Continue Following the Scriptures
Continue Following the Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:10-17
Bill Bright founded Campus Crusade for Christ in 1951 to reach college students with the gospel. God has used Campus Crusade to reach hundreds of thousands of college students for Jesus Christ. Jim Rayburn founded Young Life in 1941 to reach High School students with the gospel. God has used Young Life to reach hundreds of thousands of High School students for Jesus Christ. Billy Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelical Association in 1950. God has used BGEA to reach hundreds of thousands of people for Jesus Christ. Three men gave their lives to know Christ and to make him known. Three men who came to believe if Jesus is not the Lord of all, he is not the Lord at all. Three men came to believe the life of Christ is a life of service under the influence of a Sunday School teacher at Hollywood Presbyterian Church, Henrietta Mears.
Ms. Mears was known for her graceful engagement of others encouraging men and women to surrender their lives to the will of Christ. Outside of the three men mentioned above, Mears encouraged over 400 men to pursue full-time ministry. She remained single and never married, but gave her life to know Christ and to make Christ known. Her influence as a faithful church member and mentor to young people helped shape the modern evangelical movement in the late 20th century. Mears mentored young people to know Christ through his word and to share him with others. A very simple aim of life: to know Christ and to make him known.
Henrietta Mears poured her life into young people who would go on and change the world for Jesus Christ. She followed the example of the Apostle Paul who poured his life into young men who would go on and change the world for Jesus Christ. Both had a very simple aim: to know Christ and to make him known. Paul is finishing his last mentoring session with Timothy by giving him his last charge before he dies. It seemed that Timothy needed a charge to continue in the work of the gospel. He needed to be reminded that he was not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control. He needed to be reminded that the road would not be easy but he was ready for the journey.
Maybe you are like Timothy. A bit nervous about leading, a bit fearful in making mistakes, and a bit concerned with the weight of responsibility. Maybe you can learn and be equipped for service from Paul’s charge to Timothy. Or maybe you are like Paul. Your life is fading quickly, your time is short, and you want to maximize the time you have left. Maybe you can learn from Paul’s example to Timothy and find a few Timothy’s of your own. Paul had Timothy and Titus. Henrietta Mears had Billy Graham and Bill Bright. Both knew the only way to get to the future was through the young people they discipled.
I want to offer four exhortations from the text of a mentor to a mentee in a world full of trouble. And I pray by them you will embrace the simple life: to know Christ and to make him known.
Choose who you Follow
Like a good teacher, Paul repeats himself throughout the letter to emphasize particular things to Timothy. He repeatedly encourages Timothy to suffer for Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 1:8,
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
2 Timothy 2:3,
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Because 2 Timothy 3:1, “that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” Paul is preparing Timothy for the suffering he will face. In the first half of chapter 3, Paul lays out the kind of world Timothy will be facing. 2 Timothy 3:2–5; 8,
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power…these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
The world is full of wicked people doing godless things, but Paul reminds Timothy how he is different. He is different in who and what he has chosen to follow. 2 Timothy 3:10–11,
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.
There is a sharp contrast. “You, however,” Timothy, you are not like these men. You have lived a different life and are of a different character. Timothy, you may feel weak and unfit for the task to lead the church, but I have watched your life. You have followed me. Paul is not saying Timothy has followed from a distance, but followed alongside or with Paul. It is an extremely close association. There are three areas Timothy has followed: Paul’s teaching, Paul’s character and Paul’s persecutions.
First, the teaching refers to the gospel of Christ and everything that flows from the gospel. It is the knowledge of the truth. It is rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ, his life, death and resurrection. He is fully God and fully man. When he was baptized a voice sounded from heaven, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” Jesus is interceding for his people as he stands before the Father as the living and ever-present Lord. Jesus will come again to judge the living and dead and his kingdom will have no end. Timothy followed the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Timothy chose a good mentor to follow. Paul chose Timothy to come with him, but Timothy chose to follow Paul. Timothy’s life was forever changed when he decided to follow a good mentor. We have to be careful who we follow. We have to choose wisely. Who is the greatest influence in your life? Who are you following? Choose wisely because whoever you follow you will become like. Timothy is a young pastor so those of you pursuing ministry be especially careful who you chose to follow. Young people, it is especially important for you to choose good mentors to learn from. Church, choose wisely who you follow.
Paul also made himself one to follow. He invited Timothy to follow him. Mentoring is a symbiotic relationship. The mentor chooses the mentee and the mentee chooses the mentor. We have so many godly men and women in our church who have the ability to mentor others, but have yet to choose someone to pour into. Henrietta Mears was a single Sunday School teacher who helped shape modern evangelicalism simply by striving to know Christ and make him known.
Beloved, strive to know Christ. Cleanse yourself from what is dishonorable and be useful to the master of the house. And then make Christ known. Invest your life into others. Choose wisely who to mentor, faithful men and women who are able to teach others also (2 Tim 2:2). Choose wisely who to follow, men and women who teach sound doctrine. This is happening among many of you but it could be happening in many more.
Secondly, Timothy followed Paul’s character. He mentions six areas in which Timothy followed: my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love and my steadfastness.
Conduct is Paul’s character. Paul often uses his life as an example to others. Acts 20:18–19a,
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears…”
1 Thessalonians 2:10,
You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
Philippians 4:8–9,
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
1 Corinthians 11:1,
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Paul was not afraid to use his life as an example to others. He was not boasting in his character but boasting in the work of God in his life. Paul had a single aim: to know Christ and to make him known. Philippians 1:21,
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 3:7–11,
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
The aim of his life was to know Christ. Could that be said of you?
Thirdly, Timothy followed Paul’s persecutions. Notice Paul references only three cities where he experienced persecutions because they were Timothy’s hometown and the nearby cities. 2 Timothy 3:11a,
my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured;
Timothy was well aware of what had happened to Paul. Jealous Jews incited a riot against Paul and even stoned him leaving him for dead. Paul experienced a hard life of persecutions, but he did not complain about them. Notice the end of verse 11, “yet from them all the Lord rescued me.” Paul did not view himself as a victim, but as one who was county worthy to believe and to suffer for Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:29-30)
Paul simply reminds Timothy of what he has already followed. You are not like those who have fallen and walked away from Christ. You are different Timothy. You followed my teaching, my character, and my persecutions. He reminded Timothy of what he has already done so he would be prepared for what is to come.
Know your Future
Paul is well aware of the life of a Christian. He knows it will not be easy for in the last days there will be times of difficulty. 2 Timothy 3:12–13,
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
If you desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, meaning one who both lives a righteous life and testifies to the grace of Jesus Christ, you will be persecuted. Again, this is not an isolated statement in Paul’s doctrine. Luke records in Acts 14:21–22
When they (Paul and Barnabas) had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Paul simply learned this from Jesus. John 15:18–20,
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Timothy, you will face persecution and suffering. I did, Jesus did, all who follow Jesus will as well. But again notice, he is not saying this as a victim or as one who is lamenting over what is to come. He is sharing it as fact. It is going to happen but as the Lord delivered me from all my sufferings, so too, he will deliver you. The Apostle Peter sums it up nicely, 1 Peter 4:12–14; 16,
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you… Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
It is a privilege to suffer for the name of Christ. Acts 5:40–41,
and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
Beloved, too many Christians act as victims in their persecution. Let us not be like them for it is a privilege to share in the sufferings of Christ and to be counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. We should not invite persecution, but when it comes, and it will come, we must stand in it knowing Christ is with us and will deliver us from it.
Let me encourage you to listen to your own voice and the thoughts inside your head to root out any victim thinking. It is prevalent in our day and deadly to the soul. It robs us of so much joy and takes our eyes off of Christ. You can often discover when you are living as a victim when you complain about life. Avoid the victim mentality. We are not victims but victors in Christ.
And in saying this, I am in no way speaking of the real ways people are victims. There is real and genuine suffering in our world. We can be victims of ungodliness, but the Lord can and will deliver you from them all. Persecution and suffering is the reality of a fallen world. It is not good, but God can still work it for good. We know because of the cross. The most unjust act in the history of the world is when the sinless Son of God was crucified after being falsely accused. And yet, that evil led to a resurrection on the third day and eternal life for all who believe. In Christ, we can be victors, not victims.
Continue in your Foundation
It is hard to live in a world that hates you. Paul knew it. And he knows Timothy will know it. Paul reminds Timothy, you have already followed me and you know what is coming, so continue in what you have learned. 2 Timothy 3:14–15
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Verse 14 may be the key verse of the entire letter. Paul’s parting words to Timothy is simply to continue. You have learned and firmly believed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. You know what your mother Euncie and your grandmother Lois taught you. You have been blessed that since childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Paul is simply saying to Timothy. Continue to know Christ and to make him known. What an encouraging word. Beloved, we can always grow in our faith and our knowledge, but sometimes we just need to be reminded to keep walking. Salvation does not depend upon us. It depends on faith in Jesus Christ. If you believe and trust in Christ, keep walking. For what you have learned and what you have firmly believed from the Scriptures is able to make you wise for salvation in Christ. Keep going. It is like Paul is saying, “Timothy, I’m proud of you. Keep it up.” Elders, how often are we saying that to our people? Parents, how often are you saying that to your kids? Mentors, how often are you saying that to your mentees? Proverbs 15:23
To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season, how good it is!
An encouraging word in season, how good it is!
Imagine Timothy reading the letter and getting to this section. He has a reputation of being fearful and timid. He is known for being weak. But here, Paul says, “Continue in the direction you're going.” There may be some who have personalities who need more encouragement than others, but we all need it. When I get a text from one of you that says, “I’m proud of you pastor and I want you to know I am praying for you. Thank you for preaching the Word and shepherding us. We love you.” I could read a number of different text messages from members in this body that have encouraged me to continue in the faith over this past year. Those messages are balms to the soul.
Now, Paul says continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, but there may be some of you here who have not learned or firmly believed in Jesus and therefore can’t continue because you never started. Notice the text says that the sacred writings are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Friend, do you know you need salvation? The beginning of experiencing salvation is knowing you need it. Wisdom says we are sinners. We know we have done wrong and are not righteous. But the text says we can be wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. To be wise for salvation is to recognize your need and to look for salvation outside of yourself. This is the Christian gospel. That God sent his one and only son into the world to save it. Jesus lived a perfect life. He perfectly obeyed God the Father. And even though he was innocent, he was crucified on a cross. He laid down his life on the cross to rescue anyone who would put their faith in him. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. And we know we can trust Jesus because he did not only die, but was raised from the dead, just as he said he would be.
Friend, you can’t continue in what you don’t have. If you don’t have Jesus Christ, you don’t have salvation. And friend, you need salvation from your sins. Look to the Scriptures and learn how you can be wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Read the Gospel of John which was written so that you would believe that Jesus is the Messiah and by believing you may have life in him. Anyone of us would be happy to read it with you and discuss it.
Paul told Timothy to continue in what he had learned, but it was not Timothy’s wisdom that saved. It was the Word of God.
Know the Scripture
The center of the Christian faith is found in the Word of God. The doctrine of Scripture is rooted in the last sentence of our text 2 Timothy 3:16–17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
All Scripture is breathed out by God meaning all Scripture comes from God. And if all Scripture comes from God, then all Scripture is true and authoritative because it comes from God.
The Bible consists of 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. The canon of Scripture, or the codified list of the books of the Bible, was finalized officially at the council of Nicea in 325 AD. Although it was codified there, a canonical list first appeared around 180 AD with the exception of 2 Peter, Jude, James, 2 and 3 John. The early church had criteria on which books were included in the canon. They were apostolic, meaning they were written by or closely associated with an apostle. They were ancient, meaning they were written around the age of the apostles. There was universal agreement in what the books said. And they were universally accepted by the early church. There are a number of good books on the reliability of the Canon.
In addition, the Bible itself testifies to a large number of books considered as Scriptures. The Apostle Peter references Paul’s writing as scripture, 2 Peter 3:15–16,
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
“As they do the other Scriptures,” putting Paul’s letters on par with Scripture. Paul quotes Luke in 1 Timothy 5:18,
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
The laborer deserves his wages is found in Luke’s Gospel. So Paul and Luke were both testified in the Scriptures as Scripture. Luke wrote 27 % of the New Testament and Paul wrote 23 % of the New Testament making 50% of the New Testament attested to as Scripture.
It would be wise for us to defend the canon of Scripture. In much of my evangelism, I am confronted with the question on the truthfulness and the reliability of the Bible. The more confident we are in the Bible and how it came to be, the more equipped we may be in our own witnessing and defense of the message of salvation found in the Bible.
Paul said, “All scripture was breathed out by God,” meaning he believed all the Scriptures were given to us by God. And if they are given to us by God they are authoritative. We should listen to and submit ourselves to the Bible. Not only because they are given by God, but they are also profitable. Paul mentions four ways the Bible is profitable. Two positive, two negative. It is profitable for teaching and for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness. So positively is it used for teaching and training and negatively it is used for reproof and correction. The Bible tells us the right way to live and trains us how to live in that way. It also corrects us and reproves us when we are walking in a way that is harmful for us and disobedient to the Lord.
If Timothy is going to be an effective pastor, he must know the Scriptures so he can teach sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it. He must be able to correct people who are living outside of God’s ways and train them to live in God’s ways. The Scriptures will make him complete and equipped for every good work. All that God will ask of him will be found in the Bible. The Bible is profitable for all of life and every aspect of ministry. Timothy already knows this but Paul is merely reminding him. He knows it because he has been taught the Sacred Scriptures from childhood and has firmly believed it. Why does he need a reminder? Because the Bible will always be under attack or minimized.
The Bible is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, joint and marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And because it is so powerful, our world hates it. It hates because it hates Jesus. If the Bible is a book about Jesus and salvation, then it is natural for a world set against Jesus and his salvation to hate it. And if he can’t make us hate it, he will try to make us minimize it. We cannot fall into the Devil’s hands. We have to give ourselves to the Word of God. How are we going to know Christ and make him known if we do not know the Word? How will we be equipped for the good work God has for us if we do not know the Word? How can we know Christ and the power of his resurrection if we do not know the Word?
This letter is written to Timothy, a young pastor who will carry on the touch of the gospel, but the message to Timothy is true for all of us. How will Timothy stand in the days of difficulty? He had a good mentor and he knows what to expect so he needs to only continue in the Scriptures. Friends, find a good mentor and be a good mentor. Understand that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. And when trials come, continue in the Scriptures they are profitable and will make you complete and ready for every good work.
Henrietta Mears was not a pastor, but a faithful church member. She was not a mother, but a mother in the faith to many in her church. She was a Christian who had a simple aim in life: to know Christ and make him known. She did that by knowing her Bible and sharing it with others. Beloved, let's strive to follow her example. Let us continue in what we have learned and strive to know Christ and make him known in our homes, our jobs and to the ends of the earth. Make it your aim to Him and to make Him known.