Don't Be Ashamed of the Gospel

Don't Be Ashamed of the Gospel! 2 Timothy 1:3-14 100613M In our family, we had an aunt of whom we have very few pictures. She was a beautiful lady, but, especially as she got older, SHE didn't think so. So she ran from pictures, and if she was trapped in one, she would turn her head or put her hand over her face. We had lots of ruined photographs! How sad to be ashamed of how you look! Are you? Is there anything else in your life you're ashamed of? I suppose we all have something. Maybe it's a messy house, or something we said or did at one time, or dents and scrapes on the car. What about your faith? What about Jesus, the one your faith is in? Today we're being reminded about CHRIST'S LOVE--OUR CALLING. As those called to follow Christ, God has made us stewards of his truth. So his encouragement to us today is: Don't Be Ashamed of the Gospel! 1. You're not alone in what you believe. 2. It's by God's grace you believe what you believe. 3. You're gifted to share what you believe. 1. Paul was writing to a young pastor named Timothy. He wrote to encourage him in the difficulties he was having in his ministry, difficulties which, no doubt, tempted him to be timid or keep quiet regarding God's Word. Paul longed to see Timothy to encourage him in person, but it didn't seem like that was going to happen. Paul was in prison, and expected that soon he would be put to death because of boldly proclaiming what he believed. He didn't want Timothy to be discouraged by that either. Rather, he wanted him to be bold for Christ, even if it meant suffering. So God's encouragement to you is that you not be ashamed of the gospel: You're not alone in what you believe.

Timothy wasn't alone. Paul reminded him: 3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. Timothy had the apostle Paul as his mentor and co-worker. Even now he was receiving encouragement from him as Paul was encouraged by Timothy. And Timothy also had a support system in his family, and how he received his faith in the Messiah from his grandmother and mother. He was able to carry forward the faith they shared with him. We don't know whether they were dead or alive when Paul wrote these words, but either way, Timothy wasn't alone. There were others before him, and others around him.

It's the same with us, isn't it? You received the gospel from someone else God placed in your life. Maybe it was a grandmother or a mother or a friend or a teacher or a pastor. Is there someone you can look to as a mentor or example to follow in the faith? We're all co-workers, aren't we? You're surrounded by a family in Christ here at St. Andrew, and you walk together with fellow believers in a Synod with others around the world in fellowship with us. I wonder if we appreciate that. That's one reason we gather here for worship and other activities--to encourage each other in the Word and in our Christian lives. When you're missing, not only are you missing an opportunity to be strengthened through your fellow believers, they're missing an opportunity to be encouraged by you. Do you remember your fellow believers and the work of the Lord's Church in your prayers as Paul did? How many times to you tell others you'll pray for them, and then you forget? Sometimes we act as if we're alone in our Christian calling, but we're not! No need to be ashamed of confessing and living for Christ because you're not alone in doing those things.

2. Someone may have been instrumental in sharing the Christian faith with you, but the truth is that it was God that reached out to you and brought you to himself. That he did this, and called you to be his own, is entirely by his grace--his undeserved favor and love. So don't be ashamed of the gospel because It's by God's grace that you believe what you believe.

Paul reminded Timothy of this fact: 9 [God] has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. God was the one who rescued Timothy. It was that way for Paul too. Think of his life beforehand, and how ashamed he was that he persecuted the church of God. Actually, God's grace began not when they came to believe, but "before the beginning of time" when God decided to save the world from sin even before there was sin, and when he elected his own to salvation even before they existed. God revealed his grace when Christ appeared on earth to live without sin and die for all sin. His grace continued when finally he brought individual believers like Paul and Timothy to faith through the gospel in Word and Sacrament.

That's why the gospel of Christ is God's greatest treasure and gift. Because God did everything necessary for our salvation, we can be confident of it, and unashamed. Paul says, Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. Was it not Paul's very life and eternal salvation that he entrusted to God? That is, Paul trusted that God took care of his salvation from beginning to end in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. God entrusted Paul with that truth and message.

God did the same for you and me. What has been in your past that you are ashamed of? What aspects of your life do you prefer to keep hidden from most people because you're embarrassed by them? God knows what they are. And God loved you anyway. As Paul said, he loved you from eternity when he decided to save you. Jesus appeared to take away your sins, and the sins of the whole world. You appeared, and, as he planned, God called you to faith through the gospel of the Savior. Your eternal rescue isn't based on what you do for God, but on what he has done for you in Jesus. That's how you can be certain of what you believe too.

I'm reminded of Elsie, an old, old lady who was a member of our congregation. She and her family had run a bookstore here on the south side for several generations, and they had lived above the store. But the city acquired their property and forced them to relocate at a time most would have been thinking of retiring. Finally, her siblings died, she gave up the business, and eventually went into a nursing home. She was almost totally deaf and blind. The family fortune disappeared, and her only earthly possessions were antique portraits of her parents. She had no one left in the world. Yet, as her pastor, I had the privilege of bringing her comfort from God's Word, along with her Lord's body and blood with bread and wine. Often she would quote this verse: I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. It had been her confirmation verse. And how could she be so sure her life was still safe with God when all seemed to be lost? She knew her Savior lived, died and arose for her. She knew she could entrust to him her body and soul, awaiting a resurrection to glory on the Last Day. And that is your confidence and mine too--no reason to be ashamed!

3. Unlike Elsie, we're not in heaven yet. Why is God keeping us in this world? Don't be ashamed of the gospel. You're gifted to share what you believe.

Like Paul, Timothy was gifted for and called into the public ministry as a pastor and missionary. Paul encouraged him: 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self- discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Paul had laid hands on him, that is, visibly entrusted him with the office of the ministry. Since his call and the gifts to fulfill it were from God, he didn't need to be sheepish about his work. He could boldly do what God called him to do: testify about the Lord, even if that meant persecution.

In testifying, he also needed to guard what he had in the gospel so he proclaimed it clearly and correctly: 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you — guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. All false teaching distorts God's Word and undermines the good news that Jesus accomplished the world's salvation and paid our debt in full.

God has entrusted this message to you and to me, and given us gifts to use in proclaiming it. That's not to say all have gifts for the public ministry. God does still give those gifts, and we encourage God's people to examine if they have those gifts. There are going to be shortages of pastors as baby-boom pastors retire, and there are fewer young men to replace them. With those we call, we lay on hands; we saw that again this past summer. All believers--even YOU--have some gift to use in support of the gospel ministry. It might be fixing things around the church, or teaching the kids, or working with technology, or using musical talent...whatever. Are you using your "gift"? Are you "fanning it into flame"? It's like this bellows we use on our fireplace when the logs turn to embers and burn out. A little of this...and the flames come back. Want to avoid "burnout" in using your gifts to serve God? Fan them into flame--through the very message that invigorated you and caused you to be on fire for the Lord in the first place: You belong to the Lord, purchased and won by the very blood of God shed on the cross! Be in the Word, that gospel entrusted to you, and you'll be invigorated to share with your gifts what's burning in your heart! And you'll do it without being ashamed. You're not alone in what you believe. It's by God's grace that you believe what you believe. And you're gifted to share what you believe. It's Christ's love...and our calling! Amen. 2 Timothy 1:3-14 Don't Be Ashamed of the Gospel! 1. You're not alone in what you believe. 2. It's by God's grace you believe what you believe. 3. You're gifted to share what you believe.

3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

9 [God] has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am.

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you — guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.