Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, (9) who 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) but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

The second letter to Timothy was written by the apostle Paul to his beloved son in faith. Paul was in the Mamertine prison in Rome awaiting execution. He tells Timothy, as his successor but not an apostle, that Luke was with him and likely Luke transcribed these words. The entire last letter was written from love but also in  his authority as an apostle by the will of God, encouraging and commanding Timothy to be unafraid; not intimidated or ashamed of Paul or of the Lord Jesus whose gospel he preached in the certainty of doctrine.  Paul calls the gospel “the testimony of our Lord”.

Persecution was escalating for the Christians under the emperor Nero and in every chapter of this letter Paul mentions suffering to be expected.  Beginning with verse 8 and the word Therefore, Paul points back to the reason why the faithful are to remain steadfast in suffering: Because we are saved in Christ. As believers we need to be aware always of what and why and who we are.  God is sovereign in salvation; God takes the initiative and sent His son who entered time and space  to save sinners.  We needed this because we were spiritually dead in Adam and alienated from God. We were unable to save ourselves.  We are commanded to repent and believe but this does not imply the ability to do so.  Some cannot hear these words and instead act according to their nature but some God has awakened – this is not a result of words but of grace. Salvation is personal for God’s sovereign purpose and limited only by man’s will. This knowledge will give us strength in all trials and assure us that God will finish what he has begun in the faithful.

There is no salvation apart from the appearing of Christ.  The faithful/elect are called with a holy calling.  Amen