2 Timothy: Guard The GospelSample

In these verses, Paul reminds Timothy – and us – of the gospel we must believe and pass on. God has saved us, by his grace, through the work of Jesus Christ. 

God is the author of our salvation. Before he created the world, God planned to save us from the consequences of our sin – through Jesus’ death and resurrection. It was always his plan for Jesus to die as a punishment for our sin. We are saved according to God’s purpose. And we are saved because of his grace – not because of anything we have done. There is nothing we can contribute to our salvation; it is accomplished only through the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

Verse 10 reminds us exactly what Jesus has achieved. Firstly, he has ‘destroyed death’. We will all experience physical death but, if we’re trusting in Jesus, death has no power over us. The end of this life marks the beginning of our life in glory. This truth will comfort Paul as he faces execution. It should comfort us when we face death – our own or that of other believers. Secondly, Jesus has shown the way to gain eternal life. As believers in the gospel, we do not fear death. Rather, we anticipate the life to come. Jesus has destroyed the power of death and brought light to the path to eternal life. The gospel is good news! 

But these verses also remind us that God calls us to live holy lives. As Timothy lives in the cosmopolitan, prosperous city of Ephesus, he faces the temptations and enticements of wealth. He will need to remember God’s call to be holy. We are also tempted to value wealth, comfort and pleasure more than knowing Jesus and obeying his Word. We too need to remember God’s call to be holy. We need to remember we’ve been saved by grace, and we need to remember we’ve been saved for holiness.

Reflection

Thank God for his grace in saving you through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Confess the ways in which you value the pleasures of this world more than Jesus. Ask him to help you live a holy life that is focused on eternity.