”The Saving Gospel
“But now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.”
-2 Timothy 1:10-11
Notes:
With the candle burning by his bedside, the young greek Timothy holds the last written letter from his dearly loved mentor and spiritual father, the Apostle Paul. His hands trembled and his eyes fill with tears as he reads that the departure of Paul from this world was drawing near. Could it be that God would reveal some great new ‘revelation’ or new truth? Could it be that God would speak through Paul some great unrevealed insight that would shake the christianity in a magnificient way? As he reads, he discovers that no ‘new’ truth is given, but only the reinstatement and constant reminder of “The Truth”, that is, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,…”
“but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,…”.
“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel…..,”
“Remind them of these things…”
“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them…”
“Preach the word…”
“Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you….”
Willing to Take the Challenge?
Along with Jesus, Paul’s vision and goal was to pass on the treasure of the Gospel that he had been entrusted with to other faithful Christians who would then pass it on the others after his death. He lived as if thinking that if this didn’t happen, then the following generation was at great risk of never hearing about the cross and its magnificent promises. We should be the same way. The truth is, you have this great treasure within you also, and one of the greatest privileges and blessings we have on earth is to share with others the Love of God through Jesus Christ and His cross. Do not let fear get in the way. Be filled with the Holy Spirit, and remember that God’s Word will not return back to Him void, but will accomplish what it is set out to do.