2 Timothy 2:8-10 – In this text, I see three prime directives for a faithful life that I like to call the A, B, C’s of faithfulness. Advancing the Gospel, Believing the Bible, and Committing to Christ.
Advancing the Gospel (vs.8) – Jesus Christ is the offspring of David. Jesus was an historical person. He was spoken of many hundreds of years before he was born. Lots of details about his life were prophesied. He is not a myth. And he was not a mere man. He is the Divine Messiah. And he is risen from the dead. As Romans 4:25 says, Jesus died for our sins as was raised again, proving that he saves sinners. That’s the gospel. Faithfulness means advancing the gospel, spreading the message in whatever ways you can. As Romans 10:17 says, faith comes from hearing…the word of Christ. Who are you telling about Jesus? When did you last share the good news of the Gospel? Remember, even if you are limited, the word of God is unlimited! To be faithful to the mission, you must be faithful to the message. And so, part of Advancing the Gospel is when you are Believing the Bible.
Believing the Bible (vs.9) – Paul wrote this letter in prison. He was suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But even though he was bound, he said that the Word of God is not bound! There have always been enemies of the word of God. These enemies attack the message of God. They attempt to stop the methods of God. And they try and silence the messengers of God. But God’s word always prevails. It will always accomplish God’s purpose. People will be saved and people will be damned through the word of God. And no virus, no government, no society, no culture, no demonic plot, no ungodly person and no ungodly law can withstand the power of God’s word. They could make the Bible illegal. They could say Christianity is immoral. They could try to make proclaiming the Gospel impossible. But the word of God is invincible. What are you doing to apply the Bible to your life? If you want to see a great awakening to the gospel in our day, if you want to see a revival sweep across the world of God’s people, then it all starts with you. You must be faithful to the mission, Advancing the Gospel. You must be faithful to the message, Believing the Bible. And you must be faithful to the Master, Committing to Christ.
Committing to Christ (vs.10) – Paul was remembering (vs.8), suffering (vs.9), and enduring (vs.10). Why? For the sake God’s people, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Paul was faithful to the mission because he was faithful to the Master. Committing to Christ means enduring whatever comes your way for the sake of God’s people, whoever they are, wherever they are, and whenever they come to know Jesus. Your life is supposed to be a witness that Jesus is worth it. In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, the Apostle Paul says we are to pray for the message and the messengers, so that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored. And let me tell you that the best prayers have legs. Even if you haven’t been able to leave your house, even if you are stuck in prison like Paul, you are still on the front line of that prayer. Supporting the work of God by living for Christ, winning others to Christ, and edifying your brothers and sisters in Christ by any and every godly means possible is putting legs to your prayers.
Faithfulness is absolutely fundamental to the mission of God in the earth today. Advancing the Gospel – getting the message out any way you can. Believing the Bible – applying it to your life every way you can. Committing to Christ – enduring whatever may come your way. Advancing the Gospel. Believing the Bible. Committing to Christ. Those are the A, B, C’s of faithfulness.