More Covenant Material

The Covenants of God, 2
The Plan of Redemption

2 Tim 1:8-12

Introductory Thoughts

v Last time, we looked at the general concept of the Covenants, and now we will begin looking at how God unfolded His self-revelation to man.
v We will begin by looking at some things that others have called covenants, but which the Bible does not refer to as “covenant.”
v The First thing we will look at is the central thing that ties all of the Bible together—the purpose of God.
v The universe is not going along haphazardly—God has a purpose.
v Life does not just happen, things don’t just take place, God has a purpose.
v Everything that happens feeds God’s purpose, and all of life and time is managed by God alone.

1. The Purpose of God

a. Some call this the Covenant of Redemption, but this is not a covenant.

(1) A Covenant is something conceived and established by God Himself, with a man, a family, a nation, or creation, but This is an agreement within the Godhead, between Father, Son, and Spirit.
(2) This isn't between God and man! This is between equals!
(3) Covenants always involve blood and cutting –

(a) The New Covenant involved blood and cutting which was planned before the world was made.
(b) However, the blood and cutting did not take place before time. There was no world yet created, so there was no sacrifice of any kind possible!
(4) The Bible does not call this a covenant.

b. This is NOT a covenant, but it is the plan which is the basis for all covenants!

2. Present Exhortation

a. The Context of the Text— 2 Tim 1:8 –A pastoral epistle—a letter sent by Paul the Apostle to help out a young pastor, Timothy, Paul's long-time apprentice.

(1) Why choose a passage like this to look at God’s eternal plan?
(2) Because this passage illustrates several points about the Plan of God, and about how important this knowledge is to the individual believer.
(3) Since this passage is part of an intensely practical letter, this shows how the deepest theology is of practical significance.
(4) Since this letter shows the depth of Paul’s personal trials, it shows how this deep theology is something we turn to in the hardest of times. Human philosophy and folk wisdom will not do

(5) The passage gives an overview of God’s purpose and plan

b. The setting:

(1) Paul, the mentor, the senior preacher, is in prison, probably his second and final imprisonment in Rome.
(2) He sends this letter as a legacy to Timothy, his young apprentice, who by this time isn't THAT young.
(3) Timothy is ministering in Ephesus, a difficult place to pastor.

c. "Therefore..." -

(1) Timothy is like a son to Paul
(2) Timothy has a Godly heritage
(3) Paul encourages Timothy in the ministry- 6
(4) Paul encourages him to hang tough-7

d. Paul urges Timothy to not be ashamed of Christ's testimony, or of Paul's imprisonment-2 Tim 1:8
(1) Don't be ashamed of-"...the testimony of the Lord..." This phrase refers to "...the testimony borne by our Lord, His ethical and spiritual teachings..." (Expositor's). Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26
(2) There is no indication from the language that Timothy had actually become ashamed, in fact, the Greek construction is forbidding something that had not yet been done.
(3) Don't be ashamed of Paul, the "prisoner" of the Lord-Many had turned their backs on Paul-2 Tim 4:9-18
(4) "...Be thou a partaker..." -Don't be afraid to be in this position yourself, Timothy, be a partaker of this suffering along with the Lord and along with Paul
(5) The sense here is not that we volunteer to suffer, but that this suffering is the natural consequence of preaching the Gospel-it is part of the baggage that accompanies the ministry, or Godly living in general—2 Tim 3:12

e. Are WE ashamed? Social Issues


f. Faithfulness to the Gospel is According to God's Power-2 Tim 1:8-12
(1) This refers to the power "given" by God-A.T. Robertson
(2) No man of God can remain faithful and constant in his own strength-we are doomed to fail if we attempt to do it on our own.
(3) It is only in the power of God, the power that God gives, that we are able to keep the faith and stay the course.

g. The Actions of saving and calling are God's actions-9
(1) God Saves sinners
(2) God has called us out to Himself—1 Cor 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
(3) Gal 1:6 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:"
(4) 1 Th 2:12 "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."

3. Eternal Plan—“…9

a. The saving and calling are not according to anything from us- “…not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace…”

(1) We are not saved nor called because of anything we have done.
(2) This is one of the reasons why we must say that God did not call us because of anything He foresaw that we would do.

b. The Saving and Calling are according to God-“…but according to his own purpose and grace…”

(1) Purpose—prothesin—Rom 8:28, Eph 1:11
(2) Grace

c. This purpose and grace are part of an ancient plan—
(1) Before the world was made, the relationship existed. John 17:5, 24
(2) Before the World was made, the promise of redemption was made—Titus 1:1-3
(3) Before the World was made, Christ was chosen as the redeemer—1 Pet 1:18-20

(4) Before the world was made, we were chosen, and our names were written down—Eph 1:4
(5) The purpose and Grace are "in Christ..." Eph 1:5-7
(6) The overall goal of God’s purpose is that He would be glorified in our salvation. Eph 3:8
(7) Isa 43:6-7 “… 7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him."

4. Fulfilled in Christ—The Gospel is According to the Person and Work of the Son of God—2 Tim 1:10-12

a. The Plan Has Come Out-“…10 But is now made manifest…”
b. The Plan is Seen in The Person of Christ- “…by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ…”

(1) The Plan was manifest in the forerunner of Christ—John 1:6-8
(2) The Plan was manifest in the Person of Christ, His Godhood and manhood—John 1:1-3, 14, 18

c. The Plan was manifest in the Work of Christ- “…who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…”

(1) The Plan was manifest in the Virgin Birth of Christ Jesus Our Lord
(2) The Plan was manifest in the earthly ministry of Christ Jesus Our Lord.
(3) The Plan was manifest in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus Our Lord.
(4) The Plan was manifest in the ascension of Christ Jesus Our Lord
(5) The Plan is presently manifested in the intercession of Christ Jesus Our Lord on our behalf.
(6) The Plan will be manifest in the return of Christ Jesus Our Lord to rule and reign.

5. Present application—The Proclamation of Christ-“…11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things:…”

a. The plan and purpose of God does not negate the need for workers and preachers.
b. The plan and purpose of God does not change our responsibility to believe
c. The Plan and purpose of God does not alter or our responsibility to take the Gospel to all.
d. Paul’s commission
(1) Preaching
(2) Apostleship
(3) Teaching

6. Future Culmination—for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.