In our series, we have begun to explore what sets God’s followers apart. Another mark that distinguishes us from the culture is the character we possess. The world is marked by every form of unrest, rampant selfishness, unqualified shame and shamelessness, and an insatiable pursuit of things which can never be attained and feelings that can never be satisfied. The Christian, as a new creation with a new spirit, should reflect a manner completely foreign to the world.
Not Ashamed
The book of 2 Timothy was Paul’s second letter to a dear son in the faith. He wrote this from prison in the final season of a life poured out for God. He cared deeply for Timothy, and Timothy served Paul well over their time together. They relationship was a dear example for us in how a spiritually mature leader and the one he has been given to lead ought to treat one another. Timothy was humble, teachable, a steadfast companion, a fierce compatriot, and a leader in his own office. Paul was loving, humble, compassionate, earnest, and dedicated to his own. Both men were used of God. Paul taught Timothy, and Timothy received gladly in order that he could pour it out on those he taught. And, from a cold prison, Paul penned his final recorded address to his beloved disciple.
He spoke to Timothy as his “beloved child”, reminded him of the care and prayers he had expended for him, and spurred Timothy forward. He recalled the true faith Timothy shared with those who raised him up in the faith, and it is for this reason that Paul reminded Timothy to “fan into flames the gift of God”. This was the office Timothy was ordained into; an office that Paul himself endorsed through the laying on of hands. Why? God provided “a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control”. Timothy was facing a calling, a more than formidable enemy, and a seemingly endless list of obstacles tempting him to fear, to be ashamed, and to fall into ceaseless quarrels (2 Timothy 1:2-7).
Paul instructed Timothy to “not be ashamed” of God’s testimony or himself, and he called Timothy to “share” in the suffering for the gospel by the power of God. In this shared suffering, Paul embedded the precious good news that God saved his people, not because of works done by them, but because of “His own purposes and grace,” and this was all done through the work of Christ, a plan worked out in eternity past. It is in this gospel that immortality and life is delivered and death is abolished. This truth, Paul is assured, will be kept until “that day” (2 Timothy 1:8-12).
Paul exhorted Timothy to “follow the pattern of sound words” and “guard the good deposit”. Then, using the things that Timothy knew, Paul repeated his call to suffer and this is suffering “strengthened by grace that is in Christ Jesus,” something Timothy has seen in those who came before him. As a good soldier, Timothy was expected to suffer together with his compatriots and to do so in the spirit ingrained in him by his Commander. This was all to the end of the gospel, and it was going to be done in the power of God. That’s why he needed to behave as a “workman approved”; rightly handling truth, fleeing lusts, pursuing righteousness, despising truthless controversy, being kind and teachable, patiently enduring evil, and yet willing to correct with gentleness. The one in error may well be granted repentance by God and a means to escape the snare of the enemy of our soul (2 Timothy 1:13, 2:3,15, 22-26).
Not of Fear
The language of Paul in this letter seems to grant us a picture of the concern Paul had for his son in the faith. He wanted Timothy to remember, hold firm, and endure. Paul's last imprisonment, persecution pressing in on the church, and false teaching running around God’s people, all likely weighed heavy on Timothy. In this, Timothy was being called to seek his opponent’s soul in the midst of tumult, in the midst of controversy, and in the midst of hardship. He was not only to endure the suffering in hard times, grieved and whimpering, but was instructed to be bold, compassionate, and sober because the gospel was the cause and God’s power was his means. In this we can see the three-fold spirit we are called to today.
The character of every Christian is the same spirit infused with power, love, and self-control, thereby unbound by fear and shame and not inclined to empty quarrels. The Christian should possess:
A spirit of power: The spirit the Christian has within himself is not one that is hindered, given to despair or lacking for the task given. Instead, the mindset and disposition of the Christian is steadfast, sure, and able. He is given all he needs to meet the trials of the day and has confidence in that.
A spirit of love: It is a natural state for the Christian to consider the needs of the other person and will their good. The Christian is given to charity and wants to see a hurt soul mended and peace made where war wages. The Christian seeks peace and abhors needless faction.
A spirit of self-control: The Christian has the spirit of self-control. A Christian spirit is characterized by a capacity to do what is required of him with an attitude of service and goodwill that is not swayed or manipulated away from his goals or expectations because he is set and secure in himself as he abides in God. He is this way because God has made him this way, and God made him this way with his mission set clearly before him.
Implication & Application
In our day, we see much in common with the church of Timothy’s day. We have wickedness encroaching on us from every side, we have seemingly endless false teachings and false words running rampant around us, and we have been marred by tragedy so many times. Some turn to “black pilling”1 or running to the darkest places of despair and anger. There is a sense that there seems to be no light at the end of this cultural tunnel. Paul himself talked about the price of persecution for living a godly life (2 Timothy 3:12-13) and the desertion he experienced (4:10-16). But we have good news. The Lord strengthens (4:17) and He rescues (4:18). The Christian is endowed by God with a character that does not fall forever into the temptation of fear or shame. Even with the world against us, God gives us the power to proclaim the message entrusted to our hearts. Our hope is fixed and our confidence will be vindicated in the day the Lord returns. We are not perfect, but, by God’s grace, we will succeed in exemplifying Christ and doing the work He has given us to do.
1 Black-pilling is the term placed on those with a conservative cultural perspective that have moved to the place of “nihilism” when considering the outlook of the culture. They will hold to a pessimistic view that society is “too far gone” and therefore there is nothing left to conserve, and that the institutions and system are beyond salvaging. For example, many in this group assert that marriage is a dated institution that can no longer be used because the system too heavily favors women and the women of the day are corrupted by feminism to the point that men can only be victimized by the institution.