Stay the Course - 2 Timothy 3:10-17

February 20, 2012 by Matt Morgan

Sermon Series: Burning Out?

I grew up living in a home that sat on a corner lot with a pretty big yard in a middle class American neighborhood. We had a dog, and so that meant we also had a fence – one that enclosed a very large portion of our lot. The fence had wooden posts coming out of the ground every 7 to 8 feet. Connecting those posts were two wooden beams, approximately 8.5 to 9 feet long that were tapered at the ends to fit through and rest in two open slots in the vertical fence posts. It was a nice looking fence, but it wouldn’t function like that to keep in a dog (any size dog would have been able to run right under the lowest horizontal beam. So one other part had been added to the fence – some metal wiring (not nearly as thick as a chain link fence, but more substantial then something like chicken wire) – to ensure that our dog stayed in our backyard. For most of my childhood I was indifferent to our fence. It served its purpose well, but I neither loved nor hated it. That all changed when I became a teenager and took on the responsibility of lawn care. Every week I had to mow the grass inside the fence and outside the fence, a task that wasn’t all that difficult, but a task that required a little extra time and broke up some consistent patterns and straight lines (something that compulsive people like myself highly value). The part I absolutely dreaded was weed eating around the fence. Because of the metal wiring I had to weed eat around both the outside and the inside of the fence and that used to tear my shins up. I was constantly being hit by pieces of the line breaking off when it hit the metal wiring, other debris that had gotten blown against or stuck on the fence, and sometimes even pieces of the metal wiring after weather and years of being hit by the weed eater had caused it to weaken. I can clearly remember one summer morning when I had had enough. Our dog had died and there were no plans to get another. My brother and I were both teenagers and so it no longer served as a safe place for young children to play outdoors. We had a fence, but it wasn’t serving any purpose, so I decided that I was going to take it down. It wasn’t anything that mother had asked me to do. It was simply a task that I was choosing to undertake to make the task of lawn care much easier. No fence would make it easier to mow, would mean straighter lines, and it would eliminate 90% of the weed eating I would have to do. It was a great idea, but I had no idea how much time, labor, and pain would go into removing that fence. The task started with a pair of pliers, a screw driver and a hammer. The first thing I had to do was remove all of the staples in the fence posts and horizontal beams so that I could roll up the metal wiring – a task that was somewhat monotonous, but not all that that terribly difficult. The second thing I had to do was remove the horizontal beams connecting the fence posts. This was by far the easiest part of the project. All it required was slipping one end out of one post and then slipping the other end out of the other post. But the last part of the project is the part that will live on in my memory as long as I live. I didn’t have a chainsaw to cut the fence posts down at the ground. I didn’t have a four-wheel drive pickup truck, SUV or tractor that I could pull the fence posts out with. All I had were my arms. So I put on a pair of work gloves and began one of the most physically demanding projects I have ever undertaken. The only way for me to get the fence post out was to shake the post back and forth and side to side until the hole in the ground allowed for a little wiggle room. Once there was some wiggle room I had to do more than just shake the post, I had to grab hold of the post and shove the fence post forward and backwards and side to side with all the might I had until the hole around the post had grown large enough for me to lift the post straight out of the ground. Each post seemed to require 10 minutes of shaking and shoving and after a handful of posts I was beginning to recognize how hard this project was going to be.

Several hours later and with still several posts to go my arms felt like mush. My back was hurting. My hands and fingers were covered with blisters. I was as dripping sweat and incredibly hot. At that point questions were beginning to fill my mind. “Why was I doing this?” “Wasn’t there something more fun that I could do?” “Wasn’t there something easier and a lot less hot that I could do?” “Wasn’t there a new movie playing that I wanted to see?” “Why was I putting myself through this?” “Why didn’t I just stop?” But even with all those thoughts I couldn’t bring myself to stop. I knew our yard would look a little odd with some random fence posts sticking up out of the ground. I knew it would reflect poorly on our property. And I knew it would reflect poorly on me and my willingness to stick with a project that I alone had initiated. So I continued to labor and work, through pain, through exhaustion, and through a great deal of frustration until the project was complete.

As I think back on that day I realize that in many ways what I experienced laboring there in my back yard is a lot like what we experience as believers in Christ. Often times we discover that our service for Christ is a lot more difficult than we first imagined it would be. Often times we find ourselves having to endure longer periods of exhaustion and discomfort than we ever thought we would have to. And when we find ourselves in those moments we have to remember to stay the course - not to quit and not to chase after new things. Throughout his second letter to Timothy we find Paul encouraging Timothy, who seems to be weary, burnt out, and wrestling to stay motivated in the service of the gospel. Paul has encouraged Timothy by acknowledging his recognition of Timothy’s sincere faith (1:5), encouraged Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” (1:6), and encouraged Timothy to continually be being strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2:1). Paul had also reminded Timothy of the transformation that takes place in the lives of those who place their faith in Jesus as Lord in Savior. Those individuals become vessels “for honorable use, set apart as holy” and “ready for every good work” (2:20-21). Unfortunately there were many false teachers who had the appearance of godliness but who had not set themselves apart as holy. They were loving themselves and attempting to make their names great – regardless of what damage they did along the way [see last week’s post for a more thorough discussion of 3:1-9]. Paul wanted didn’t want the young, exhausted Timothy to fall prey to these false teachers or their temptations, so in 3:10-17 Paul urges Timothy to stay the course and continue to follow the path that he has set out one – an exhortation that every believer in Christ ought to heed.

In the verses that we will examine this week we will see two distinct sections marked off by the repetition of the same phrase which is intended to show some of the distinctions between Timothy and these false teachers. Verse 10 begins in the ESV, “You, however . . .” A more literal translation is, “But as for you” – which is repeated exactly at the beginning of verse 14. So if we are going to try to make sure we get an accurate understanding of Paul’s train of thought and instructions we are going to need to examine verses 10 through 13 together and then verses 14 through 17 together.

Paul distinguishes Timothy’s life from the life of these false teachers in eight distinct areas of life. Paul says that Timothy has “followed,” meaning that he had thoroughly investigated these areas, come to a complete understanding of them, and that he is following faithfully what he has understood. The first distinguishing mark in Timothy’s life is that he had followed Paul’s teaching. Paul’s teaching was the message of the gospel which he had proclaimed throughout his missionary journeys. We learned last week that the false teachers had stood in opposition to the truth (3:8) and were taking weak believers captive with ‘new’ teachings. Timothy on the other hand had come to an understanding of Paul’s gospel message and doctrine and this is what he had believed and proclaimed to others. The second distinguishing mark in Timothy’s life is that he had followed Paul’s conduct. This may well have been the most obvious distinction between Timothy and the false teachers. In 3:2-10 Paul pointed out the bad character of these false teachers as it became clear in their conduct and methods. These were deceitful men with bad motives and bad character who demonstrated their bad character through their deceitful conduct. Timothy on the other hand had understood the principles by which Paul had conducted his life and Timothy had followed Paul’s example, conducting his life in a godly way which set him apart from the false teachers of the time. The third distinguishing mark in Timothy’s life is that he had followed Paul’s aim in life (or purpose). Paul had lived with the purpose of glorifying God by being steadfastly committed to Christ and resolved to proclaim the good news of the gospel to all those whom Christ had died for and who needed to be reconciled to God the Father. The purpose of the false teachers was to make much of themselves (3:2) and to delight their own hearts (3:4). The only purpose these men were pursuing was the advancement of themselves and making a name for themselves. Timothy on the other hand had understood from Paul’s example that the purpose for which we were created was to make much of the Creator and to direct others to the worship of God the Father. Timothy had resolved to live for the same purpose, which was a distinct difference between his life and the life of the false teachers. The fourth distinguishing mark in Timothy’s life is that he had followed Paul’s faith. Paul had an unbelievably strong belief in and confidence in God. In trial after trial, Paul never once wavered in his belief in God or in his confidence that God was working out His plan. Though his ministry had been an incredibly hard one Paul was certain of who God was and what He had called him to do. The false teachers of the time were not men of faith. Paul actually says they were “disqualified regarding the faith . . .” (3:8). Timothy, on the other hand, had seen and made note of the faith that resided in Paul and Timothy had made efforts to develop and live out the same kind of faith that he had seen in Paul. This kind of faith, the kind that remained strong even during trials and uncertainty, was evidence of a genuine faith in God and was a distinct and defining character trait in the life of Timothy. The fifth distinguishing mark in Timothy’s life is that he had followed Paul’s patience. Paul was a part of some extraordinary missionary journeys that took him to several significant cities in the Roman Empire. And a lot of times when we look at the maps of his missionary journeys we tend to think that his missionary journeys were similar to the concert tours that we are familiar with today. We tend to imagine Paul’s tour bus and accompanying tractor trailer loaded up and rolling into one city. There the stage crew would unpack the trailer, set up the stage, the lighting, and the sound. Once it was ready Paul would emerge from the bus, take the stage, and preach the greatest gospel presentation you’ve ever heard. Thousands in those cities would come forward, they would make a decision to follow Christ, and after the area had cleared, Paul would return to the bus, the stage crew would break down and pack up the stage, and then the caravan would be off to the next city. But that’s not at all how it worked. Paul would typically spend several months to a few years in the cities he traveled to. There he would develop relationships, build up disciples in Christ, and start a new church. Often times he would even have to do this while working a separate job or being subjected to arrest and/or imprisonment. Yet in all of these situations, Paul wasn’t looking for instant gratification. Paul patiently discipled those who surrendered their lives to follow after Christ. Paul patiently endured and loved on those who were his enemies. Paul patiently trusted God when he was arrested and imprisoned, waiting on God’s timing for his release and direction moving forward in ministry. This was a character trait that Paul commended Timothy for following and clearly set him apart from the false teachers of the time. The sixth distinguishing mark in Timothy’s life is that he had followed Paul’s love. Paul wasn’t the kind of guy who only rubbed elbows with the spiritual elite and those who could benefit him and help him make a name for himself. Paul had followed in the footsteps of Jesus and had strived to show love to all people – to both the wealthy and the poor, and to both those who were friends and those who were enemies. Paul’s character here once again stood in contrast to the character of the false teachers who Paul described as ‘abusive’ (vs. 2), ‘heartless’ (vs. 3), and ‘not loving good’ (vs. 3) but rather loving pleasure (vs. 4). All of these characteristics described men who were not excelling in love for Christ or love for others – but only excelling in love for themselves. Paul commended Timothy for following after the kind of love that he had modeled, a passionate love first and foremost for Christ and also for others. The seventh distinguishing mark in Timothy’s life is that he had followed Paul’s steadfastness. Paul’s steadfastness was demonstrated in a consistent attitude of perseverance when he was discouraged or facing trials. Paul was not willing to throw in the towel and to quit on the calling that Christ had given to him to be an apostle. Even when times got difficult Paul continued in his efforts to share the message of Jesus with all who needed to hear it. Paul had noticed the same steadfastness in Timothy. Even though it seems that at the time when Paul was writing this letter to Timothy that Timothy may have been wrestling with discouragement or may not have been laboring as effectively as he could have, Paul was confident in Timothy’s willingness to persevere and to continue to use the gifts and abilities that God had given Timothy to glorify and honor Him and to advance the message of the gospel. The last of the distinguishing marks in Timothy’s life that set him apart from the false teachers is that he had followed Paul’s persecutions and sufferings. This character trait seems to be a logical follow-up to the previous character trait. Steadfastness would not be all that impressive if there weren’t persecutions and sufferings involved. It’s easy to continue on a course that is easy and convenient. It’s a lot harder to stay the course when the course is accompanied with persecutions and sufferings. Paul’s ministry had been filled with persecutions and sufferings – some of them incredibly severe ones - and he endured them all for the sake of spreading the good news of Jesus. Paul had characterized the false teachers as men who were “lovers of pleasure” (vs. 4), a character trait which implies an unwillingness to endure persecutions and sufferings. Those who love pleasure aren’t willing to put up with and endure hardships in life. So when the course they are on causes them persecution or suffering they will often change courses and set off on a different course in pursuit of the next thing which will bring them pleasure. Timothy had followed after Paul in genuine service for Christ and like Paul he was encountering persecutions and suffering for it. It’s likely that those persecutions and sufferings were weighing heavily on Timothy and that they were discouraging him (as they tend to do to us). So Paul ends verse 12 with a re-assuring word, “yet from them all the Lord rescued me.” Notice that Paul doesn’t promise Timothy that God will keep him from persecutions and sufferings. Instead Paul assures Timothy of two certain things: (1) that God will rescue him and deliver him out of the persecutions and (2) that persecutions will come for all those “who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus” (vs.12). Paul’s explanation for this certain persecution is that “evil people and impostors (i.e. false teachers) will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Note that Paul doesn’t say their progress is in the direction of good or improvement. These false teachers would progress in the wrong direction, going from bad to worse. And rather than coming to a knowledge of the truth they would continue to be deceived by the evil one and continue deceiving others, as had been their practice.

Timothy wasn’t to be like those false teachers who would continue to be deceived and who would continue deceiving others. In verse 14 Paul says again, “But as for you . . .” Timothy was to, in another area of his life, stand out as distinct from these false teachers. Paul instructs Timothy to “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed . . .” In commenting on this verse one commentator says, “Timothy’s need was not to search out new novelties on which he might squander his energies but to remain in the truths he had learned.” The false teachers of the time seemed to be preying on individuals who were driven by their passions – individuals who got easily excited by new things and new teachings. Timothy couldn’t allow himself to become vulnerable to these false teachers by exploring new teachings and new doctrines. Paul’s instruction to Timothy is to continue in what he has already been taught and already firmly believed.

Timothy could have confidence in continuing in what he had already been taught and what he had already firmly believed because he knew well those who had been responsible for teaching him. Back in verse 5 of chapter 1 Paul had encouraged Timothy by acknowledging his sincere faith – a faith that Paul says “dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice.” Paul was confident of Timothy’s genuine faith, partly because he was confident that these two godly women had passed down a true and sincere form of faith to Timothy. Timothy could have confidence continuing in what he had learned because his faith seems to have originated with the sincere faith and teaching of his grandmother and his mother. But Timothy’s discipling went beyond the teaching of his godly grandmother and mother – Timothy was also discipled by Paul. Paul had taken Timothy under his wing and had disciple him both by teaching him the Scriptures and modeling for him what the life of a follower of Christ looked liked. Timothy could have great confidence in continuing in what he had learned and believed because Paul had discipled him and mentored him in the faith. In addition to knowing those who had taught him, Timothy could have confidence in continuing in what he had already been taught and what he had already firmly believed because he had, from childhood, been familiar with the “sacred writings,” the Old Testament (OT). Having a good understanding and familiarity with the OT was vital to Timothy’s sincere faith. Sincere faith and salvation could not be found in Greek mythology. Sincere faith and salvation could not be found in Baal worship. And sincere faith and salvation could not be found in some new teaching or doctrine. Paul says that it was the OT that was able to make individuals “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Before we move forward in the text it’s important that we make note of some important truths contained here in verse 15. The most important of these truths is that salvation comes through faith in Christ Jesus. The Bible teaches that the only means for salvation is for individuals to place their faith in Jesus. In reading the OT individuals should come to recognize the sin in their lives that the Law points out and see their inability to live up to the standards that God requires. In reading the OT individuals are constantly reminded of the promise that God’s plan was to send someone to rescue them and to secure for them the victory over sin and Satan which they could not accomplish on their own. And throughout the OT clues are given as to who this individual will be and what his life will look like. He will be like Isaac – the only son of Abraham who was called to be a sacrifice. He would be like Moses – delivering God’s people out of the hand of their powerful enemy and oppressor. He would be like the Passover Lamb – whose shed blood would protect from death those who applied it to their lives. He would be like Joshua – the strong, courageous, and perfect shepherd who would cause God’s people to take possession of their promised inheritance. And He would be like David – the most unlikely of victors who would defeat the most powerful of enemies, setting free God’s people from fear and captivity. All of these clues (and many, many more) pointed to a person, Jesus, as the means of salvation. And if individuals were to take possession of God’s free gift of salvation those individuals had to believe that Jesus is God’s Son sent by the Father to rescue them from the death their sin deserved by becoming their substitute on the cross. There on the cross He paid in full the penalty that the sins of humanity deserved and made a way for all people to have their sins forgiven and be re-connected to the Father once again. Salvation therefore isn’t about what we must do – it’s about what Jesus has already done. We just have to believe this good news and put our faith in Jesus, which isn’t a new message, but rather the consistent message of the OT.

Timothy’s familiarity with the OT had played a key role in helping Timothy recognize Jesus as God’s promised rescuer AND Paul tells him that it will also continue to play an important role in shaping his life to make him more like Christ and to equip him for his continued work of ministry. Paul says in verse 16 that all Scripture (here a specific reference to the entirety of the OT, but also a statement which we can understand to encompass all of the New Testament introduced into the canon later) has some shared characteristics. First, all Scripture is breathed out by God, or inspired by God. We understand this to mean that all of Scripture originates with God. We don’t hold the view that God picked up a pen and wrote the content of the OT. We understand that it was men who actually penned the content of the Bible. But we also believe that God played an essential role in what the content of Scripture would be. We believe that God, through the Holy Spirit residing in men, inspired men to write the very words that He wanted. So while it was men who actually put the words to paper, it was God inspiring their thoughts and leading them to write what they did. It’s our belief in God’s inspiration of Scripture that leads us to many other doctrinal positions that we hold as incredibly important. Because we believe that God inspired all Scripture we also believe that all Scripture is ‘infallible,’ meaning that it does not mislead, but is fully trustworthy in all matters that it speaks to. Because we believe that God inspired all Scripture we also believe that all Scripture is ‘inerrant,’ meaning that it is free from mistakes. And because we believe that God inspired all Scripture we also believe that all Scripture is ‘authoritative,’ meaning that it speaks to us with the very authority of God, Himself. We don’t believe that the Bible is God and we don’t worship the Bible, but we do understand it to be God’s means of communication with us and we therefore treat it as the primary source of hearing from God and receiving direction from Him. In verse 16 Paul tells Timothy that because all Scripture is inspired by God it is ‘profitable for teaching.’ Scripture is the source for teaching us about God and right doctrine. Timothy’s familiarity with the Scripture had played a vital role in helping him to know God, know His character, and know His mission. And this is the reason that we, week in and week out, commit ourselves to the study of Scripture. I want you to encounter God each week. I want you to encounter His Son, Jesus. I want you to understand His character and His mission. And I am convinced that God can teach you about Himself far more effectively then I could just sharing with you my opinions. In addition to Scripture being profitable for teaching, Paul also says it is profitable for ‘reproof’ (or rebuke). The idea here is that Scripture is able to show us the sins we are guilty of and show us where it is we miss the mark in regards to holiness. The revealing of our sin is helpful in that it shows us our need for a Savior and shows us where we need to seek God’s forgiveness. It also points out to us where we need to seek God’s assistance in helping us to live lives more like Christ. Paul also says that because all Scripture is inspired by God it is profitable ‘for correction.’ The way Paul uses this term suggests that Scripture can be used to help restore individuals, in regards to their doctrine or personal practice, to a right state before God. And lastly, because all Scripture is inspired by God it is profitable ‘for training in righteousness.’ Scripture is useful for helping us live a righteous life. Timothy had done well to build his life upon the foundation of the Scriptures, but he also needed to stay the course. He had to continue to study the Scriptures and continue to be shaped by them. It was only in continuing to stay grounded in the Scriptures that Timothy would be competent AND equipped for every good work. Paul exhorted Timothy to continue to stay the course in his commitment to the Scriptures because it would make Timothy a competent young man and follower of Christ. But notice that Paul doesn’t end his sentence there with a period. Being a competent believer and follower of Christ wasn’t enough. Timothy had to continue in his commitment to the Scriptures because they would help equip him for every good work. In other words, continued service for Christ and the gospel was an implied part of being a follower of Jesus and if His followers are going to serve well then they have to be equipped by His Word. . And rather than coming to a knowledge of the truth they would continue to be deceived by the evil one and continue deceiving others, as had been their practice.

Let me conclude this week by making an observation. I’m afraid that too many believers and too many churches have gotten to a point in their service to Christ and the gospel where they have taken off their work gloves and laid them down to pursue something easier, something less demanding, and something less painful. Their service in the past has brought trials and difficulties and Satan has whispered in their ears, “Why are you doing this?” “Why are you putting yourself through these trials and hardships?” “Why don’t you just stop?” And these believers are laying their service to Christ aside to run after other things – things that bring them pleasure and things that will delight their own hearts. They have stopped following the example of Paul and of Christ and they have stopped investing in God’s Word and creating opportunities for God to speak into and shape their lives. But while they have stopped serving and failed to continue in the example of Christ and their commitment to God’s Word, they still believe that God will continue to sanctify them and make them more like Christ. They claim promises like the one we find in Pilippians 1:6 without understanding the context. In Philippians 1:6 Paul says, “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Many believers want to claim this promise and believe that they will continue to be sanctified by God while they do their own thing. But they have taken verse 6 without understanding what Paul has already written in verse 5, “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5). Paul saw the believers in the church at Philippi laboring for the gospel and the advancement of God’s kingdom and glory. They were working in partnership with him, following his example and the teachings of the Scripture. And it was in this context – in laboring for Christ and the gospel – that Paul said God would bring to completion the work that He began in these believers.

So let me ask you this: Are you staying the course? Are you continuing to follow the example of Christ and of Paul in their teaching? Are you continuing to follow the example of Christ and Paul in their conduct? Are you continuing to follow the example of Paul in regards to his aim in life? Are you continuing in your commitment to God’s Word and continuing to allow it to shape you? Are you on mission with God right now and working to make His name great? If you are chances are that you have encountered some difficulties along the way. Chances are you have experienced some pain and discomfort? Just like my arms grew tired, my hands blistered, and my body was hot, sweaty, and physically exhausted while I was removing those fence posts, our service to Christ can be incredibly demanding. But we have to stay the course. If we quit and lay down our gloves to pursue our own desires we leave behind us many who still need to hear the good news of Jesus and who are without any hope of salvation. We have to stay the course until the work of the gospel is completed. So I encourage you, if you are exhausted of your labor but still plugging away to stay the course. Keep going! If you remain faithful God will continue to refresh and strengthen you in Christ. And if you have laid down your gloves, let me encourage you to pick them back up, put them back on, and commit once again to labor for Christ. Though it may be difficult now it will, in the end, bring great glory and honor to God. And what else is there worth laboring for?

Small Group Questions for Discussion:

1. Has there ever been a time when you were working on something that was so difficult that you started to question why you were still doing it and wondered if you should just quit? What was it and what did you end up doing? If you quit, was there a negative consequence for quitting? If you continued to labor until it was done, what kept you going?

2. Is there any benefit to following the example of others? If so what are they? Do you have someone that you model your life after, and if so, who is it? If you do strive to follow the example of another, what areas of their life are you striving to follow? How are we as individuals and as a church doing in following the example of Paul that he encourages Timothy to follow in this passage (vs. 11-12)? What are some areas where we can make improvements?

3. Why is it significant that the Bible is the inspired word of God (vs. 16) and not just the writing of men? What kind of role should the Bible play in our lives if we are willing to ackowledge that it is God's desired words to us? Do you think that you spend adequate time reading and studying God's Word to allow it to teach, rebuke, correct and train you in righteousness? Why or why not? If not, what steps do we need to take to allow God to use His Word to do these things?

4. Do you feel like you're on mission with God right now in your life? Why or why not? How can we as a church and a small group encourage you to be on mission with God moving forward?