As Aaron said we are just a couple of weeks from the 250th Anniversary of the founding of our nation.
The Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States was approved on July 4, 1776.
The introduction to that important document has this phrase:
“The laws of nature and of Nature’s God.”
This is a reference to reason and revelation as sources of knowledge or truth.
In theological terms they are known as “General” and “Special” revelation.
General revelation refers to things that we can know by exploration, observation and understanding the world around us and even by paying attention to our own conscience.
In Scripture we see this several places.
Romans 1:18-20
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
We can know some things about God through what he had made…this knowledge is accurate, but not adequate for salvation…it is limited.
I can know somethings about an artist by looking at his art… but looking at art doesn’t mean I have a personal relationship with the artist.
This information is called “general revelation” because it is generally available…all the time, to everyone, everywhere through the use of reason, observation, and the study of the natural world.
God has also put knowledge of himself into our conscience, or our hearts.
Romans 2:14-15
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.
Ecc. 3:10
He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end
This doesn’t mean that people everywhere, through the ages…agree or have agreed on what is right and wrong…they do not and they have not.
But in every culture, and in every human heart…there is a built-in sense of oughtness and ought notness.
Listen to any child at play long enough and you will hear, “Hey, that’s not fair!”
But it’s not just children
NBA players will often complain about unfair referees…you will never hear an athlete complain that the refs were unfair in their favor…they would just call that good officiating.
There is an idiom that describes this reality of “law in our hearts”: “There is honor among thieves”
I watched a historical series recently about the rise and fall of the 5 main mob families in the US.
I thought of Romans 2 as I watched, these wicked families had their strict codes of honor…they would happily murder someone who wronged them by being a snitch.
They would kill another family but would often be very loving to their own kids.
Our hearts are built for right and wrong, but they are twisted by sin.
If we are just products of random time and chance…there would be no built-in sense of right and wrong.
But all that is well and good…we know there is a creator, we can know there is right and wrong…but we still have a big problem.
We can’t know this creator personally just by studying his creation.
We can’t know how to be forgiven of our sins by looking at the world or into our own hearts.
We don’t know the difference, on our own, as to what is right and wrong…but we often know when we have been wrong…we feel guilt.
That’s something that we don’t need to be taught, it is built into us…we feel guilty because we have real guilt before a real God.
It is commonly believed that society imposes guilt on people…but often people will feel guilty about things that everyone around them and society at large is telling them is okay…why is that?
Well, Romans 2
There are other things we can’t know unless God tell us…
Why we exist…our purpose.
Or what happens when we die…eternal destiny.
We can’t know how to live a thriving life in this world that has been designed by God, unless God tells us how.
Fortunately for us, God has given us special revelation…he has spoken to us through his Son, the Lord Jesus.
Hebrews 1:1-2
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
John 14:9, Jesus said,
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father
Additionally, and very importantly, God has spoken to us in the Bible, his Word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Let’s read our passage for today as we finish up this week and next, of 6 months in Paul’s letters to Timothy…God’s word for us.
2 Timothy 3:10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The passage begins with, “You however”
So, we have to remember what came before this verse to get the context for that phrase.
The passage we looked at last week dealt with the hostile people and the difficult times Timothy was encountering.
It ended, in verse 9 with, “They will not get very far…”
Todays’ passage begins with…
“But you however (emphatic) are a different story.”
You are ready for all that is coming your way.
You have trained left of the bang, and you are ready for what is next.
You, however, are going to go far…all the way to the finish…because…then he tells him why he knows this is true.
Paul is confident that Tim will finish because:
- Timothy has examples, and he actually follows them.
- Timothy has the Word of God, and he follows God’s word faithfully.
-It has all he needs to do well and to finish well in ministry.
These two things will be our reason for confidence in finishing well, if we embrace them.
First…
- Follow the examples that God has given to you.
- 10 You have followed my teaching, actions, my life purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance.
Does this sound arrogant of Paul?
“You are going to do great, because you are doing exactly what I say and do.”
That’s not what he is saying.
Paul is not boasting about himself…all that proud nonsense has long been beaten out of him…he is not that guy.
Suffering can do to that you…or at least, suffering well can do that.
This is in line with what he said elsewhere:
1 Cor. 11, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”
Phil. 4 “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
And what Jesus said should be true of all of us:
Matt 5:16 Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
What Paul is saying to Timothy, we ought to be able to say, as we grow in our faith…to the younger believers who are coming after us.
It is not “look at me…period”
It is, look at me so you can get a better idea as to how to follow Jesus.
As I follow Jesus…you can follow me.
Makes sense…If you want to go from here to the WSU YMCA and I am walking to the WSU YMCA…if you follow me, you will get there.
This isn’t Paul thinking that he is great, it is about Paul living a decided life…he had long ago decided he is going to walk with Jesus…when he died, they found him pointing that direction.
Since that is true, if Timothy followed the way of Paul, he was following the way of Jesus.
Paul is following in the steps of Jesus…Timothy could walk with him and get to Jesus.
Why not just follow Jesus? Why the need for a Paul at all?
It is how Jesus designed this whole thing to work.
Part of it, I think is an antidote to our sinful pride.
We don’t want to need God…and we certainly don’t like it that God has designed us to need each other.
A young man recently told me, “I’m going to start by just trying to get to know Jesus, then later, I will include others in my life to help me.”
I said, “Jesus won’t put up with that…don’t even try it.”
It is always Jesus and others…at the same time.
Jesus is the head of the church, his body…each part needs the other parts…there is no health in seeking autonomy…from God or each other.
An arm by itself, detached from the body…is horrible…for the arm and the body.
I heard a great quote from a stupid show the other night…
When one character was trying to live life by herself, make it through hard times without help from others…she used that classic, “I thought I needed space and I wanted to give you space.”
The character’s sister replied, “Space is for astronauts, and you are not an astronaut.”
Time alone can be good, but trying to live life without letting others in…never works.
Remember 2 Tim. 2:2. “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others.”
Life on life on life is the way that following Jesus works…it was how Jesus set it up.
He trained a few, then sent them to train others, who would then train others.
I don’t think we are going to outsmart Jesus or come up with a better plan.
The practical benefit of human examples is that they are up close and personal to you.
Paul was like a crosshair in a scope to Timothy…Paul was not the target (just like the crosshair is not the target), but he was close up to him and helped him get a fix on the target…which was to become more like Jesus.
One practical thing that this means…is that guy on the podcast, or the author or influencer that you have never met…they can’t serve in this role in your life.
You need relationships with real people.
When Jesus grabbed my heart when I was 19 I prayed this prayer, and I do remember the prayer…because it was one of the first really honest prayers I prayed…and one I got a very direct answer to.
“Jesus, I am all in, but I don’t have any idea what is next, I really don’t know what goes on at church…please help me, send somebody to help me.””
I had slept through church for many years…I avoided people there…and I didn’t know how to live out the commitment I had made.
The very next week a pastor at my church, Ron Pracht, called me and said, “Would you pray about me helping you grow in your faith?”
I had stiff armed Ron for years…I have no human explanation for why he called me that week.
I said, “I don’t need to pray about that.”
He said, “You won’t even pray?”
I said, “I already did, you are the answer…when do we start?”
Ron and another key mentor, Coach Goodwin helped me to get a fix on how to walk with Jesus.
This is what Jesus wants for each one of us…not just to have someone like this, but to be someone like this for others.
If that feels like a lot of pressure…good.
There is distress…bad stress (dis=disease, disaster)
There is eustress…good stress…(eu=eulogy, good words)
There is stress that makes us healthier, better.
This is “step up and be the example”…it is eustress…good pressure.
It will help you as you look to help others.
To say, “Look, I’m not perfect, don’t look at me as an example”
-Is at once half-true, and totally wrong.
Of course, we are not perfect and of course others should be able look at us as examples.
We don’t get to hide behind our sins and failure.
Being this example should serve as a strong motivation to not sin…people are watching…embrace that fact…it is terrifying and motivating.
Part of that example is when we say or do dumb things…we model confession, repentance.
That is a very important example to set as well.
Now look at how Paul models grit and grace in balance.
follow my example, I endured persecution; yet the Lord rescued me from it all.
God didn’t rescue Paul from trouble; he rescued him through it.
There were times when Paul didn’t think he was going to make it…But God kept giving him strength to endure another day, another day to honor him.
He is able to say, at the same time: “I endured”…”Yet the Lord rescued me.”
The day would come, and it was coming very soon when he wrote this letter…when Paul would finish…his need for endurance would be over…but he didn’t quit.
A lack of endurance leads to quitting…God’s grace empowering our grit will lead to us finishing.
Finishing well ought to be a high priority for each of us…we don’t focus on fear of failing, but we focus on faithfully training.
Notice Paul isn’t selling unreality…he is setting clear expectations…look at verse 12
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
One ancient Christian writer distinguished between what he called white and red martyrs.
The red martyrs are literally killed because they follow Jesus.
The white martyrs lay down their lives daily as living sacrifices.
On author wrote about this:
Suffering is simply part of our fallen condition. It is already part of our lives. Afflictions surround us: loss of loved ones, failing health, dashed hopes and dreams. When we place this suffering at the foot of the cross, we may be able to point beyond ourselves to the God who redeems our griefs and draws us into the light of his presence. We might in this way serve as white martyrs, signposts and witnesses to Christ. This kind of living into our afflictions can forge in us gifts of patience, hope, compassion, and peace that can witness to Christ in powerful ways. Thus we can give voice to Christ, who went to the cross in silence.
All of us, if we desire to live a godly life, we will be persecuted…at some level.
Paul taught Timothy to train left of the bang for whatever would come next.
Training is not about dread and fear but faithfulness in the next small thing in front of us.
In verse 13 and 14 we find another compare and contrast between those who opposed Timothy and won’t last…and Timothy who will finish well.
The evil people and fakers are going from bad to worse…meaning, they are terrible and yet it seems like they are getting away with it.
But they are not getting away with it…so AS FOR YOU Timothy
Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.
This is the combination of the two means of confidence:
- Following the examples of others
- Following these examples to the word of God.
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
This takes us back to chapter 1..
2 Tim. 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well
We are looking at Paul’s reason for confidence that Timothy will finish well.
He sees it, he believes it, and he is calling out for Timothy to see it and believe it.
Having and holding a vision for someone in tough circumstances can be life giving…sustaining.
*I have told a couple of people who are very close to me that I have a vision for their lives that they currently can’t see…I told them I would hold it until they could see it themselves.
Now, don’t just make this up…but if you do see something that someone is not seeing themselves…and it is in line with the Word of God…then tell them so.
Okay…so…
- Timothy has examples, and he actually follows them.
Little good examples are, if we are too proud to actually listen to them and follow them.
Next,
- Timothy has the Word of God, and as he follows God’s word faithfully…he will have all he needs to be effective in his work and to finish well.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
This takes us back to our introduction…special revelation.
God has given us his Word, Old and New Testament…we should be so grateful that the God who is there…has spoken to us…he has told us how to live.
Our gratitude should show up in effort to understand and apply God’s word to our lives.
Three things are important for Timothy, in regard to God’s word, that pertain to his finishing well and staying faithful in ministry in a hostile culture.
Scriptures origin
Scriptures usefulness
Scripture’s impact
Paul gives:
- Scripture’s origin: It is God breathed
-This translates a single, very unique Greek word…it is only used here in the entire Bible.
Scripture is not man-made…it is God-breathed.
We don’t get to monkey with it to make it say what we want it to say.
We don’t get to disregard the things we don’t like or the things that are unpopular with current culture.
Scripture judges human cultures it is not judged by them.
Scriptures shapes our thinking; it is not shaped by our thoughts.
- Scripture’s usefulness: teaching, rebuking, correcting, training
These four things are not exhaustive, Scripture has many more purposes, but they are specifically beneficially for Timothy’s pastoral ministry
-teaching: It tells us how to live, the path to walk, where not to walk, what is good and true to think, believe, value, and do.
-reproof: It rebukes us and tells us when we are off the path, going the wrong way.
*Something I admire about Rodney is that whenever I have offered him feedback (or he asks for it, and he often does), or when I have pointed out something that could be done better he says, “Thank you.”
This happened last week.
I don’t know if he always feels thankful…but he always acts thankful.
This is wisdom…if we are off the path, or could be doing better, Scriptures reproof, or someone else using Scripture to reprove us…is a gift.
-Correction: Scripture does not just rebuke us, tell us we are wrong, it shows us how to get right.
Some people think that Scripture is exclusively about telling us all the things we are doing wrong.
That God is a cosmic killjoy out to stop fun wherever it is happening.
God is pure joy and he invites to join him in his joy…by knowing and obeying his word, which is a revelation of his will and ways for us.
His word says, “Don’t walk that way, it will hurt you…turn back this way.”
-training in righteousness.
I like to look at these four uses of Scripture using the analogy of teaching a new driver how to drive.
*Something, by the way, I hated…I found it nerve-racking to teach my girls to drive.
-I think Driver’s Ed teachers are more courageous than Navy Seals.
Training a new driver involves these four things:
-Teaching: drive like this
-Reproof: you are veering off
-Correction: get back like this
-Training: here how you stay the course…here are some skills you can practice.
The point is not to make much of the words but to make much of Scripture’s utility in our lives…God has given us his word so we can know how to live flourishing lives.
- Scripture’s impact
- 17 “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Obviously Scripture is for both men and women, but Paul is writing to a man, Timothy.
Scripture gives Timothy all that he needs…it is complete, so his ministry is complete with it.
He is equipped for every good work of the ministry.
This doesn’t mean we don’t need to use reason…as I pastor I often have to understand the laws of our state to advise people…we need to understand important physical, medical realities…we are embodied being.
We can learn from any number of people…general revelation says that God has placed truth in the world all around us.
But when it comes to knowing, loving and serving God…we need Scripture…it is all we need.
When it comes to forming and functioning as his Church…we need Scripture…it is all we need
It means that when it comes to the work of the ministry and how we are to live God-honoring lives…Scripture has all that we need.
Who is God, who are we, what is our problem, what is the solution, what is our purpose, what happens when we die.
“Well, if all I need is a Bible…then I don’t need commentaries, or books, or…you, Pastor Terry.”
Now we circle back to the first point…Jesus has made us so that we need each other.
Unless you read Hebrew and Greek fluently…you are totally reliant on the expertise and accuracy of Bible translators.
Even if you read the original languages…but try to go it alone…you will never fully understand a book written in, by and for community…apart from life inside a biblical community.
Let me cast some vision for all of us as we finish.
I am confident we will thrive in life and ministry and we will finish well if we:
- Make the most of the examples God has put in our lives
-You have to show up and keep showing up.
-Good things don’t always happen every time you show up, but good things never happen if you don’t.
-Over time, showing up is bottom line for sustained growth.
-Don’t just show up…let people see who you are…let people challenge you.
-They (we) won’t do it perfectly…we may get it really wrong…it’s okay…keep showing up…don’t shut down.
*My grandson is going into the 8th grade and is playing in a summer basketball league.
-He made the mistake last week of complaining about the referees to me after they got crushed by another team.
I said, “Oliver, the refs are probably better at refeeing than you guys are at playing, but even if not…you are a middle school team, and they are middle school refs…don’t complain.”
That’s not mean…my grandson doesn’t need to blame their loss on the refs…it is not good for him.
And by the way, I have spent many hours in driveway teaching him to play…so I can speak into his life.
My point is…others in your life are not going to be perfect friends, mentors, counsel, helper, etc…they will say the wrong things, offend you, whatever.
But guess what…you are not going to be a perfect friend, mentee, counsel receiver, either are you?
Show up, be teachable, humble, give people room to fail…you need it from them, give it back to them…and then.
- Be faithful to stay in God’s word
A little, day after day, of God’s word over a long time will make all the difference.
Seek to understand the Bible in order to love and obey God and to love others.
I have never seen a person fail to stay faithful over the long haul who shows up for community and shows up in God’s word…day after day.
I know it takes grace…but God’s grace empowers the grit that does these things.
Faithfulness is not a coin toss…God has put finishing well in front of us…he is all for it…we need to be all for it as well.