2 Timothy 1:13

2 Timothy 1:13

Note:

I. What the Apostle knew concerning Christ. The knowledge which he had of Christ, which inspires the confidence of which the text speaks, must have been knowledge relating either to the person or to the work of the Redeemer; and it may be worth while to consider for a few moments what it was the Apostle knew concerning the person of our blessed Lord, and what it was he knew concerning the office which the Redeemer came to discharge. Concerning the person of Christ, he knew that wonderful mystery, that in the person of Christ there were united the Divine and human natures. And more particularly he knew the omnipotent power which belonged to Christ. I speak of the power which belonged to Christ as Mediator, that power which God the Father conferred on Him in His capacity as Mediator, in order that it might be exercised for the welfare of His Church. The Apostle knew of this omnipotent power of Christ, and it was the knowledge which he had of that omnipotent power which inspired him with confidence in Christ, as able to discharge the trust which the Apostle had commended to his keeping. And he also knew of the infinite wisdom of the Redeemer. "In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." All hearts are open to Him. From Him no thought can be concealed. But there is one other attribute belonging to the Saviour, which the Apostle must have known, and which contributed to strengthen his assurance in the Saviour, and that is the attribute of love and sympathy. Hence, the knowledge which the Apostle had of the power, wisdom, and love of Christ, conspired to make him feel an unhesitating assurance in the ability of Christ. Note, secondly, what the Apostle knew concerning the office of Christ. Generally he knew that God the Father had appointed Christ to the office of man's Redeemer. The Saviour had voluntarily undertaken that office, and manifested a determination to do and to suffer all that was necessary in order to ensure the result for which the office was undertaken. As our Redeemer He had bought us with His own blood. As the Advocate of His people He identifies Himself with their cause.

II. Notice next how it was that the Apostle acquired this knowledge, which enabled him to speak, with so much sure certainty, respecting Christ; one was from the testimony of others, the other from his own experience. (1) From the testimony of others, the uniform testimony of all time, with regard to the mode of salvation, has been that Christ is the one and the only foundation for the sinner's hope for eternity. In every dispensation, the Patriarchal, the Legal or Levitical, as well as the Gospel the way of salvation has been but one. Prophets and righteous men of old, types and predictions, and ceremonies, all pointed to the Saviour as the one hope of the sinner, the one refuge in whom men may be invited to find shelter from God's wrath on account of sin. (2) And yet there was a fuller and firmer ground of confidence than this. Call to mind what his course had been. Once he was the most active amongst the persecutors of Christianity. But now so rich had been his experience of the sympathy, the love, the grace, the power, the wisdom, of Jesus, that he was able to say, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day."

Bishop Bickersteth, Penny Pulpit,new series, No. 95.

References: 2 Timothy 1:13. Plain Sermons by Contributors to" Tracts for the Times"vol. ii., p. 197; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. ii., No. 79. 2 Timothy 1:14. J. G. Rogers, Christian World Pulpit,vol. ix., p. 173. 2 Timothy 1:18. E. Cooper, Practical Sermons,vol. iii., p. 214. 2 Timothy 2:1. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 75; J. Thain Davidson, Sure to Succeed,p. 77; T. M. Herbert, Sketches of Sermons,p. 151. 2 Timothy 2:1. Expositor,1st series, vol. x., p. 291. 2 Timothy 2:2. A. P. Stanley, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xi., p. 200.