Expressing Christ 7/8
It Might be Difficult
Earlier we read that the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through Love. We also saw that the Love being referred to here is self-giving agape’ Love. We humans find that challenging. Truth be told, we find it impossible.
2 Timothy 2:10 gives us Paul’s reason for doing all he did. There, he said, “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” (NIV)
In 2 Timothy 1:12–14 he told Timothy, “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (NIV)
This is profoundly good advice. First, it makes clear that the Lord Jesus is the source of everything as Paul pointed out in 1 Corinthians 4:7, and He his trustworthy. He is fully able to keep our inheritance for us. He is fully equipped to guide us and direct us as we navigate life in this temporal terrarium.
Secondly, we learn that Holy Spirit can be counted on to help us guard the deposit we’ve been given. Indeed, Holy Spirit is that deposit, but clearly He needs no guarding. He’s not going anywhere. What Paul is after here is the need for us to remember the Truth in the face of the myriad lies, pressures, trials, and tribulations we face on planet earth.
Peter agrees about our need to be reminded. In 2 Peter 1:5–9 he lists things such as self-control, faithfulness, godliness, kindness, and Love. He goes on to say this in verse 9, “But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” (NIV)
A few verses later in 2 Peter 1:12–15 Peter goes on saying, “So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” (NIV)
The Lord Jesus led the charge in declaring our need to be reminded. In John 14:26 He said, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (NIV)
