2 Timothy 02 Guarding the Gospel

One of the books I read over the summer was off the New York Times best sellers, Absolute Monarchy, A History of the Papacy. Like most of you that sat in some form of college history class, I knew that there was something dreadfully wrong with the papacy in the dark ages; I just never imagined how bad it had gotten. By the middle centuries, the church saw its leadership become little more than governing despots with the same immorality, cruelty and arrogance that every other monarch possessed. In some ways they were worse. For example, Pope Leo X who served as pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. Leo X and later his step brother/cousin Giulio who became Pope Clement VII were from a prominent banking family from Florence. Their father, Lorenzo Medici, would probably remind us of Don Corleone. Lorenzo ruled Florence with the same delicate touch as the Godfather. His son, Giovanni, who went by Leo X was said to have had no particular religious leanings. This was the head of the Christian church and he cared nothing for religion. His tastes instead, ran toward fine art and extravagance. Leo was the pope when Michelangelo Painted the Sistine Chapel and that would explain why, though magnificent art, the pope had no qualms about attending a church covered in nude paintings. I always wondered about that. He was vile, self-centered hopelessly materialistic and ruthless.

According to the book, the thirty-seven-year-old pope is said to have written to his brother Giuliano soon after his accession, God has given us the Papacy, now let us enjoy it.1 I consulted the catholic encyclopedia to make sure the writer of this book, a confessed agnostic, wasnt taking unfair shots at the church and repeating scurrilous 16th century gossip. Their historians write with refreshing candor: Sigismondo Tizio, whose devotion to the Holy See is undoubted, writes truthfully: "In the general opinion it was injurious to the Church that her Head should delight in plays, music, the chase and nonsense, instead of paying serious attention to the needs of his flock and mourning over their misfortunes". Von Reumont says pertinently"Leo X is in great measure to blame for the fact that faith in the integrity and merit of the papacy, in its moral and regenerating powers, and even in its good intentions, should have sunk so low that men could declare extinct the old true spirit of the Church." The catholic encyclopedia. As I read that I wondered, How did this happen? About the same time, I watched a show on the National Geographic Channel about ancient Rome. This particular episode tried to explain the rise of the church from a position of complete obscurity to a place of prominence. They said that part of the secret was the home. Without church
1

. Norwich, John Julius (2011-07-12). Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy (p. 289). Random House. Kindle Edition.

buildings they invited people into their homes. The women largely influenced it. Outside the church they were pretty much the objects of men. The church was always helping the hurting and taking people in. What National Geographic didnt say of course was that God was blessing and honoring his work. But they did acknowledge that many came to Christ even though the religion was illegal and refusing to swear allegiance to the Roman Emperor was a death sentence. The more they killed them, the stronger and more influential the church became. Im watching that show and reading this book and asking myself, What went wrong? What went wrong? How did we go from this electrifying evangelistic authentic church to a situation where the church leaders dont even believe in religion or God? What happened? If you know the history the answer is simple, they quit trusting the Bible. All of a sudden my reading and musing became a powerful warning. We are no different really than those Popes. We have the same propensity for losing our way. How many people can you recall right now that once walked with Jesus but you never see them any more? Did they suddenly quit believing? Or did they just gradually drift off into other things? Heres what I know, somewhere along the way, that person quit trusting the Bible. When churches do this they drift into error. When people do it, they drift away. We must guard the place that the Gospel has in our hearts and in our teaching! This single fact will keep us from spiritual drift. I think this is why you see the idea so strongly in Pauls last letter to Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:8. Paul has been trying to build him up and encourage him. Now he turns to firm counsel. Timothy three things are essential. And it starts in verse 8 by reminding this young man of God not to be ashamed of the gospel.

Dont be ashamed of the gospel

8* Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, Ever been ashamed? Someone asked me the other day, what was your most embarrassing moment in high school? Its hard to narrow them down. One that sticks in my mind, I was in the gym talking to one or two guys and several girls. One girl in particular that I was trying to impress. In those days they raised the basketball goals with a crank on the wall attached to the cable. Today I think they are motorized. I was standing holding the crank in both hands. It was about head high. We were talking. Flexing as much as possible. Could always tell when a high school guy is working out. Someone asks directions, he pumps a bicep and says, That way. So Im doing this Rocky Balboa thing, holding the crank. You can always tell when a young man is been working out. You ask directions and he pumps a bicep and flexes, That way. Do a chin up. I know Im ashamed to even say it. Then for some idiotic reason I threw my feet up like some sort of gymnast. I didnt know it, but the crank handles werent permanent. The came out! Just as my feet were up to my head the crank came out! I landed on my back and neck on the gym floor and I was out cold for a second or two. When I came too I had the crank handle in my hand. Looking up at a group that was going nuts! At that moment I was ashamed of myself.

One time I was ashamed of my car. We were young in ministry drove and old Honda Accord. It had some miles on it, so I took it in to have the belts and hoses changed. After that, every time you started the car the belt would create this horrific screatching sound. Sonded like a thousand monkeys running from a lion. Yyyyyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikkkkkkkkkkkk. Came our anniversary and someone suggested this really nice restaurant in Houston. When we pulled up it was valle parking only. Oh brother. If I had known that, I wouild have at least cleaned oiut the thing a bit. With three kids you could find a happy meal in the backseat. He took the keys, gave us a ticket and pulled around back. Noticed that they park the nice cars out front. Ours, way to the back. Nice dinner. Went to get the car and thats when I realized this wasnt going to be pretty. Your ticket. He went to fetch it. People standing around dressed to the nines. We were so out of place. Then from behind the building someone in the distance, the 1000 monkeys came to life. Yyyyyyiiiiiiiiiiiiiikkkkkkkkkeeeeeee. As he came around the corner there was this Doppler affect. Everyone standing strained to see what was making that horrible noise. The buy pulls up and opens the door. The car is still making a racket. I was doing that Jim Carrey thing from the mask thats not my car. I was ashamed of a car. Ever be ashamed? We can be ashamed. Of ourselves, our brothers and sisters, our parents. What teenager hasnt been ashamed of his or her parents. I once asked a group of teens what their parents did that bugged them the most. One said, She sings to the musak at the grocery store. I can see that. Captain and Teneil and she joins in, Dont go breaking my heart Oh brother. Kid wouldnt even walk on the same isle.

Who hasnt done that? But lets take this where Paul had it. Have you ever been ashamed of the gospel or the Lord? Every been in a situation where you hid your faith in order to gain the approval of men? Paul said, Dont be ashamed. Even if by standing for Jesus we lose out in this life. But join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, Paul would ultimately die for his convictions at the hand of Nero, a man who lived his life trying to make everything go his way. James Stalker does a good job describing the irony of the scene that would occur: On the judgment seat, clad in the imperial purple, sat [Nero,] a man who in a bad world had attained the eminence of being the very worst and in the prisoners dock stood the best man the world contained, his hair whitened with labors for the good of men and the glory of God. Such was the occupant of the seat of justice, and such was the man who stood in the place of the criminal.7 T. R. Glover, the English classicist of Cambridge, made an unforgettable comment about the paradox of history as he contemplated Nero serving as Pauls judge: The day was to come when men would call their dogs Nero and their sons

Paul. I love that line! Swindoll, Charles R. (2010-09-08).2 Paul told Timothy to join with him in suffering. Why? The kingdoms of this earth arent going to turn the keys over without a fight. The enemy will see to it that you put into situations where the gospel will embarrass you. Dont let it! Archbishop of Constantinople, wrote, We must not mind insulting men, if by respecting them we offend God.3 Remember what the gospel did for you. Remember what Jesus did for you. 9* who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, The power of the gospel is here. Its his work not ours. People that try to base their salvation on their performance dont understand this. Ask him or her if he knows for sure hes going to heaven when he dies and he might say, I hope so, Im doing the best I can. That demonstrates a misconception about sin. We tend to categorize sins. Some are really bad, others arent so bad. God doesnt make that distinction. All sin is the same. Lying is as bad as rape. Slander and murder fall into the same category. If you do one you are guilty of all. So theres no hoping to compensate for the bad with some offsetting good. All our good is worthless. The only hope is grace.

Once you realize this, its the most incredible gift you could ever get. Jesus did all that we need to for salvation. Why is it that the greatest thing that ever happened to us is the last thing or hardest thing to talk about? Maybe weve forgotten the greatness of the gift. but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10* but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11* for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. Thats the gospel, Paul says, and this is why we suffer. 12* For this reason I also suffer these things, But hear his faith. Even at deaths door in the prison of Nero, Paul still held on to faith. but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Dont be ashamed of the gospel or of Jesus. Then look what he says, Make sure it has first place in your heart.

Keep the gospel primary in your heart

13* Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. I think this verse refers to Timothys heart. Keep the gospel clear in your mind when you come under assault from the enemy. Be sure in your heart.

The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal (pp. 81-82). FaithWords. Kindle Edition. 3 Swindoll, Charles R. (2010-09-08). The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal (p. 44). FaithWords. Kindle Edition.

We cannot be confident in the gospel when we allow doubt and confusion to run free in our minds. There is much I dont understand. Things too great for me to discern. This is a huge universe. How in such a big place, could God know me? If I dwell on that, I might get discouraged and grow weak. Years ago I remember praying for the Lord to bring someone into my life so I could share my faith. That even two laborers knocked on my door to borrow my phone. The guys sister was supposed to pick them up but she got arrested. He was trying to find a ride. I saw this as a divine appointment and said, Ill take you home, where do you live? Columbia. Oh well. I asked for a witness opportunity, I didnt specify how far I would drive. My son Bill a freshman at the time went with us and I drove those guys to Columbia and shared my faith.

I cant understand all about this huge universe. But I know this. When I pray, God answers. It takes faith to understand that. It takes love to appreciate it. So Paul told timothy, when the doubts come, retain the standard of orthodoxy sound words, with faith and love.

Allow the gospel to have authority in your life

14* Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. The treasure is not the spirit. The spirit is what gives us the ability to guard the treasure. The treasure is the gospel. 2Co 4:7* But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; Hes talking about the way that God entrusts his perfect gospel to the care of imperfect people. It must be guarded. We have this amazing ability to turn the truth around so that it fits our whims. Dont do that. Guard its truth. Let it have authority. The tendencies are to change the word to fit our lifestyle or change the message to accommodate the crowd. Win acceptance or approval. The gospel must not conform to us, we must conform to it. We cannot let our own beliefs or desire to be accepted change any of that. We cannot allow our personal fallen passions to somehow corrupt the purity of the word. We must cherish the gospels work in our own life and guard the truth as we hold it out to this unbelieving generation.

On the way home my son Bill and I were discussing science and space. I told him Id read that scientist believe there are 70 sextillion stars in the universe. Thats 70 million, million, million. Thats about ten times more stars than grains of sand on the worlds beaches. I marveled at the fact that when God promised Abraham children he said he would have them like stars and grains of sand. At the time the simile seemed unbalanced in favor of sand. Bill and I tried to imagine our smallness. He said, We are smaller in comparison to the universe than an atom is to the earth. Yes, I agreed, but heres the really weird part. This morning I prayed for God to bring someone for me to witness to, and those two men walked right into my yard. You can call that a coincidence. Ive noticed that I have a lot more coincidences when I pray.

If we dont, well, the dark ages popes have already shown us the ultimate end. The day will come when we wake up and we are not the person we once were, and the church will not be the light it once was. So how is this going? Are you ashamed of the gospel? Are you the same person out there that you are in here? Are you retaining the standard of sound words. Fighting the doubts with faith? Are you protecting the gospel and allowing it to be your authority?