The Handover
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For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
2 Timothy is Paul’s last letter before he was martyred in AD66. Paul is in a Roman Prison. It is a moving, tender letter from the older mentor, describing himself as an Apostle, saying farewell to his successor, younger pastor Timothy - who he calls beloved. He sends his usual greeting; grace, mercy and peace. These are more than pleasantries; each word is loaded with depth about God’s love for us. This letter is to stir up & strengthen Timothy, and us, one last time.
Pass the Gospel on
For years Timothy had been understudy to Paul, now moving to new role – pastor and Paul’s successor. Paul, writing from his prison cell saying Tim remain loyal to the gospel (not ashamed). Paul’s last letter. Tim, take the torch and run (v6) ‘fan into flame the gift which is in you….v7 for the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid but gives us power, love & self-discipline.’
Fan into flame is meant to stir him up, it’s not that his zeal had faded (John Stott). 1v8 ‘Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord… suffer for the gospel.’ Testimonies of how the Lord has saved and transformed us don’t leave us feeling useless, they stir. Paul writes to us today to stir up the gift within you. Paul is psssing the baton on, over to you now – as older people - pray for & encourage, younger people (maybe your Gk/children). How will you stir up those Christians you know to not be timid neither be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, will you stir yourself?
Herald the Gospel
2 Tim 1:8 ‘So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel, I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
A Herald is someone who tells the news. When you hear the word Gospel we think ‘Good News.’ Stated simply it is more than good news, it is - ‘news’- in other words it happened. Paul gives us in v9,10 a Synopsis of gospel He Saved us. Called us to Holy life. Grace, undeserved a Saviour (v10) Christ Jesus who destroyed death, giving life & immortality thro the Gospel. Powerful stuff!
Alistair Begg at Keswick Convention in 2022 said: ‘Church, once so strong and forceful is now weak and vague, ashamed of the gospel.’
Paul is writing to Tim, 2 Tim 1:8 ‘don’t be ashamed… join me in suffering for the gospel’
J I Packer in A Quest for Godliness (Crossway, p125 1990) said over the last century we have allowed a new gospel to be told. It is not the true Gospel but it sounds similar and is easier to speak about. It’s centre of reference is us, a gospel that is “helpful” to us, to bring peace, comfort, happiness, satisfaction and too little concerned about glorifying God.
The Gospel has Jesus at the centre. Sounds obvious but we waver from it.
JI Packer writing 25 yrs ago that the Gospel had changed its emphasis. How much more has it changed in the last 25 years? Westminster Confession ‘Glorify God and enjoy him forever.’
Retired pastor Clive JohnstonMay 2026, convicted for preaching on John 3:16 within an abortion censorship zone.Friends, we are living the nightmare, peripheral things of faith becoming central. Climate change, food, fuel, travel. Central truths becoming peripheral. In Mark 12:18-27, Sadducees were trying to make a peripheral matter central. We could spend an hour debating whether we will be married in heaven but the Good news is to be heralded, Jesus at the centre, death defeated, grace and mercy shown, whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Live the Gospel
Much of Christianity today heralds the gospel as the way of salvation (to enter the kingdom of God). The reality is that he must be our Lord and Saviour, JC. The Gospel is for every challenge and to grow in faith ‘a holy life’ v9. There is right Christian belief (Salvation) & right Christian living (holy life – Lord of All). This letter to Christians is not simply to share the good news but to live the life according to God’s purpose and grace. It is an A-Z of Christian life, not just ABC of faith
In 1820 Fanny Crosby [RiP 1915] was blinded by a medical error as child. She memorised the bible. Before she was 15 she could recite most of the Psalms, the Pentateuch, the Gospels, Song of Solomon, Proverbs. In 1875 she wrote,
“Praise the Lord… let the earth hear his voice. Come to the Father through Jesus the Son and give him the glory, great things he has done.”
The gospel is about salvation plus a holy life.
Friends, this is a call to pass the baton on, pray for the young people you know. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel, herald it & live among your friends and family – Pray.
