Gospel Centered Community

The church in Antioch waits on pins and needles for a ruling from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.  They need to know if they must first become Jews before they can officially be followers of Jesus.  Some Jews have been telling these Gentiles that they need to pump their spiritual brakes (Acts 15:1, 5).  In other words, non-Jewish men would have to be circumcised. 

The church has sent Paul and Barnabas to find out (Acts 15:2).  They know nothing yet of the decision of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.  Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, these leaders decide they "should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God" (Acts 15:19).  They ask that they avoid four things: (1) food sacrificed to idols, (2) blood, (3) food that has been strangled, and (4) sexual immorality.  These were four detestable practices in pagan idolatry.  In other words, these non-Jews didn't have to become Jews in order to follow Jesus.  They had to repent of their own idolatry.

They had sent two men to Jerusalem.  But four men return.  Judas Barsabbas and Silas arrive with with Paul and Barney.  They immediately get the church together and deliver the letter.  Notice that it wasn't first read to a committee.  They simply gathered the church to hear what had been written.  This is the practice we see in many of the NT letters.  The church is gathered and the letter is read OUT LOUD to the entire body.  There were no chapters or verses.  The read the entire letter, except maybe for some special instructions to the leaders.  This is a great reminder that these were real letters to real people in real churches in real cities dealing with real problems.

"And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement" (v31).  The people of the church in Antioch explode in celebration over what they hear.  The leaders in Jerusalem accept them as brothers and sisters in Christ AS GENTILES!!  It's hard to imagine just how radical and revolutionary this must have been.  To this point, The Way was seen by many as simply a sect of Judaism.  And historically, the relationship between Jew and Gentile could best be described as frosty.  The First Church of Antioch may well have expected the news that they would need to become Jews.  But no!  They could follow their Savior as Gentiles.  The people of the church were encouraged beyond belief.

Just as God had accepted them just as they are, so would the followers of Jesus.

This is a huge reminder that there are no God ordained divisions among followers of Jesus.  No races.  No denominations.  No cultural or economic barriers.  No staff or lay people.  We are all one.  We are all His!  Like the church in Antioch, we should rejoice because of this encouragement.

Judas and Silas hung with the folks in Antioch for a while (v32-33).  Luke tells us that these two men are actually prophets.  This is a gift of the Holy Spirit by which God enables someone the privilege of insight into His divine will and the responsibility to share it with His people.  Judas and Silas properly used their spiritual gifts to encourage and strengthen the local church.  This is exactly how we are to employ these God-given abilities (1Cor 14:12, 26).

It's hard to imagine the extent of the encouragement in Antioch by the extended presence of Judas and Silas.  These two Jews apparently had no problem hanging out with their Gentile brothers and sisters.  What a breath of fresh air.  They proved that the acceptance of the non-Jews by Paul and Barnabas was no fluke.  In Christ, they were truly one family and one body.

Judas and Silas spent a great deal of time in Antioch, encouraging and strengthening these new Christ followers.  I love the original Greek that we often translate encourage: parakaleo.  It is literally "to call (kaleo) alongside (para)."  Think of walking side by side with someone else, encouraging them.  You can do it!  We can do it together!

The word "strengthen" is the Greek episterizo.  It's the same verb found in Acts 14:22.  It means not only to strengthen, but more specifically, to make to lean upon.  In other words, Judas and Silas helped these Antiochan believers understand that their strength was in Jesus.  They taught them that apart from Christ they can do nothing (Jn 15:5) but in Him they can do anything (Phil 4:13).

At some point, Judas and Silas headed back to Jerusalem after an extended stay (v33).  Most of the oldest manuscripts don't contain v34.  This may well have been inserted to explain how quickly Paul chose Silas for his return trip to Asia (Acts 15:40-41). 

Luke goes on to tell us that "Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also" (v35).  The two men clearly saw these believers as their responsibility.  They had invested a great deal of time and energy in these folks (Acts 11:23-26; 14:28).  Paul and Barney also traveled as missionaries on behalf of the church in Antioch (Acts 13:2-27).

This dynamic duo continue to teach and preach to this largely non-Jewish congregation.  The door would have been wide open to teach them the OT Scriptures.  They would have had very little working knowledge of the Hebrew Bible, the ONLY Bible they would have had at the time. 

Dr. Luke tells us specifically that they were preaching.  This is the Greek verb euangelizo.  It means to proclaim or bring about the good news.  It's where we get our words evangelism and evangelize.  While it certainly means to preach, I think it's a much more robust word than just that.  These two men continually reminded the Christ followers of Antioch that it is all about Jesus.  He lived the perfect life that we were supposed to live.  He died the awful death that we were supposed to die.  He is raised to an eternal life we don't deserve.  It's only IN CHRIST that we have anything. 

To "preach" or euangelizo is to remind us of who we are IN JESUS.  This is NOT a "do better" gospel.  I mean, what's the good news in that gospel?  We continually need to know that He did it for us, in our place.  And we are IN HIM.  He has also given us His Holy Spirit to enable us to live the life He's set before us

These four men proclaimed to the people of Antioch that apart from Jesus it was impossible.  But IN CHRIST it was all possible.  

Take a Letter

Church leaders gather in Jerusalem to decide what to do with Gentiles that come to Christ.  There is a strong move among them that these non-Jews must first convert to Judaism before becoming Christians.  Specifically, they need to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law.  In other words, they hold that for Gentiles, it is a two-step process.

But thanks to impassioned speeches by the apostle Peter (Acts 15:7-11), Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:12) as well as James (Acts 15:13-21), these leaders decide that there is no reason to add such a yoke to these non-Jewish believers.  If God has given them His Holy Spirit marking them as followers of Jesus, how could they ask more of them? 

At this point, the leaders of the early church decide to send a delegation to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas (v22).  The two men are "Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers."  There is little known about Judas Barsabbas from Scripture except that he was a prophet (Acts 15:32).  There is speculation that he is the brother of Joseph called Barsabbas, one of the two candidates put forth to replace Judas Iscariot as apostle (Acts 1:23).  Their nickname Barsabbas probably indicates they were the sons of Sabba.  There is probably some connection between these two men, but nothing conclusive can be gained through Acts.

The other man is Silas.  He will be a key figure in Paul's second missionary journey (Acts 15:50-18:5).  He is also called Silvanus.  He acted as Peter's amanuensis (scribe) for his first epistle.  Silas is most likely Jewish as well as a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37).

The leaders of the Jerusalem church selected Judas and Silas because they were among the best and brightest.  The various translations describe them as "leading men," "chief men" or "leaders."  These two had stepped up into positions of authority and responsibility.  This is a great reminder of the continual need to identify and train new leaders in the local church.

The leaders in Jerusalem send these four men with a letter to not only the church in Antioch, but "to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia" (v23).  Clearly non-Jews made up much of these churches.  Chances are that Paul planted these churches.  His hometown of Tarsus is in the region of Cilicia.  In his letter to the Galatians, he describes how he returned "to the regions of Syria and Cilicia" after visiting Jerusalem (Gal 1:21).

The Jerusalem leaders go out of their way to include these Gentile believers as brothers and sisters in Christ.  This is VERY important.  If Jewish Christians from Jerusalem welcome their Gentile brethren into the family of faith, who could exclude them? 

The letter goes on to say, "Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions" (v24).  In other words, those folks may have come from Jerusalem but they didn't have permission to speak on behalf of our church. 

The verbs "troubled" and "unsettling" deserve a closer look.  "Trouble" is the Greek tarasso.  It means to trouble the mind, to shake up or stir up (like water), to terrify.  "Unsettle" is the Greek anaskeuazo.  The basic term carries the idea of packing up baggage or breaking camp.  Used in this context, it means to dismantle or destroy something.  In extrabiblical literature, writers used the term to describe someone in financial bankruptcy.  The terms used in this letter let us know the spiritual damage these men had done in the Gentile churches. 

The letter goes on to say that the apostles and elders have come to agreement on the issue, "having come to one accord" (v25).  They are in consensus regarding what is required of any non-Jews who follow Messiah Jesus.  They have chosen these two men, Judas and Silas, to accompany Barnabas and Paul to bring their decision to Antioch. 

The church leaders describe how Barnabas and Paul "have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v26).  Remember how Jews in Iconium put a hit on these two (Acts 14:5), eventually stoning Paul to the point that they thought he was dead (Acts 14:19).  Christ had given these men a message that was too important to let the threat of death stop them. 

What the Jerusalem church leadership wrote in the letter will be reinforced by Judas and Silas (v27).  These two men will answer any questions the churches might have about the ruling.

The Holy Spirit has guided these leaders in their decision.  They didn't simply come up with what they thought was the best idea.  God inspired their decision.  "It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us" (v28).  Peter, James and the others sought the Lord's guidance in what to do. 

The leaders decision is in agreement with James' proposition in Acts 15:20.  Gentile Christians should avoid anything sacrificed to an idol, blood, anything strangled and sexual immorality.  These things were important because each of them were central to pagan idolatry.  Non-Jewish Christians were to completely turn their backs on the activities of the pagan temples.

Such letters would be key to early believers, explaining doctrine and helping people understand what it meant to be a follower of Jesus.  This letter to the churches of Antioch, Syria and Cilicia came about the same time as James' epistle and Paul's letter of instruction to Galatia. 

Safe Place for a Dangerous Message

Let's set the scene.  Church leaders have gathered in Jerusalem to decide how to handle the "Gentile problem."  God has used men like Peter, Paul and Barnabas to reach out to non-Jews (Acts 10, 13, 14).  There are many who believe very strongly that these Gentiles must become Jewish in order to follow Jesus.  They need to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:1, 5).

Peter has just delivered a powerful speech encouraging the inclusion of Gentiles AS GENTILES (Acts 15:7-11).  Why should the church raise the standard of salvation higher than God's?  God has given these non-Jews His Holy Spirit without them first becoming Jewish.  Pete tells the leaders that the people God saves "will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus," whether they are Jew or Gentile.

When Pete finishes his speech, "the assembly fell silent" (v12).  At this point, Paul and Barnabas describe the miraculous "signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles."  These men understand completely WHO really deserves the credit and glory for what they had been a part of.  God.  And God alone.  This was a move of Yahweh among the various non-Jewish people they had visited.  They were simply tools in the hand of the Master.  The phrase "signs and wonders" reminds us of how God has partially fulfilled His words through Joel here in the pages of Acts (Joel 2:28-32).  God used these miracles as a means of giving His divine stamp of approval on the Gospel these men proclaimed.

When Paul and Barney wrap up their report, James takes the mic.  This is Jesus' half brother who has risen to a major position of responsibility in the early church.  This can't be James the apostle.  King Herod Agrippa I martyred John's brother (Acts 12:2).  This James had originally mocked his half brother (Jn 7:5) but later repented and accept Him as his risen Savior (1Cor 15:7).  He is not only a key leader but goes on to write what is probably the first book of the NT, the letter that bears his name.

James reminds the gathering that this is God's move, not theirs.  "God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for His name" (v14).  Once again, this wasn't something cooked up by Pete, Paul or Barney.  This is God.  Who are they to question a move of Almighty God?

He goes on to say that this is perfectly in line with what God has declared through His prophets for centuries (v15).  Over and over again, God guided these men to describe how He will use His chosen people as a light to the world.  God has chosen them to declare His goodness to people from every tribe, tongue and nation.

Using the Septuagint (a Greek translation of the OT), James goes on to quote from the prophet Amos (Am 9:11-12).  Amos describes how God has called a number of Gentiles "by My name."  Nowhere does Amos ever say that these called non-Jews must become Jewish converts.  Amos is talking about God's move of salvation during His millennial kingdom.  If the Scriptures never insist on Gentiles becoming Jews, why should the church make such a demand?

James comes to his recommendation.  "Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God" (v19).  The word "trouble" is the Greek verb parenoxleo.  It means to add extra difficulties, to trouble greatly, to annoy.  According to MacArthur, it describes how one "throws something in the path of someone to annoy them."

In other words, James insists that they not make the Gospel any more difficult than it is.  We need to remember that Jesus' message is challenging enough.  He is asking us to turn our backs on everything in order to follow Him.  His message is a dangerous message.  There is absolutely no reason to demand Gentiles to jump through extra Jewish hoops in order to come to Christ.

We must make our churches a safe place to hear a dangerous message.  The call to follow Jesus alone will rock their world.  Don't burden people with a lot of unnecessary mumbo jumbo.  The Savior's call to repentance is radical enough.

James goes on to make his recommendation on how to handle these Gentile Christians.  He would like for these leaders to write to them that they should do four things.  "Abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood" (v20).  All of these were key things involved in pagan idol worship at the time.  And each of these activities were highly offensive to Jews.

James makes the point that these new Gentile Christians need to understand the danger of pagan idolatry.  God alone is to be worshiped (Ex 20:3).  And from the earliest days, He commanded that His people not eat or drink blood (Gen 9:4).  These are key teachings in the synagogues that are taught every Sabbath (v21).

Let's not add anything to Christ's call of repentance.  It's dangerous enough.  It's challenging enough.  There's no reason to raise God's bar any higher

Our churches should be a safe place to hear a dangerous message. 

No Yoking Matter

The "Gentile Problem" has come to a head.  Paul and Barnabas have reported to the church in Antioch how God had used them to save not only Jews but Gentiles in Asia (Acts 13-14).  A group from Judea argued that there is no way these non-Jews could be saved unless they became Jews through circumcision and following the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:1, 5).

As a result, they sought a decision from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem (Acts 15:2).  Their ruling on this vital issue of the early church makes such decisions like Roe v Wade or Brown v Board of Education pale in comparison.

Luke tells us that "The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter" (v6).  The author doesn't name names except Peter, the leader of the apostles, and James, the half brother of Jesus.  This is one of the two times in the Bible where we see Peter and Paul, the two key missionaries of Acts, in the same room together (the other mention is in Gal 2:11-14).

The two sides present their cases before the leaders of the church.  "There had been much debate" (v7).  The Greek describes it as zetesis.  This means an investigation or inquiry.  Lots of questions were asked of both positions.  This was no quick decision.  These leaders made a careful examination of the issue.  They clearly understood that whatever they decided would impact the the future of the Gospel.

After both the legalistic Jews as well as Paul and Barnabas presented their cases, Peter stands up (v7).  And when the leader of the apostles has something to say, you listen.

He tells the people in the room, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe."  Pete reminds everyone there of God had done through him.  Almighty God chose him personally to take the salvation offered through the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to unclean Gentiles.  That was the whole purpose of Pete's rooftop vision of a zoo on a blanket in Joppa (Acts 10).  That immediately led Pete to travel to Caesarea and tell the non-Jewish Cornelius and his family about Messiah Jesus.

God made it clear to Peter that He was not limiting salvation to a particular ethnic group.  "What God has made clean, do not call common" (Acts 10:15).  "God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean" (Acts 10:28).  "God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him" (Acts 10:34-35).  "Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name" (Acts 10:43).  And don't forget Peter's jaw-dropping report to the home office about this incredible move of God among non-Jewish people (Acts 11:1-18).

Peter goes on to tell his audience that no one but God knows the human heart (v8).  He alone is able to judge who is has truly repented and come to Jesus for salvation.  That's His job, not ours.  He's the One who decides who receives the Good News.  We must not limit those we tell.  When in doubt, tell people about Jesus.

Pete makes the point that God's salvation of non-Jews is 100% genuine because of one critical factor: He game them His Holy Spirit!  God gave these born-again Gentiles His Spirit just as He did to those Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2:4).  God saved them without circumcision, without obedience to the Mosaic Law, without sacrificial ritual.  All they had done was repent and followed Jesus.  How can anyone doubt the salvation of these Gentiles since God gave them the Holy Spirit?

The leader of the apostles goes on to say, "He made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith" (v9).  Pete tells that God saw no difference between Jews and Gentiles.  And it was God Himself that scrubbed their sinful hearts clean.  This was David's prayer (Ps 24:4; 51:10).  This sounds a lot like New Covenant language (Ezek 36:24-29).  Through Ezekiel, God promises to pull together a new people "from the nations."  They will be cleansed, given a new heart and a new Spirit.  It certainly sounds a lot like what is happening in the book of Acts.

If there's no doubt about Pete's position in the debate at this point.  He turns to the legalistic Jews and let's them have it with both barrels.  "Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers or we have been able to bear?" (v10).  Come on, guys!  There was no way anyone has ever earned any kind of salvation through law-keeping.  Rather than put the same burden on non-Jews that no Jew could ever keep, Pete says we should celebrate what God is doing among them!

This is no yoking matter.

Whenever we ask others to prove their salvation by jumping through manmade hoops, we're on a very slippery slope.  When we do that, Peter tells us that we're "putting God to the test" (Dt 6:16; Mt 4:7; Lk 4:12).  And, I'm not sure if you've heard, this is not a good idea.

Let's be clear on this.  VERY clear.  We must not make our requirements for salvation tougher than God's!  This doesn't mean that there shouldn't be expectations of discipleship and service in the local church.  But this doesn't mean that we can make a call on someone's salvation through some well-intentioned but misguided manmade rules.

This is no yoking matter.

Pete certainly remembers Jesus' own words.  "For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Mt 11:43).  Christ busted the Pharisees' chops for doing exactly what these Jews were attempting here.  "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger" (Mt 23:4).  You have to wonder if Peter's words influenced Paul's letter to Galatia.  "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Gal 5:1).

Let's be clear.  This is no yoking matter.

Pete brings his speech home with one of the most powerful statements on salvation by grace through faith found in the Bible.  "But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will" (v11).  In other words, God saves everybody through the grace of Christ.  Jews.  Non-Jews.  Everyone comes to faith the same way.  Through trusting in the free gift offered only through the radical and risen Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth.

There are many modern scholars that try to drive a wedge between Peter and Paul.  They try to make a distinction between the Gospel preached by each man.  They hold that Peter professed a very Jewish message while Paul was the one who opened the doors of faith to the Gentiles.  Did the two men have their differences?  Absolutely.  Paul's confrontation of Peter in Galatians tells us they had their moments (Gal 2:11-14).

But Pete's impassioned plea here in Acts 15 makes it clear that these two men were singing from the same page of the hymnal when it comes to God's gracious invitation of non-Jews.  "We will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."  Paul will echo this same idea of justification by grace through faith over and over again (Eph 2:5-10; Rom 10:9-13).

Most of you reading this are non-Jews.  Think how different your relationship with Jesus would be if God did not make such a gracious move to us Gentiles.  We can come simply by faith through His grace.  No circumcision.  No Mosaic Law.  No ritual

This is no yoking matter.      

Jesus+Nothing=Everything

After Paul and Barnabas return from their amazing trip to Cyprus and Asia, they share what God has done through them (Acts 14:27).  The BIG story is how Jesus "had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles."

Twenty-one centuries later, it's almost impossible for us to understand what a mind-blowing reality this was for Jews.  They were in the midst of an exploding new paradigm of faith.  God was throwing the doors wide open on His revelation regarding the salvation of non-Jews.  Things were happening fast and furiously.

To get a better grasp on just how rapidly things were changing, let's do a comparison with modern technology.  Think about the technological advances in our society since 1960.  It's hard to keep up with all that has happened.  That's sort of what is happening for first century Jews in regards to faith in Jesus.  That's the context for what Luke describes in Acts 15.

At some point after Paul and Barney have returned from their trip (probably about one year), the good doctor tells us that some Jews roll into Antioch from Judea (v1).  They teach that "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

Paul and Barnabas consistently faced Jewish opposition on the road (Acts 13:44, 50; 14:2, 5, 19).  Now they faced it at home in Antioch.  Jews couldn't believe how this Gospel of Jesus was "polluting" their faith with these unclean Gentiles.  Understand that this new movement was still VERY Jewish.  In many ways, it's best understood that the followers of Jesus were Christian Jews rather than Jewish Christians.  They were still part of Jewish society.  They had simply come to understand that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.

These Jews from Judea demanded that these Gentile converts be circumcised.  In many ways, this made perfect sense to them.  If these non-Jews were coming to faith in Jesus Messiah, certainly they would need to do what others had been doing for centuries.  To become a proselyte, Gentiles would be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law.  It was a sign of God's covenant promise to Abraham (Gen 17:10-14).  Why should it be any different in the first century?

But circumcision was not a part of Paul and Barney's trip to Cyprus and Asia.  Non-Jews simply believed in the risen Jesus and were saved.  No circumcision.  No Mosaic Law.  Now that they were back home, things had come to (ahem) a head.

Circumcision was a HUGE issue in these important early years of the church.  It was central point of Paul's teaching and letters.  It's the entire focus of his epistle to the church at Galatia (not coincidentally, the apostle wrote that letter in this same time frame).  The apostle wrote to the Philippians, "Look out for the dogs, look out for evil doers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh" (Phil 3:2).  He wrote to the Colossians that the followers of Jesus have indeed been circumcised, but it is a VERY different circumcision.  "In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ" (Col 2:11).

As a result of the debate over the "Gentile Problem" in Antioch, the church decides to send Paul, Barnabas and representatives of the circumcision crowd to Jerusalem (v2).  They need to get a ruling from the home office.  They will present their case and hear it straight from the mouths of the apostles and elders of the church in Jerusalem

There is an enormous reminder here against adding anything to salvation in Jesus.  He has invited us to come to Him and to follow Him.  As Tullian Tchividjian says, "Jesus plus anything is nothing.  Jesus plus nothing is everything."  It's the NEW math of the Gospel.  There is nothing required to be saved except Jesus.  No circumcision.  No works.  Jesus.  That's it.

Stack the Kindling

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2Tim 1:5).

When you want to build a fire, you’ve got to start small. You don’t begin with a few big logs and then strike a match. You need kindling. You need the smallest pieces of wood that will ignite easily. Then as the fire builds, you stoke it with bigger and bigger sticks and limbs. Eventually it’s time for those logs. Before you know it, the fire is crackling and popping. But you have to start small. You have to stack the kindling. 

(This is where I could insert a story about the time I really didn’t have any small pieces of wood to get our fire pit going. I figured a little gasoline would do the trick. I splashed a little from the gas can and tossed a match. WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH! Let’s just say it I’ll never forget the smell of scorched eyebrows. From now on, I’ll stack the kindling.)

In many ways, faith in Jesus is a lot like that. I first heard this idea from Matt Chandler While each person much have an individual trust in our Savior, other people in their life can get them ready. Paul reminds his buddy Timothy of how his family got his faith fire ready. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (v5). A methodist missionary named E. Stanley Jones is famous for saying, “God doesn’t have any grandchildren.” But that doesn’t stop mom, dad, memaw, and pawpaw from prepping kids for the day Jesus lights them up.

As Paul looks back on the blaze burning brightly in Tim’s life, he knows his fire is about to be extinguished. He writes to his spiritual son from the slammer. Specifically, Rome’s Death Row. Alcatraz, Folsom, and Shawshank got nothing on the Mamertine Prison. It’s where enemies of the empire go to die. The apostle is a dead man walking and he knows it. “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” (2Tim 4:6-7). In the last letter of his life, the apostle does what he can to fan Tim’s flames.

Paul starts by telling Timothy just how much he’s encouraged by his legit love of the Lord. “I remember your sincere faith” (v5). He describes the young gun’s trust in Christ with the Greek word anupokritos. It means genuine, undisguised, or transparent. The term comes from the same root word as hypocrisy (Gr. hupokrisis) which means putting up a front or wearing a mask or impersonating someone you’re not. Tim’s faith is legit. The real deal. Not fake. Not phony. Not a front. 

What a powerful reminder that we’re not supposed to be cookie cutter Christ followers. God has wired each one of us very differently. He’s given every believer varying combinations of spiritual gifts. He’s placed each of us in different places and different times. While we all trust in the same Jesus, we don’t all look and act exactly alike. And that’s a good thing. There’s tremendous freedom knowing I don’t have to put on a front and pretend to be somebody I’m not. Paul tells the Corinthians how God’s grace allows him to be exactly who God made him to be. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (1Cor 15:10). What a relief to know that we can all be sincere and transparent in our faith. 

Tim’s faith may not be phony but what exactly is Paul talking about. Belief in the Bible is a lot more than just a simple acknowledgement of a fact. A whole LOT more! “Faith” (Gr. pistis) is an active trust, confidence, total reliance, and complete conviction in someone or something. In this case, the apostle is talking about Jesus. Andy Stanley says the best way to understand faith is to picture a stool. I may think the stool will hold me when I look at it. I may think the stool will support me when I lean against it. But the only time I’m REALLY trusting in the stool is when I put all of my weight on it.

Tim has placed the entire weight his life onto Jesus. He trusts in who Jesus is and what He has done that Tim could never do for himself. Christ lived the perfect life of obedience to God’s commands that he could never live. He died the death for sin that Tim should have died. He rose to an awesome new life that Tim doesn’t deserve. As a result, Timothy submits himself to our Lord’s leadership. That’s the Gospel. That’s the Good News. It’s not about the strength of your faith. It’s about the strength of the object of our faith. No matter what comes your way, keep your eyes locked on Jesus, the Starter and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). He’ll NEVER let go of you.

Paul reminds his young friend that following Jesus is a family tradition. Tim has “a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice” (v5). John MacArthur is pretty sure the apostle knew these ladies personally. There’s a good chance that they came to place their faith in Jesus during Paul and Barnabas’ first tour through Lystra and the surrounding region (Acts 13:13-14:21). Lois and her daughter Eunice were Jewish. Dr. Luke tells us Tim is “the son of  Jewish woman who was a believer” (Acts 16:1). 

These two women were apparently strong believers in God’s promises made in the Jewish Scriptures called the Torah. It’s what we know as today as the Old Testament. Tim’s memaw and mom trusted in God’s promise to send a Messiah to the rescue (Gen 3:15; 12:1-3; 17:1-8; 2Sam 7:9-16). Their faith was fully realized when they heard that Jesus was indeed the fulfillment of God’s promise and the ultimate Good News. Imagine finding out the long-awaited Savior of the entire world is a resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from the boondocks of Galilee! 

It seems clear that Grandma Lois and Momma Eunice invested into the spiritual growth of Timothy. They took the time to tell young Timmy all about God’s incredible faithfulness, goodness, and grace as told in His Word. That’s exactly what Paul says later in his letter.  “From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2Tim 3:15). These women wanted the boy they loved to know the God they loved. So they stacked the kindling.

Parents, grandparents, and other friends do this by telling the little ones about all the amazing things God has done in their own lives. Teach them stories from the Bible. Help them memorize Scripture. Sing worship songs with them. Pray with them, around them, and over them. It’s what my Grandmothers Ethel and Clarabelle as well as my own mom Elma did for me. It’s what my wife Deb and I tried to do with our own kids as well as our grandchildren. While God is the only one who sets someone on fire in the faith, we can certainly stack the kindling.

What can we take away from Paul’s words to Timothy? First of all, we don’t have to be phony when it comes to our faith in Jesus. We don’t have to dress like a TV evangelist, use enough hairspray to make a personal dent in the ozone layer or wear so much makeup it looks like we lost a paintball fight. You and I are free to be the person God made us to be in Christ. I don’t know about you, but that’s a HUGE weight off my shoulders.

Second, think back on the people who gently and consistently invested in your spiritual growth as a child. Was it a grandparent? Your mom? Your dad? A neighbor? A teacher? A coach? Reach out and thank them for fanning the flames of your faith. And don’t forget to let God know how much you appreciate how He placed these people in your path to stack your kindling.

Third, let’s stoke the spiritual fires of the young people in our lives. Parents and grandparents have a very powerful position of influence in children as they grow. Don’t miss any opportunity God gives you to tell them just how good the Lord has been to you. Read the Bible with them. Pray with them. Sing with them. Do I need to warn you not to ram it down their throats? Do NOT be heavy handed.

Find those flammable materials. Spiritual sticks. Gospel branches. Place them all around those you love. You can’t set them on fire yourself but you can do everything possible to get them ready. Stack the kindling. And then you might want to step back. Take it from me, you’re really gonna want those eyebrows.

I Gotta Fever!

“As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy” (2Tim 1:4).

It’s okay to be human. There are times you just have to let your guard down and let people in. Times when you have to stop pretending to be bulletproof and show your friends you’re mortal. Times we you have to admit you’re lonely and desperately need a friend.

That includes Paul. Yeah, THAT Paul. The Apostle Paul. We’re talking about the guy Jesus handpicked to tell non-Jews around the world all about God’s incredible invitation into His kingdom. The same Paul who would make three tours of the Roman Empire sharing the Good News with anyone who would listen. The same apostle so devoted to God’s mission that he experienced prison, beatings, floggings, stonings, three shipwrecks, and even bitten by a poisonous snake. This dude who would write a grand total of 13 books making up a nearly a quarter of the New Testament. 

The same man Jesus used to change the course of history sits in a Roman dungeon. Specifically, the notorious Mamertine Prison in the capital city. Paul is on Death Row. He knows he’s only got a short time before he faces the executioner. So he writes a very personal plea to his very dear friend Timothy. As the clock ticks down, the apostle desperately needs a visit. “As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy” (v4). God brought the two of them together several years ago in Lystra, a city in what we now know as Turkey (Acts 16:1). Since then, they’ve always been there for each other. Paul is not too tough to admit he needs his buddy, right here and right now. He’s gotta fever. And the only prescription is more Timothy.

In the opening lines of this little letter to his close friend, Paul flips through the mental scrapbook of their relationship. “I remember you constantly in my prayers day and night…I remember your tears…I am reminded of your sincere faith” (1Tim 1:3, 4, 5). Memories. Prayers. Tears. Faith. The kind of stuff a deep friendship between believers is based on.

Here in verse 4, he remembers the time he was there for Tim’s tears. He’s probably talking about the last time they saw each other. It may have been when Paul left for his Macedonian assignment he mentions in his previous note (1Tim 1:3). The man from Tarsus knows all about heartbreaking goodbyes. Dr. Luke writes about how the apostle met with the Ephesian leadership when they thought they would be the last time they ever saw each other. “And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again” (Acts 20:27-38).

What a powerful reminder that real men cry real tears. Jesus certainly did (Jn 11:35). Paul tells his friends in Rome that true friends have deep empathy for each other no matter what they’re going through. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15). No doubt these two friends have shared both gut-busting laughs as well as gut-wrenching cries. You can bet when Tim shed tears, Paul did too.

Who have you laughed with and weeped with? Who’s that close friend who celebrate with you and also walked the darkest parts of the path with you? Who’s that person you’ve cried with? Hopefully God has placed someone in your life with a tender heart, a soft shoulder, and a fresh Kleenex. Paul needs that. Tim needs that. You need that. And I most certainly need that.

As Paul walks the Green Mile of Mamertine, he doesn’t want to walk it alone. The good news is that his good friend the good doctor is at his side. “Luke alone is with me” (2Tim 4:11). But the apostle yearns that Tim can join them. “I long to see you” (v4). He uses a Greek word (Gr. epipotheo) which means to yearn passionately, deeply desire, experience an affectionate yearning for someone or something. It’s the same term Paul drops when he desperately wants to see folks (Rom 1:1; Phil 1:8) or when he describes his burning desire to be with Jesus forever (2Cor 5:2).

Just like the Blues Brothers, the apostle wants to get the band back together one last time. Starting in chapter 16, these three men are pretty much side-by-side-by-side throughout the Book of Acts. After drafting Tim onto his team in Lystra (Acts 16:1-3), it seems clear Luke joins the party in Troas (Acts 16:10). As the author of Acts, the good doctor never mentions his own name but that’s where the pronouns change. That’s where “they” suddenly becomes “we.” In his final days in the slammer, Paul wants to reunite the Three Amigos one last time on this side of eternity. He’s gotta fever. And the only prescription is more Timothy.

The apostle knows if he can lay his eyes on Tim one last time, “I may be filled with joy” (v4). Remember, Paul knows death is right around the corner. He makes that clear. “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” (2Tim 4:6-7). Despite certain death, he still has joy in the joint. And he’s sure a visit from his boy Tim will top off the tank. 

So Paul pleads with him to get his tail to Rome ASAP. Toward the end of this letter, he comes out and says it, not once but two more times. “Do you best to come to me soon” (2Tim 4:9). The apostle begs Tim drop everything and get there before it gets cold. “Do your best to come before winter” (2Tim 4:21). Do you need to see someone? Don’t beat around the bush. Don’t just drop passive/aggressive hints. Come right out and say it.

So what do Paul’s words to his friend Timothy back in the first century have to do with you and me 2,000 years later? They challenge us to stop pretending to be tough when we’re really not. As followers of Jesus, it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to need each other. It’s okay to be not okay. So take off the mask. That means finding some fellow believers where you can dump your garbage and be transparent. Who do you have in your life to do that?

This verse reminds us that following Jesus is a team sport. Don’t buy the lie that the Christian life transforms you into some sort of lone wolf for the Lord. Pop culture continually glorifies heroes going it alone against the enemy. Guys like Mad Max, Rambo, and (one of my personal faves) Billy Jack. Even the seemingly loner heroes had some covering their backside. Jack Bauer had Chloe. Sherlock Holmes had Dr. Watson. The Lone Ranger had Tonto. Don’t make the mistake of seeing Paul as a High Plains Drifter for Christ. He always had partners and teammates. Who’s the Robin to your Dark Knight?

Finally, who can you fill with joy? Who needs a visit? A call? An email? A text? Who’s in the middle of a mess and could use some encouragement? Maybe you’re joy tank is running on empty. Do you need a friend to reach out to you? Remember, this is at the very heart of the Gospel. Jesus didn’t just feel sorry for us when we trashed God’s perfect universe and rebelled against His kingdom. He left the posh comforts of the heavenly palace and dove headfirst into the dumpster of sin we call Earth. When we couldn’t get to Him, He made a holy house call. That’s how He earned the nickname Immanuel which simply means “God is with us” (Mt 1:23). Because Christ did it for us, let’s do it for others.

Paul is in prison. The clock is ticking down. He really wants to see Tim one last time. He's gotta fever. And the only prescription is more Timothy.

No Regerts

“I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day” (2Tim 1:3).

I don’t have any tattoos. Got nothing against them. Just never saw any need for one. One worry is the lack of spellcheck at the tattoo parlor. You’ve probably seen the picture of the dude with the unfortunate ink that reads “No Regerts.” Yup, you read that right. “No Regerts.” I’ll bet he regerts getting that tat!

I have no idea of Paul ever got a tattoo. But in the last months of his life, he made it clear he had neither any regerts or regrets about totally devoting himself to sharing the Good News of Christ. He writes to Timothy, “I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day” (v3). No testosterone. No phony machismo. No pretense. Absolutely no regerts.

Walking the Green Mile

The constant threat of death does crazy things to a man. Even to a guy who wrote a big chunk of the New Testament and God used to tell non-Jews around the world all about Jesus. Deep in the dungeon of Rome’s infamous Mamertine Prison, Paul walks the Green Mile. This is where folks count down their final days before execution. 

As he waits, the apostle reflects and writes. In this very last letter, he gets very personal. He reaches out to one of his closest friends named Timothy.

You see, Paul’s service to his Savior has landed him in prison again. And this time he’s knows he’s not getting out. Here in verse 3, we get a glimpse of his walk with Jesus on the Green Mile. 

The man from Tarsus comes from a long line of worshipers and he’s carrying on the family tradition. While behind bars, he spends a LOT of his time praying. And a LOT of his prayers are focused on his dear friend Tim. He flips through the mental scrapbook they share. Looking back, he wouldn’t change a thing. Paul has absolutely no regerts.

An Attitude of Gratitude

First of all, the apostle has an attitude of gratitude. “I thank God” (v3). His execution is not a matter of if but when, nevertheless that doesn’t change anything about the goodness of God. 

I don’t know about you, but if I someone had thrown me in a hole and a visit to the death chamber was a done deal, my first order of business would be to throw myself a personal pity party of epic proportions. For Pete’s sake, I feel like a victim when I get stuck in the long checkout line at the grocery store. 

Not Paul. He looks to the Lord and counts his blessings. No matter how bad our situation, let’s make a point of taking inventory of all God has done for us and given us. Breath? Check. Food? Check. Family? Friends? Check and check. 

But if I’m a follower of Jesus (and I am!), I have the ultimate reason to be thankful. I have Christ. He is my Everything. David knew what I’m talking about and wrote a song about it. “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps 73:25-26). Because he had Jesus, Paul has no regerts.

Getting Your Serve on

The apostle tells Tim that just because he’s in prison, he hasn’t stopped worshiping the God. A little thing like jail won’t get in the way of Paul and the God “whom I serve” (v3). The word “serve” is actually the Greek verb latreuo, which means to worship, venerate, or carry out service as an act of worship. The term originally described people who actually worked at the temple. 

In other words, professional priests. But God makes it clear there’s no such thing as a secular/sacred divide. No matter where we punch the clock, we’re ALL priests (Ex 19:6; 1Pet 2:9). We have the privilege of serving Jesus no matter what kind of collar we wear: blue, white, or clerical.

A little glimpse at the grammar in the original language also tells us Paul’s still getting his swerve on in the slammer. The verb here is in the present tense and can easily be translated as “I am serving.” The apostle’s service hasn’t stopped just because he’s in the joint. A powerful reminder that we can worship God no matter where we are. That’s exactly Jesus’ point to the Samaritan divorcee (Jn 4:21). Our service to Him isn’t limited to a zip code. Worship God wherever you are. You’ll have no regerts.

A Family Tradition

The apostle maintains a family tradition, worshiping the Lord “as did my ancestors” (v3). Paul is talking about more than just his blood kin. He’s talking about his spiritual family. These are all those folks who didn’t know Jesus by name but trusted in God’s promise of the Messiah/Hero who was to come. You can read all about them in Hebrews 12. Hebrew heroes like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and David. 

Hall of Fame Material?

You might be surprised at some of the rather shady characters also in the Hall of Faith. People like Samson and even a non-Jewish woman known as Rahab the hooker. You see, Scripture includes them NOT because of what they did but the God they trusted. Paul points to them NOT because of what they did but the God they served. And remember, they didn’t know their Messiah would be a radical Rabbi/Carpenter from the boondocks of Galilee named Jesus. But they had no regerts.

Just in case you think you’ve done too much wrong and are too far gone for God to adopt into His family, just remember Paul’s own rap sheet. Long before he was the Apostle Paul he was the assassin Saul (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1; 26:9-11; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6). He readily admits, “I persecuted this Way to the death” (Acts 22:4). Despite his considerably bloody background, Jesus showered him with His grace and made him part of the family.

We become a spiritual descendant of Paul’s not by what we do but in Whom we trust. Jesus lived the perfectly obedient life to God’s commands that we’ve certainly failed to live. He died the brutal death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that we in no way deserve. Lean hard on what Christ has done. Serve him with your life. You’ll have no regerts.

Reading the Conscience Gauge

Paul may be on Death Row but he’s there “with a clear conscience” (v3). The conscience is our God-given warning system that sounds the alarm when start breaking bad (Rom 2:14-15). We jacked it up at the Fall but it still works pretty well. Even a wonky conscience can still tweak and poke us when something’s gone wrong. 

When the apostle looks over at the conscience gauge on the dashboard of his life, it’s at zero. He’s repented of all of the sin he’s committed and the pain he’s caused. It’s been a wild ride since Jesus got ahold of him, but he wouldn’t change a thing. He has no regerts.

The Warning Lights Are Flashing

Are the alarms sounding in your head? Are the warning lights flashing down at quality control? That’s probably your conscience giving you a heads up to deal with an issue. Don’t sweep it under the rug. Don’t pretend you don’t notice it. 

Go to God and confess your crap. It will come as no shock to Him. He’s God. He already knows. But confession is the key to cleansing. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9). Confess. Repent. You’ll have no regerts.

Paul's Prison Prayers

Paul wants Timothy to know his name always comes up when he’s talking to God. “I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day” (v3). We get a glimpse into the apostle’s prayer life in the final weeks and months of his life. Two big points. He prays for his dear friend Tim. He prays constantly. 

It’s no surprise he’s praying for the Timster. Paul consistently prays for the people to whom he writes (Rom 1:8-10; 1Cor 1:4-9; Eph 1:15-23; Phil 1:3-5; Col 1:3-5, 9-12; 1Th 1:2-3; 2Th 1:3, 11-12; Phm 4-6). Who are you praying for? Who needs your help in talking to God? 

The apostle prays “constantly” (v3). This is the Greek word adialeiptos, which means continual, uninterrupted, unceasing, and nonstop. Paul is just letting his walk match his talk. He encourages folks at the Thessalonian church to “pray without ceasing (Gr. adialeiptos)” (1Th 5:17). 

Keep the Line Open

Now is he saying we need to live our lives with our head bowed, eyes closed, and hands folded? There’s no doubt times of deep and focused prayer should be a regular part of our schedule. But Paul’s talking more about regular, consistent communication.

The great Charles Spurgeon hits the nail on the head when it comes to non-stop prayer. He said he never prayed more than five minutes but never went more than five minutes without praying. Take it from the Prince of Preachers. Stay in constant contact. 

Keep the line open. Remember, God’s not limiting our minutes or data charges. He loves hearing from us. Pray constantly. Pray unceasingly. Pray non-stop. Pray like you can’t stop. Pray like you won’t stop. You won’t regert it.

Prayer and Tattoos

What a great life lesson here from Paul. His final days give us a blueprint for whatever time you and I have left. We can serve and worship God no matter where just like our spiritual ancestors did. Unlike real estate, location is not a big deal. 

We have the privilege of praying for those He puts on our hearts. We can call on the Lord 24/7/365. And when it’s all said and done, we’ll have no regerts. Well, unless we get that tattoo.

The Reluctant Rep

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus” (2Tim 1:1).

Guards lower you through a hole in the ground. Welcome to your new home. A dungeon. Your the newest inmate in one of two cells inside Caesar’s infamous Mamertine Prison. Cramped. Cold. Dank. If that’s not depressing enough, this facility isn’t for longterm incarceration. This is Death Row. The Green Mile. Rome sends criminals here not long before their execution. 

Welcome to the last days of the Apostle Paul. And he knows it. It wasn’t that long ago that the man from Tarsus spent five long years as an innocent man. The last two years, he was in custody here in Rome but that was VERY different. He was under house arrest, basically living in an apartment and able to tell visitors all about Jesus (Acts 28:30). Fast forward a few years and he’s back in Rome. This time as a dead man walking. 

We don’t know much about Paul’s own time on Death Row with the exception of one document. He wrote a letter to one of his friends, a pastor named Timothy. A man so special to the apostle that he calls him “my beloved child” (2Tim 1:2). The man from Tarsus writes Tim for two reasons. One, he desperately wants to see him before he dies. Two, he wants to encourage his spiritual son one final time. 

This is a powerful reminder that this epistle isn’t some inspirational, sweet-bye-and-bye-pie-in-the-sky religious fairy tale. Don’t get me wrong, the words we read are inspired by God Himself and an important in learning what it means to follow Jesus (2Tim 3:16-17). But this is a REAL letter from a REAL person facing REAL problems. And Paul makes it clear that in the face of it all, he has a very REAL Savior. 

Check out the opening line. “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus” (v1). He’s on special assignment for God, spreading the amazing invitation to eternal life found only in Jesus. Hard to believe since he was a killer of Christ’s followers some 30 years ago. From murderer to missionary. From assassin to apostle. Let’s just say he was a reluctant representative for the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilee.

His execution may be the elephant in the dungeon but that’s not what the apostle wants to talk about. He wants to talk about Jesus. He wants to talk about His Savior. In the presence of certain death, this reluctant rep holds tight to the promise of life.

As he did in his previous note (1Tim 1:1), Paul tells Tim once again that Jesus handpicked him as “an apostle” (v1). He uses a term that we’ve turned exclusively into a Bible word. But the Greco-Roman world was loaded with apostles back in the first century. It’s a representative who has the full authority of the one sending him. It’s a compound word describing someone separated from the crowd for a very specific purpose. 

In that culture, an apostle has so much power that it’s as if the one who sent them is standing there instead. Think power of attorney. There’s one story of an apostle divorcing his master’s wife while the boss was away on business. That’s the kind of clout they carried. Jesus selected a dozen apostles to represent Him wherever they went. And wherever they went, He gave them His full authority as His ambassadors. When they were there, it was just like He was there. 

So what’s the big diff between disciples and apostles? Aren’t these words interchangeable? Think of them as two sides of the same coin. Better yet, descriptions of before and after. A disciple follows. An apostle separates. A disciple moves closer. An apostle hits the road. Notice the flow for the Twelve. Jesus handpicks them to stay at His side for three years. After His resurrection, He sends them away on divine assignment.

That’s all well and good for guys like Matthew, Peter, and Paul, but what’s that got to do with you and me? We’re all followers of Christ. That means spending time at His feet, listening to His teaching, and learning from the Master. But it doesn’t stop there. At some point, He sends us. At some point, we have to go. At some point, we take His incredible message of grace to a lost an dying world. As believers, we’re all lower case “d” disciples and lower case “a” apostles. Jesus wants me to follow Him so that I will go for Him.

You may be wondering how Paul became one of the twelve special messengers of grace. The short story is that Jesus personally picked the apostle formerly known as Saul to fill Judas Iscariot’s spot on the roster. Yeah, the story of Judas didn’t end well. Despite spending three years in the presence of Christ, he not only embezzled ministry funds but eventually sold out our Savior for a handful of silver before committing suicide. It’s never good when your name becomes the ultimate putdown for betrayal.

It’s not like Paul’s name was at the top of anybody’s list to fill Judas’ vacancy. First of all, he wasn’t Paul in those days. Everybody knew him as Saul. Before Christ got His holy hands on him, the young stud from Tarsus thought he was pretty hot stuff. A member of the Jewish all-star team (Phil 3:4-6). He studied under the legendary Gamaliel(Acts 22:3), which is the religious equivalent to a personal internship for astrophysics student under Stephen Hawking. 

But Saul’s run up the Hebrew fast track screeched to a halt one day outside of Damascus. He was on one of his infamous black ops missions to wipe out another batch of believers when the resurrected Jesus blindsided him (Acts 9:1-21). Change of plan, big guy. Instead of Jewish persecutor of Christ's followers, you’re gonna be His apostle to non-Jews. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor? Forget arguing about the identity of the Fifth Beatle. Being the Twelfth Apostle is a MUCH bigger deal.

Christ would use His reluctant rep to help change the world. Saul becomes Paul and makes several tours telling people all about Jesus. He ends up writing 13 books making up almost 25% of the New Testament. But he certainly doesn’t let it go to his head. As a matter of fact, his role totally humbles him. Follow the progression. Chronologically, Paul calls himself the “least of the apostles” (1Cor 15:9). He then writes to his Ephesian friends how he’s the “least of all the saints” (Eph 3:8). And in the prequel to this epistle, he tells Tim that he might be an apostle but he’s the number one sinner on the planet (1Tim 1:15). Bill Hybels calls it descending into greatness. In other words, the more our Savior got ahold of Paul, the more Paul knew he needed a Savior. 

If Paul’s sure of one thing, it’s that this all went down “by the will of God” (v1). He didn’t exactly come up with the idea of being an apostle all on his own. He’s not self-appointed. He had no intent to follow some apostolic career path. When prospective employers asked him where he saw himself in 15 years, he didn’t say, “An apostle of a resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilee, traveling around the Mediterranean rim spreading His message of grace, and eventually thrown in the slammer and executed because of it.” The up-and-coming Hebrew hotshot no doubt had his eyes set at a seat on the Sanhedrin. Let’s just say, Jesus had another plan.

We tend to get all goofy about God’s will. Could He lead you to do something incredibly specific like open an orphanage for left-handed Lybian librarians? You betcha. Could He call you to particular place of ministry such as pastor or worship leader? Absolutely. But God’s desire is that you and I desire Him. His intent is for us to do what He says. His purpose for us to shine His light and spread His salt wherever we go. You know, just like Paul is doing. You can bet if we focus on spending time with Jesus and obeying the commands revealed in Scripture, God will make sure we’re headed in the right direction. He’s good like that.

Paul tells Tim that his role as Christ’s rep is not only God’s will but “according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus” (v1). The Son of God is all about life. Look no further than John’s Gospel for a handful of highlights. Whoever places their trust in Him won’t die “but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). He’s the “bread of life” (Jn 6:35). Whoever follows Him has the “light of life” (Jn 8:12). Jesus tells Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn 11:25). He makes the exclusive claim, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (Jn 14:6). Christ goes so far as to say that He came so that we would not only have a ho-hum existence but a filled-and-overflowing life (Jn 10:10).

The apostle is holding onto “the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus” (v1) with both hands. Remember where he is. The Mamertine Prison. Death Row. The Green Mile. Paul knows full well his days are numbered (2Tim 4:6). This is nothing new for Paul. During his first prison bid, he stared death in the face and reassured the Philippians, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). As the old Gaither song says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” In the face of certain death, he leans hard on the promise of life.

So what do we take away from the first verse in Paul’s last letter? 

First, it’s a reminder that Jesus sends each one of us with His amazing message of grace. 

Second, let’s stay smack dab in the center of God’s will. That starts with wanting more of Him while living a life of obedience to His Word. 

Third, remember that Jesus is the source of abundant spiritual life and He’s given it to us forever. 

Finally, we all have a date with death on this side of eternity…unless of course Jesus decides to come back first and I’m WAY cool with that! The death rate still stands at 100%. 

When that day comes, take a lesson from Christ’s reluctant rep. In the face of certain death, lean hard on the promise of life.

Who You Gonna Call?

“To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (2Tim 1:2).

Who you gonna call? Who’s your 9-1-1? Who’s that person you have on speed dial when your world crumbles? Who’s your go-guy or gal? When the fecal matter hits the whirling device, we all have somebody we call. For Paul, it’s Timothy. How do we know that? Well, that’s exactly the person the apostle reaches out to when he ends up on Rome’s Death Row. He scribbles Tim’s name on the envelope of the last letter he’ll ever write. (Okay, I realize it’s a scroll of parchment, not an envelope. Work with me here.) 

The book of the Bible we call 2nd Timothy is actually a note from the Apostle Paul to Pastor Tim. Knowing he’s just hit life’s two-minute warning, the man from Tarsus writes, “To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (v2). In the face of certain death, he reminds Tim just how much he means to him. He wishes God’s best for him. And he points to the Savior they both serve. 

With his life on the line, Paul opens his heart about the two most important relationships in his life. One horizontal. One vertical. One human. One divine. He reaches out and reaches up. Is there important theology here in this one little verse? No question. And we’ll certainly drill down on some of that. But don’t miss just how incredibly personal the apostle is as he writes.  

Paul starts with the horizontal relationship he has with Timothy. When we last left Tim, he was pastoring the church in Ephesus, a large seaport and cultural crossroads on the western coast of what we know today as Turkey. Paul left him in charge of the cleanup caused by a team of false teachers who distracted Ephesian believers from following Jesus (1Tim 1:1-7). I told you the Timster was on the shortlist of the apostle’s go-to guys.

Timothy grew up a couple of hundred miles west of Ephesus in the town of Lystra. He’s the product of a biracial mixed faith marriage. His mom was a Jew and his dad Greek (Acts 16:1). More proof that there’s no racial or religious prerequisites in following Jesus. Like a good Jewish mother, Eunice taught him the Old Testament growing up (2Tim 1:5; 3:15). It’s no surprise they gave him a name that literally means “one who honors God.”

There’s probably a good chance Jesus used the apostle to bring Timothy to faith on one of his first trips to Lystra (Acts 14:6-23). Paul brought Tim onto his team later at a third tour stop in Lystra (Acts 16:1-2). Tim’s half-Hebrew heritage caused quite a scene. At the time, there was a HUGE controversy about what it meant to be a Jewish follower of Jesus. That’s why Paul “took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was Greek” (Acts 16:3). Don’t just blow past that. Tim agreed to be circumcised…as an adult! Talk about a willingness to sacrifice so that others would hear about Jesus!! Kinda makes sharing the Gospel with your neighbor look wimpy, doesn’t it? 

Paul calls Tim “my beloved child” (v1). The original language is absolutely drips with sentiment and emotion. The apostle is secure enough in his manhood to tell Tim he loves him. I gotta admit, this is still a struggle for me at times with other men. If you love someone, tell them. It doesn’t mean you don’t back it up with sacrificial demonstrations of your feelings. But say it. To your spouse. To your kids. To your parents. To your friends. Say it out loud. And say it often. I. Love. You.

Tim has a special place in Paul’s heart as his “child” (v1). Not his blood kin. But his spiritual son. The apostle drops the Greek term teknon, which can mean an immediate offspring or descendant. It comes from from a root word describing a person so precious that you would do anything to protect them. Teknon carries the idea of deep affection. It’s indeed a term of endearment and affection.

You’ll quickly see from other uses in the NT that this is someone with whom you share an intimate friendship. There’s that amazing story of the time a group of dudes brought their disabled friend to Jesus. The Savior took one look at him and said, “Take heart, My son (Gr. teknon), your sins are forgiven” (Mt 9:2). It’s no surprise when the Corinthian church was a hot mess, Paul knew his boy Tim was the one to go there. “I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child (Gr. teknon) in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ” (1Cor 4:17). It’s as if apostle is such a proud spiritual father that he tells Tim, “You’re my boy, Blue!”

Let’s take a moment to check our own horizontal hold. Who’s YOUR spiritual dad or mom? Who’s the person Jesus used to bring you to trust in Him? Who’s that person who walked with you during those awkward baby steps of faith? If possible, thank them. Do you have someone currently serving as your spiritual mentor? Hopefully so. And how about someone who looks to you to be their Paul to their Timothy? If not, take a look around. There’s no doubt some passionate follower of Jesus who would love to have you pouring into them. 

At this point, Paul begins the pivot from horizontal to vertical. He wishes Tim God’s “grace, mercy, and peace” (v2). We’re talking about the Triple Crown of God’s goodness! Grace is God’s descending, one-way love. It’s getting good we don’t deserve. In contrast, mercy is not getting the punishment we DO deserve. We’ve been rebels against God’s kingdom ever since the day Adam and Eve decided they wanted a piece of fruit instead of the goodness of God. Instead punishment, He gives us His mercy. God’s peace is a whole lot more than just a lack of war. It describes freedom from anxiety, unspoiled harmony, and the perfect rhythm of life. Like I said, the Triple Crown of God’s goodness.

The apostle is clearly looking vertically towards heaven when points out that these three gifts are “from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (v2). We need to remember God isn’t some angry distant diety hoping you’ll mess up so He can zap you. He’s a loving Dad. He cares deeply for you. He wants His best for you. Jesus’ kid brother James may have had a different earthly dad but fully realized this about our Heavenly Father. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). God the Father is a good Father. He’s a good, good Father.

Paul keeps his eyes on the vertical and tells Tim “Christ Jesus our Lord” (v2) is also fully involved in delivering the Triple Crown of God’s goodness. By using this phrase, the apostle wants us to know Jesus is much more than a great teacher from the boondocks of Galilee. He’s much more than the hottest new rabbi or spiritual swami making headlines. He’s much more than some mysterious miracle worker able to heal any disease or disorder thrown His way. He’s the Second Person of the Trinity. He’s the Son of God. He’s God in a bod. He’s the Christ. He’s our Lord.

The apostle drops Jesus’ name a total of 13 times in this letter to Timothy. Each time he does, he ALWAYS includes the incredibly important title of Christ. (You DO know Christ isn’t Jesus’ last night, right? He’s not the Son of Joe Christ and Mary Christ of Nazareth.) Christ is the Greek word Christos, which means one who has been anointed for a special cause or purpose. 

The Christ is the NT title corresponding with the Messiah in the OT. The Hebrew Messiah is the Hero God promises to send to make everything right. He initially made that promise in the very first family meeting after the Fall (Gen 3:17). Someone’s coming to the rescue. He promised it to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3; 15:1-18; 17:18). He promised it to David (2Sam 7:9-17). A Hero was on the way! Messiah was coming! In Jesus, Christ has come!!

If you’re like me and not Jewish, what’s the big deal about the Hebrew Messiah? Here’s the good news. Or should I say Good News. Christ Jesus didn’t just come to save the Jews but save everybody THROUGH the Jews. And Tim’s the perfect example. Remember, he’s half Jew/half Gentile. In Jesus, He’s 100% saved!! Jesus is everybody’s Messiah. He’s everybody’s Hero. Yours. Mine. And anybody else who calls on His name.

Christ Jesus is also the Hero of the entire Bible. It’s ALL about Jesus. Everything from Genesis to Revelation points to Him. Smart folks in seminaries call the Big Story of Scripture the Meta-Narrative. In other words, there’s an overarching story going on all throughout the pages of God’s Word. There’s just one point. There’s just one Hero. Christ is THE Hero of THE Story. Not Moses. Not David. Not Paul. Not Tim. Jesus Himself said as much (Lk 24:26-27; Jn 5:39-47). Every story in the Bible points to Him in some way. As Messiah, Jesus is THE Hero of THE Story.

The Son of God is also “our Lord” (v2). The word in the original language (Gr. kurios) describes a master, the one in control, the person to whom things belong, and the one who decides. It literally means the Supreme One. As Lord of His followers, Jesus is our boss. Have you seen the bumper sticker that says “My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter”? He’s the Ruler. He’s the Decision Maker. When we humble ourselves before our Savior, He doesn’t just forgive our sins. He becomes our Lord. In other words, you can’t simply buy the fire insurance. We’re to do what He says. Not because Christ is some power-hungry megalomaniac. His commands are the very source of the overflowing and abundant life He came to bring us (Jn 10:1). Jesus is our Lord.

As Paul addresses this note to Timothy from Death Row, he packs these opening lines with a ton of both intimacy and hope. He reaches out horizontally to one who’s been there for him so many times before. He certainly doesn’t have to check in his man card for telling Tim how much he loves him. The apostle looks vertically to God, the ultimate source of goodness. God’s goodness isn’t cut off just because Paul’s in the slammer. With death on the doorstep, apostle calls horizontally and hopes vertically. How about you? Who you gonna call?