Be Loyal Lesson Passages 2 Timothy 1:3-18 April 14, 2013 Lesson Passages: 1. Remember Your Spiritual Heritage (2 Timothy 1:3-8) 2. Remember the Greatness of Salvation (2 Tim. 1:9-10) 3. Follow Those Who Are Unashamed (2 Tim. 1:11-15) 4. Support Those Who Are Unashamed (2 Tim. 1:16-18) Focus: To help adults remain loyal to the Christian faith. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scripture 1 -Remember Your Spiritual Heritage (2 Tim. 1:3-8) 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy, 5 clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also. 6 Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. 8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. Verses 3- 4- We can’t be certain what Paul had in mind when he thought about Timothy’s tears. Perhaps Timothy was often emotional when speaking. Paul might have been talking about Timothy’s response when Paul left Ephesus. Whatever the memory, it caused Paul to long to see his best friend again. Such a reunion would help the lonesome Paul to be filled with joy. Joy is one of those spiritual qualities believers are to have often, no matter the circumstances, Verse 5- Paul’s remembrance of his ancestors caused him to think of Timothy’s “growing up” years. Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice had been faithful Jewish women with a sincere faith in God. Acts 16:1 indicates that Eunice and Timothy became believers in Jesus during Paul’s earlier travel through their area. Timothy’s unnamed father appears not to have been a positive religious factor in his son’s life. Paul, however, had watched Timothy and traveled with him. He was convinced that Timothy’s faith was very real. Verse 6- The Christian life is an ongoing journey. Thus Paul encouraged Timothy to keep “on fire” with the gift of God he had received. Some Bible students think that Timothy had let the spiritual fire die down in his life, but there is no factual information about this. All believers occasionally need encouragement. Paul remembered when Timothy had been ordained to the ministry, which included the laying on of Paul’s hands. Evidently at his ordination, a special prophetic word had been given to Timothy about God’s providing him with a special ministry gift. However, the exact nature of the gift is unknown. Verse 7- When God gives gifts for ministry, they need to be carried out with the right spirit or inner determination—which, of course, God supplies. True ministry is not carried out from fearfulness (cowardice or running away from difficulty). Rather, ministry springs forth from power (boldness) supplied by God and from love, also supplied by God. Paul also said that true ministry calls for sound judgment, a word found only here in the New Testament. Timothy needed power to carry out the demands of ministry, love to put up with those against him, and sound judgment to live a godly life. Verse 8- The command, don’t be ashamed, doesn’t mean “stop being ashamed,” but rather “don’t start being ashamed.” What might have tempted Timothy to hang his head and run away from the testimony about the Lord? Perhaps some were mocking Jesus as merely a dead teacher. Why might Timothy have been ashamed of Paul? The apostle was a prisoner of the Roman government. Timothy, of course, knew the truth about Jesus. He also knew that Paul considered himself a prisoner of Jesus, not of Rome. There was no reason for embarrassment. In place of shame, Timothy should consider it an honor to share in suffering. This phrase translates a word that indicates Timothy would not be alone but would join with other sufferers. Timothy—and we—should not be surprised when the gospel (the good news about Jesus) brings about hard feelings. Also, the most wonderful help is available to equip believers to suffer for Christ’s sake: that help is the power of God. We too are called on to be loyal and unashamed of Christ, our Christian friends, and our own opportunities for service. Remembering our spiritual background will help us remain loyal and unashamed. Scripture 2- Remember the Greatness of Salvation (2 Tim. 1:9-10) 9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Verse 9- Paul began by describing the process of salvation, pointing out God’s plans. He has saved us and called us. Salvation began in the heart of God (according to His own purpose and grace). In fact, human effort contributes nothing (not according to our works). Our salvation was planned by God before time began. But salvation was carried out in our lives when it was given to us in Christ Jesus. Here Paul knew about Timothy’s understanding of the personal experience of conversion (salvation) through repentance and faith. Bible students have understood the phrase, with a holy calling, in two different but similar ways. It can refer to the means of salvation, pointing out God’s calling persons to Himself through the conviction of His Spirit. Or it can refer to the goal of salvation, in the sense of being saved in order to live a holy life. In either case, the point is that God-called people will be different than they were before. They will become Christ like in character, growing in godliness. Verse 10- Paul next described the basis of salvation, showing Jesus’ Person and work in history. The appearing of Jesus refers to His incarnation (taking on a human body). The threefold name Savior Jesus Christ points out His work as the Savior by dying on the cross. As a result of His death, Jesus defeated death. This doesn’t mean believers necessarily will bypass physical death. Rather, we need not fear physical death because it has lost its sting. As a result of His resurrection, Jesus brought life and immortality to light. This means the reality of resurrection life has now been clearly shown. Before Jesus’ resurrection, there was only a hope of resurrection life for human beings. Now that He has been raised, it has been proven that life beyond physical death is for real. Only through the gospel does this reality benefit humans. The God whose power saved Paul and Timothy also provided the strength they needed to be loyal to Him. When we as believers remember the greatness of God and His salvation, we too will be strengthened to remain loyal to Christ. Scripture 3- Follow Those Who Are Unashamed (2 Tim. 1:11-15) 11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, 12 and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day. 13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you. 15This you know: All those in Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes Verse 12- Timothy didn’t need reminding that Paul had suffered. Timothy had seen Paul’s mistreatment, and at the moment Paul was expecting a death sentence from Rome. But Paul was honored rather than ashamed at his sufferings for Christ. Why? Because He knew the One for whose sake he suffered. The words Paul used pile up to show great confidence: I know; I have believed; I am persuaded. Paul was not in it for the short run. His ministry had been entrusted to him by God. And on that day—the day of final reckoning—all would see that Paul’s ministry had come forth from God. Verse 13- Paul encouraged Timothy to be unashamed too. He could hold on to the method of “sound” teaching that he’d heard Paul deliver. Paul had also written Timothy of the importance of sound (healthy) teaching. The term method means “model” or “standard.” Timothy could deliver the gospel message in a way that fit his personality. However, he was never to stray away from the standard or lose the [focus], which is Christ Jesus. As Timothy remembered that love for Christ and trust in Christ were most important, he would succeed in delivering the pattern of sound doctrine to the next generation. Verse 14- Paul likened sound gospel teaching to a treasure put on deposit with a friend for safekeeping. On one hand, Timothy was responsible to guard it like a priceless jewel.