Endure All Things

Thinking of others, not himself, the Apostle Paul would endure all things for the sake of those who have not yet believed. He was an example for Timothy in our text and an example for us today.

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Endure All Things

2 Timothy 2:8-13

  • The Apostle Paul is speaking to Timothy in our passage of the day
  • You’ll recognize the context if you caught yesterday’s lesson
  • We find Paul speaking more of himself here
  • Making note of his commitment to continue in service for Christ
  • Despite the difficulties of persecution
  • And you may be familiar with the beatings and imprisonments he endured
  • Paul is an example for Timothy
  • And an example for us
  • As he thinks, not of himself, but of others who believe
  • Or will believe as a result of his ministry
  • Those that he calls the elect or the chosen
  • For these, he will “Endure All Things”
  • That is our theme, from 2 Timothy 2:8-13
  • In the verses immediately preceding our passage of the day
  • Near the beginning of this chapter
  • We find Paul saying that Timothy should teach what he taught
  • To pass along the doctrines he declared among many witnesses to faithful men
  • So that those men could also go forth teaching
  • The teaching is, of course, Christ and Him crucified
  • How that His death, burial, and resurrection can provide a means of salvation
  • Providing we place our faith in Him, receive Him
  • When we do, we must follow
  • That means knowing Him and knowing His teachings
  • Paul starts with details of his teachings
  • Then speaks of his own journey as a disciple
  • Let’s read this entire text, then look at each verse…

2 Timothy 2:8-13

8  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 

9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 

10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 

11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 

12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 

  • This passage speaks of the regular difficulty of serving Christ
  • Paul had his share of experience with persecution
  • And he was encouraging Timothy here to be a good soldier
  • To endure hardness, as it says earlier in the chapter
  • His words were not hollow
  • He was enduring himself, daily
  • It was worthwhile for Timothy to take note
  • The same can be said for us
  • Let’s look closer at the details…

2 Timothy 2:8

8  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 

  • The gospel Paul set out to proclaim included Christ’s resurrection
  • Meaning, He literally died, and He literally resurrected from the dead
  • Jesus was the promised seed of David
  • The One foretold in Old Testament scriptures
  • Who would save His people from their sins
  • And also be a light to the Gentiles
  • This gospel is the one Timothy was to proclaim
  • To pass along to faithful men
  • And it was the gospel empowering his life to face whatever hardships would come
  • We know they came to Paul…

2 Timothy 2:9

9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 

  • Trouble of many kinds came to Paul for his faith
  • He was treated as an evil-doer
  • Not for doing evil, but for doing good
  • For boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ
  • For insisting He raised from the dead
  • He was imprisoned for teaching truth
  • He was often beaten
  • And his life was under nearly constant threat
  • Paul was not unique
  • Many at this time faced persecution for Jesus’ name
  • And many in our day face this kind of persecution
  • While we enjoy freedom to speak and teach the gospel in our country
  • On our island
  • This is not so the world over
  • Many can imagine imprisonment in their future
  • But, even when God’s people are locked up
  • Often when many are being locked up
  • The word of God still goes forth
  • Persecution has, historically, had a multiplying effect
  • Because the word of God is not bound
  • It can take deep root in the hearts of those who hear it
  • Many times because those proclaiming it are bound
  • Yet they continue praising and clinging to Him
  • The credibility of the saints is elevated in these times
  • This was certainly true for the Apostle Paul
  • That is why he says…

2 Timothy 2:10

10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 

  • Paul endured because there were people yet to be saved
  • Remaining in their sins
  • Still not knowing the transforming power of the gospel
  • And knowing Jesus himself
  • The wonder of rest in the hope of eternal life
  • Paul desired to pass that hope along
  • Not just because he loved them, but because He loved God
  • And had a mission to serve Him
  • Timothy had, and we have, the same mission
  • And our thankfulness for salvation should overflow into ministry to others
  • We should love them as He loved us
  • And determine to keep going through testing and trial and torment
  • Because Christ is worthy of our perseverance
  • And souls are worth exerting effort to reach
  • And we should remember the next verse…

2 Timothy 2:11

11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 

  • To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord
  • To live is Christ, to die is gain
  • We have the hope of the resurrection
  • Therefore, when we face persecution, we can do so with hope
  • We shall live with Him
  • Taking our lives is the worst the enemies of Christ can do
  • But this is not the end
  • It is the beginning of our life in glory with Him
  • This is the hope any ministry of Christ can have
  • Without wavering
  • As the passage goes on…

2 Timothy 2:12-13

12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 

  • The suffering saint can look forward to reigning with Him
  • Certainly, no one must deny Him
  • By the way, this is to persist in denying Him
  • It’s not just to deny Him once under pressure
  • We know Peter denied Him three times
  • Yet Jesus went on to say to Peter, if you love me, feed my sheep
  • And He did, faithfully
  • If we fail in our belief
  • He does not fail
  • He remains faithful
  • He cannot deny Himself
  • Paul was enduring all things
  • No matter what came his way for the sake of Christ
  • Timothy was to do the same
  • We must do the same

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