2 Timothy 4:7

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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ~ 2 Timothy 4:7

Many consider 2 Timothy 4:6-8 to be the epitaph of the Apostle Paul who lived his life allowing God to do great things through Him while on this earth. These three verses chronicle for us the works God accomplished in Paul in the present, in the past, and what He will accomplish for him in the future. Having considered v.6, the present, today we consider the words of v.7.

In the beginning of v.7 we read, "I have fought the good fight." The phrase "I have fought" is a perfect tense verb which describes completed action in the past with continuing results today, indicating that all the way along the Apostle Paul remained true to the Christian faith.

As Paul looked back on his life, he had no regrets. That which God called him to do, he did. And so, he faced death with  complete satisfaction. He faced death triumphantly being confident that he had completed all that God intended for him to do.

The word "fought" we have considered before in 1 Timothy 6:12 where the Apostle Paul uses the Greek word from which we get our English word agonize. Whereas in 1 Timothy 6:12, the Apostle was challenging Timothy to agonize through the battle for the truth, in today's text, Paul is saying, "I have agonized." The idea is the Apostle Paul used excessive effort and energy in his struggle for the truth. The Apostle didn't call others to do something that he didn't do himself. He learned this from the Lord Jesus Himself. In all actuality, we are not the ones who render the outcomes, God does, and Paul understood this principle well. This is one of the greatest marks of a leader. 

In this struggle that we are engaged in, we fight against lies, the father of lies and his cohorts. But, our greatest battle will always be against self. Battling against our own flesh (the sinful desires within us all) takes up the majority of our time, for the enemy is cunning and he knows when we are onto his schemes. So, he adjusts and uses that which we mistakenly have trusted all of our lives, our natural impulses he uses to try to trip us up.

It is only as we engulf ourselves in God's will that we are enabled to see the enemies diabolical plot. Then we will be engaged as we ought. It is then that we will stop looking for scapegoats and be used of God to trust Him fully, choosing to fight His way and in His strength. 

Once we understand that, we will be ensconced in the most important battle of all times, the struggle for the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the hearts of people. And, once we know that our biggest battles are against self, it is then that we will engage effectively and we will see as God sees and we will fight as He fights, with eternities values in view.

We continue to read in v.7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race." 

The Apostle Paul was self-discipline enough to finish the race. In Hebrews 12:1 we read, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." 

There are two things that knocks us out of the race: The first is our hindrances, which are the unnecessary baggages that we all have in our souls. Things like our pursuit of the American Dream, or our advancement in this world in one way or another or what others think of us. Things that aren't necessarily sinful in and of themselves but are distractions to the goal. We must set as our goal, the Lord Jesus and His leading in our lives and then everything else will take care of itself.

The second thing that will knock us out of the race is sin. We get off course because we bite off the fruit that God has not deemed for us. At the root of this is covetousness. At the root of all sin is wanting that which was not intended to be ours. 

At the end of v.7 we read, "I have kept the faith." 

The faith refers to the will of God as learned in the Word of God. We are committed to the war because the Word of God calls us to it. The Word of God defines the battle as the will of God for us. "I have kept" is the verb guarded. The Apostle Paul reminds us that the purpose of the battle is to protect the Word of God. And, the best way to protect the Bible is by hiding it in our hearts through memorizing it, and then, by living according to its teachings.

The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. It has the ability to cut between bone and marrow and it has the ability to discern between what is going on in our soul and spirit. The Bible is the instrument in the hands of the God with a two-edged action. It strips off the false. And, if we seek to obey it, we shall discover that it exposes the entrenched power of the flesh in our lives, and it exposes all pretense. 

The Bible not only exposes the false, it unveils the true. When  we get to the place of honesty with ourselves, God's Word will deliver the message we have always long for: the idea that we need no longer fight a battle that is already lost, but we can start living out of the battle that was won on the cross of the Lord Jesus. His victory is realized as we come to the end of self and choose to be defined by His definitions of all things. 

2 Timothy 4:6

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For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.  ~ 2 Timothy 4:6

In 2 Timothy 4:6-8 the Apostle Paul writes his own commentary on his own life. He sums up his life; past, present and future. He does it with an economy of words that is known only to the genius of a writer who is walking with God. In these very few words he delivers a gargantuan amount of messages. 

In today's text, v.6, he reveals the activity of God in his life at the present. In v.7, he pulls back the curtain at his past. And, in v.8, he reveals to us the future that is awaiting him. Today, we are just considering v.6, the present, the close of Paul's life on earth. 

In v.6 we read, "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near."

With the completion of the writing of 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul's work on earth was complete. The end has come for him. In these famous words he describes the disposition of a man who has walked with the Lord for a long time. 

Paul wrote "I am already." He knew that the end was near, however, he did not tremble at the prospect of death! The words "poured out" and "departure" tell of his faith and confidence in the Lord Jesus. This is a faith made strong by God's truth and grace. Necessary for a strengthened faith is the presence of pain. Paul's pain served him well for it enabled him to see God increasingly with his heart.

The words "poured out" come from the "Drink Offering" in the Old Testament. In order to understand the "Drink Offering," I point you back to Numbers 15 where we read that the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness. Their sin limited their relationship with God. So, in order to deal with Israel's sin problem, God gave them His sacrificial system which pointed them to the coming of the Lord Jesus who is the epitome of the sacrificial lamb.

God, through Moses, set out to help Israel by dealing with their sin through the death of a lamb on an annual basis. If God had ignored sin and had He not exacted judgement on it, His righteousness would have been undermined and rendered void. These offerings were designed to make it possible for the people of Israel to have a relationship with God and that through their relationship with Him, they would grow in His wisdom and faithfulness. 

One of the offerings in the sacrificial system was the drink offering which was given in connection with the burnt offering which was God's way and the only way to forgive their sin. The drink offering was the sign that the burnt offering had already been given. The Apostle Paul uses these offerings to teach what was happening in his life. In effect, he was saying here in today's text, "I have given myself as a living sacrifice, and I have poured out my life as a final act of my complete dedication to the Lord. I’ve already poured out my life in the drink offering."

The Apostle Paul saw himself and his ministry as the drink offering. This was the consummate act of his faith. This offering was not made for the forgiveness of anyone's sin, it was made for the furtherance of the Gospel. And, we are the beneficiaries of his sacrifice.

“Poured out" means to be offered on behalf of others to God. Paul used the same picture in Philippians 2:7–8. In effect, Paul was saying, “Caesar is not going to kill me. I am going to give my life as a sacrifice to Jesus Christ. I have been a living sacrifice, serving Him since the day I was saved. Now I will complete that sacrifice by laying down my life for Him.”

The word "departure" means “to draw up the anchor and set sail.” Paul looked at death as a release from this world, an opportunity to enter into eternity. Departure also means “to take down a tent.” This parallels 2 Corinthians 5:1–8, where Paul compared the death of believers to the taking down of a tent, in order to receive a permanent, glorified body.

Departure also has the meaning of “loosening a prisoner.” Paul was facing release, not execution! Paul had been in hard service for many years. Now, his Master would unyoke him and promote him to higher service.

In this departing statement, there is an amazing note of triumph detected. Even though Paul is hurting over the state of the church in Ephesus, he faces death triumphantly. The Apostle is demonstrating what it looks like to have been trained and made strong by the grace and truth of God.

There was no bitterness in Paul even though he was deserted by the people who were the beneficiaries of his sacrifice. Like Paul, as we look at our present tense, the choice to be a drink offering is before us. Like Paul, we have the choice. Will there come a time when we can say with Paul, “The time for my departure is near?”

The word "time" here is kairos, it has to do with season rather than hours. He was saying, "this is the time of my death, not necessarily in the next few minutes or the next few hours or even the next few days. But, I know the end is near and I am ready." Only those who have been granted more than just a glimpse of the other side through an intimate personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, can say, "I am ready!"

Finally, the Apostle Paul could have chosen to deny his faith in the Lord Jesus, and, as a result, he could have avoided his pain and his death. But, he didn't because he knew what was really real. This world that we live in is but a shadow of what is to come. And, it was not that Paul was earning heaven, but since he realized what was really real, he chose to invest in it. He understood that our justification is that moment we were awakened to the reality of God. And, he also knew that our sanctification is being made aware that investing in the kingdom to come is most paramount.

2 Timothy 4:5

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But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. ~ 2 Timothy 4:5

Having reminded us that although we are living in a very wicked world, we are involved with God in the most important endeavor of our lives. We serve the God of the universe and nothing happens in our lives that has not come through His will for us. And, think of it, we are involved in sharing the message that will rescue people from hell and grant them eternity in heaven with everything that is good and right and wanted. 

The Apostle has also reminded us that we must do this work of calling people into a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus because coming is a day when truth will be totally rejected by most and a strong delusion will come from the wicked one and people will believe things that are not true which will lead them to an eternity in Hell. 

In today's text the Apostle Paul begins with, "But you, keep your head in all situations." This means we are to be defined by God's word. We are to operate in this world guided by the word of God and the abiding Holy Spirit. This will then make us  consistent in the work He has called each of us to. Steadiness always comes from a firm base and the firm foundation is none other than the Lord Jesus Himself and His definitions of all things. 

Our base for every day must be that we are being saturated in our thoughts with His thoughts so that we think biblically about life. That should be our base where we are resting upon the relationship we have with the Living God who is with us to steady us through times of pressure and danger. His goal is to impart to us the wisdom and power we need to be used of Him in the lives of those who know Him not.

In today's text we continue to read, "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship." To "endure hardship" is to expect that there will be times when we will be discouraged and we will suffer in various ways. The verb "endure" simply means to suffer evil in this case. 

The beauty to all of this is the fact that the grace of God trains us to understand that these unwanted moments are apart of His overall plan for our lives and the lives of others. It is encouraging to think that the experiences that we have had in life that He has navigated us through are quite useful in helping others through their moments in life. We must frequently recall what the Lord said to us through Paul in Romans 8 that "All things work together for the good." 

Now, there is this widely held belief among many Christians today that when we became followers of the Lord Jesus that God would smooth out everything for us, that He would protect us from all problems and dangers, and He would not allow us to suffer any disappointments. Scripture stands solidly against this theology which allows some to live in this world as if this world is the ultimate of reality. We are not fighting to regain this world, we are fighting for the furtherance of His coming kingdom in the hearts of people today. And, in order to connect with people, I have found that my pain clears the channels helping them to hear a little bit better. Our pain makes us more authentic to share the message.

Many believe that if something is wrong in our lives, then we are not walking with the Lord. But the Lord faithfully reminds us that there will be trouble, that those who seek to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. The reason, of course, is that Christianity is counter-cultural and if we are going to live in faithfulness to the Lord Jesus, like Him, we will be treated unjustly.

Continuing to read today's text, we read, "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist."

Even though the word evangelist is only mentioned three times in the New Testament, the verb form to share the good news is mentioned fifty-four times and the noun for good news is mentioned seventy-six times. We must not preoccupy ourselves with strictly teaching the saved; we must also present the good news to the lost. We are to be engaged in the work of the evangelist, even though we are not gifted to do so.

It’s vital that we share the gospel, and when we do, we do this best by sharing it in the context of our story with the Lord Jesus. The gospel is best shared out of how we came to the understanding that we needed a Savior, and then how we turned to the Lord and how He began to relate with us. We must be methodical and remember that we didn't learn these principles overnight.

We must always share the gospel with the goal that those with whom we are sharing will make a decision. We must present the truth that calls for a response, but we must be careful to not manipulate our hearers. And, it may mean that they do not make a decision in that moment that we share with them. It may mean that they will make the decision later when they are alone with the Lord or with someone else. I never say, "I led so and so to the Lord." That is the work of the Holy Spirit, and I am the faithful messenger of the gospel. I like to say, "I watched this person go from the darkness to the light."

The remainder of today's text reads, "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

The final idea in this verse proves that as followers of the Lord Jesus, we all have a ministry. In fact, we have many ministries to different individuals on a daily basis. To "discharge all the duties of our ministry" is to fulfill these daily appointments that God gives us. This is the beauty of the Christians life, we are engaged in a one-on-one relationship with God and daily He has certain things He wants us to do. And, we must be sensitive to follow His lead. As a result, we will be known to stop and talk with someone in a restaurant or in a parking lot. Oh, the exhilaration of hearing Him speak to our hearts and following His lead and watching Him work. There, my friends, is nothing better!

2 Timothy 4:3-4

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3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ~ 2 Timothy 4:3-4

In todays' text the Apostle Paul describes conditions that very well may be descriptive of today. The word “time” in v.3 is the Greek word kairos and it is the same word used in 2 Timothy 3:1 where we read, “Terrible times.” Paul is saying, "There will come in the future, terrible times when men will not listen to the truth." It will be that during these times biblical teaching will become less and less tolerated.

We read further into v.3, "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine." The words “put up with,” means to hear, to support, to hold to or to tolerate. They will not tolerate sound teaching. They will not want any part of sound teaching. That word “sound” is the word from which we get the English word hygienic. They will not want to hear clean, healthy teaching. They will turn a deaf ear to that which is healthy to their souls.

The American culture has largely rejected truth. And there is a number of reasons for this. One of the reasons is: journalism has become sensationalized. Everything has a spin on it. Information isn't just pure information anymore. Many today says, "Journalism is dead." And, since journalism is highly politicized and editorialized, people do not trust easily. Yet, without the moorings of the Scriptures, we fall prey to the deceit of the devil.

Another reason that truth is rejected in our culture is that over time, truth has become less objective and more subjective. That is, it is personal truth. We are told that it is individual truth, it is variable truth. People say, "well, that's your truth. My truth is different than your truth." 

And one of the reasons for this is because objective truth speaks against us. It speaks against our lifestyle. It speaks against human preference. And so we say, there's no such thing as absolute truth. Years ago, many years ago, there used to be in this country what we call a moral consensus. Well, it is no longer because man has rejected absolute truth. Dostoevsky said it well when he said, "Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love."

The remainder of v.3 reads, "Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 

"To suit their own desires" means they are the captains of their ship. There was a time in America when people honored God’s Word, when they listened to sound teaching, when they listened to the truth of God. It is not true anymore, for today, people do not want to be defined by God. Truth is that which corresponds with reality.  Or to put it in the words of C. S. Lewis, "Truth is always about something, but reality is that about which truth is." 

As a result, "They will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." Due to their rejection of the truth, the false must define them. Therefore, they will depend on others to say what they want to hear. And, ultimately, they will not have this man, the Lord Jesus, to rule over them.

In v.4 we read, "They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 

They themselves actively turn away their ears from the truth and then they will be turned, as victims toward myths. If we turn away from the truth, we become the victim of Satan who will make us think truth is error and error is truth. 

The verb “turn aside” is also translated twist or dislocate a limb. Their minds are dislocated or out of joint. They have a dislocated mind and as a result they will believe delusions and untruths. They do not want to be convicted of sin, they just want to be entertained. They just want to feel good. They only want what lightly scratches their ears. 

But, the gospel of the Lord Jesus requires the admission of human weakness. The gospel also requires submission to the authority of God. This gets at the root of the issue. Man does not want God to define him. We will never understand life until we surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Belief can only come from evidence and the preponderance of evidence proves the Lord Jesus is the truth. Truth is the nature of things as they really are. Truth is seeing through all the illusions, all the facades and the unreal images, and getting down to the heart, the core, the reality. And, in the end we will be left with Him who is the way, the truth and the life.

2 Timothy 4:1-2

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1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.  ~ 2 Timothy 4:1-2

We now approach the apex of the Apostle Paul's second letter to Timothy. From the loneliness of his prison cell in Rome, and in view of his approaching death which he knows is coming, Paul gives a crescendo command to Timothy.

The Apostle begins with: "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus." Paul flings back the boundaries of time and space to reveal to Timothy the unseen realities before whom every Christian lives and labors. We are never out of the purview of God, and, if we learn to make Him our only audience, we will avoid many pitfalls.

There is nothing more helpful to us in the midst of pressure than to realize that when we do the Lord's work, we are doing the most important thing in the world. Like Timothy, we see ourselves as a tiny minority amidst an overwhelming, mounting majority committed to evil and unbelief. Our voice seems to be a mere whisper in the tumult of chaos and the clamor of voices that seem to shout so loudly that those whom we are trying to reach are deaf only to us. 

We live in a world where narcissism is on the rise. In fact, Americans are experiencing an epidemic in narcissistic behavior in a culture that is intrinsically self-conscious and selfish. The preoccupation of self is where sin began in the first place. 

As we continue reading v.1 we read, "who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge."

It is good for us to occasionally reflect on the fact that one day we will face God and our works will be judged. For one thing, this realization would encourage us to do our work carefully and faithfully. It would also deliver us from the fear of man; for, after all, our final Judge is God. 

In v. 2 we read, "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season." This is the main responsibility that Paul shared in this section with Timothy. Everything else he wrote is related to this. The word "preach" means “to preach like a herald.” 

In Paul’s day, the king had a special herald who made announcements to the people. He was commissioned by the king to make his announcements in a loud, clear voice so everyone could hear him.  Not to heed the ruler’s message was serious business. To fail to heed oftentimes meant death.

Like you and I, Timothy was to herald God’s Word with the authority of heaven behind him. The Word of God is what all humans most desperately need for it is the word of God which frames up and defines things best. Failure to hear God's definition of things is serious business. It could lead to death, worse yet, it could lead to eternal death.

When we come to God's word, we must be aware that we are interacting with Him, not just His word. We must never come to God’s Word to just prepare for a message. We must go to God’s Word to discover and meet with Him. 

Like Timothy, we must be diligent and alert to use every opportunity to preach the Word, when it is favorable and even when it is not favorable. Paul himself always found an opportunity to share the Word, whether it was in town, on a chaotic sea, or even in prison. 

The message we proclaim is often difficult and offensive. The message of the cross is a stumbling block to some, foolishness to others. The natural man does not understand the things of God for they are foolishness to him. 

Our message must be delivered through three avenues: correction, reproof and encourage. The needs of the hearer will determine how we share what God has given us. If we encourage those who ought to be rebuked, we are assisting them to sin. And, if we fail to encourage those who need it, we will be in danger of legalism. Sharing the message in a biblical fashion must be balanced, and if we are not walking with the Lord, we may do more harm than good.

The word "correct" is a word addressed to the mind, it is the intellectual approach. When we give a reasonable, logical explanation of what is going on in the world, for why men act the way they do, and why God's word provides the answer, they are more likely to listen to more.

The word "reproof" is the address to someone who has fallen into sin, someone who needs a word that will appeal to the conscience because of sin which is destroying him or her. Sometimes it is necessary to speak a word that points out the evil effects of wrongdoing, a word that seeks to address the conscience to turn away from sin so that it no longer spreads evil among humanity. 

The word "encourage" is the address of the soul. It addresses the will and its need to act. Many people are fearful to try something new, fearful to believe something that they cannot prove. This is when the approach of encouragement comes in, exhorting them and encouraging their wills to set aside their fears and believe the truth. We are to involve ourselves in all of these helpful approaches.

We must be patient as we share the Word with others. We will not always see immediate results. A trusting attitude and a patient attitude go hand in hand. You see, when we let go and learn to trust God, it releases joy into our lives. And when we trust God, we will be able to be more patient with people. Patience is not just about waiting for something, it's about how we wait, or our attitude while waiting.

Above all else, we must have biblically informed doctrine. The apostle writes, "with great patience and careful instruction." Patience and care are so important when we are trying to make a difference in someone's eternity. This is the effect of the word of God on the sincere soul of a man who wants to share the truth with the needy.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

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16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Having reminded Timothy of the awesome possibilities that believers in the Lord Jesus have in the midst of a people who know not God, in today's text, the Apostle Paul writes: "All scripture is God-breathed." This means God breathed all scripture out. In Genesis we learn that God created man by heaping up a pile of dust and breathing into it, out from Himself, the spirit of life, and man became a living being. 

Just as God breathed into the dust of the ground and made man a living, vital person, so He breathed into the words of men the Spirit of vitality and life. The words of the Bible have a unique quality about them: Whenever a heart is touched by them, it moves toward life. This is the power of the Word of God.

According to today's text, the Bible produces four things in all who read and believe it. First, the Bible is "useful for teaching." The Bible instructs us about things that no one, except God, knows anything about. In particular it teaches us things about ourselves, things that can happen to us, and things that will happen to us. And, only God knows this information beforehand.

Second, the Bible has the power to rebuke us. The Greek word used here for rebuke is better translated convict. How often have we read the Bible and we were made aware that something we had been doing all our lives, something we did not think was wrong at all, was the reason why we were hurting or were hurting others? The Bible makes distinction between God's way of thinking and living from this world's way of thinking and living. The product of all of this is called conviction. 

Next, the Bible "trains us in righteousness." That is, the Bible has the power to finely tune us, like a skillful coach, enabling us to walk day by day in God's way leading us to experience the life of God in us. The Bible is able to train us, to lead us along into ever-expanding experiences of living that is right. The Bible is God's culture delivered to us resulting in us experiencing the very life of God in the here and now.

The contents of the Bible is revelation of God to man from God. The process by which the Bible was written down is called inspiration. It is not the product of any human activity. Certain men were used by God, carried along by the Holy Spirit and enabled to write for God. God used their experiences, intellect and personalities to produce the Bible, but the content is from God not man. 

The Bible knows nothing of inspired men; only of inspired words, of God-breathed words.  No Biblical writer was inspired as a person so that he could write any scripture any time he wanted to. There were only very special moments when God gave these men His Word to be written down. It was more than dictation. They weren’t just listening to some voice and writing mechanically every word. It was flowing through their heart and their soul and their mind and their emotions and their experiences, but every word was and is the Word of God.

In v.17 we read, "so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

This verse reveals any believer can become a "servant of God" by studying the Word of God, obeying it, and letting it define him. All of the “men of God” named in Scripture, including Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, David, and Timothy were all men who were not only devoted to God’s Word but had the wisdom to be defined by it.

Two words in v.17 are especially important: “thoroughly” and “equipped.” The word translated “thoroughly” means “complete, in fit shape, in fit condition.” It does not begin to suggest sinless perfection. Rather, it implies being made fit for use.

“Equipped” has a similar meaning: “equipped for service.” In other words, the Word of God furnishes the believer to walk with God and it provides the believer with the life of Christ that pleases God. The better we know the Word, the better we are able to relate to and to work for God.

The purpose of Bible study is not just to understand doctrines or to be able to defend the faith, as important as these things are. The ultimate purpose is the equipping of believers who read it. It is the Word of God that equips God’s people to know Him personally and to do His work on His behalf.

2 Timothy 3:14-15

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14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ~ 2 Timothy 3:14-15 

Having reminded Timothy of the need for strong men of God to do God's work in this world, Paul now gives Timothy instructions on the utter necessity of the centrality of the Word of God in his life. When we get to that place where we realize that we can be a part of what God is doing in this world, everything changes. But, we must be diligent to make the Word of God the essential tool that He uses in tandem with His Spirit or else we will not be in tune with Him nor will we be used by Him.

In v.14 we read, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it."

When we first entered into a personal relationship with God, most of us had no idea what was going on. We knew something was different because we found ourselves longing for something new and that something we eventually figured out was Him. I remember having a desire to read the Bible. So, everyday, I carved out time to read it, and I did not understand a lot of it, but I understood enough to keep me going. I agree with John Nelson Darby who said, "The Bible is often darkness to my intellect but light to my soul." Well, over the time of a few months, I began understanding what I was reading in God's Word. And, my hunger and thirst increased.

In v.14 Paul writes, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of."

The phrase, "become convinced of," is an aorist passive verb, meaning to confirm, assure, convince, or establish. It means something that is a fixed and firm belief. This is what a conviction is and it is non-negotiable. These are the fixed immovable realities in our personal constitution, and we will not budge on these, not matter what. Our convictions are those Bible-based beliefs that keep us from capsizing in a world of torrential waters.

In a very real sense Paul didn't need to exhort Timothy to continue in his convictions because the indwelling Holy Spirit has the responsibility to make the believer persevere in the truth. Yet, we do factor in by making ourselves available for Him to lead us and teach us. Our role is the bending of our wills and He will not do that for us.

As we learn the contents of the Bible we are being convinced of its veracity. In Hebrews 4:12 we read, "The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

This is the way it works. The words found in the Bible are living and they run into our brains through our eyes as we read them. They find their way to our hearts. And, as we entertain them, they are changing us little by little. These words are convincing us of their truthfulness. The Bible is effective, it's able to produce the effect it desires.

The Bible is also life-giving. If a biologist is studying and looking through a microscope at a living cell, plant or animal, that biologist knows one thing, that living cell came from something living. If something is alive, something living gave it birth. So also dear friends, since we are alive spiritually, it is the living God who gave us this life. Life comes from life, it doesn't just show up out of thin air. We were spiritually dead, and now we are alive because of God's life-giving presence in our spirits. And, the Holy Spirit, in tandem with the Word of God, arrests the death-giving ideas of the old man and He is infusing the life-giving Word of God into our being. This is why we must be in His Word daily, not as a chore but as a matter of life or death.

In v.15 we read, "and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

Men of conviction are usually formed out of the soil of a strong parentage and a strong teaching environment. It starts with childhood. The Greek word translated "known" is the word from which we get our word "disciple." Paul is saying, "you've been discipled, don't deviate. Continue in what you've learned."

Due to the investment of his mother and his grandmother, by the time Timothy had come out of his teen-age years, his convictions were in place. Our convictions were well in place by the time we became teen-agers. And, then God sent someone along, and they are used of God to help us in our walk with Him. For Timothy, that one who came along was the Apostle Paul. 

At the end of v.15 we read, "which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

The Scriptures have one subject and His name is Jesus Christ. Salvation can come only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by Christ through faith. And, the Word of God was a major tool used of God in the development of our faith in Him. Our faith doesn't save us, faith just links us to the One who does the saving and that One is Christ Jesus. Faith is the instrument that brings us to the One who alone can save.

The Bible is no placebo, it is alive in a strange way to do God's work in our lives. In Isaiah 55:10-11 we read, "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth, it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." 

God sends forth His word and it comes back to Him having done the job. The Word of God produces the effects specifically on human willing hearts. The word is used of God to bring us His life, and sustains us in this life until we are glorified in the presence of God.