For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing……… (16) At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. (17) But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (18) And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

The beautiful 2nd letter to Timothy was the last letter written by the apostle Paul and in this fourth chapter are his final words of faithfulness and assurance of a crown of righteousness. Paul was fitted for glory not by what he did or suffered but through grace alone, in faith alone, in Christ alone. He is a model to be studied for anybody can start something but very few can finish – or finish well. Paul writes from the Mamertine prison in Rome and he had no question that his death was imminent – he writes as if the execution was taking place – his life’s blood was being poured out similar to the drink offering of wine among the Jews which accompanied the sacrifice. Paul showed Timothy and Christians that death held no terror for him but he was facing his appointed passage. The moment of departure was at hand. Paul was looking behind death to what awaits him; the crown was the victory prize he had won which the Lord as the righteous Judge will award him at That day – the day when the Lord will come again in glory. Paul adds a gentle reminder to Timothy that he too, with any others in faith, might win the same glorious crown – specifically those who in this life long for the appearance of the Lord in judgment.

Paul now reviews his first trial in Rome where no one stood by him in that time of peril where to be a Christian advocate would be a service of great danger. But the Lord stood by him and Paul was given the chance to speak publicly “that all the Gentiles might hear.” Clearly this second trial for preaching the gospel ended in condemnation but Paul was allowed time to write this last letter of his farewell to Timothy and the church. In this whole epistle there is not one word of fear but there is expressed with the death facing him that the Lord Jesus would deliver him from all weariness and toil and bring him home safely to His heavenly kingdom. Death was not considered the cessation of existence but the separation of the soul from the body. Death is but an incident to the believer. For Paul, the battle is over, the victory is won and he is headed home.

Paul always guarded the truth of the gospel – the core doctrines of the Christian faith. You can’t keep a faith you are unclear about. You must know what you believe so you can behave as you believe. Just recently the widow of a faithful man told me his last words were “It’s all true. All the love.” My prayer is that we all fight the good fight, we all finish the race and we all keep the faith. It is everything.

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, (15) and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (4,1) I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom: (2) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

The second letter to Timothy was written by the apostle Paul from his dungeon in the Mamertine prison, awaiting execution for preaching the gospel. Timothy had been left in Ephesus in charge of the church there. Nero, the Roman emperor, had stepped up persecution against Christians. Paul is writing here with few commendations but many admonitions against against false teachers corrupting the gospel. Timothy was reminded that he had learned Scripture as a child from his mother and grandmother – here Paul is strictly referring to the sacred writings of the Old Testament. All Scripture is inspired by God – the great truth is the Bible is the Word of God. God used the personalities and style of human authors who were active but not in control. The God of truth would not inspire error. Jesus Christ referred to the Scriptures as authority for His actions – He said all Scripture bore witness to Him. They are the word of God, not men.

The New Testament was not yet all written but the Jewish scriptures were canon. Paul expects Timothy to be a contrast to false teachers by keeping steadily to old teaching of doctrine. Timothy would know the authority of Paul and that great doctrine of Christians was strictly based on Old Testament writings. All of the Bible points to the Christ, the Messiah. In those early, violent days of the church the opposition to the gospel was intensifying and Paul is reminding Timothy that there was to be no development in foundational doctrine that Paul had received directly from the Holy Spirit. The Lord Himself had spoken to him. Timothy was to consider evidence of changed lives, growing churches and committed believers. He had seen the power of God at work in the life of Paul. And Paul refers to the Scriptures as absolute truth and trustworthy in every area of life. In Timothy’s time of terrible persecution, many were falling away from the Word of God and even denying the resurrection.

All Scripture is God breathed – this means God is the originator of the Bible. The Bible did not come from the best religious ideas of the apostles or prophets. It teaches our NEED for salvation. It commands our hearts as well as our actions.

Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, according to my gospel, (9) for which I suffer as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. (10) Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (13) This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him we shall also endure with Him. (12) If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. (13) If we are faithless, He also remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

The second letter to Timothy was written by the apostle Paul. He wrote this letter of encouragement and warning while a prisoner in the Mamertine prison in Rome. He is soon to be executed for preaching the gospel but in this letter Paul is joyful, steadfast and certain in his faith – the point here is that we must have Paul’s faith to have his serenity. Trust is always quiet. Paul is bound in prison but the word of God is never bound – the Lord will continue through the agency of other men/women. He endured all suffering for the encouragement of Christians that they, like Paul, do not doubt they are children of God and that their salvation is in Christ Jesus. Every believer is a child of God; all men are God’s creatures but not His children by natural birth. We are saved by grace in faith, stand in grace and are to walk in grace. We are not called to fight/earn our way to heaven, (we cannot,) but in faith we are called to contend against every thing that impedes our progress.

Paul references Jesus as of the seed of David meaning He was true man who completed his work of redemption by His resurrection from the dead with divine acknowledgment and acceptance. Salvation is in Christ Jesus; earned by Him and grounded in Him. If we are faithful to the Lord we shall daily cause our nature in Adam to die and we shall become partakers of heaven in Christ. But if we deny the Lord, He will deny us. If we in word or deed are ashamed of Christ, He will be faithful to His threat of punishment, for God must be true to His essence. A faithless unreliable man the Lord cannot reward but with the “reward” of unfaithfulness. This is a challenge to the reality of this passing world. Mere profession of faith does not save. Our unbelief cannot change God’s plan or purpose nor alter his truth.

From the Problem of Pain by c.s. Lewis: “Some will not be redeemed. There is no doctrine which I would more willingly remove from Christianity than this, if it lay in my power. But it has the full support of Scripture and, specially, of our Lord’s own words; it has always been held by Christendom and it has the support of reason. If a game be played, it must be possible to lose it. If the happiness of a creature lies in self surrender, no one can make that surrender but himself (though many can help him make it) and he may refuse. I would pay any price to be able to say truthfully “All will be saved.” But my reason retorts, “Without their will, or with it?” If I say “Without their will ” I at once perceive a contradiction; how can the supreme voluntary act of self-surrender be involuntary? If I say “with their will,” my reason replies “How if they will not give in?”

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (8) 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,…..(13) Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (14) That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

The second letter to Timothy was written by the apostle Paul. This letter was written from the Roman dungeon of the Mamertine prison where Paul was held under the sentence of death. It was his last letter and so beautiful and intimate. In our verses today Paul writes to his son in faith, Timothy. God had used Paul as the instrument for the gift of ministry to Timothy and it needed rekindling. The metaphor of fire already existing but in need of being stirred up is used here; rekindling is necessary for all our gifts – spiritual, athletic, artistic. The expression “use it or lose it” comes to mind. Timothy was given the Spirit of God which is love, power not just to endure but to remain steadfast in resisting temptation, and self control or a sound mind/judgment. Paul is not just addressing the power we get from God but the power God displayed toward us in our calling: if He called us we may be confident He will never leave us and bring us safely through trouble.

Paul cautions Timothy to hold fast to sound words and here he is not referring to certain creed constructed by man but the truth of God which is conveyed in the very words of God and this form must be maintained. (The Bible IS the word of God and does not just contain the word of God.). God has revealed Himself to man. Man on his own could never know God. Man is limited and no man can invent a religion for his own use and after his own mind but God has given us sound words/doctrine. Paul knew how many men were ready to fall or depart from pure doctrine and for that reason he cautions Timothy NOT to turn aside from that form of teaching which he had received.

Salvation is a free gift of God in Christ Jesus, not earned by anything man could do. At the moment of faith every Christian receives the indwelling Spirit of God – we are transformed and given power to live as we believe. Spiritual gifts are given to every believer. Paul reminds Timothy – and us – that we are responsible to discover and develop our gifts by serving, by recognition from others, by effectiveness and we are to evaluate these gifts and develop them. Paul is telling Timothy that what he lacks the Spirit will supply. Paul encourages Timothy to serve because he is saved; and when he serves he must be prepared to suffer. In the sight of the world man should be ashamed of the crucified Christ. But now, in faith Christ has become the power of God to the salvation of all who believe – it is a subject to exult in. Amen