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Title: Heritage of Faith Text: 2 Timothy 1:3-7 FCF: We often struggle courageously sharing our faith Prop: Because our faith has a great heritage, sometimes in blood and Spirit, we must thankfully pass on that heritage. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Timothy chapter 1. Last week we only just began this second letter from Paul to Timothy. At our bible study this week, we noted some distinct differences between this book and the previous two pastoral epistles. The tone, themes, and scope of this letter seems to be slightly different than the previous two. I Timothy and Titus focused on the organization and construction of the church based on the gospel of Christ. That doctrine received in true faith produces people conformed to Christ. Therefore, the church is formed, shaped, organized and structured as one diverse but united body around the gospel of Jesus Christ. Certainly this remains true in 2 Timothy, but Paul has a different message, one that he sets out to convey to Timothy from the word go. He has already hinted at it in the first two verses and will continue to press it forward in the scripture passage today. Paul is nearing the end of his life and tenure on earth. He foresees that although he has been imprisoned several times, he will not be released this time. Whether by spiritual insight or sheer human observation, Paul knows that his life will be over soon. And so, he writes to Timothy, his dear, young, and true child in the faith. He writes, not because something is happening in Ephesus that needs correction, but because something will be happening in Rome soon and Timothy needs to be prepared for it. Paul writes to pass on the mantle of his calling to Timothy. All that Paul writes in this letter, is endeavoring to lead Timothy to these conclusions. He must endure and the church must endure with and for the sake of the gospel of Christ. So Paul begins his plea to Timothy. And part of that plea is to show Timothy that they are very similar. He begins revealing this in verse 3 of 2 Timothy chapter 1. I am reading from the NET today which you can follow on page 1342 in the pew bible. Transition: There are some language and logical difficulties to get to in this text, but by the end I hope you feel encouraged and empowered to do as Paul is asking Timothy to do. I know that at the end of my study I was greatly encouraged for a lot of reasons. I hope it is true for you also. Let’s begin in verse 3. I.) Ancestral faith can be genuine, so we must thank the Lord for ancestral inheritance of faith. (3-5) a. [Slide 2] 3 – I am thankful to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, i. Verses 3-5 is one sentence in the Greek. Most of what has been translated as verbs, are actually participles linking all these thoughts together. ii. This is not uncommon in Greek – but for we English speakers it makes this sentence somewhat difficult to understand. Our primary struggle is knowing how each participial phrase links to the main verb and what is contributes to the overall sentence. iii. That is why every translation I read puts a period somewhere in here to help English speakers to sort out what is being said. iv. As we walk through this we will attempt to lace together the participles and best we can reconstruct the Greek thought and somehow get that into our English minds. v. Immediately Paul expresses that he has gratitude toward God. This is the main verb from which the entire sentence flows. We should keep this in our mind and try to connect each participial phrase to this main verb to see what function each phrase has. vi. For what is Paul thankful? We will have to wait for that – perhaps longer than you might think. vii. Next Paul says that he has served or rather that he is serving or serves God in the same manner that his ancestors did before. Namely, with a clear or pure conscience. viii. Certainly this does not contribute to the main verb so much as it expands on the God he is thankful to. But why Paul drags in his ancestors here is not readily apparent. ix. It also presents us with a difficult problem. To whom is Paul referring? x. He cannot be speaking about the Jews in general, for I think we can safely say that the vast majority of Jews did not serve God with a clear conscience. xi. He could be speaking about more recent ancestors such as his parents and grandparents – but this is not really what this word “ancestors” would refer to normally. xii. Perhaps we overcomplicate this discussion seeking to whom he is referring before we understand what it means to serve God with a clean or pure conscience. xiii. Serving God with a clean conscience when coupled with the teachings on the depravity of man and man’s utter inability to please God without God interceding, can only lead us to one understanding of serving God with a clean or pure conscience. It is those who have been washed clean, forgiven, who have been given grace, and have trusted God and been counted righteous. Not a righteousness that is their own but one that is given. A foreign and perfect righteousness. xiv. Serving God with a pure conscience is serving Him faithfully and purely, which is impossible without God’s intervention. xv. If we understand this – then the identity of those ancestors becomes apparent. Paul refers to True Israel. He refers to those within Israel that were actually real Israel. Not by blood only but by blood and Spirit. xvi. Again, we can only guess at this point why Paul brings this up – but as we keep going, we will see that Paul does have a reason for this, seemingly irrelevant detail. xvii. Continuing on we find the next participial phrase… b. [Slide 3] When I remember you in my prayers as I do constantly night and day. i. So to Greekify this up… ii. Constantly having remembrance concerning you in my prayers night and day. iii. So, we pick up the participle that begins this next phrase – constantly having remembrance. iv. What is clear is that this participial phrase does not tell us why Paul is thankful – but rather – when he expresses his thanks to God. v. It is in his prayers. The other words add more clarity. First, that he has remembrance concerning Timothy. This is a clunky expression in English but quite poetic in Greek. This having of remembrance is also done constantly. vi. Now there is some uncertainty as to whether night and day go with the next phrase or this one – but going along with “constancy” it seems like night and day go with his prayers. vii. This expression night and day with the word constant does not mean Paul is always praying, but rather, that there is no doubt a set time that he devotes to prayer (possibly evening and morning) in which he always has remembrances of Timothy, offering up thanksgiving to God for Him. viii. Let’s carry on and see if we can find why Paul is thankful to God. c. [Slide 4] 4 – As I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. i. This little verse has two participial phrases. ii. Longing to see you and remembering your tears. iii. So, what does this mean? iv. Most likely that Paul’s last memory of Timothy was when they left one another at Ephesus. Timothy was no doubt crying as his brother left. This not only fills Paul’s prayers and thanksgiving to God, but also fuels his longing to see Timothy. v. And nothing would or could make his joy more full than to see him one more time. vi. But neither of these thoughts express why Paul is thankful to God. vii. It is not until this next phrase that we find out why Paul is thankful to God. d. [Slide 5] 5 – I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you. i. So again, the Greek is cumbersome to our English minds. We are already stretched to put all this together – but now comes two lengthy participial phrases with many pieces. ii. Having taken remembrance of your sincere faith which inhabited first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, having been persuaded of that also in you. iii. Seeing this blend with the preceding statements – Paul’s thankfulness to God is because Timothy’s faith was real. iv. And here we find the secret to why Paul referenced his ancestors. Because here he references Timothy’s lineage too. v. His grandmother had this faith. vi. His mother had this faith. vii. And the reason Paul is thankful, and hoping to be full of joy when next they see one another, is because he has been persuaded that Timothy has the same faith as his grandmother and mother. The same faith as Paul. The same faith as Paul’s ancestors. viii. Paul in this book will go to great lengths to compare himself to Timothy in a flattering way to Timothy. No doubt to encourage him to take up Paul’s mantle after he dies. e. [Slide 6] Passage Truth: Paul’s teaching here calibrates a principle he points out in other letters. Paul has made the case in the corpus of his teaching that physical lineage does not equal spiritual lineage. Not all Israel is Israel. Not all children of Abraham are inheritors of the promise of Abraham. But in this text, we see the counterpoint to that teaching. Ancestral faith can prove itself to be genuine. f. Passage Application: And in those cases, as in all cases of genuine faith, there is joy and thanksgiving to the Lord for such a blessing. So, for Timothy, he should join with Paul in thankfulness to God for his heritage of faith, passed down from his grandmother and mother. g. [Slide 7] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out to the rest of scripture, we actually see how rare this heritage concept truly is. Indeed, there are many examples we have seen in scripture where a giant of the faith has children that are wicked and far from God. But when we see the entire story of the bible as the history of two families – the family of the serpent and the family of the seed – we see this heritage play out. Indeed, we who are true children of God, with sincere and enduring faith, have inherited a great heritage of faith. Sometimes by blood, but always by the Spirit of God. What a joy it is to share this common bond, and all the more when we are bonded in Spirit AND blood. h. Broader Biblical Application: And so, my friends, be thankful to God for the heritage of faith that you have. Look back at those who shared their faith with you, and gave you insight into the word. Although God is the one who brought you to life and gave you faith, those who taught you His truths played a part in God’s work in you. Be thankful to God for His work and allowing them to help. Thank the Lord for your faith heritage and all the more for family who share this common bond with you. What a blessing that God does not always separate families, but adopts by His Spirit some who are already united by their blood. Transition: [Slide 8(blank)] So although faith does not automatically transfer to our families, it is a blessing from God when those in your family are granted grace and faith in Christ. For this Paul is thankful to the Lord – what a blessing, dare I say, even in addition to the blessing of salvation. To have those who are your Spiritual kin, also be your blood kin too. It is a blessing indeed. But does this heritage of faith impose upon us more responsibilities besides just thanksgiving to God? Indeed, it does. II.) Ancestral faith can be genuine, so we must prove this faith by stirring up our gifts in the Spirit. (6-7) a. [Slide 9] 6 – Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands. i. Because of all of this. Because of his ancestry of faith and the certainty of it so much so that an apostle of God is convinced it is real. Because of all this ii. I am calling back to your mind Timothy. iii. Remember – to rekindle, to stir up, to rouse, to muster God’s gift in you. iv. The gift that I saw to it that you received by placing my own hands on you in its gifting. v. So, Paul is very clearly telling Timothy to take the assurance of his faith and use that to encourage his own gift of God. vi. Some commentators suggest that Timothy must be lagging because of these statements. However, that pushes the text beyond what we are able to see. Not every command supposes a violation. Especially commands to continue doing something or to redouble something. vii. Given the context, we can see Timothy doing exactly as he has been commissioned in Ephesus, but because Paul will die soon – the need is great for Timothy to stir up or muster to a greater degree the gift of God. viii. But we are left to wonder what that gift is. ix. We know it is God’s gift and that it was given in a specific ceremony of the apostle whereby he, and probably other leaders, did lay their hands on Timothy and he received this gift from God. x. But what is the gift. xi. Some say it is the Holy Spirit or grace, which means salvation. Some say this is the gift of pastor/teacher, the gift of teaching, the call to ministry and evangelism. xii. It could be any of these. Even in salvation, we see one perplexing and unique example in Acts where people received the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts when people laid hands on them. xiii. However, given the context and purpose of this letter, it seems to make most sense that Paul is talking about Timothy’s pastoral giftings and call to preach the gospel. xiv. This is not without grace or the Spirit of God certainly – but based on what Paul will be pushing him toward in the following context (even beyond our text this morning) it seems best to speak of the ministerial call of Timothy. xv. However, this view is challenged in the next verse when Paul says… b. [Slide 10] 7 – For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control i. So our first question is what is this Spirit to which Paul is referring. Is he speaking to the spirit of man? ii. It could be that in a sense God did give all men spiritual natures. However, as this continues it expresses certain virtues and fruit that only come from a person who is a believer. And therefore, it cannot be talking of a general spirit given to all men but a specific spirit given to believers. iii. This could still speak of a disposition or an attitude- but at the end of this section in verse 14 Paul clearly speaks of the things entrusted to Timothy coming through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. iv. Therefore, I conclude that Paul is referring to the Holy Spirit here. v. However, this adds a wrinkle. Although we concluded that the gift that God gave Timothy by the laying on of hands is probably his call to minister, this verse makes it seem like it is his salvation – or the gift of the Spirit. vi. However, we can easily see how the gifting and calling of a man to preach the gospel, is related to this thought. Especially as Paul continues in verse 8 which we will get to next week, Lord willing. vii. The gift is indeed the call to preach but the relationship of that call to the exact identity of the Spirit that God has given us is… that the Spirit God gave Timothy comes alongside the gift of the call to preach so that it is a call full of power, love, and self-control – and not of fear. viii. Paul is not in this verse identifying the gift of God – but rather the reason his gift can and must be rekindled and stirred up. And the reason is, that the Spirit of God will not allow such a gift to hide in the shadows. ix. It will and must be stirred up to power, love and self-control. x. Timothy’s timidness is challenged here. Not that he was a coward – but that he must speak boldly the truth and not allow himself to omit or exclude nor brow beat or destroy. He must speak the truth in power, in love, and in self-control. c. [Slide 11] Passage Truth: With this understanding that Paul presents, that He is convinced of Timothy’s sincere faith passed down as his was also passed down, Timothy must do more than just be thankful to God. d. Passage Application: Timothy must continue to prove that faith genuine by cultivating and stirring up his spiritual gifts to continue to preach the gospel and continue that heritage. He must do this because the Spirit that gave these gifts, and is actively working through them, is not one who causes fear – but power, love, and self-control. e. [Slide 12] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out, even though in the scriptures it is rare to find giants of the faith reproducing that in their children – that is not for lack of God commanding it to be so. God in many places expects His people to not only share their faith with everyone – but specifically – to train up their children in this truth. They are to pass on what they know to be true by the illumination of the Spirit. Only God can bring their children to life – but we can still teach. f. Broader Biblical Application: And so here at CBC, it is not enough for us to be thankful to the Lord for the heritage of faith that came before us. We must also look to the future and pass on that heritage. We must seek to replicate ourselves. Certainly, in our own families, but also outside of our blood. What shepherd would not leave 99 to find the one that is lost in certain peril. My friends, God has many who are His in this world. They are lost. They must needs be found. Does a shepherd stay and wait for a sheep to come home? No. Shall we stay here waiting for them to walk in? No. Conclusion: [Slide 13(end)] So what makes this so difficult for us? What is so problematic about replication? Evangelism? Witnessing? Soul-winning? Whatever you want to call it. Why is it so difficult? Paul hits the nail on the head. Fear. Could be fear of a lot of things. Probably the worst of them is fear of man. What will they think? What if they laugh at me? What if they argue with me? What if it changes our relationship? What if they get mad? What if they never speak to me again? Some fear being left with nothing to say. They fear that questions will be asked that they do not have answers to. They fear that they won’t know enough or do enough to adequately lead someone to Christ. They fear that they will tell them something wrong and mess it all up. What if they are a different faith and I can’t refute them? Some simply fear talking to people in general. Perhaps I’d speak to softly or too harshly. Perhaps I’d be too nervous to organize my thoughts. In this fear controls us. But Paul tells us what to do with that. My friends the Spirit that we have been given, the third person of the Godhead, the Comforter, the blessed Spirit of God, is not a Spirit that gives fear. He gives power. He gives love. He gives self-control. There are two components of the Spirit’s work that help us. First, I think we have long been taught that it is up to us to convert people. Even the statements “lead them to Christ” and “soul-winning” convey that we have an integral part to play in someone’s conversion. This lays such a weight on our shoulders. That we must convince people of the truth. What weights of burden this is. It makes us feel like we must be biblical scholars to confound the lies. But Paul says the opposite to the Corinthians. It was not by wise words but by the Spirit of God that you were saved. My friends – God doesn’t need us to help him find His people. But He wants to use us to find them. Hear me now. It is not up to you to convince someone to get saved. All that is required is for you to bear witness to what God has done in your life. Certainly you should do this to the best of your ability. And certainly you should be as well versed in doctrine and faith as you can. But do you know how many people get into debates with Christians and by the skill of the Christian are convinced to convert? 0. None. How do I know that? All come by the regeneration of the Spirit and God giving them faith. ALL. What does that mean? It. Is. Not. Up. To. You. With that in mind. The Spirit we have within us to aid us in using our spiritual gifts to pass on this faith heritage, is a Spirit of POWER, LOVE, and SELF-CONTROL. You speak with boldness what God has done for you and in you. Knowing that He has done it all. Loving Him and His people enough to tell everyone you can, to eventually and hopefully find His people who are lost. And when you do face opponents – you control your tongue and gently refute their misunderstandings and misconceptions. This is the Spirit of God in us. And if, perchance, you do find someone whom God raises as you bear witness of Him – then you don’t get any glory from that do you? No. You are just happy to be there. The tool God used to bring another wayward soul… home. The conduit to transfer truth from God to His newly born people. My friends, we have turned sharing our faith into such a chore – when it should be a great joy. We bear witness to the heritage of faith, and the mercies of God in the power, love, and self-control of the Spirit. It is not up to us. But He wants us to go and find His lost sheep. Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. God’s Spirit is in you, God’s Son is with you, and God the Father will bear you up!