Are You Convinced?
Phil Schaefer
6-29-08
Key Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:8-14
Introduction:
We’re teaching about the greatness of the gospel; how when we know it rightly and have the Biblical understanding of it, it changes our entire view of life. When it is understood it shapes the way we live, the way that we observe life and the way we respond to life.
The Bible makes known that there is only one thing that can make a person rejoice in suffering, and that is knowing the gospel.
- James 1:2-3 “ Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
- 2 Cor. 12:9-10 “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
That is why Paul and Silas could be beaten and thrown into prison and still be singing.
There is only one thing that so radically alters a person’s reality, and that is the gospel.
So, as a pastor I ask:
How well do you know the gospel?
Do you know it well enough that no matter what your circumstances, good or bad, you know how to make your stand in the gospel? Where would your thinking go if all should fall apart?
- Your marriage, your job, your health, your financial security
- Your children’s behavior, the church, the death of your spouse
- Your own melancholy, the betrayal of a friend
People who don’t truly understand the gospel and what it is that God has brought them into, can drift off and give up as a result of disappointments.
2 Timothy 1:8-15 “Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our own works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and has now been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
1. The Apostle Paul’s whole letter is written to ground Timothy in the truth and certainty of the gospel. He is detailing the gospel.
What is it that Paul has entrusted to God? (verse 12)
Many scholars say that Paul is referring to his life, his soul, or his complete salvation. i.e. ‘ I know that God is able to keep my life until the day of His return. I know that I can trust God for my entire salvation.’ That it is saying that Paul has deposited the whole of his life, the whole of his being into God’s keeping, saying ‘Lord, my life is completely in your hands.’
You take your whole life, your weaknesses, your strengths, your doubts, your failures, your successes, your losses, your gains and you entrust the whole of your existence into God’s keeping.
2. While in this life we wrestle against the devil, the flesh, and the world.
- The devil is always accusing you. Whenever you feel like a failure it is not the Lord. The devil is the accuser of the brethren: in our heads, in our minds, all the time.
- Your flesh gets the better of you; the fleshly appetites of body and mind.
- The world is always trying to allure you. It causes us to lust, to covet etc. It all comes to us all the time.
But Paul says “ But I know whom I have believed, I know what He has done for me. I have entrusted the whole of my life into His keeping.”
This is a powerful place of assurance! Paul says that” I am convinced that He is able to keep me.”
I am becoming more persuaded that what comes at us in this life is designed to convince us that we can trust God with our lives.
Example- Chinese church leaders when asked if they have gone to Bible college say, “Oh, yes, we have all gone.” Meaning they have all been to prison. That is where they learn to trust God, to learn of the faithfulness of God in keeping them.
- Knowing the gospel is being convinced that it is not my great grasp on God but God’s great grasp on me.
Example- Riding a roller coaster. We hold on for dear life. We may want off but dare not jump off. We think we’ve got to hold ourselves in place, but there is something else holding us in place. The bar, the tracks, etc. are all designed to keep you in.
Paul was not worried about keeping himself in place. He had no doubts, no fears, because he understood the gospel.
Romans 8:28-39 “ And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died- more than that, who was raised- who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
‘For Your sakes we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ Ps. 44:22
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, not height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
4. When I understand the gospel, and God’s great love for me:
- I entrust my temptations to Him.
- I entrust my sin and failure to Him.
- I entrust my struggles, fears and doubts to Him.
- I entrust whatever the outcomes of my life are to Him
5. Paul says “for that day” ( 2 Tim 1: 12). That day, meaning the day when Jesus returns, and each of us will have to give an account of our lives. He will ask,” Where did you place your trust? In whom did you place your trust?”
John 20:27-31 “Then He said to Thomas, “ Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. Thomas answered him. ‘My Lord and my God’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed and not seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed. Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these things are written that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
He wants us to trust in Him, to believe in Him.
2 Tim. 1:11-12 Some translations say “ But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” (ESV)
6. See the difference:
- What has been entrusted to me
- What I have entrusted to him
- Literally it is: I am convinced that He is able to guard my deposit.
7. What has been entrusted to Paul? The answer is the gospel! God has entrusted the gospel into our keeping. He has deposited the gospel, the message of salvation, in us through Christ.
Example- Rodney Kingstone, our reserved, sophisticated British friend was asked to do a wedding renewal service by some unbelievers who were Elvis fanatics. He was to dress up as Elvis. He felt that God told him to do it and to carry His presence to them regardless of his dress, to make Jesus real to them. God’s presence was there in a real way. God can redeem the ordinary, even the bizarre. You are a carrier of God’s presence.
8. Paul is saying “the gospel can not fail. If I am imprisoned the gospel will go on.
If I get killed, Timothy, the gospel will go on. If all forsake me, the gospel will advance, it will go forward until that day when it is revealed in fullness.”
And here is what I think is so awesome. I wonder if you have ever thought about your life in this way?………
- God has entrusted into your keeping the message of the gospel- the greatest event, the greatest thing in all of history. The gospel is not just something for us. It is a deposit of God entrusted to us.
- It is something God has entrusted to you to know, and to believe, to trust, and to become convinced of, to grow in.
- You have within your spirit, within your being, the most valuable thing in all of creation.
- You have eternal life, rightness with God, peace from God, grace from God to you at all times, and mercy flowing from God to you always.
Verse 11- “For which (the gospel) I am appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher...”
9. DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOU WERE APPOINTED TO BE A KEEPER, A GUARDIAN OF THE GOSPEL?
Example- I went into Buchroeders’ jewelry store, and asked the sales lady “What is the most precious thing in your store?” She immediately showed me a 5 carat pink diamond ring worth $34,000. I asked her what made it so precious, and she said because it is so hard to find this kind. She then showed me a 2.3 carat pink diamond ring worth $16,000 that had been color enhanced. She said if this ring was completely natural it would be worth $1.5 million dollars.
Ladies, how would you feel if your husband or your fiancée, or your father gave you a ring worth $1.5 million?
- Would you hide it away, put it away for safekeeping?
- Or would you show it to everyone?
- Would you feel your finger to make sure it is always there?
- Would it speak to you something of the worth that the giver sees in you?
- Would you be so conscious that you have in your possession this very precious thing?
- We have the most precious thing in all of history, of all life.
- Material things can disappoint us or break down but not the gospel.
You are not just anybody. You have been entrusted with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verse 14- “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
If I were to come up to you and ask what is the most precious thing in your life, would your answer be anywhere near….”God has entrusted into my keeping the greatest message of all creation and history! To insignificant and unworthy me, He has entrusted the gospel!
Do you know it’s worth?
Discussion questions:
What makes it possible for Christians to rejoice and have peace in trouble and suffering?
In what ways has your understanding of the gospel changed your view of life?
Have you trusted the whole of your being and your life into God’s keeping?
Are you convinced that He is able to keep you?
What is the difference between you being the one who holds on to God and Him being the one who holds on to you?
Have you realized that you have been appointed and entrusted with the keeping of the gospel of salvation? What does that mean to you personally?
Why are we told to guard the good deposit of the gospel entrusted to us? How do we do that?
