. Will you find a mentor? Will you open your Bible?

            I would like for you to ponder a series of questions this morning! Do you think our country is better today than it was fifty years ago? Do you think it will be better or worse fifty years from now? Is the world getting better or worse? I have heard people respond to these questions with opposite responses. They usually correspond to the person’s age—with younger people feeling optimistic, saying “All of my dreams will come true someday!” and older people feeling pessimistic, saying “This country isn’t what it used to be! The whole world is going to hell in a hand basket.”

            I recently had a conversation with my grandmother that illustrates this point. Not long after she got married and started having children, her mother-in-law (that is, my great-grandmother) chastised her for having children. She said, “I don’t know why you are having all of these kids! Who, in their right mind, would want to bring kids up in a world like this?” That conversation took place 55 years ago!

            With so many murders, rapes, kidnappings, terrorist threats, family conflicts, and government deadlocks, it does seem like the moral fabric of our world has frayed from what our collective memories tell us was the “good old days,” if there ever was such a thing. As I have pondered it personally, I honestly don’t know if our country and world is getting better or worse. On one hand, we have made great strides in abolishing the slavery and curbing much of the racial prejudice of the past. But on the other hand, drug abuse and violent crime is at an all time high, as we saw colide the tragic St. Albans shooting just a few weeks ago. Likewise, domestic violence and child abuse are not tolerated like it used to be, but sexual licentiousness, adultery, and divorce are readily acceptable today in ways they weren’t in the past.

            Regardless of whether the world is getting is getting better or worse, we all know that it is plagued by difficulty, and it has been ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and introduced sin to the human race. If you study history, you will discover that there has always been difficulty in every world civilization. If you watch the six o’clock news, you see the many facets of difficulty that we experience today. And even though none of us can see into the future, we instinctively know that we will endure more difficulty.

            And that is why many people are fascinated by what the Bible says about the last days and the end of the world. That is why people read verses like II Timothy 3:1 with such interest and urgency. As Paul continued his final letter to Timothy, he promises him that the “last days” would be filled with difficulty. This phrase generally elicits visions of apocalyptic catastrophe—doom, judgment, fire, and suffering—the end of the world. But what does it really mean? Some people do in fact interpret this term “last days” to mean the short period of time right before Jesus returns and judges the world. But I would like to argue that Paul did not mean it to be an event, but rather a historical epoch, that began with the ascension of Jesus Christ and persists in our present day and will continue into the future until Christ returns.

            Why do I think this? First, if you look at the text again, you will notice that verses 1-5 are in the future tense, but starting at the end of verse 5, Paul switches to the present tense. In the former, he describes the moral decadence of people living in the last days. In the later, he commands Timothy to avoid such people now, indicating that the “last days” have already begun. Second, just look at the list of vices in verses 2-5! Do not all of these sinful attitudes and actions exist today? Have they not been pervasive for the past 2000 years? Will they not continue until Jesus returns? Dear friends, we are living in the last day!

Vices in the Last Days (2-5)

            Now that we know we are living in the last days, let’s take a closer look at the dirty laundry list that characterizes so many sectors of society. Catalogues of vices were common in the ancient world (Paul used similar lists in Rom. 1:29-31, I Cor. 6:9-10, I Tim. 1:9-10), and Paul creates one here to warn Timothy of the prevailing evils of pagan society and the character of the false teachers that were disrupting the ministry of the Ephesian church. This list of 18 items is amazing—even though it was written in A.D. 67, it captures all of the same issues that appear on the front page of the newspapers in 2013—people who are “lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable (doesn’t that describe our nation’s congressional leaders), slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”

            After Paul gives this description of trouble in the last days, he emphatically commands Timothy to “avoid such people.” He did not want Timothy or the Ephesian church to be dragged down to the depths of debauchery. He did not want them to form close relationships or be influenced by people with such character. People like this would lead them away from God and damage the church.

            I hope that we will all hear Paul’s warning! Young ladies, don’t date or marry a man who is proud, arrogant, or abusive. Your life will become a living hell! Young men, don’t date or marry a woman who disrespects her parents or is unappeasable! It will only be a matter of time before she will disrespect you. Don’t form friendships with people who are lovers of self, ungrateful, unholy, or slanderous! They will not be true friends and they will harm your relationship with God. Don’t go into business with someone who is a lover of money, treacherous, or reckless! I guarantee that you will regret it! This list of vices teaches us the type of character to avoid in our own lives and in the lives of others. The last days are already filled with enough trouble; let us steer away from more!

Manipulative Men & Weak Women in the Last Days in the Last Days (6-8)

            As Paul presents this list of vices that characterize society in the last days, he focuses on the false teachers of Ephesus more specifically in verses 6-8. These false teachers would worm their way into homes with the intent of gaining control. They would hold home Bible studies and lead discussion groups that would lead people away from the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They found their greatest success in the homes of weak-willed women. These women were weighed down by guilt from the sins of their past and were still spiritually vulnerable because of their evil desires. These weak-willed women were easy prey for the false teachers—for these women were constantly learning, but they never came to the knowledge of the truth. They were very religious, but they did not have a real relationship with Jesus Christ.

            Paul compared these manipulative men to Jannes and Jambres, whom Jewish tradition tells us were Pharaoh’s two magicians who opposed the authority of Moses in Egypt. Do you remember the story of Pharaoh’s magicians who threw their staffs on the ground and became serpents and were swallowed up by Aaron’s staff? Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed God’s truth in Moses, these false teachers in Ephesus opposed God’s truth as taught by Paul, Timothy, and the Ephesian church. Their minds were corrupted and they promoted a counterfeit faith.

            As in Moses day and Paul and Timothy’s time, there are still false teachers in our world today. They oppose God’s truth and use their manipulative schemes to weasel their way into people’s homes and destroy the faith of the spiritually vulnerable and weak-willed. This is why it is so important to be grounded in the truth of God’s Word. Even today, we see people peddling false doctrines door to door; doing their best to get their heresy into your home. It also comes by the way of religious television and radio. You have to be careful with what you see and hear. As we live in the last days, beware of these manipulative monsters who lead people away from Jesus Christ!

Justice in the Last Days (9)

            After Paul warns Timothy about the manipulative schemes of the false teachers in the last days, he ends this section on a positive note by reminding Timothy that God’s justice will ultimately prevail. In verse 9, speaking of the false teachers, he says, “But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.” This is Paul’s way of saying that the truth eventually comes to light and always prevails in the end. Just as Jannes and Jambres only succeeded against Moses for a limited time, all falsehood will eventually be exposed, whether in this life or at the final judgment when Christ returns.

            Isn’t it interesting how even the most careful lies and calculated schemes eventually get revealed. No matter how much one tries to cover their tracks and keep secrets hidden, they almost always come to light. Sometimes it takes many years, and may even have to wait until Jesus returns, but God’s justice always prevails!

            The story is told of a farmer in a Midwestern state who had a strong disdain for “religious” things. As he plowed his field on Sunday morning, he would shake his fist at the church people who passed by on their way to worship. October came and the farmer had his finest crop ever–the best in the entire county. When the harvest was complete, he placed an advertisement in the local paper which belittled the Christians for their faith in God. Near the end of his diatribe he wrote, “Faith in God must not mean much if someone like me can prosper.” The response from the Christians in the community was quiet and polite. In the next edition of the town paper, a small ad appeared. It read simply, “God doesn’t always settle His accounts in October.” 

             Friends, we are living in the last days, and indeed, they are filled with trouble! May we do our best to avoid the vices listed in this passage! May we avoid the influences of others who are dominated by these vices! May we beware of those manipulative people and schemes that would lead us away from God and the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ! Let us always remember that God’s justice prevails in the end! Let us live like we are living in the last days!

            I would like to begin this sermon by asking you a question: What does a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer have in common? They are all occupations that require perseverance! Soldiers, athletes, and farmers all face adversities which require tremendous patience and steadfast endurance to achieve their respective goals, whether it is prevailing in battle, winning a competition, or reaping a bountiful harvest.

            In II Timothy 2:1-13, the Apostle Paul uses all three of these occupations as metaphors to encourage his young colleague Timothy to persevere in his Christian faith and remain loyal to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul knew that Timothy was young, timid, and was ministering in a spiritually vulnerable environment in Ephesus. He had been standing against the false teachers and trying to restore order to the church, but he had experienced only minimal success. So, Paul, persevering on his own deathbed in a Roman prison, writes to encourage Timothy to persevere in the faith. In verses 1-7 he utters a call to perseverance in the faith, and in verses 8-13 he highlights the benefits of perseverance in the faith.

The Call to Perseverance in the Faith (1-7)

            Paul begins his call to perseverance by commanding Timothy, his son in the faith, to “be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ.” He wants Timothy to draw on divine strength to sustain him through this difficult time, rather than relying on his own power or ingenuity. God’s grace, which is his unmerited favor, not only saves Christians from their sins and grants them assurance of heaven, but it gives them supernatural strength to bear the burdens of this life now. This grace has been offered through the work that Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross.

            The first task that Timothy is to be strengthened for is entrusting Paul’s words and teachings to reliable men who would be qualified to teach others. These were the things that Timothy heard Paul say in the presence of many witnesses throughout his ministry. “These things” certainly encompass the gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ which had been passed on to the apostles. As Paul draws close to death, he does not want the gospel to die with him. He wanted Timothy to entrust it to reliable people who would continue to pass it on to others.

            Paul’s command to Timothy to pass along the gospel reinforces the mission of the church that was first established by Jesus himself. The gospel was never meant to be hidden or stored away. The good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins is meant to be spread to the nations. As Christians, it is still our job to share, teach, and train other people in the gospel. Are you entrusting the gospel to reliable people who will pass it on to others? Are you sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with your children, grandchildren, co-workers, classmates, and neighbors? Like Paul, we should make sure that the message of Christ doesn’t end with our generation! But let us lean of his divine strength and power to do it!

Persevere like a Soldier (3-4)

            Paul knew that continued ministry of the gospel would mean continued personal suffering. Therefore, Paul employs three graphic metaphors to encourage Timothy to persevere in the faith. First, he says “share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Paul was certainly suffering in prison, so he invites Timothy to join him and compares this suffering to that of a soldier. The life of a soldier in ancient times had more than his share of suffering. In addition to the constant threat of opposing armies, soldiers often went days without food and would be away from their families for years at a time.

            Paul continues to elaborate on the perseverance of a soldier when, in verse 4, he says that soldiers do not get entangled in civilian pursuits because his goal is to please his commanding officer. While on duty, soldiers had to have a single-minded focus. If they became preoccupied with outside concerns, they would put themselves and their whole company in danger. Likewise, Paul called Timothy to that same single-minded focus on his ministry; he should not be distracted by the things of the world.

            There is a great story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and Yogi as usual was keeping up his ceaseless trash-talk, intending to frustrate the Milwaukee batters. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, “Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark.” Aaron didn’t say anything, but when the next pitch came he blasted it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, “I didn’t come up here to read.” 

            We should not be distracted by the cares of the world, the trash talk of others, or our own personal sufferings. In our faith and ministry, we must have the same single-minded devotion and perseverance as a soldier!

Persevere as an Athlete (5)

            After Paul uses the analogy of a soldier, he continues to call Timothy to perseverance in the faith by using the metaphor of an athlete. In Greco-Roman times, Olympic athletes were required to enter a grueling ten-month training period. This training required an incredible amount of physical and mental endurance. The athlete would also have to constantly rehearse the rules of the contest, lest he be stripped of his crown for cheating or breaking the rules.

            Breaking the rules in athletics results in disqualification and disgrace—just look at Lance Armstrong or Barry Bonds. I had been thinking about entering the Tour de France, but then I found out that they banned blood-doping and the local pharmacy didn’t carry “the cream or the clear,” so I decided against it.

            Like athletic competitions, the Christian life and ministry requires adherence to certain rules regarding attitude, conduct, and belief. Those who persevere in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ will receive their reward on Judgment Day. Those who try to claim the prize without a commitment to faithful obedience will be disqualified. A fair and true Christian life requires great perseverance. Are you competing according to God’s rules? Or are you trying to cut corners in your faith?

 Persevere like a Farmer (6)

            In addition to the soldier and athlete, the third metaphor Paul uses to call Timothy to perseverance in the faith is that of a farmer. Farming was very common in the ancient world and everyone knew that it required hard work and patience (i.e. perseverance). The farming life had many adversities with which to contend: primitive equipment, diseases, drought, hail, wind, pestilence, thieves, etc. If the farmer became negligent or lazy about dealing with these problems, he would not reap a bountiful harvest. But if the farmer would persevere until the end of his labor, he will have the first share of his crop.

            Likewise, the Christian life and ministry requires a lot of hard work and patience. We face adversities during every season, but if we remain consistent in our personal faith and steadfast in our ministry to others, we will reap a bountiful spiritual harvest. We will reap eternal life for ourselves and blessings for those around us!

            Maybe some of you are facing adversities in your life and ministry right now. Perhaps you are dealing with a debilitating disease or physical condition? Maybe you are going through a spiritual drought or feeling discouraged because you don’t feel the presence of God in your life? Maybe you are being hammered by the hail of relational conflict or whipped by the winds of worry? Perhaps you are being pounded by the pestilence of people (where there are people everywhere driving you crazy)? Whatever adversity you are experiencing right now, hang in there! It will pass! Persevere like the hardworking farmer!

The Benefits of Perseverance in the Faith (8-13)

            Well, after Paul uses the metaphors of the soldier, athlete, and farmer and calls Timothy to think over this life of perseverance, he goes on to explain some of the benefits of perseverance in the faith in verses 8-13. To help Timothy persevere in his faith, he challenges him to remember Jesus Christ, who was a descendant of King David, and who after he was crucified also rose from the dead. By remembering the sufferings of Jesus, who was fully divine and fully human, would help him persevere through pain and suffering. Paul also tells Timothy to remember Paul’s chains. Knowing that Paul, his mentor and close friend, was suffering would also inspire him persevere.

            But in verse10, Paul discloses the ultimate reason why he endures such suffering—it is so that the elect might “obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” The elect are those whom God has chosen to receive his grace. It is amazing to realize what Paul is saying here. He is not suffering for the sake of his own salvation; he is suffering for the sake of others’ salvation. The ultimate benefit of perseverance is salvation and eternal glory—not only for self, but for others too!

            Paul presses these benefits even further by introducing another one of his “trustworthy saying” which was probably a fragment from a well-known creed or hymn. In this case, the saying expresses the truth that people who give themselves to Jesus Christ and endure to the end will live and reign with him, but those who deny him in this life will be denied in the life to come. Even in spite of human unfaithfulness, Christ is always faithful to the cause of his church.

            The words of this hymn evoke some questions for our hearts today. Have you died with him—that is, have you given your heart to Jesus Christ and have received him as Lord and Savior? Are you enduring in your faith right now—that is, are you enduring with Christ in the midst of your current adversities and sufferings? How much are you willing to suffer for Jesus Christ? Think about how much he was willing to suffer for you? The benefits of perseverance in the faith are a bold witness to others now and eternal glory in the future!

            Well, now that we have seen the benefits of perseverance in the faith, let me take you back to Paul’s call for perseverance. With regard to whatever you are facing in your life or faith right now or in the future, I hope and pray that you will have the perseverance of a soldier, and athlete, and a farmer!

            Today I would like to tell you a story about a man named Ben. Ben was born and raised in Norwich, Connecticut. He received a quality education and was very bright, but his personality was romantic and adventurous, excessively proud and sensitive, governed by impulse rather than by principle. He was noted for his physical strength and beauty, as well as for bravery. At a young age and against his parent’s knowledge, he enlisted in the army. But he quickly became weary of the disciplined military life, went AWOL, returned to Connecticut, and eventually became a successful pharmacist and businessman.   

            A number of years later when the bells of battle began to ring again, Ben was compelled by the call of duty and decided to reenlist in the army. This time he was serious and he soon distinguished himself in combat and quickly worked his way up the ranks. He was successful in this role until he became embroiled a number of disputes with other high ranking officials and was falsely accused of corruption. This caused him to be overlooked for a promotion to the rank of major general; and five lesser qualified men were chosen over him.

            In the midst of Ben’s frustration over political posturing and personal persecutions, the enemy came prowling. The opposing army promised his wealth and power if he would defect and become a spy for them. Stung by the injustice he had suffered, the spirit of desertion overcame him, and he committed the traitorous deed that would blacken his name forever. Who is this traitor named Ben? Benedict Arnold, of course, who infamously defected from the American Continental Army to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.

            The name Benedict Arnold is synonymous with the term “traitor”, and he has become one of the three most famous traitors in world history (the other two being Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, and Lebron James, who abandoned the humble Cleveland Cavaliers to join the pompous Miami Heat). Like the American Army, Jesus Christ, and Cleveland Cavaliers fans, some of you have felt the pain of betrayal. You know what it feels like to be abandoned by someone who you thought loved you and would always be loyal to you—perhaps it was a spouse, parent, child, colleague, classmate, patient, friend, or someone else. Are you still suffering today because someone turned their back on you?

            The Apostle Paul knew the pain of betrayal; he knew what it was like to be left in the lurch by people who he thought were loyal to him and to the gospel that he preached. But he also knew the comfort of true comradery. Throughout his ministry he experienced the company of both traitors and comrades. And while he was suffering in a Roman prison, he thought about both of these extremes in relation to his young friend Timothy. He deeply desired that Timothy would remain loyal to him and to the gospel of Jesus Christ, despite the difficulties he was facing in Ephesus. So, he mentions the example of three men who Timothy knew personally. Two of them had become traitors and one of them continued to be a true comrade until the very end. It was certainly no secret which example Paul wanted Timothy to follow.

Traitors (15)

            In this short section of the letter, Paul reminds Timothy of the fellow Christians who had turned away from him in the Roman province of Asia, where Ephesus (and Timothy) was located. Since Timothy was obviously aware of the situation where these believers had deserted Paul, he doesn’t take the time to explain it and we don’t have any other information about it. It is probable that they deserted him when he was arrested and transferred to prison in Rome. Now when Paul says that “all who are in the province of Asia turned away from me,” he is exaggerating. Certainly, not every single Christian in this province had deserted him, but when such a close group of followers left him, it felt like everyone had abandoned him.

            Paul divulges the depth of his pain by specifically mentioning the names of two of the friends who had deserted him: Phygelus and Hermogenes. Again, Paul doesn’t give any background about these men because Timothy already knew them, and this is the only place where they are mentioned in the Bible. The mere fact that Paul highlights these two men by name shows that they had been close personal confidants and partners in gospel ministry together. But for whatever reason, maybe fear, discouragement, or the lure of false doctrines, they turned away from Paul and from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul wanted Timothy to learn from this negative example so that he would not make the same mistake.

            This is an extremely sad verse in Scripture. The only time Phygelus and Hermogenes are mentioned in the Bible is for abandoning Paul and the gospel. Can you imagine your legacy being left behind as a traitor? (No pun intended!) Can you imagine your family and friends always remembering you as the one who turned your back on Jesus Christ when faith became difficult? We need to learn from this negative example!        

            We all face situations in life that tempt us to turn our backs on Jesus Christ and abandon his gospel. Some people abandon the faith because they are fearful of what other people will think or say if they show loyalty to Jesus Christ. Others realize how difficult the Christian life is and become discouraged because God didn’t give them what they wanted. Some people are lured away by some false form of religious faith or a philosophy that contradicts the Christian message. Even though they have been raised in the church and have been taught the truths of the gospel, some people today have fallen into the self-delusional trap of egotism. They say things like: “It’s my life…I can live it however I want! If I put my mind to it…I can do anything! What do I need God for? Why should I bother going to church?”

            Are you ever tempted to turn your back on Jesus Christ and go your own way? Let us learn from the example of Phygelus and Hermogenes, the two traitors!

Comrades (16-18)

            As I mentioned earlier, Paul knew the pain of betrayal, but he also knew the comfort of comradery. A true comrade is a friend, colleague, and confidant who is always there for you. A comrade is someone who is dependable and loyal despite circumstances. One of Paul’s closest comrades was a man named Onesiphorus. In verse 16, Paul invokes a blessing on the “household” or family of Onesiphorus because he “often refreshed” him and was “not ashamed” of his chains. The fact that Paul should begin his reminder of Onesiphorus with this prayer means that he was not currently with him. Onesiphorus could have been away on some other ministry business, but by asking for present mercy on his household and future mercy for Onesiphorus himself, strongly suggests that he had died in the meantime.

            But the memory of Onesiphorus lingers on. His actions in Rome were a model of loyalty. When he first arrived in Rome, he searched for Paul diligently, which shows that Paul was not in a public prison and that finding him required considerable effort. And he was willing to take the risk of regularly visiting one who was a state criminal and who would soon be condemned to die. Under such circumstances, desertions had been plentiful, but not so with Onesiphorus! (Fee 237)

            The term “refreshed” refers to both physical and emotional/spiritual care. In ancient Roman prisons, the state did not provide food. If a prisoner was to eat, food had to be brought by a family member or by the mercy of someone else. Onesiphorus sustained Paul’s life by bringing him food and drink, and he encouraged Paul’s spirit as he awaited execution. Onesiphorus had also served faithfully in the church at Ephesus, before he wound up in Rome. His actions proved that he was a true comrade, and Paul wanted Timothy to follow his example!

            If it is true that Onesiphorus had already died by the time Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, this passage serves as Onesiphorus’ obituary. An obituary is a death notice that usually contains a short biographical sketch. Today, we usually read obituaries in the newspaper or on the internet.

            Have you ever thought about your obituary? Whenever you die, someone will write your obituary! Have you ever wondered what they might say? I guarantee this—the quality of your life will determine the quality of your obituary. How do you want people to remember you? Most obituaries we read are positive, but every once in a while one is negative due to its brutal honesty.

            Perhaps you saw the obituary published a few weeks ago that was so shocking that is made national news. Let me read it for you:

                Marianne Theresa Johnson-Reddick born Jan 4, 1935 and died alone on Aug. 30, 2013. She is survived by her 6 of 8 children whom she spent her lifetime torturing in every way possible. While she neglected and abused her small children, she refused to allow anyone else to care or show compassion towards them. When they became adults she stalked and tortured anyone they dared to love. Everyone she met, adult or child was tortured by her cruelty and exposure to violence, criminal activity, vulgarity, and hatred of the gentle or kind human spirit.

            On behalf of her children whom she so abrasively exposed to her evil and violent life, we celebrate her passing from this earth and hope she lives in the after-life reliving each gesture of violence, cruelty, and shame that she delivered on her children. Her surviving children will now live the rest of their lives with the peace of knowing their nightmare finally has some form of closure.

            Most of us have found peace in helping those who have been exposed to child abuse and hope this message of her final passing can revive our message that abusing children is unforgivable, shameless, and should not be tolerated in a “humane society”. Our greatest wish now, is to stimulate a national movement that mandates a purposeful and dedicated war against child abuse in the United States of America.

            Will your obituary be like that of Marianne or Onesiphorus? Now is the time to decide!

            This passage contrasts the examples of Phygelus and Hermogenes and Onesiphorus? As Paul did with Timothy, he wants us to see the difference. When it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ, will you be a traitor or a comrade?

            As a devoted Boston Red Sox fan, it pains me to admit that Babe Ruth was one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the game. His bat had the power of a cannon, and his record of 714 home runs remained unbroken until Hank Aaron came along. The Babe was the idol of sports fans everywhere, but in time age took its toll, and his popularity began to wane.

            As his illustrious career was winding down, the Yankees eventually traded him to the Braves. In one of his last games, Babe Ruth began to falter. He struck out multiple times and made several errors that allowed the Cincinnati Reds to score five runs in one inning. As the Babe walked toward the dugout, chin down and dejected, there rose from the stands an enormous storm of boos and catcalls. Some fans even shook their fists at him.

            Then something wonderful happened. A little boy jumped over the railing, and with tears streaming down his cheeks he ran out to the great athlete. Unashamedly, he flung his arms around the Babe’s legs and held on tightly. Ruth scooped him up, hugged him, and set him down again. Patting him gently on the head, they joined hands and walked off the field together.

            That little boy taught a whole stadium of baseball fans a lesson in loyalty. Loyalty means faithfulness and devotion to something or someone, even when it is difficult. When your favorite sports team doesn’t make the playoffs or your favorite athlete falls into a slump, it would be easier to root for someone else. Likewise, loyalty to anything from automobiles to laundry detergents is difficult when you can get a better deal on something else. Loyalty is hard—that is why it is so hard to come by.

            Even loyalty to churches isn’t as common as it used to be. When a pastor disappoints you or another church member says something that hurts you, it is often easier to go to another church or stop attending church altogether, rather than working through the problem. And some people even struggle with loyalty to their faith. It is easy to be a Christian when everything is going well and you feel God’s presence in your life, what about when life becomes difficult and it seems like God is nowhere to be found?

            In today’s Scripture text, the Apostle Paul continues his final letter to Timothy by urging him to remain loyal to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Timothy had a lot of things going against him—he was young and timid, he had health problems, felt isolated and alone in his ministry, and the situation with the false teachers in Ephesus hadn’t improved very much. So, Paul encourages Timothy by reminding him of the message that had transformed his life and challenges him to be loyal to the gospel of Jesus Christ, no matter what!

The Gospel (9-10)

            In verses 9-10, Paul presents one of the clearest and most powerful declarations of the gospel in the whole Bible. The gospel is the good news of how God saves his people. He uses a creed-like formulation to remind Timothy that God has saved them and called them to a holy calling. God saved their souls from sin, death, and hell and called them to a holy life. God initiated this great work of redemption on the basis of his own purpose grace, not because of their good works. He did it because he wanted to; not because of anything that Paul or Timothy did or did not do. God did not have to save them! They didn’t deserve salvation! God showed them favor, even in spite of their sin.

            This salvation was given through Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death on the cross provided atonement for their sins and healed their broken relationship with God. His resurrection from the grave conquered death for them and gave them eternal life. If it wasn’t for God giving his son Jesus, there wouldn’t be any hope of redemption. God purposed all of this before the ages began—that is, God planned to send his son to provide a way of salvation for his wayward people even before he created the world. This was the gospel that demanded Timothy’s loyalty!

            These two power-packed verses clarify and reinforce the central message of the gospel for us. The reality is that we are all sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory. And because we have sinned against an eternally holy God, we deserve eternal punishment in hell. But God loved humanity so much that he was willing to sacrifice his own son to pay the price of our sin and make a way for our redemption. The truly amazing thing about this is that even before God created the world, he knew that we would choose sin and that he would sacrifice his own son on our behalf, and he decided to do it anyway.

            Contrary to popular belief, this salvation does not depend upon our good works. No one is redeemed on the basis of “being a good person” or “living a moral life” or “being nice to others” or “reading the Bible” or even “going to church.” All of these are good things, but none of them help us get to heaven. Faith in Jesus Christ’s atoning death and victorious resurrection is the only way to redemption and immortality!

            Do you recognize that you are a sinner? Do you realize the sinfulness of your sin and why hell is the only just punishment for your sin? Do you understand the incredible sacrifice that God has made to rescue your soul from sin? Do you see the depth of God’s love for you that he would allow his son to take the punishment that you deserve? Have you put your faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection? Like Paul and Timothy, this gospel demands our loyalty! 

1.) Not Ashamed of the Gospel (8a, 12b)

            In this passage, Paul challenges Timothy to be loyal to this gospel in three ways. The first way Timothy is to show his loyalty is by not being ashamed of the gospel. In verse 8, Paul says, “Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner…” But why would Timothy be ashamed or embarrassed by the testimony about Jesus Christ or of Paul, his servant? In Timothy’s ancient Roman context, there was a huge stigma that came along with being associated with a crucified Messiah (a state criminal) and his (political) prisoner. If Jesus really was the Savior of the world, people would wonder why he was crucified, a punishment reserved for the most shameful crimes.

            In verse 12, Paul says that he is not ashamed of the gospel or his own imprisonment because he knows whom he has believed and is convinced that Jesus is the true messianic Son of God who is able to guard the his soul until and through the Day of Judgment. The end of Paul’s life was in God’s hands. Therefore, he was not ashamed of the gospel and neither should Timothy. This was meant to encourage Timothy to be loyal to the gospel.

            The obvious application of these verses is that we show our loyalty to Christ by not being ashamed of his gospel. There is still a stigma associated with a Messiah who claimed to be the son of God but experienced the shame of crucifixion. In many circles today, you will be mocked and ridiculed if you publically affirm aspects of the gospel like “I believe that Jesus really did perform miracles and really is the Son of God. I believe in hell. I believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven.” When you are in public or with unbelieving friends, are you afraid to share what you believe? Are you ashamed of the gospel?

2.) Suffer for the Gospel (8b, 12a)

            The second way that Timothy was to show his loyalty was to suffer for the gospel. In verse 8, Paul bids Timothy to join him in his own suffering. Paul had been persecuted and suffered severely throughout most of his ministry, but he remained loyal to Jesus Christ and the gospel. In II Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul presents a shocking summary of his sufferings:

            Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

            How was he able to endure this suffering?—“by the power of God.” Why was Paul willing to suffer all of this? Because Jesus Christ was willing to suffer even more for him! Paul wanted Timothy to follow his model!

            Our loyalty to something is always proved by how much we are willing to suffer for it. Our loyalty to the gospel is tested when we don’t understand why God has allowed our loved one to die unexpectedly, when we have health problems that are not healed, when we are ostracized for our faith, etc. How much are you willing to suffer for Christ and his gospel?

3.) Guard the Gospel (13-14)

            Finally, the third way that Timothy was to show his loyalty was by guarding the gospel. Remember, Timothy was pastoring a church that was plagued by false teachers who were distorting the true gospel. In verse 13, Paul exhorts Timothy to continue to follow the pattern of sound teaching that originated with Jesus and was passed down through the Apostles—the true gospel that produces faith and love. With the help of the Holy Spirit, Timothy was to guard “the good deposit” which is the gospel.

            We too show our loyalty to Christ by guarding the good deposit that he entrusted to us. We must do our part to preserve and protect the true gospel. As in Paul and Timothy’s day, there are many false teachers today who peddle religious beliefs that are not consistent with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. As I have mentioned before, there are so many denominations and churches who have deviated from the truth of God’s Word that is difficult to even call them “Christian.” We must make sure that everything we believe and do is rooted God’s Word. And may we always be ready to guard the gospel!

            Well, there was once a little boy who showed his loyalty by throwing his arms around Babe Ruth. Let us show our loyalty to Jesus Christ by not being ashamed of the gospel, suffering for the gospel, and guarding the gospel!