In these verses, Paul sets forth the Gospel in all its glory. By implication and by direct statement he brings out element after element of the Gospel’s unique glory.
There are a few passages in the N.T. which present so vividly the sheer grandeur of the Gospel. In the context this was a Gospel worth suffering for. See verse 8.
1. V. 9-It is the Gospel of the grace of God. Living morally—Confirmation—Baptism—Church Membership—Church Attendance—Holy Communion—Keeping Law. Not according to our works…Salvation is by grace alone. Isaiah 66:6; Ephesians 2:8-9. Righteousnesses are as filthy rags. See Isaiah 3:5-6
Salvation and its blessings are not something we achieve by works. Salvation is given to those who are utterly unworthy of it—GRACE. “For by grace ye are saved, through faith: and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” By grace alone, through faith alone, to ‘God alone be the glory.’
The grace of God is illustrated in Matthew 21:33-46. “But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying—’They will reverence my son.’”
See also 2 Samuel 9-”Is there yet any who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2. It is the Gospel of powers V. 8-Dunamis =Dynamite
The gospel which is the power of God. See also Romans 1:16, Witzel.
It blasts the rock-like resistance of the sin hardened heart. Colossians, Faith.
Paul felt this power on the way to Damascus. Acts 8 Conversion
The Philippian jailer was crushed by its power. Acts 16
Felix trembled under its impact. Onesimus. Acts 24:24-26
Agrippa—almost those persuade me to be a Christian. Acts 26-28
3. It is the Gospel of salvation. V. 9-Ephesians 1-7 “In whom we have redemption through the blood—He forgave us of sins.”
God through the Gospel hath saved us. The Gospel 1 Corinthians 3:4
The Gospel of Christ rescues us from sin’s power and penalty. See Ephesians 2. The miracle of mercy. Describe Hell.
Acts 4:12-“Neither is there salvation in any other, etc.” Titus 9:11-“The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared.” No other name—no other way—no other Savior.
Hebrews 2:3-”How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”
4. It is the Gospel of life and immortality V. 10
God hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.
The O.T. saints’ knowledge of life after death was limited. The ancient world feared death, or regarded it as extinction.
Note the three questions in Job: Where shall I find Him? How can a man be purified before God? If a man dies, shall he live again?”
It is Paul’s conviction that Jesus Christ brought to light through His death and resurrection, the truth of eternal life and the immortality of the soul. Death was the way to eternal life—death brought man into God’s presence. Those who die in Christ will be raised to everlasting glory. Their body is sown in weakness—it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body—it is raised a spiritual body. It is sown in corruption—it is raised incorruptible.
Read revelation 21:1-5
5. It is the Gospel of Consecration V. 9
Called us through the Gospel with a holy calling. The Gospel not only delivers us from the consequences of sin, and liberates us from the chains of sin. It also urges us to live a life of holiness in deepest consecration. Note the sequence in Romans.
To every born again believer Paul says, “Present your body as a living sacrifice.” Be not conformed to the world—be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Believing the message of the Gospel—receiving the Christ of the Gospel and obeying the principals of the Gospel, changes a person’s life, habits, pleasures, and character. “He is a new creation in Christ, etc.”
When one truly believes they walk the Calvary road of sacrifice, obedience, total consecration—the road of holiness. “I’ve got all Daddy”—“Daddy’s got all me.”
V. 11-Unto which I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
The Gospel: 2 Timothy 1:8, 9
In these verses Paul sets forth the gospel in all its glory.
By implication and by direct statement he brings out element after element of the Gospel’s unique glory. There are a few passages in the N.T. which present so vividly the sheer grandeur of the Gospel.
It is the gospel of the grace of God.
“Not according to our works, but according to His purpose and grace.” Salvation is not attained by works. We can only be saved by grace alone—through faith alone—to God alone be the glory. Ephesians 2:8-9
It is the gospel of power—v. 8.
Explain what the Gospel is, quote 1 Corinthians 15:3,4. By believing the message of the Gospel we are saved. This is God’s only message to a lost world.
Many imposters have preached a different message. Paul says that if I or an angel from heaven come with a different message, or if any man preaches any other Gospel that that which I have preached to you, let him be accursed—doomed or damned.
The Gospel is a powerful message. It is the dynamite of God. Jeremiah 23:29. It blasts the rock-like resistance of the sin hardened heart. It blasts men and women from the quarries of sin. The rough jailer at Philippi—the runaway slave Onesimus in Rome-_Saul the persecutor on the Damascus road—all the hard core of their resistance broken by the power of the gospel.
Felix trembled under its impact—Agrippa said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
Paul knew personally the power of the Gospel—he also knew of the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Conviction. He had seen its power shatter stony hearts of unbelief—invade and conquer the citadels of Satan. When the Gospel is sent forth from a clean vessel, in the power of the Holy Spirit, it is irrististable. “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”
It is also the gospel of salvation—v. 9.
It is by believing the message of the Gospel and accepting the Christ of the Gospel that we are saved. “There is no name under heaven” etc. “I am the way, the truth, and the life” etc.
The Ethiopian eunuch, after hearing the true Gospel for the first time, received the Lord as his Savior. He said, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God” Acts 8:37. After hearing the message of the Gospel, the Philippian jailor cried out, “What must I do to be saved?”
To appreciate the blessings of being saved, we must first know the horror of being lost. In Adam, unbelievers are dead in sins—they are depraved in sin—they are captives of the prince of the power of the air—they are the sons of disobedience. They are aliens—they are strangers—without Christ—without God—without hope. Lost—helpless—and hopeless.
Sinners are bound for a long, lost, Christless eternity, and will be separated from God by a great gulf. This gulf can never be bridged. The torment of the damned will be intensified as they see the blessedness of the redeemed in heaven. Describe Luke 16.
How can this gulf be bridged in time? The cross of Christ. Genesis 28
How can this terrible situation be changed?
How can a person be translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son?
“But now in Christ Jesus you who were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13. The importance of the blood. “It is the blood that cleanses us from all unrighteousness.”
“It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”
“Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.”
“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7
The formula for redemption—God’s mercy—God’s love—God’s grace—Christ’s blood.
BLESSED JESUS—WONDROUS CROSS—PRECIOUS BLOOD—ENOUGH FOR JUSTICE—ENOUGH FOR GOD—ENOUGH FOR ME.
“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:3
The seven elements of the Gospel given by Paul in verses 8 thru 10.
1. It is the Gospel of power. V.8
2. It is the Gospel of salvation. V.9
3. It is the Gospel of consecration. V.9
4. It is the Gospel of grace. V.9
5. It is the Gospel of life and immortality. V.10
6. It is a Gospel of service. V.11
Jeremiah 23:29
“Is not my word like a fire? saith the Lord: and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”
Acts 24:25
“And he reasoned of righteousness, self control, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient time, I will call for thee.”
The outstanding theme of the letter is the importance of faithfulness to Christ in the day of declension. Ch.2:17
In the letter the apostle gives a list of the believer resources in the day of declension and apostasy. Faith—the Spirit—the Word of God—the grace of Christ—separation from the vessels of dishonor—the Lord’s sure reward—and the Lord’s faithfulness and power.
V. 5-Timothy’s faith was a source of great joy to the apostle. It was unfeigned faith. Explain. This faith was exhibited in his grandmother and in his mother. They shared the Scriptures with him. Ch. 3:15 O.T. Scriptures.
Read Deut. 6
Verse 6
“Stir up the gift of God.” etc. Timothy needed to be reminded of this—he was timid. Stir the gift into a flame—keep alive the flame. 1 Timothy 4:14, “Neglect not the gift that is in you.”
Describe the gifts of the risen Lord. Ephesians 4
Describe also the gifts of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12
This special gift was imparted to Timothy by the laying on of the hands of the elders and of Paul. Lystra.
Peter and John laid hands on the Samaritans and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8
Paul did the same in Acts 19. Some Bible scholars believe that the gift was special portion of the Holy Spirit. Others believe that it was the gift of being a pastor and teacher. Timothy is urged to do the work of an evangelist—to watch in all things—to endure afflictions—and to give full proof of his ministry.
V. 7-What God has not given and what God has given. He has not given the spirit of fear or timidity.
“God has given us power”—Power over sin—power to win others to Christ—power as we preach the Gospel.
“God has given love”—power to love all men—power to love the unlovable.
“God has given a sound mind”—a mind that will not lead to fanaticism. When Spirit controlled, we will serve the Lord in a reasonable and intelligent way.
Verses 8 through 10 in a discourse on the Gospel. Murray McCheyne—”Behold the Lamb of God.”
V. 9-”Our salvation and calling was according to God’s own purposes and grace granted us before the foundation of the world.” Before sin came into the world, God had made all His plans for redemption.
V. 10-This great truth of God’s election, and our being chosen has been manifest in the coming of the Lord Jesus.
Furthermore, through the Gospel we learn that Christ has abolished death—he rendered it ineffectual—He has destroyed it.
Describe the dead of the unbeliever.
Describe the present circumstances of the believer.
There will be ultimate victory—the believer is immortal and incorruptible. Praise God. 1 Corinthians 15.
V.11-Paul was made by God a preacher, teacher and apostle of the Gospel.
V. 12-Because he was above he suffered terribly. Despite it all he was not ashamed of the Lord, the Gospel, and the fuller revelation of the purpose and will of God. Quote—”I know whom I have believed, etc.” Able to keep the treasure I have committed to Him until that day. The day of Rapture, the day of deliverance. Quote Romans 8:38, 39.
V. 13-”Hold fast”—don’t let go the pattern of sound teaching.
See chapter 2:2
Verse 14
Guard that fine deposit of truth which has been entrusted to you. In these critical days we need to hold fast and guard the divine principles of the Word.
We must stick to the Book.
We must strengthen the things that remain.
We hold fast the truth in faith and love and we guard the truth in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The chapter ends on a sad note.
Many had deserted the aged apostle—he stood alone. Two men mentioned Phygellus and Hermogenes, they probably could have helped Paul—but they were ashamed of him, and the Gospel, and the Lord.
Consider Chapter 4 at this time. The tragedy.
Another brother is mentioned, Onesiphorus, Paul commends him for his faithfulness. He supports him in Ephesus. And now at great risk he sought out Paul in prison in Rome and ministered to Him.