Faithful to the Very End

Faithful to the Very End

“Faithful to the Very End”
(2 Timothy 4:19-22)
Series: Faithful to the Finish Line (2 Timothy)

Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD

Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson

Take your Bibles and join me in 2 Timothy, chapter 4 (page 802; YV).

While you are finding that, let me remind you that we are beginning in January with a new cycle through Wayne Grudem’s, Systematic Theology. Theology is a good word—it means, the study of God. So it is a deep Bible study. These books will be available for $25 each. We’ll go through this book a chapter at a time each Wednesday at 6 PM right here in the sanctuary. So if you’re not already connected in a place of service or study on Wednesdays I’d love to have you in the theology group.

This morning we are competing our study of 2 Timothy. Always kind of sad for me when we complete a book of the Bible. Like saying goodbye to an old friend. We’ll be looking at the last four verses, reading the last words of the Apostle Paul.

Speaking of last words, I came across these from a recent issue of Reader’s Digest. Some of the last words of a few famous folks…

“Surprise Me.”—Bob Hope, to his wife Dolores when asked where he wanted to be buried (July 2003).

“I am sorry to trouble you chaps. I don’t know how you get along so fast with the traffic on the roads these days.”—Ian Fleming, writer of the James Bond series, to the ambulance drivers who were driving him to the hospital (England; August 1964).

“On the contrary.”—Henrik Ibsen, the Norwegian Playwright. Said this in response to his nurse who had just told him that he looked better (1906; Norway).

“I am about to—or am going to—die: either expression is correct.”—Dominique Bouhours; famous French grammarian to loved ones in Paris (1702).—a grammarian to the very end!!

Well Paul was faithful to the very end…

Nine people…

Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
21 Do your utmost to come before winter.
Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.
Farewell
22 The Lord Jesus Christ [NU omits Jesus Christ] be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

And amen and please be seated.

This letter begins and ends Gospel-centered…back in the opening verses chapter 1 and verse 1: “Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.” The gospel! Then verse 2, “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Opens that way and then ends similarly with a blessing, or a benediction, or postscript, a P.S.

Remember where Paul is. Tradition has it he is writing from the Mamertine prison in Rome, a hole in the ground, writing around the year 65.

I thought I would go back through and share all the great key verses, but there were so many of them! Still I’d like to review some of the highlights…

Certainly the main theme of 2 Timothy surfaces especially in the last couple chapters where Paul, we have noted essentially says, “Timothy, they are coming to kill me for preaching the gospel. When they do, take my place—until they come and kill you, too.” Be faithful!! Faithful to the finish line.

This is disciple-making at its finest. Remember Paul had said in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to each others also.”

We’re each of us to be about the business of making disciples of others. All of us. Including Pastors. Ephesians 4:11-12, “And [the Lord] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

Disciple-making. Disciples making disciples. Paul is always about that great work.

Especially important in the work of disciple-making is passing along the true gospel—the “promise of life.” Recall that Paul wrote in chapter 1 verse 13, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me…”—verse 14, “That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”

“Timothy, make sure you keep or guard the true gospel message and pass along that truth to others, commit these teachings to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Be faithful in this work.

So Paul warns that Timothy will face perilous times and it will be especially important, then, for Timothy to remember the Scriptures. Chapter 3, verses 14 and following:

14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

And so, Paul goes on into the last chapter to say in chapter 4 and verse 2 and following: “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.” Verse 3: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;” verse 4— “and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Even today we see that prophecy fulfilled in many places where people gather together not so much to hear the theologically-rich gospel message, but feel-good stories, and jokes, and promises of prosperity and health.

It’s important that we spend time in the Word and hear from God.

We’ve talked about the importance of having a DQ, a time of Daily Quiet. We hear from a lot of voices, we want His to be the loudest. We need to hole away somewhere and get alone with our Bibles and read the Word, listening to God.

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Often before I go running in the morning I’ll click on the weather app. It tells me whether it is going to rain or how strong the winds are. I can live with a little wind, but I don’t like running in the rain. But I like to use the app. I like to open it up and get the information I need before I go out and run. Now the Bible is like the weather app. Before I run the Christian race I open the Bible, I find out what it’s going to be like when I go out and run. The Bible gives me everything I need to run the Christian race so I can be faithful to the finish line.

Then of course, we have what are really THE key verses in the whole letter, chapter 4, verses 6 through 8:

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Then Paul turns his attention to Timothy in verses 9 and following and writes a conclusion in which he asks Timothy to come visit him and stop by Troas to pick up his cloak and books. Then, a little postscript, a P.S.

And from this little postscript, this P.S., a couple of final blessings.

**Two Blessings to Help us Run the Race:

First and foremost, Christians enjoy the blessing of other faithful Christians. Yes, there were some who had forsaken Paul and even harmed Paul. There was Demas who had fled to Thessalonica, “having loved this present world” (verse 10), and there was Alexander the coppersmith (verse 14), the guy who did Paul “much harm.”

But there were others, others who blessed Paul with their faithfulness. We’ve read about some of them already in previous verses. Now we read of others in verses 19 and following:

We Enjoy the Blessing of Faithful Christians (19-21)

Look again at verse 19:

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus (on-eh-SIF-er-us).

The first two folks there, we usually read them as Priscilla and Aquila—that’s the way Luke refers to them in the Book of Acts. They’re nearly always mentioned together—this husband and wife team that Paul met in Corinth after they had fled from Italy. You’ll remember that from Acts 18. Paul met them—fellow tent-makers in God’s providence—and Paul stayed with them 2 1/2 years. Good friends. Faithful friends. Faithful Christians.

So that’s who they are. Paul uses the more formal name Prisca. It is Luke who uses the diminutive, Priscilla. Maybe not that big a deal, but maybe it is. Liberal or secular scholars have a thing for labeling Paul as a misogynist, an oppressor or hater of women. Crazy when you think of it and actually read the Bible. But I just call attention to this because Paul is using the more formal name of Priscilla. He calls her Prisca. It conveys respect. Love. Admiration. Honor.

It’s from the last chapter of Romans we learn that they were such good friends as to risk their lives for Paul. You can check the reference later. Romans 16:4, Paul says Priscilla and Aquila “risked their own necks” for his life.

So Paul says to Timothy here in chapter 4, verse 19, “Hey, Timothy. Say hello to my dear friends there in Ephesus, Prisca and Aquila.”

And also in verse 19 Paul says greet this guy named Onesiphorus (on-eh-SIF-er-us). Cool name. Means bringing profit, or useful. That’s a good name! He was the guy Paul mentioned back in the opening chapter of this letter—turn back to chapter 1, verses 16 and following: “The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;—verse 17—but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.—verse 18—the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day (and so on).”

Then a couple other faithful Christian friends, verse 20:

20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus (TRO fih mus) I have left in Miletus sick.

Erastus. This could be the same guy listed as the “city treasurer” in Romans 16:23 and elsewhere as a traveling companion of Paul’s.

And this interesting note about Trophimus (TRO fih mus). Paul says, “but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.”

It’s an intriguing statement. It certainly calls for a reasonable inference concerning healing. Paul clearly had the gift of healing. We read on more than one occasion that he healed others. He had raised the young fella Eutychus from the dead. Remember that in Acts 20? He fell from a window while Paul was preaching! Got tired because Paul was preaching on and on. This happens to preachers! So Eutychus fell down dead. Paul raised him up! Gift of healing! In the previous chapter, Acts 19:

Acts 19, verses 11 and 12:

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

That’s a pretty big deal, huh? Any of you able to pull that off?! So then we read this in verse 20. Paul says, “I’ve left Trophimus sick in Miletus.”

Why didn’t Paul heal Trophimus? Well, the answer must be because either he could not—or he would not! More than likely, he could not. Trophimus is a friend. Paul could not heal him. Just as he could not heal himself of that “thorn in the flesh,” whatever ailment that was from which Paul suffered in 2 Corinthians 12. Of that illness, Paul said he had prayed three specific times for healing. But the Lord did not see fit to remove that thorn, whatever it was.

So important we remember passages such as this one when we construct a sound theology of healing and suffering. It is simply not God’s will that we always be healed. Let me say that again. From the Scriptures, we learn this. From the Scriptures, we learn that it is not always God’s will to heal.

We are correct to pray for healing. That’s a good thing to do. But we trust that God will heal if He chooses. He does what is right and He knows what is best. And never forget that if He does grant the grace of healing, we will eventually get sick again. We all will die of some kind of illness or other. The good news of the gospel is that while our bodies will eventually stop working, our soul will live on!

Then in the middle of his greetings Paul makes this statement in verse 21, the first sentence there:

21 Do your utmost to come before winter.

It really grips the heart, doesn’t it? Paul there in that cold, dark dungeon. He’s already said up in verse 13, “When you come, Timothy, stop by Troas and pick up my cloak.” You know, “I’m cold. Come before winter.”

Also, during winter there would be little to no traveling along the Mediterranean coast. It was dangerous and travel was generally suspended until the following spring. And Paul may not be alive the following spring.

Clarence Macartney, a preacher from an earlier generation, preached a famous sermon on this text: “Come before winter.” In the sermon, Macartney stresses the importance of not delaying good deeds we would do for others, including making contact or visits to loved ones. He imagines Timothy’s delaying and maybe taking care of some personal business around Ephesus before finally departing for Rome only to discover later that he had arrived too late to see his friend and that Paul had already died. Come before winter.

It’s a powerful reminder to make the most of every opportunity to extend love to others, to grant forgiveness, to make amends. Maybe some of you need to do that this very week, what with Christmas coming soon and the prospect of being with family and friends. Come before winter.

Then the final greetings there in verse 21, next sentence:

21 Do your utmost to come before winter.
Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.
Farewell

We really don’t know much about these four guys, but they send their greetings to Timothy. So apparently they had been by earlier and passed along their hellos—Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, Linus (Charlie Brown!), Claudia—and then “all the brethren,” or all the brothers and sisters here in Rome.

They were faithful Christian friends. Maybe unknown to us, but not unknown to Paul and certainly not unknown to our Lord. Just like you! Your faithfulness may not be known to everyone, but our Lord knows!

As we run the race, we enjoy the blessing of faithful Christians.

We need one another. We are blessed and strengthened by one another. Remember from last week: While the Lord will stand with us when others forsake us, the Lord is not meant to be a substitute for all others. We need faithful Christian friends as we run the race, living out the journey of the Christian faith.

Remember that the church is a “one another” organization. The Bible teaches us to pray for one another, love one another, encourage one another, warn one another, and so on. The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation from others, but in communion with others.

Think about how others sharpen us. Others help us grow in Christ. This is especially true in Christian marriage. I was blessed to officiate a wedding yesterday and the couple had been learning how it is that through Christian marriage the Lord makes a husband and wife more like Jesus. Marriage is like a crucible, a ceramic container in which precious metals are subjected to high temperatures, being turned into more pure metals.

That’s what a good husband and wife does for one another! That’s what a good and faithful Christian friend does for us. In the journey together, we become more like Jesus.

Well, not only do we enjoy the blessing of faithful Christians, but from verse 22:

We Enjoy the Blessing of our Faithful Christ (22)

Our faithful Lord. Verse 22 again:

22 The Lord Jesus Christ [some translations simply, the Lord] be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

The blessing of our faithful Lord, the Christ of the church. Two blessings there in verse 22—His presence and His provision.

His presence. And this is a wonderful way to close a letter, isn’t it?! “The Lord be with your spirit.” He is with you. Immanuel; God with us!

Remember when you feel lonely, that you are never alone. He is with you always.

The blessing of our Lord’s presence—and the blessing of our Lord’s provision; His provision of grace. “Grace be with you. Amen.”

And there are Paul’s last recorded words in the New Testament! So fitting! “Grace be with you.”

So Paul opens the letter with grace (1:2) and he closes the letter with grace. This grace will help you in the race. Grace for the race. Grace to make you strong, to endure opposition, to endure difficulty and hurt, grace to keep running. Grace for the race.

How can you be faithful to the finish line? By depending upon God’s grace.

Greek scholar AT Robertson, provides the traditional account of Paul’s death:

The story is that Paul was beheaded on the Ostian Road. It was customary for criminals of prominence to be executed several miles out of the city so as to avoid the crowds. We may picture the event…one day in late spring or early June the executioners came to Paul’s dungeon and led him out of the city. One is reminded of Jesus as he bore his cross along his Via Dolorosa. Paul, as a condemned criminal, would be the victim of the rabble’s sport. He would have no defender. We do not know if Luke was with Paul to the very last. We may at least hope so. If he could, he would surely walk along as near Paul as would be allowed. But no band of Christians followed with him now. He was going out of Rome on his way to the true Eternal City…

… At a good place on the road some miles out the executioners stopped. The block was laid down. Paul laid his head upon it. The sword (or axe) was raised. The head of the greatest preacher of the ages rolled upon the ground. Tradition says that a Roman ‘matron named Lucina buried the body of St. Paul on her own land, beside the Ostian Road.’ Be that as it may, no Christian can come to Rome, especially by the Ostian Road, without tender thoughts of Paul, the matchless servant of Jesus.” (A.T. Robertson, Epochs In The Life Of Paul, pp. 316-317).

So my friend Danny Akin said this about Paul: “…He left without his head just like John the Baptist, but he also left with no regrets.” He added, “If I have to choose between leaving with my head and with regrets or leaving without my head and no regrets, I think I’ll take the latter every single time.”

That’s how Paul lived—a life of faithful service to his Lord, and a life of no regrets. This is the way we are all called to live—and to die. Faithful to the finish line.

How can you be faithful to the finish line? By depending upon God’s grace. Then you can say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).” Grace for the race. Not how fast you run, but whether you finish. Faithful to the finish line.

How will you respond to the truth we have studied in God’s Word this morning?

Some of you aren’t yet running the race because you’re not yet saved. Turn to Christ! In a moment when we sing, turn to Christ! Make your way to the front and simply say, “Today I’m getting in the race!”

Others of you are running, but you’ve tripped. You’ve sinned. Repent. When you sing, put your armor back on. Run in the strength God gives. Stand against the devil’s lies. Turn back to Jesus and His Word and run afresh and anew this week!

Some of you need to come today and join the church or come requesting baptism. You come. That’s what this time is for.

Let’s pray.

Now stand and sing—and you come however the Lord is leading you this morning. Church arise!

Invitation to Respond

“O Church Arise”—(first and last stanzas)

“O church, arise, and put your armor on;
Hear the call of Christ our captain.
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given.
With shield of faith and belt of truth,
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies.
An army bold, whose battle cry is love,
Reaching out to those in darkness.

So Spirit, come, put strength in every stride;
Give grace for every hurdle.
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old, still line the way,
Retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls, and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in Glory.

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