Suffering for the Gospel

2 Timothy 1:1-18

Key Verse 1:8

“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…”

Today we would like to think about the Apostle Paul's exhortation to Timothy to participate in the suffering for the gospel. Suffering is something which every one wants to avoid as much as possible. But everyone knows that we cannot avoid suffering altogether. In order to achieve one thing or another, necessarily, we will have to go through difficulties and hardships. Thus we say, "No pain, no gain." 

For this reason the next question we need to ask is, “For what do I suffer?” Or “What do I gain out of it?” In the passage the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to join with him to suffer for the gospel. What then is the gain? In the passage the Apostle Paul addresses these questions.   

First, the promise of life

Look at verse 1. "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus." Paul suffers for the gospel for it comes with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. When the Apostle Paul talked about the promise of life, he meant it in the sense that it is found only in Jesus. Nowhere in the whole world other than in Jesus Christ can this promise of life be found. The Apostle Peter confirms this same truth when he declared, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." 

This then gives rise to a question: "Why is it that the promise of life is found only in Christ Jesus? Aren’t there many other sources that promise life—and not just any life, but good, long, fun-filled life, sources such as modern technology, isms, ideas, philosophies, or religions?" 

We find an answer to this question in verse 2. "To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." This passage, especially the three words "grace,” “mercy,” and “peace” indicate that it is only in Jesus that one can find all that gives life to men, that is, grace, mercy and peace that comes from God the Father through Jesus Christ. Other religions or philosophies talk about grace, mercy and peace at least to a certain extent, but not in the way Christ offers. 

What then does Paul mean by grace? According to Paul, grace is the grace of God that sent Jesus the Son to forgive sinners of their sins and grant them a place in his presence. In the Bible sin is often called a debt. A sinner is likened to a debtor who has gone bankrupt. For example, after borrowing money from a bank, a man bought a house but ended up defaulting on the loan. So the bank forecloses on the property. Jesus is likened to a man with a lot of money, so he pays off the debt, satisfying the bank. The bank then gives the house back to the debtor. The Bible says that this is what God has done for all sinners, for John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Speaking of the same truth, John the Baptist looked at Jesus and said, "Look! The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" God did not have to do this. But in love he did it. The Bible calls this act of love demonstrated through Jesus Christ the Son as "grace." 

"My dear son Timothy: Grace mercy and peace from the Father and the Christ Jesus our Lord." Again no other religion or philosophy offer the grace of sin-forgiveness in the way God does in and through Jesus Christ. As used in the Bible the word “mercy” has the same root as the word "softness" or [a mother's] "womb". Hence the word mercy denotes motherly compassion. We see the meaning and effect of God's mercy in the way the Lord God commanded Moses to prepare an atonement cover in Exodus 25-26. This atonement cover (or in Hebrew simply “cover,” for in Hebrew the words “atonement” and “cover” mean one thing: cover) is called a "mercy seat." In Leviticus 16 we see the way in which the high priest enters God’s presence (called the holy of holies) on the Day of Atonement and sprinkles the blood of the atoning sacrifices on and in front of the mercy seat. As he sprinkles the blood seven times, God is pleased with it, and the blood flies up to heaven, keeping the area clean all the time. In this way, once a year, the high priest works to get all of the sins of Israel wiped out. This mercy seat represents the cross of Jesus where Jesus the Lamb of God shed his blood to atone for (or simply, cover) our sins. Speaking of the same effect of God’s act of mercy in sending Jesus the Apostle Peter said, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1Pe 4:8).

“To my dear son Timothy: Grace, mercy, and peace from the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” Here “peace” is the peace between God and men, and among men. Jesus came to make peace between God and men. This peace is not make-believe. It has been said that peace is never without price. This is true. Jesus purchased our peace by his blood sacrifice. In the past Paul did not know the sacrifice Jesus made for his sins. So he was not at peace with God. He was not at peace with himself. And he was not at peace with anyone. The truth is that he always felt condemned. So he condemned others as much as he condemned himself. But in Jesus he found God's love and mercy. He no longer felt condemned. Thus he proclaimed, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” 

Second, sincere faith 

So in Jesus we have the promise of life - the life that is full of God's grace, mercy, and peace. Practically then how can we avail ourselves to the promise of life found in Jesus Christ? Look at verses 3-5. “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. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 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.”

In this passage we see the word "lived" and "lives" associated with faith. Obviously, faith is not a living entity. Yet, Paul says, “…sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother…and now lives in you also.” Paul did this in order to stress that faith that lives in a man performs the good work God desires to fulfill. In the preface to his exposition on the book of Romans, Martin Luther expressed the work of faith in this way: "Faith is a work of God in us, which changes us and brings us to birth anew from God. It kills the old Adam, makes us completely different people in heart, mind, senses, and all our powers…What a living, creative, active powerful thing is faith!”

Third, the gift of God

Next Paul says that faith brings in God’s gift so the man of faith would be on fire for Christ.  Look at verses 6-7. "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. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." Immediately after talking about the sincere faith that is living in Timothy, the Apostle Paul talks about the gift of God, that is, the Holy Spirit.  

The Apostle Paul links faith with the gift of God, because when one believes in Jesus, and accepts Jesus as his Lord and Savior, Jesus blesses that person with the gift of God, that is, the coming of the Holy Spirit. Figuratively speaking, the Holy Spirit is like a seed of fire. The expression “fan into flame,” indicates that this seed of fire put into a believer can be fanned into flame, so that the Holy Spirit can change that person to be on fire for Christ. When this happens he can overcome the spirit of timidity, and live as a powerful witness of Jesus Christ.

Fourth, do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord

How then can we see this gift fanned into flame? Look at verses 8-12. “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, who 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, 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. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. 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.” 

This passage indicates that God gives us the Holy Spirit so that we might preach the gospel with God’s power. And the more we preach the gospel the greater the flame of the Spirit’s fire we will see arising in us. Then, powered by the power of the Spirit, without fear, we can testify about our Lord Jesus Christ who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. So we should not be ashamed to testify about Jesus Christ. 

However it is more easily said than done. Think about the word 'ashamed.' Why did he use this word? He did it because he knew that many people of his day generated an environment that was hostile to Christians. Due to an oppressive environment, Christians were pressured not to talk about the gospel; they were forced to even renounce their faith in Jesus. In order to survive or fit in, many Christians went “underground.” Some of them even renounced their faith. Paul knew that Timothy, in his timidity, could fall victim to the hostile environments of his generation. 

In our own generation, environments are getting increasingly hostile to Christianity. In our desire to just get along with others we so easily get caught up in the spirit of timidity that we end up living as “undercover Christians” rather than as active soldiers of Jesus Christ. But we must remember that God has already given us the power to overcome hostile environments. 

Last spring, after finishing the world mission report in Seoul, Korea, I had a chance to visit my family members. I asked all of my siblings, their husbands and children to gather at my eldest sister's house in the country side, for my eldest sister has remained a widow for over a decade and yet in her sixties has had to do all the farm work by herself. Because we have not seen each other for a long period of time, we had a lot to talk about. But time was limited and we only had one evening to have a talking fellowship. But I knew that it might be the last chance for me to share the gospel with them. But I found a lot of pressures built up in the air. My eldest sister is a Buddhist. On the threshold of the house and in the kitchen area she has posted voodoo signs brought from a Buddhist temple. My youngest sister is also a Buddhist. In her car I saw another voodoo sign from a Buddhist temple. And another sister of mine is a Catholic. After much prayer, I asked all of them to come to a room and sit in a circle. Then I opened the Bible and shared John 3:16. I also shared how the Lord saved me from the power of darkness. After the Bible study I prayed for all of my siblings and for the twenty-seven children that came out of them. The next morning Rebekah and I left the village and came back to Seoul. And we were about to leave Korea for LA. Yet, I still felt so sorry because I did not share the gospel fully to my family members, especially to my two sisters who believe in Buddhism. So after much prayer, I visited a Christian book store. I bought two sets of Christian books (five of them each: the Bible, a Christian tract, a book teaching the basic tenets of the gospel, a book on key sermons on salvation, and a book on Christian theology on salvation). Then, using an express service called Taebae, I had the package delivered to my sisters, and I left a note on each package encouraging them to read all the books step by step. 

“Do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord Jesus,” says the Apostle Paul. And we need to overcome the peer pressure found in our fellowships with unbelieving friends, on college campuses, at home, and even at the church. And let us not be ashamed of sharing the gospel. Each time the opportunity arises, as we pray, according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Lord will strengthen us to testify about Jesus Christ! 

Fifth, the pattern of sound teaching

In verse 13 the Apostle Paul shows Timothy the way in which to testify about the Lord. Look at verse 13. "What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus." Here the word "sound" and the phrase "with faith and love," give us a good guide, that is, first of all, there must be soundness - soundness in the contents of what we teach and soundness in the manner in which we share what we share. The phrase "with faith in Christ Jesus," indicates then that it is possible that one preaches the gospel without "faith" in Jesus. This is just like a man selling a product which he himself is unwilling to buy. Another meaning of this expression “with faith in Jesus,” is that when we preach the gospel we must leave the result in the hands of God, for it is God the Father who opens the hearts of people. The phrase “with love,” tells us that it is also possible that one preaches the gospel without love in Jesus Christ. The Bible says that the essence of the gospel is God's love demonstrated through Jesus Christ. So the gospel and the love of Christ should not be separated.  

Sixth, guard the good deposit

Look at verse 14. "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." Here the “good deposit” refers to the knowledge of salvation which the Risen Jesus revealed to the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote down this body of knowledge in many of his epistles. The revelation Jesus revealed to Paul is called the “good” deposit, for when Timothy guards it and serves the flock out of it, his flock would receive the full life found in Jesus.  By the time the Apostle Paul wrote this epistle to Timothy, he knew that the time for his departure was drawing near. In this epistle then he asks Timothy to guard the deposit with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Risen Jesus revealed it through the Holy Spirit, so he is asking Timothy to preserve it through the help of the Holy Spirit.

Seventh, the household of Onesiphorus

In verses 15-18 the Apostle Paul gives us examples of what it is to suffer for the gospel. Look at verses 15. “You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.” Here Paul used the word "deserted." The word “desertion” is a military term. In a military campaign, fellow soldiers fighting together encourage each other the most by participating in the battle together. By the same token a man who deserts fellow soldiers becomes a source of great discouragement. 

Look at verses 16-18. “May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.” Here Onesiphorus set a good example of what it is for a man to join in the sufferings for the gospel. Most likely, he was a lay person. As such he himself could not go out to preach the gospel as much as Paul did. But he supported Paul as a fellow soldier, by praying for him, and perhaps by supplying Paul what is needed, financially or otherwise. 

In conclusion let us look at verse 8 again. “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…” Thank God that Jesus has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Thank God for giving us the gift of the Spirit. Using this powerful gift, may the Lord bless us to bravely share the gospel with many. 

One word: Suffering for the gospel

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