Sermon: 2 Timothy 3:10 - 4:8 Bible and Crown

The summer term at school was the one that I always looked forward to. Not just because it meant that the summer holidays were just around the corner, but also because it meant that our PE routines changed. Autumn term was always rugby - and much as I love watching it, I was never either strong enough or fast enough, so we would endure the rugby passing drills all autumn.

After Christmas, we got to play some football. But the summer term was much more interesting. After Easter, we moved into athletics mode - both track and field. So there were heavy things to throw (the shot putt); and pointy things to throw (the javelin); long jump and triple jump; and the running races.

Now, most of the running races were just running, but there was one that demanded more skill and coordination between the members of the team. What was it? The relay race. One runner started around the track, carrying the baton. Then someone else would take it on and keep running. The skill came from passing on the baton.

In our second Bible reading today, we’re watching the passing on of the baton. It’s not a practice run in the Dromore High pitches; not even at the Olympics; it’s much more important than that. The apostle Paul is writing to his young friend Timothy, giving him instructions as he passes on the baton of Christian ministry to him.

Paul has given his life to the work of the gospel, travelling around the known world telling people about Jesus, planting churches, and declaring the good news. But now he is in prison. Execution is not too far away. Paul’s race is almost over, as he says in 4:7 - ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’ It’s up to Timothy now to take up the baton and run his race, to continue on Paul’s work of teaching.

Yet, as Timothy looks to the future, as he sees what lies ahead of him, it’s not going to be easy. He isn’t going to be running on a nice new athletic track. No, what lies ahead of him is more like an army assault course, with obstacles and dangers to face. The very same things that Paul has already endured - the persecutions and sufferings he faced in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. In those places, Palu had been driven out of town, opposed, and was stoned - that is, attacked with stones, he wasn’t drugged up...

Paul says that these sorts of sufferings shouldn’t surprise us. Do you see what he says in verse 12? Here’s a Bible promise for you, one that you may not want! ‘Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.’ If you are a Christian, then you will face persecution of some sort or another.

Now, as Timothy hears these words, as he faces the future, he might be thinking to himself - how am I going to manage? How can I keep running my race? How will I get on as I take on the baton of gospel ministry? Paul gives him two great encouragements as he looks to the future in faith. Two things that we are given by God to help us as we love and serve him.

The first comes at the end of chapter 3. Paul has said that the evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse. That may be the way they’re going. ‘But as for you...’ Timothy, don’t follow the crowd. Don’t go the way the world is going. As for you... ‘continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed...’

What is it he has learned? What has he firmly believed? ‘the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.’

The Bible is able to make us wise - to give us the information we need in order to find salvation - salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. There are 66 books, written by around 40 different authors over a couple of thousand years, but there is one uniting subject. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is all about Jesus, sharing the good news about him, showing us his glory.

How can this be so, with so many different authors? Behind them, and through them, Paul says there is one author, one source. ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God.’ Just as my words are coming out with my breath, so the Scriptures are breathed out by God. Scripture says what God is saying. When we read the Bible, it’s not just ancient words on a page - it’s God speaking to us now.

I suspect that I’m a fairly typical man. When I get a new piece of equipment, straight away, I want to turn it on and get stuck in. I’ll footer about with it, trying to make it work. It’s only when I get stuck that I go back to the box to find the instruction manual. We can think - I can sort this myself. I don’t need any help! Until we realise that we do.

Life can be like that. We get stuck in, we have a little bit of freedom, and off we go, making our own mistakes, trying to sort things out ourselves. We live the way we want to, then wonder why we end up getting things so very wrong. We need the instruction manual. We need to hear from the Maker, who knows how life is meant to work.

That’s what the Bible is for. ‘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 competent, equipped for every good work.’

Perhaps today you’re wandering, you’re lost. You recognise yourself among the evil people and impostors going from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You’ve gone your own way, and can’t seem to work out what life is all about, how it should be lived. The remedy is to be rescued. To turn from error and return to the living God who has spoken. To become wise in the way of salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. To learn about the Saviour and to trust him. To be taught and corrected and straightened out by his word so that we can love and serve him.

Here’s a question for you - who has the most followers on Twitter? Barack Obama is 3rd with 102 million; Justin Bieber is 2nd with 106 million; and Katy Perry is 1st with 109 million. All watching out for their latest tweet, hanging on their latest word. Yet we have the words of the living God in our homes, often in a box, out of the way on a shelf, gathering dust. Will you take up your Bible and read and hear God’s word to you?

The first thing we’re given is the Bible, the scriptures. This is what Timothy is to give himself to, to learn and teach and proclaim, in and through the dark days that lie ahead. At the end of our passage, Paul tells us the second thing we’re given, which encourages us to keep going as we love and serve the Lord Jesus.

‘For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.’

As Paul comes towards the end of his life, as he completes his race, he looks towards the finish line, towards the podium. The reward isn’t a gold medal and a wee posy of flowers. Instead, what awaits is the crown of righteousness. The crown is the sign of being accepted by God, of being in the right with God. It is awarded by the Lord, the righteous judge, who judges with absolute fairness and justice.

Remember where Paul is - he’s on remand, sitting in prison, awaiting the death sentence, which the unjust judge Nero will pass on him. His earthly life will cease, condemned as a prisoner. But Nero’s judgement doesn’t concern him. Rather, he is looking forward to the only opinion that finally matters - the Lord’s opinion, the righteous judge’s verdict - who will award the crown of righteousness.

Now you might be thinking to yourself that of course Paul deserves such a crown. He’s in the Bible, he wrote books of the Bible, he was so very good. But you couldn’t be further from the truth. If Paul deserves his crown then it would be by merit, by effort, by his good works. But the truth is, Paul didn’t deserve his crown. He too was a sinner, who needed to be saved through faith in Christ Jesus. Paul needed that rescue, just as we do as well. As Jesus died on the cross, he took our sins from us, and instead gives us his perfect righteousness. It’s by faith that we receive God’s grace and mercy.

Paul could face the future with confidence. His heavenly reward is certain. His crown is laid up, ready for him. And you can be just as certain about your future. You see, it’s not just Paul who has such a crown. ‘Not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.’

Jesus is returning, the righteous judge, who died to save us. We too can be sure of receiving the crown of righteousness as we hear God’s word of grace and respond in faith. Jesus has died to win your salvation. Will you hear and heed him today? Will you trust in the Lord for your salvation? Will you welcome him on that great Day when he appears as judge? The Bible, God’s breathed-out word points us to the crown, God’s gracious gift, freely offered.

This sermon was preached at the RBP Service in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday afternoon 6th May 2018.

Sermon: 2 Timothy 3: 1-17 The God-Breathed Bible

I want to ask you a question this evening. What is it the church needs to do in these changing times?

There's no doubt about it that things are changing very rapidly all around us. The past century was one of amazing technology and development. Things are vastly different to when our grandparents were children themselves. Communications, working patterns, education - all are changing. One of my parishioners in Fermanagh turned 99 earlier this year. He would sit and chat about the changes he had seen in his lifetime. One of the biggest for him was moving from ploughing with horses to getting his first tractor. He would still rather have the horses, though.

But think how much has changed even in the last few years. On the lectern sits a wee box, recording my words. Later this week, this sermon will be available to whoever wants to listen in, anywhere in the world. And as for Facebook, video calling, and so much more - it’s incredible. As a news report recently put it, the smartphone in your pocket is more powerful than the NASA computers that put man on the moon.

With all these changes going on, let alone the social changes with proposed new definitions of marriage and relationships, we’re left wondering - should the church be changing its message to fit in with the times?

Some in the emerging/emergent church are saying precisely that. Because things have changed so much, the church needs to change the message it once proclaimed, so that we can fit in better with a new society, enlightened, multicultural, influenced by reason and not superstition.

This evening, though, on Bible Sunday, we come to the apostle Paul writing to a younger church leader, Timothy. Paul knows that he is near the end of his life; he's now in prison again, the time is short, and soon he will be killed for being a Christian. Timothy seems to be shy, fearful, so Paul is writing his last letter to Timothy to encourage him. Here, in chapter 3, he tells Timothy to know two things - know the times, and know the message.

Know the times

Boy Dylan sang in 1964 ‘The times, they are a-changing,’ and yet there's a sense in which things are still the same as ever. We have increased mobility, wealth, possessions, education, and yet things are as they ever were. Sin continues unabated. Paul says that this is the way things are going to be.

Verse 1: ‘But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.’ He then outlines a catalogue of sins, a litany of lawlessness. ‘People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.’

It all sounds horrible, and yet, we realise that this is what our world is like. All these things are all around us. That’s because we’re in the last days. You see, sometimes we think that the last days are just the last couple of days before Jesus returns. But we are already in the last days. We have been since the resurrection of Jesus. The last days are every day between the first coming of Jesus and his second coming. So this is our world, these are our times.

And alongside these worsening morals, we also have the threat of false teachers. We see them in verses 6-9. They worm their way into households, they gain control over weak-willed women, spreading their false teaching, leading people astray. Jannes and Jambres (8) aren’t named anywhere else in the Bible, but they’re thought to be the magicians of Egypt who opposed Moses, opposing the truth.

So this is the world that Timothy was ministering in, and it’s still the world that we are living in. The last days.

Do you remember the theme song that brought New Labour to power in 1997? The D:Ream song 'Things Can Only Get Better'. Twenty years on, as we reflect on the Labour years under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, we can't really say things have been getting better. Nor have they been getting better under the Conservatives. No matter which government is in charge, they can’t change the hearts of sinful people. Sin will continue. Just look at your newspapers or TV news. This is the world we live in, and Paul calls us to know the times.

Notice the contrast in verse 10 though. Paul is saying that Timothy is to be wise to the times, knowing the world he is working in, but not to copy their example. Instead, he writes 'You, however...' Don't follow the wicked world, but copy Paul's example, his faith, love, patience, conduct and all the rest, including persecution!

It's a strange inclusion, isn't it? Paul promises Timothy that he will face persecution - indeed, everyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. What a promise! Yet it's what we should expect - precisely because we know the times, we know that the world is living in rebellion against its Maker and King, so that if we stand up or stand out for Jesus, then we'll attract some opposition.

Know the times, and be prepared to stand up for Jesus.

Know the message

But as well as recognising the times, Paul also urges Timothy to know the message he has been entrusted with. Again, at the start of verse 14, notice the contrast. 'But as for you...' The evil people will go from bad to worse, but as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of. Don't change the message - hold firm to the gospel.

Paul reminds Timothy that he has been acquainted with the holy Scriptures since childhood - the scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. The Scriptures are the power of God for salvation, as they point to Jesus. Back in chapter 1, Paul mentioned Timothy's granny Lois, and his mummy Eunice, both of whom were Christians already, and had brought him up to know the Bible (the OT, of course), teaching and training him. Parents and grandparents, here's a call for you to be passing on the faith, teaching your children and grandchildren as you have opportunity.

The Scriptures, ‘All Scripture’, Paul says, are God-breathed. Sometimes we talk about how the Bible is inspired, but here Paul says that the Bible is ‘expired’ - not run out, but breathed out. As I’m speaking here, coming out of my mouth are my words, along with my breath. And God’s breath, his Holy Spirit, inspired the writers of the Scripture to communicate the words of God.

That’s why we can have confidence in the Bible - because it is God’s word. It’s not the invention of someone who wanted something to do one day; it’s not the ravings of strange people; it is the very word of God, breathed out by God.

And the Scriptures are given for a purpose. We see it in the rest of the chapter. In verse 16, there are four things that the Scripture does to us - ‘and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.’

Teaching - The scriptures teach us more about God and about ourselves. They give us information and teach us.

Rebuking - They also rebuke us when we are in the wrong. They might show us how our behaviour is wrong; or show us that what we think about God isn’t right. They rebuke us.

Correcting - They don’t just leave us in the wrong, though, they also correct us. They give us the truth, they correct the errors we might have in our thinking or doing.

Training in righteousness - They show us how to live a righteous life, what God wants of us, and encourage us to do it.

And God gives us the Scriptures (all the Scriptures) v17 ‘so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’ God didn’t just give us the Bible to fill our heads with Bible knowledge. The Bible isn’t just there as a source of trivia - to know who Melchizedek is; where Zarephath was; or how many donkeys Job started out with. The Bible is there to teach, rebuke, correct and train us... SO THAT we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

It’s good to read the Bible. But it must be changing us and leading us to live out our faith, by doing good works, against the backdrop of a sin-soaked world. We’re called to know the message, to know the Scriptures and grow in the Scriptures, so that they change us to be more like Jesus.

Our message must not change - we must continue to hold fast and preach the gospel contained in the Scriptures - God's revelation of his Son, the Lord Jesus. How we present the message may change, but not the message itself.

Let's take seriously today Paul's call to know the times we live in, but also to know the message that can turn sinful people into saints; rebels into redeemed people; lost into found.

This sermon was preached in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on the evening of Bible Sunday, 29th October 2017.

Sermon: 2 Timothy 3:10 - 4:8 Bible and Crown

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost a year since the Olympic Games in London. It was great to see the British athletes win 29 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze medals. They were brilliant at the cycling, the rowing and the long distance track races. However, when it came to one particular event, the British men’s team did it all wrong, and were disqualified. The women didn’t even make it to the Olympics. Now, at the risk of turning into A Question of Sport, which event was it?

The relay race. The 4x100 metres. The final changeover was disastrous, it didn’t happen correctly, and despite finishing second in their heat, the men were disqualified. Many a cold, wet afternoon during PE being taught how it was meant to be done, as the baton is passed to the next runner. It’s so important for the baton to be passed, for the next person to take over and have a chance at a medal.

The apostle Paul is writing his young friend Timothy, giving him instructions as he passes the baton on. Paul has been giving his life to the work of the gospel, travelling around the known world telling people about Jesus, planting churches, and declaring the good news. But now he is in prison. Execution is not too far away. Paul’s race is almost over: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.’ (4:7). It’s up to Timothy now to take up the baton and run his race, to continue on Paul’s work of teaching.

Yet as Timothy looks to the future, as he sees what lies ahead, it seems that the relay race isn’t being run on the nice new athletics track in the Olympic stadium. What lies before him is more like an army assault course, with obstacles and dangers to face. Paul even spells them out for him. He reminds him of the persecutions & sufferings in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, These were places where Paul had been driven out of town, opposed, and stoned (that is, attacked with stones, not drugged).

More than that, it’s not just Paul who will face problems and difficulties for being a Christian: ‘Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.’ (3:12). Now you might think that it’s silly to mention this at all, especially if you’re thinking about becoming a Christian, but we have to present the whole truth. The Lord Jesus warns us to count the cost before we decide to follow him.
So the future looks bleak. Is it all just doom and gloom? Why would anyone want to be a Christian faced with such opposition and problems? Wouldn’t it be easier to just continue on in your sinful life and live the way you want?

Paul gives Timothy a glimpse of reality - what his life will look like as he follows Jesus. But it’s not all negative. Rather, he also gives two great big encouragements, as he looks to the future in faith. Two things that we are given by God as we love and serve him.

The first comes at the end of chapter three. Paul has said that evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse. That may be the direction they’re going, ‘But as for you...’ Timothy, don’t follow the crowd. Don’t go the way of the world. As for you, continue in what you have learned... What is it he has learned? What is it that he has firmly believed? It’s the ‘holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.’

The Bible is able to make us wise- to give us the information we need in order to find salvation- salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Despite there being 66 different books from around 40 different authors written over a period of a couple of thousand years, there is one uniting subject. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is all about Jesus, sharing the good news, showing us his glory.

Now how can this be so, if there are all those different authors? Behind them, and through them, Paul tells us, there is one author: ‘All Scripture is God-breathed’ (3:16) Just as my words are coming out of my mouth as I breathe, so the Scriptures are God-breathed. Scripture says what God is saying. When we read the Bible, it’s not just ancient words on a page, but God speaking to us now.

I suspect that I’m a typical man, [and perhaps wives you’ll recognise this trait in your husbands too]. I get a new piece of equipment, some new technology, and straight away, I want to turn it on and get stuck in. I’ll footer about with it, trying to make it work. It’s only when I get stuck that I’ll go back to the box to find the instruction manual. We think: I can sort this out myself. We don’t need any help. Until we realise we do.

Life can be like that. We have some freedom and off we go, making our own mistakes, trying to sort things out ourselves. We live the way we want to, and then wonder why we end up getting things so very wrong. We need the instruction manual. We need to hear from the Maker, who knows how life is meant to work. Paul tells us: ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work..’ (3:16-17)

Perhaps today you’re wandering, you’re lost. You recognise yourself among the evil people and impostors going from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. The remedy is to be rescued. To turn from error and self-deception, to the living God who has spoken. To become wise in the way of salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. To learn about the saviour and to trust in him. To be taught & corrected from his word so that we can love and serve him.

In the world of Twitter. Lady Gaga has over 38 million followers, Justin Bieber 41m - all eager to hear from their heroes (even if it’s just what they ate for breakfast!). Yet we have the words of the living God in our homes, often in a box, out of the way on a shelf, gathering dust. One of the banners you’ll see at the Twelfth shows the secret of England’s greatness as a Bible is presented by Queen Victoria to foreign princes. Will you take up your Bible and read and learn, and hear God’s voice to you? It is in this way that we hear and are saved, as we trust in the Lord.
The first thing we’re given is the Bible, the scriptures. This is what Timothy is to give himself to learn and teach and proclaim, in and through the dark days that lay ahead of him. At the end of our passage, Paul tells us about the second thing we’re given, which encourages us to keep going as we love and serve the Lord Jesus. Here’s what he says: ‘For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.’ (4:6-8).

You see, as Paul comes towards the end of his life, as he completes his race, he looks towards the finish line, towards the podium. The reward isn’t a gold medal and a wee posy of flowers. Instead, what awaits is the crown of righteousness. This crown of righteousness is the sign of being accepted by God, of being in the right with God. It is awarded by the Lord, the righteous judge, who judges with absolute fairness and justice. Remember where Paul is: He’s on remand, sitting in prison, awaiting the death sentence, which the unjust judge, Nero, will pass on him. His earthly life will cease, condemned as a prisoner; but Nero’s judgement doesn’t concern him. Rather, he is looking forward to the only opinion that finally matters - the Lord, the righteous judge, who will award that crown of righteousness.

Now you might be thinking to yourself that of course Paul deserves such a crown - he’s in the Bible, after all, he wrote books of the Bible, he was so very good. You could not be further from the truth. Paul doesn’t deserve this crown of righteousness. Earlier we spoke of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. That is, salvation from our sins - Paul needed rescue, just as we do too. Our rescue is in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, in the great exchange taking away our sins, and giving us his perfect righteousness. It’s by faith that we receive God’s grace. Indeed, as Paul says, ‘I have kept the faith.’

Paul can face the future with confidence. His heavenly reward is certain. His crown is laid up ready for him. Friends, today, your future can also be certain. You see, Paul wasn’t boasting, as if to say, well I’m all right, I’ve got a crown waiting for me. He goes on to say that it is ‘not only to me but also to all who have longed his appearing.’

Jesus is returning, the righteous judge, who died to save us. We too can be sure of receiving the crown of righteousness as we hear God’s word of grace and respond in faith. Jesus has died to win your salvation. Will you hear and heed him today? Will you trust in the Lord for your salvation? Will you welcome him on that great Day when he appears as judge? The Bible, God’s breathed out word, points us to the crown, God’s gracious gift, offered freely.

This sermon was preached at the Lower Iveagh West Orange Parade Service in Magheralin Parish Church on 7th July 2013.

Sermon: 2 Timothy 3:10 - 4:8 Bible and Crown

I’m sure, like me, you saw some of the Olympics during the summer. It was fantastic to see the British athletes do so well in the cycling and the rowing and the long distance track. However, when it came to one particular event, the British men’s team did it all wrong, and were disqualified. The women didn’t even make it to the Olympics. Now, at the risk of turning into A Question of Sport, which event was it?

The relay race. The 4x100 metres. The final changeover was disastrous, it didn’t happen correctly, and despite finishing second in their heat, the men were disqualified. Many a cold, wet afternoon during PE being taught how it was meant to be done, as the baton is passed to the next runner. It’s so important for the baton to be passed, for the next person to take over and have a chance at a medal.

The apostle Paul is writing his young friend Timothy, giving him instructions as he passes the baton on. Paul has been giving his life to the work of the gospel, travelling around the known world telling people about Jesus, planting churches, and declaring the good news. But now he is in prison. Execution is not too far away. Paul’s race is almost over: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.’ (4:7). It’s up to Timothy now to take up the baton and run his race, to continue on Paul’s work of teaching and encouraging.

Yet as Timothy looks to the future, as he sees what lies ahead, it seems that the relay race isn’t being run on the nice new athletics track in the Olympic stadium. What lies before him is more like an army assault course, with obstacles and dangers to face. Paul even spells them out for him. He reminds him of the persecutions and sufferings in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, These were places where Paul had been driven out of town, opposed, and stoned (that is, attacked with stones, not drugged).

More than that, it’s not just Paul who will face problems and difficulties for being a Christian: ‘Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.’ (3:12). Now you might think that it’s silly to mention this at all, especially if you’re here considering the good news and thinking about becoming a Christian, but we have to present the whole truth. The Lord Jesus warns us to count the cost before we decide to follow him.

So the future looks bleak. Is it all just doom and gloom? Why would anyone want to be a Christian faced with such opposition and problems? Wouldn’t it be easier to just continue on in your sinful life and live the way you want?

Paul gives Timothy a glimpse of reality - what his life will look like as he follows Jesus. But it’s not all negative. Rather, he also gives two great big encouragements, as he looks to the future in faith. Two things that we are given by God as we love and serve him.

The first comes at the end of chapter three. Paul has said that evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse. That may be the direction they’re going, ‘But as for you...’ Timothy, don’t follow the crowd. Don’t go the way of the world. As for you, continue in what you have learned... What is it he has learned? What is it that he has firmly believed? It’s the ‘sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.’

The Bible is able to make us wise - to give us the information we need in order to find salvation - salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Despite there being 66 different books from around 40 different authors, written over a period of a couple of thousand years, there is one uniting subject. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is all about Jesus, sharing the good news, showing us his glory.

Now how can this be so, if there are all those different authors? Behind them, and through them, Paul tells us, there is one author: ‘All Scripture is breathed out by God...’ (3:16) Just as my words are coming out of my mouth as I breathe, so the Scriptures are God-breathed. Scripture says what God is saying. When we read the Bible, it’s not just ancient words on a page, but God speaking to us here and now.

I suspect that I’m a typical man, and perhaps wives you’ll recognise this trait in your husbands too. I get a new piece of equipment, some new technology, and straight away, I want to turn it on and get stuck in. I’ll footer about with it, trying to make it work. It’s only when I get stuck that I’ll go back to the box to find the instruction manual. We think: I can sort this out myself. We don’t need any help. Until we realise we do.

Life can be like that. We have some freedom and off we go, making our own mistakes, trying to sort things out ourselves. We live the way we want to, and then wonder why we end up getting things so very wrong. We need the instruction manual. We need to hear from the Maker, who knows how life is meant to work. Paul tells us: ‘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 competent, equipped for every good work.’ (3:16-17)

Perhaps this evening you’re wandering, you’re lost. You recognise yourself among the evil people and impostors going from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. The remedy is to be rescued. To turn from error and self-deception, to turn to the living God who has spoken. To become wise in the way of salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. To learn about the saviour and to trust in him. To be taught and corrected from his word so that we can love and serve him.

The other night (or was it morning by then), the world waited to hear the acceptance speech of the President of the United States, as he was elected for his second term. Journalists and political commentators hung on his every word, listening and reporting and analysing. Or think for a moment of Twitter. Lady Gaga has over 31 million followers, Justin Bieber 29 million - all eager to hear from their heroes (even if it’s just what they ate for breakfast!). Yet we have the words of the living God in our homes, often in a box, out of the way on a shelf, gathering dust.

Our banner tonight show the open Bible; another banner design depicts the secret of England’s greatness as the Bible is presented by Queen Victoria to foreign princes. Will you take up your Bible and read and learn, and hear God’s voice to you? It is in this way that we hear and are saved, as we trust in the Lord.

The first thing we’re given is the Bible, the scriptures. This is what Timothy is to give himself to learn and teach and proclaim, in and through the dark days that lay ahead of him. At the end of our passage, Paul tells us about the second thing we’re given, which encourages us to keep going as we love and serve the Lord Jesus. Here’s what he says: ‘For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.’ (4:6-8).

You see, as Paul comes towards the end of his life, as he completes his race, he looks towards the finish line, towards the podium. The reward isn’t a gold medal and a wee posy of flowers. Instead, what awaits is the crown of righteousness.

This crown of righteousness is the sign of being accepted by God, of being in the right with God. It is awarded by the Lord, the righteous judge, who judges with absolute fairness and justice. Remember where Paul is: He’s on remand, sitting in prison, awaiting the death sentence, which the unjust judge, Nero, will pass on him. His earthly life will cease, condemned as a prisoner; but Nero’s judgement doesn’t concern him. Rather, he is looking forward to the only opinion that finally matters - the Lord, the righteous judge, who will award that crown of righteousness.

Now you might be thinking to yourself that of course Paul deserves such a crown - he’s in the Bible, after all, he wrote books of the Bible, he was so very good. You could not be further from the truth. Paul doesn’t deserve this crown of righteousness. Earlier we spoke of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. That is, salvation from our sins - Paul needed rescue, just as we do too. Our rescue is in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, in the great exchange taking away our sins, and giving us his perfect righteousness. It’s by faith that we receive God’s grace. Indeed, as Paul says, ‘I have kept the faith.’

Paul can face the future with confidence. His heavenly reward is certain. His crown is laid up ready for him. Friends, tonight, your future can also be certain. You see, Paul wasn’t boasting, as if to say, well I’m all right, I’ve got a crown waiting for me. He goes on to say that it is ‘not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.’

Jesus is returning, the righteous judge, who died to save us. We too can be sure of receiving the crown of righteousness as we hear God’s word of grace and respond in faith. Jesus has died to win your salvation. Will you hear and heed him tonight? Will you trust in the Lord for your salvation? Will you welcome him on that great Day when he appears as judge? The Bible, God’s breathed out word, points us to the crown, God’s gracious gift, offered freely.

This sermon was preached at the Banner Mission in Enniskillen District Orange Hall, organised by County Fermanagh Grand Lodge, on Thursday 8th November 2012. Each preacher through the week was given a picture from a banner to work with and present the gospel message. My banner was from Garrison district, depicting the Bible and the crown.

Sermon: 2 Timothy 3:1-17 Know the Message

I want to ask you a question this morning. What is it the church needs to do in these changing times? There's not doubt about it that things are changing very rapidly all around us. The past century was one of amazing technology and development. Things are vastly different to when our grandparents were children themselves. Communications, working patterns, education - all are changing. The question is, should the church be changing its message to fit in with the times?

Some in the emerging/emergent church are saying precisely that. Because things have changed to much, the church needs to change the message it once proclaimed, so that we can fit in better with a new society, enlightened, multicultural, influenced by reason not superstition.

This morning, though, as we continue to think about Bible Sunday, we come to the apostle Paul writing to a younger church leader, Timothy. Paul knows that he is near the end of his life; he's now in prison again, the time is short, and soon he will be killed for being a Christian. Timothy seems to be shy, fearful, so Paul is writing to Timothy to encourage him. Here, in chapter 3, he tells Timothy to know two things - know the times, and know the message.

Know the times

The times, they are a-changing, and yet there's a sense in which things are still the same as ever. We have increased mobility, wealth, possessions, education, and yet things are as they ever were. Sin continues unabated. In the early part of the chapter, Paul describes a catalogue of sins, a litany of wrongdoing, which will be the case in the last days. We're in the last days - we have been since the resurrection - so this is what it looks like when sin continues unrestrained. Alongside the worsening morals of the world, we also have the threat of false teachers, leading people astray.

Do you remember the theme song that brought New Labour to power in 1997? The D:Ream song 'Things Can Only Get Better'. Thirteen years on, as we reflect on the Labour years under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, we can't really say things have been getting better. If anything, they're getting worse. This isn't a political point - the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats won't be able to change the hearts of the population of the UK. Sin will continue. Just look at your newspapers or TV news. Death, violence, rioting on the streets of Belfast. Sin continues.

Notice the contrast in verse 10 though. Paul is saying that Timothy is to be wise to the times, realising the world he is working in, but not to copy their example. Instead, he writes 'You, however...' Don't follow the wicked world, but copy Paul's example, his faith, love, patience, conduct and all the rest, including persecution!

It's a strange inclusion, isn't it? Paul promises Timothy that he will face persecution - indeed, everyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. What a promise! Yet it's what we should expect - precisely because we know the times, we know that the world is living in rebellion against its Maker and King, so that if we stand up or stand out for Jesus, then we'll attract some opposition.

Know the times, and be prepared to stand up for Jesus.

Know the message

But as well as recognising the times, Paul also urges Timothy to know the message he has been entrusted with. Again, at the start of verse 14, notice the contrast. 'But as for you...' The evil people will go from bad to worse, but as for you, continue in what you have learned and believed. Don't change the message - hold firm to the gospel.

Paul reminds Timothy that he has been acquainted with the sacred writings since childhood - which are able to make you wise for salvation in Christ Jesus. The Scriptures are the power of God for salvation, as they point to Jesus. Back in chapter 1, Paul mentioned Timothy's granny Lois, and his mummy Eunice, both of whom were Christians already, and had brought him up to know the Bible (the OT, of course, teaching and training him. Parents and grandparents, here's a call for you to be passing on the faith, teaching your children and grandchildren as you have opportunity.

The Scriptures, Paul says, are God-breathed - the word coming out by the breath/Spirit, just as my words are coming out of my mouth along with my breath. They are given by God to teach us about him, to correct false notions we have about him, and to train us in righteousness.

Our message must not change - we must continue to hold fast and preach the gospel contained in the Scriptures - God's revelation of his Son, the Lord Jesus. How we present the message may change, but not the message itself.

Let's take seriously today Paul's call to know the times we live in, but also to know the message that can turn sinful people into saints; rebels into redeemed people; lost into found.

This sermon was preached at the Midweek Morning Prayer in St Elizabeth's Church, Dundonald on Wednesday 27th October 2010.

Useful Mark

Yesterday's posting might have been a bit negative, focusing on the desertion of Demas. However, as Paul continues to mention people by name in 2 Timothy 4, there is a bit of encouragement and comfort.

In the next verse, Paul writes to Timothy: 'Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.' (2 Tim 4:11) This sentence, I reckon, is very significant, and marks a development in a relationship, and indeed, a reconciliation from earlier in Paul's life and ministry.

Who is this Mark? It appears that he lived in Jerusalem, and is first mentioned in Acts 12:12, having two names, 'John, whose other name was Mark.' As Paul (then known as Saul) and Barnabas returned to Antioch, they took 'John whose other name was Mark' with them (Acts 12:25).

John Mark then left them when they had arrived in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13), while Paul and Barnabas continued their gospel work in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and other places. However, when the time came for their next journey from Antioch, Paul and Barnabas actually fell out over whether they should take John called Mark with them.

Barnabas (son of encouragement) wanted to bring him along, but Paul wasn't having it, so there was 'a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.' (Acts 15:37-40). Can you imagine it - two church leaders arguing over whether to give Mark another chance? Paul doesn't take Mark with him, it seems that Paul didn't think much of Mark.

But now, at the end of his life, in his final letter, Paul has a different opinion of Mark. 'Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.' From useless to useful, from deserting to devoted.

Perhaps we shouldn't write people off too soon, giving them a chance to mature and prove themselves, rather than blackballing someone straight away. A sign of grace and reconciliation, with Mark seen as vitally useful for ministry by the aged apostle.

Deserting Demas

Over the weekend, we were studying Paul's second letter to Timothy with Trevor Kane. Four great sessions on discipleship: living out and passing on our faith. One bit stands out, a worked out example of what Paul has been urging Timothy to do and avoid.

Throughout the letter, the call is for Timothy to keep going, to continue in godliness, continue in preaching and gospel, and continue in the word. The call is needed, because many are (and will) turn away from the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 is an illustration of what ungodliness looks like in the last days - that is, from Jesus' ascension until his return. Three loves are mentioned: 'people will be lovers of self, lovers of money ... Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.'

Paul is a positive example for Timothy, he is at the end of his life, he has run the race and fought the good fight. But negatively, Demas stands as someone to learn from and not copy. 'For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.' Demas was one of Paul's close companions, a fellow labourer in the gospel (Colossians 4:14, Philemon 24). He had started so well, made a show of being a fellow worker, but he has misplaced love. Love for the wrong things, for the world rather than for God, so he has abandoned the work of the gospel.

What a sad testimony, to be recorded in Scripture as a deserter. Demas the deserter stands as a warning for us all, a warning to keep loving God, to keep serving and preaching. Sadder still, to be found like that on the Day of the Lord.

Sermon: Titus 1: 1-4 Introducing Titus

Imagine that you’ve been travelling with the apostle Paul. Together, you’ve been preaching the gospel, and people have believed in God. You’re now on the island of Crete, but Paul moves on towards Ephesus, and leaves you behind to continue the work. What do you do? How do you do it?

Tonight we’re beginning a new series in the letter to Titus. As you will see, it’s quite a short book in the Bible – 3 chapters, 46 verses. And yet it’s an important book as we seek to live as Christians in God’s world. Paul writes to Titus with some instructions for himself and the church on Crete, which are also helpful for us.

As we launch into the letter tonight, we’re just going to look at one sentence. Not much, you might think, but in that one sentence, there is much treasure. The theme for tonight is ‘Introducing Titus’, but as you’ll see, we get a good bargain tonight, with three introductions for the price of one. First, Paul introduces himself, then he introduces God, then he introduces Titus.

First up, then, the introduction of Paul. Unlike modern letters, where the name of the person writing comes at the very end – yours sincerely, Gary – here, we find that the writer identifies himself straight away. The first word of the letter is Paul. So how does Paul introduce himself?

‘Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.’ What an introduction! The first sets out that he is God’s servant, entirely occupied at serving and pleasing God. It’s an Old Testament title, used of Moses (Joshua 1:2), Joshua (Joshua 24:29), and the prophets (Jeremiah 7:25), as well as the suffering servant (Isaiah 52:13). But don’t think this is a place of weakness. The next title shows that Paul has authority – as ‘an apostle of Jesus Christ.’

The letter isn’t just a social letter, bringing Titus up to date with what Paul has been doing. Rather, it is a letter which has authority – the authority of the apostle of Jesus Christ – to command Titus in his role, and also for the churches to obey.

It’s like receiving a letter from Revenue and Customs, or a summons to go to court. The letter commands us to do something because it is rooted in the authority of the letter-writer – who represents the Queen. Here, then, Paul, as an apostle, is writing to Titus, his colleague, with the authority of Jesus Christ.

If we look at the rest of verse 1, we see why Paul has authority. Or if you like, why he is an apostle. ‘For the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life.’ These four major factors are seen throughout the rest of the letter – faith, knowledge of truth, godliness and hope, but the two key features, indeed, the very theme of the entire letter, are the two middle ones. Our knowledge of the truth and our godliness.

As we’ll see in the coming weeks, it’s vital to hold both together – truth and godliness. Or to put it another way, how sound doctrine must lead to sound living. You see, we’re in trouble if we only have one and not the other. To have good works, without a knowledge of the truth may be an attempt to serve God without knowing God. Good works won’t save us – we simply can’t earn God’s favour in this way.

But the equal danger is to have a knowledge of the truth without godliness. To believe the right things but then do nothing about it – to go on living how we please. There’s a word for people like that – hypocrites! At the end of chapter 1, Paul says of the false teachers, ‘They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.’ (1:16)

As Paul sets out for Titus, and also for us, what we believe about God must make an impact on how we live. Otherwise, those around us may well wonder what the gospel is really all about. What about you?

As well as introducing himself, Paul also introduces God in the letter. Already we’ve seen mention of Him, as Paul is God’s servant, and also in the mention of God’s elect – those whom God has chosen to be part of his family, from all tribes and tongues and nations. But here, Paul gives a glimpse behind the scenes, at the character and purposes of God.

Paul’s writing about the faith, truth, godliness, and especially the hope of eternal life. It is this hope that God has promised, for his chosen people. Do you notice the startling description of God there? ‘God, who never lies.’ This is in contrast to the character of the Cretans (not the cretins!)(1:12), who ‘are always liars.’ So while these residents of Crete may not be able to trust what their neighbours say, they can be confident in God keeping His word.

But more than that, not only does God not lie, He has also promised the hope of eternal life ‘before the ages began.’ Before the creation existed, before God said ‘Let there be light’, God had purposed and promised the hope of eternal life for his people. How is this possible, especially since God, who knew us, also knew that we would mess things up? Well, because God is also ‘our Saviour.’ God is the one who has taken the initiative, in sending Jesus to die for us; and in sending the apostles to spread the good news through their preaching.

Finally, we come to Titus himself. Now, obviously within the letter, Titus didn’t need introduced to himself, but here we can see how Paul regards Titus. It is, if you will, Paul introducing Titus to us. So how does Paul describe Titus? ‘My true child in a common faith.’

The letter to Titus is one of several letters in the New Testament called the Pastoral Epistles. Rather than being written to churches as such, they are written to Paul’s colleagues in ministry, Timothy and Titus. In 1 Timothy 1:2, Paul also calls Timothy ‘my true child in the faith.’ Titus and Timothy are therefore younger men, also engaged in the preaching of the gospel, and the letters written to them are to encourage them in the places where Paul has sent them, and to remind them of what to teach. The letters would then have been read when the church gathered together.

Titus is found in Galatians 2:3. He was a Greek Christian – a Gentile, yet wasn’t circumcised. ‘But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.’ (Gal 2:3)

Titus seems to have been Paul’s ‘troubleshooter’ – the person who goes in when things are difficult and sorts it out, like the people in the banks who are trying to turn things around. Earlier, he had been in Corinth several times: (‘But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord.’ 2 Corinthians 8:16-17) (2 Corinthians 8:23), which wasn’t an easy place to be, and later he is found in Dalmatia (Yugoslavia, 2 Timothy 4:10). But here, Titus is left behind on the island of Crete, with the task of getting things into order after Paul’s initial gospel work.

And what is the pressing need? As we’ll see next week, church leaders who both hold on to the trustworthy word – the knowledge of the truth – as well as living lives of godliness.

As we begin to read Paul’s letter with Titus, then a number of challenges immediately confront us. Are we trusting in the Lord – do we stand in the faith? Is our knowledge of the truth growing? And linked to that – does what we believe really impact on how we live?

This sermon was preached in St Elizabeth's Halls on Sunday 8th March 2009.

The Shack *Possible spoilers*

One of the big bestsellers from last year, particularly in Christian book sales, was William Paul Young's The Shack. The rave reviews on the back promise that "This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his. It's that good!" I recently finished it, and was left asking the question, is it that good?

Certainly the storyline is engaging. Mack* goes on a camping trip with his children, when tragedy strikes. The sense of panic is well conveyed and heart-rending. The development of the characters is well observed. The reader is carried along in the story, all the time feeling for Mack in The Great Sadness.

Yet the story is but a vehicle for the book's central premise. What if you could meet God face to face and discuss tragedy. Or, as Christianity Explored asks: If you could ask God one question and you knew it would be answered, what would it be?

Surprisingly, Mack finds himself encountering the three 'persons' of the Trinity. Each take time to discuss with him, gently leading him through his problems, and bringing him to trust God for all he needs. Yet as I read, I began to fear that Mack had not encountered the living God. Rather he has encountered the emergent God. While it may be useful for the book to appear, and to get people talking about God, the book is certainly not one on which to base our doctrine or understanding of God.

Others have written extensively on the Shack, but some of the problems for me include the statement by Papa, the African-American woman masquerading as God the Father: "I don't need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it." (p. 120) Well, that sounds like good news for modern man - God doesn't punish sin? Connect this to the statement that "I've never placed an expectation on you or anyone else... because I have no expectations, you never disappoint me." (p. 206) Gospel truth, or good news for itching ears (c.f. 2 Timothy 4:3)?

It doesn't seem to fit with the declared intention of God to punish sin for his own glory. 'Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.' (Jude 7) 'For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.' (2 Corinthians 5:10)

One other major problem (although there are several more), concerns the assault on God's sovereign choice in election and predestination. In one scene, Mack is introduced to Sophia, wisdom. Mack is placed in the judgement seat, to see how he fares judging God. Mack is asked to decide which of his five children will be saved, and which, therefore will not.

"You must choose two of your children to spend eternity in God's new heavens and new earth, but only two." ... "And you must choose three of your children to spend eternity in hell." ** Mack couldn't believe what he was hearing and started to panic.

"I am only asking you to do something that you believe God does. He knows every person ever conceived, and he knows them so much deeper and clearer than you will ever know your own children. He loves each one according to his knowledge of the being of that son or daughter. You believe he will condemn most to an eternity of torment, away from His presence and apart from His love. Is that not true?" (p. 162)

The drama is intense as Mack fights against it, before finally offering himself to go to hell so that his children will be saved. This is commended, as it is how God acts. It is absolutely true that Jesus dies in our place, but is it equally true that therefore everyone will be saved? Does it follow that Jesus died for all, and hell will be empty? To follow the logic of the book you could come to this conclusion. Yet again, it fails to match up to the Scriptural evidence.

At the very least, a reading of the parable of the Sheep and the Goats shows that not all will enter into the Kingdom. Some will hear that "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:41) Further, the Book Revelation is clear that not all will be saved. Several times there is mention of the 'book of life of the Lamb'. Those without an entry in the book (which was written before the foundation of the world - Rev 13:8) will worship the beast, and will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15).

As the Briefing article suggested, we need more Shack Time - with the living God, though, not the god found in The Shack. In knowing the living God, we will be able to recognise the false images we find in emergent literature.


*I've noticed this is the second book in recent years in which the main character who comes face to face with a spiritual being is called Mack. The other book is The Testament of Gideon Mack, by James Robertson, where Mack meets the Devil.

** Even though, it appears, that the writer would deny that hell exists.

The Hope of Israel: Acts 28:17-31

As we face up to the realities of the time, we might ask ourselves – what hope is there? After all, with the financial hardship biting – and the possible loss of Woolworths pick n mix, what hope do we have for the future? Or for the families of those policemen who tragically died last weekend. Or for you, when bad news comes. What hope?

In our reading tonight, Paul is in Rome. And Paul is a prisoner. Verse 16 tells us that he was living in his own place, with the soldier that guarded him. He’s under house arrest. Can you imagine, someone constantly with you, watching your movements?

Yet while Paul can’t get out and about, he is free to host people, and he certainly uses that freedom. Verses 17 to 22 show us the first meeting Paul had with the local leaders of the Jews. He had summoned them to come along and talk to him. As he talks to them, he describes how he has come to be in Rome. He has been transported from Jerusalem to Rome, via two years in Caesarea and a shipwreck off Malta. The remarkable thing here – and I mention it only in passing – is how God sometimes answers prayers in ways we don’t expect. If you’re taking notes, have a look later on at Romans 15:22-33. There, Paul asks the Roman Christians to pray for him as he’s going to Jerusalem and then coming to see them. He asks them to pray ‘that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea… so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company’ (Rom 15:31-32). God achieved this, through the arrest and trials and appeal to Caesar. Not quite what Paul expected!

As well as describing how he finds himself in Rome, Paul tells them why he is a prisoner in Rome. Look how Jewish Paul is, identifying very closely with the Jews – ‘brothers… our people… the customs of our fathers… my nation.’ He says that he has done nothing against his people or the customs of the fathers – he stands in the line of Jewish expectation. Yet the Jews objected to his freedom and wanted him put to death, so he appealed to Caesar.

Do you notice in his summary of Acts 21-27, there are three ‘nothing’s. Paul had done nothing against the Jews; the Romans had nothing against Paul; and Paul had nothing against the Jews (no charge).

Now here he is in Rome, a prisoner – and why? Look at verse twenty. ‘For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.’ (20). Paul is a prisoner because of the hope of Israel. Israel was looking forward to something – it had a hope, and yet Paul was in chains because of it.

So Paul arranges a day when they’ll come back to hear about the hope of Israel. The Jews are keen to hear of it – they know that everywhere Paul’s sect is spoken against, even though they personally haven’t heard any bad reports.

Soon enough, the day arrives, and the Jews crowd together at Paul’s house to hear about the hope of Israel. What was the message? Why was Paul in chains? Verse 23: ‘From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.’ Here’s the hope of Israel – God’s kingdom, and God’s king, Jesus.

This is what they were looking forward to. This was their expectation. They knew that God’s kingdom would break into the world – and Jesus was their great hope. Jesus IS their great hope. He makes this clear through the teaching of the Scriptures. The Law of Moses covers the first five books of the Old Testament, and the Prophets covers both the historical books of the kings as well as the prophets. And what do they point to? Or rather, who do they point to? The Lord Jesus, God’s King.

Paul speaks on his topic from morning till evening – all day long. Yet the reaction is mixed. As in other places, God’s word divides people. Some were convinced, others disbelieved. Some accepted the word, and others rejected their hope.

Do you notice what Paul says to them? He doesn’t plead with them to accept – rather he quotes the Scripture to them, condemning their hardness of heart. Let’s look at the words he uses: ‘The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: “Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”’ (26-27 cf. Isaiah 6:9, 10)

This is the commission that God gave to Isaiah in Isaiah 6 – his great vision. Yet often, when it is read in church – certainly at my ordination back in June – the reading ends abruptly at the end of verse 8 when Isaiah says ‘Here am I, send me.’ But the message that he’s sent to give to Israel isn’t so positive.

They’re harsh words, yet they’re addressed by God to the people of Israel who refuse to believe. They may well hear and see, but they don’t understand and perceive. The hope of their people had been explained to them, yet they refused to listen and accept it.

Do we take care to listen and understand?

Look at verse 28. Paul had gone to his people first, but when they don’t listen, he instead turns to the Gentiles. ‘Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.’ The Jews refused to listen, the Gentiles will listen. The hope of Israel is the hope of the world.

We see this in operation in the closing verses of the book of Acts. ‘He lived there two whole years at this own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.’

Do you see that Paul’s message was the same for both Jews and Gentiles – compare verse 23 with verse 31. The kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus. The hope of Israel is the hope of the world. All who came to him were welcomed and heard – both Jews and Gentiles.

You might be thinking to yourself, this is a really strange way to end the Book of Acts. Paul had arrived in Rome, the promise of Jesus was that he would testify before Caesar (27:24), yet the book ends with him under house arrest. Surely Luke should have included some action? I mean, he doesn’t even tell us what happened when Paul met up with the Christians to whom he had written the Letter.

But both God and Luke knew what they were doing. Right back at the start of Acts, we find what some have described as the structure or the key verse of the book. 1:8 ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ As Acts unfolds, we see the progression – it takes until chapter 8 for Philip to reach Samaria, prompted by persecution in Jerusalem, then we see the gospel spreading further and further on Paul’s missionary journeys. At the close of the book, the gospel (and Paul) has reached the capital of the world, the centre of the world, Rome. The implication is that it will therefore spread to the end of the earth.

But more than that, as Paul himself testifies in 2 Timothy 2:9 ‘my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!’ Paul is under house arrest here (his letters to Timothy were probably written later on in his life), living under a soldier’s watch. But the word is not bound – he proclaims and teaches ‘with all boldness and without hindrance.’

What an encouragement for us, in a day when Christmas can seemingly take place without a thought of the Christ at the centre of it. What an encouragement when we face hard times – the gospel is not bound – the word advances, and God accomplishes his purposes.

And what is our hope, our confidence? The hope of Israel is the hope of the world – Jesus Christ, born, crucified, and risen. Just as the prophets promised. Over the next few Sunday evenings, we’re going to look at the hope of Israel in greater detail – thinking about the promises of a new covenant and a new king.

Do you know the hope of Israel tonight? Are you trusting in the Lord Jesus? Why not come to him tonight, and name him as your king.

If you are a Christian, then be encouraged by the hope of Israel. In this bleak world, the Lord Jesus is our great hope – the future is certain in his hands. The word of God advanced in Paul’s day – will we help to advance it in our day, and pass it on to the next generations?

This sermon was preached in St Elizabeth's Dundonald on 30th November 2008.

Fleeing and Pursuing

Another quick insight from 2 Timothy. Some people reckon that Christianity is all negative, based in laws and 'thou shalt nots'. They couldn't be further from the truth! Rather, as we see here, God's commands are both positive and negative, and are always for our best interests.

So, for example, Jesus' words in Mark 1:14 - 'Repent and believe the good news' - repentance being turning away from sin, and believing being the turning towards God in faith. We also see this pattern in the words of Paul to Timothy: 'Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.' (2 Tim 2:22)

Yes, we're to flee bad things - to not give them ground, to not stand in them or let them develop. Rather, we're to get our trainers on and run away - fleeing the evil desires of youth. But it's not entirely negative... we're not to be headless chickens running around.

Paul gives us what we're to run towards - we're to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. What better things could there be to pursue, to run after, and to make our own? And yet, if we're honest, it won't be easy. The metaphors Paul has been using in 2 Tim 2 show determination, endurance and hard work.

But the good news is that we don't do it alone - we aren't lone rangers; we are soldiers together in the army of the Lord! Look - we have to flee and pursue 'along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.' Thank the Lord that we have other Christians to share with in our struggles, and to encourage each other!

Stating the obvious!

Sometimes when you're reading something, you think to yourself - what's the author doing? They're stating the obvious... why say it at all? I had one of those instances recently in my Bible reading.

Do you remember the way I talked about the co-incidence of studying the text twice at the same time in different contexts? It happened with Jeremiah, in both my private study, as well as the Explore notes from The Good Book Company. Well, it's happening again. In our tutor group in college, we're working our way through the Pastoral Epistles, reading a chunk and discussing it. And in my own study, I'm reading 2 Timothy (in conjunction with John Stott's commentary on it in the Bible Speaks Today series from IVP).

And I came across Paul's instruction to Timothy in 2 Tim 2:8. 'Remember Jesus Christ'. Imagine. Paul's telling Timothy how to keep the church's witness going after the generation of the apostles dies, and he includes 'remember Jesus Christ.' Isn't Paul just stating the obvious? Surely Timothy would know to remember Jesus... after all, it's what the gospel is all about.

Is it like the time when Jesus told the disciples to 'Remember Lot's wife' (Luke 17:32)? But Lot's wife was a negative example, so it mustn't mean that. What can Paul mean when he says 'remember Jesus Christ'?

Once again, we fall into the trap of failing to see the context. Look at your Bible, and you'll see that the punctuation means that it isn't a bald statement on its own, but is carried on to explain it a bit better. So then, Paul says: 'Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!' (2 Tim 2:8-9).

So who is the Jesus Paul is calling Timothy to remember? Not the figment of imagination, or the made up story-teller, or cleverly devised fables. No, we find here both positive and negative affirmations of Jesus, the Jesus of history who is the Christ of faith.

Jesus Christ, risen from the dead: God's not dead, no, he is alive! Implicit in the conviction that Jesus is risen from the dead, we find the assertion that he died before he could be raised. So the Jesus Timothy is to remember (and therefore we should be remembering too) is not dead, gone and forgotten. Rather, Jesus is alive, risen from the dead, and seated in glory with the Father. More than this, the rising from the dead was seen as the proof that Jesus was divine, the Son of God (see Romans 1:4 - 'was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord')

Jesus Christ... the offspring of David: Jesus was not only fully divine, but he was also fully human, descended from the line of David. But not only this, the echoes of David's name should alert us to the other descent from David - that of the kingly line. Jesus is therefore 'Great David's Greater Son', the Christ (the anointed one).

Jesus Christ... as preached in my gospel: Not only do we need to be right about the person of Christ, but we also need to be right about the work of Christ, his sin-bearing work on the cross, as contained in Paul's gospel. Not that this necessarily means that Paul made it up, or invented it. Rather, it is Paul's gospel by way of him being entrusted with its message, which he is now passing on to Timothy. It's a similar idea to the translation of 2 Tim 1:12 'I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me' (italics added, footnote reports the Greek as saying 'my deposit').

This is the Jesus Christ Paul charges Timothy to remember, follow and preach. But it won't be easy. It will be hard to do this. It landed Paul in prison. Paul is chained up because of the gospel. And yet, that just confirms what Paul has been arguing - that the gospel minister is called to hard work and endurance. It's what the word pictures of soldier, athlete and farmer in the bit just before our verse point to. It's what Paul's experience points to. And it's even what remembering Jesus will point to. Because he had to endure the hardship and suffering before he could enter glory again, and bring us with him.

Yes, gospel work will be tough. It's no doddle. There's hardship and suffering. As someone once said, when Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die. And as a slogan goes - no cross, no crown. But there is encouragement. Paul might be chained up in Rome, awaiting execution. The future might be bleak for him in terms of this world. 'But the word of God is not bound!' (2 Tim 2:9) It is still being spread and bearing fruit.

Remember Jesus Christ!

An Advent Thought on Christmas Eve

Recently I've been reading 1 & 2 Timothy, and have been richly blessed through the reading of them. I'm not saying that my eyes would normally miss some parts of what is contained in the Bible (well, actually, that may well be true...), but reading parts of the Bible during specific seasons of the year can help bring out new features which I haven't noticed before.

One such was last night, in 2 Timothy 4 - have a look:

'Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.' (2 Tim 4:8)

Those who have loved his appearing. That set me thinking. The message of Advent, Jesus' return, is indeed sure and certain - he is coming! But perhaps the criteria for the judgement (to be a bit crude for a moment), is how we will respond to his appearing - the award or reward is for those who have loved his appearing. We can therefore assume that those who haven't loved his appearing won't be receiving an award.

But maybe we should turn it round the other way... if we are saved, then we will be looking forward to Jesus' return, and the reward will come with it. If our hope is in Jesus' return, then we will indeed be looking forward to him coming, and love his appearing.

So who will there be that could possibly not like his return? The way modern society seems to think, and even the church to some extent, is that if Jesus should possibly come back, then either everyone will be afraid of him, or else he won't be coming in judgement - that we'll have a 'cuddly Jesus' when he comes. And how did I come to this conclusion? Well, consider one advent hymn, which is perhaps my favourite, in which a verse was changed from this:

Every eye shall now behold him, Robed in dreadful majesty
Those who set at nought and sold him, Pierced and nailed him to the Tree;
Deeply wailing, Shall the true Messiah see.

To this:

Every eye shall now behold him, robed in dreadful majesty,
We who set at nought and sold him, pierced and nailed him to the tree,
Lord, have mercy, Let us all thine Advent see.

So what has changed? Well, we have moved from a biblical view of the second coming (based on Revelation 1:7), to the view that we all will be afraid of Jesus' coming. Is it some form of political correctness creeping into the church, and a fear of being labelled as anti-Semitic, in moving away from the 'those who pierced him' idea? Or is it some sort of false humility on the part of those within the church? But surely there is no condemnation for the believer - those who have loved his appearing, and therefore no need to plead for mercy, as we are covered by the Blood of Jesus?

So on this Christmas Eve, as we come to the end of the season of Advent and move into the season of Christmas - are you looking forward to Jesus' return, so that when he comes, you will have loved his appearing?