Remembering to Endure

2 Timothy 2:8-13

Who Are You?• A simple question…but an important one• Suffering often brings up questions of

identity– Particularly the experience of loss (loss of a job,

loss of a family member, loss of health) can make us question who we are

– Our earthly identities often change– Do we have an identity that endures?

Context of Paul’s Letter to Timothy

• Addressed to Timothy--“beloved child” (v. 2)• Paul writes from the experience of suffering– “for which I was appointed a preacher and

apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do” (1:11-12)

– “You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me” (1:15)

– “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2:3)

Context of Paul’s Letter to Timothy

• Paul hints at death– “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.” (4:6-7)

2 Tim. 2:8-10

• 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2 Tim. 2:11-1311 The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;if we deny him, he also will deny us;

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.

“Remember” (v. 8)

• In encouraging Timothy to endure, Paul instructs him to remember

• What does memory have to do with endurance?– What does that past

have to do with the present and future?

Who Should We Remember?

• Object of remembrance is Jesus Christ. specifically that he is…– "risen from the dead“• Perfect tense—means that Jesus was raised and is still

raised• This means more than just the fact of the resurrection

– "the offspring of David“• Jesus was the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant (2

Sam. 7) and the promised Messiah

“As preached in my Gospel” (8b)

• Jesus Christ, the risen Messiah, is the Gospel– Unpacking the Suitcase

• Not Paul’s Gospel, but the Gospel Paul had been preaching– This Gospel is the source of Paul’s suffering (v. 9)

Paul’s Chains

• “9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal.”– “Criminal”-same Greek

word used to describe those crucified with Jesus in Lk. 23

• “But the word of God is not bound!”– contrast between Paul,

and God's word,

Paul’s Endurance

• 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory– This “Gospel” is good enough news that Paul will

endure not only for himself, but for others as well

– “elect”=God’s people

A Trustworthy Saying

• “The saying is trustworthy” (v. 11)– “Trustworthy Saying Formula”• Used 5x in the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim, 2 Tim, Titus)• This is only instance in 2 Tim

– Highlights key points of belief in the early church that Paul wants Timothy to remember and teach to other believers• Underline this!

Death to Life

• “If we have died with him, we will also live with him;” (11b)– "Died with him”--past tense – "Living with him“—both a present and future

reality• Language is closely akin to Romans 6:8 – “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that

we will also live with him.” (Rom. 6:8)

But wait, I haven’t died yet…

• Rom. 6 and 2 Tim. 2 help us understand a reality called Union with Christ

• Those who are baptized into Christ's body have also died and been raised with Christ—they are truly “in Christ”– "4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism

into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Rom. 6:4)

Union with Christ

“Union with Christ—this is the substance of the Christian’s status, the definition of his relationship to Jesus, the large reality in which all the nuances of his new being are embraced… Union with Jesus Christ is at once the center and circumference of authentic human existence.”

-Lewis Smedes

Union with Christ

• The reality of our union with Christ gives us a new identity--a new life – Our union with Christ, who died on our behalf,

means that we partake in the benefits of the risen Christ--we live and reign with him (vv. 11-12)

– Our identity is not found in what we do (or do not do), but rather in Christ and what he has done.

Identity and Endurance

• "Union with Christ is not a goal, but the presupposition of our new obedience"

(Michael Horton) – Similarly, it is the basis of our ability to endure in

the midst of suffering • We are able to endure suffering because our

value, worth, identity is found in Christ– Unlike earthly identities, this identity does not

change because God does not change

"If we endure, we will also reign with him“ (12a)

• Endurance needs a goal– What do we endure for?

• “Reign with him”—hints at co-regency– This is a glorious

promise!– We do not endure for

nothing—there is a reality beyond our present experience

Disowning

• “if we deny him, he also will deny us” (12b)– Serves as a warning

• Disowning--similar language to Matt. 10:32-33– "32 So everyone who acknowledges me before

men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.“

Disowning

• Disowning=permanently turning from the faith– Judas vs. Peter– Seems to hint at those who had deserted the

church (1:15, 2:17) – Some deny Christ to avoid suffering like Paul was

enduring

“if we are faithless, he remains faithful” (13a)

• This is a tremendous encouragement!– All of us struggle with faithlessness

• "For he cannot deny himself" – God's nature does not change---he is faithful and

will remain faithful. – Our identity in Christ, through our union with

him, is eternally secure

Conclusion

1. By remembering Jesus Christ, the long-promised, risen Messiah, we also remember who we are– Because we are united with Christ, in

remembering what Christ has done we remember who we are

– We must allow this reality to shape our identity--individually and collectively

– We must encourage one another to “Remember”– We

Conclusion

2. Remembering is not a one-time act, it is part of the discipline of remembrance– Memory--not just withdrawing a deposit from

the “bank” • Rather, memory is a reconstruction process

– Unless we continue to remember, to bring to mind what Christ has done, it has no effect on our lives.

Conclusion

3. By knowing who we are in Christ, we are able to persevere even in suffering– Those who are “in Christ” are not spared from

suffering• We serve a God who endured suffering for our sake

– We cannot endure suffering on our own

Remembrance in Suffering

• Many are suffering—even today– If one member of the body suffers, all suffer (1

Cor. 12:26)• Calling on one another to remember– Who are you helping to remember so that they

might endure?– Who is reminding you of who you are?

• We remember together at the communion table