2 Timothy 1:8-12 ESV
“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, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.”
We can’t save ourselves. There is nothing we can do in our
own flesh to earn or to deserve our own salvation. We can never be good enough
to gain God’s divine approval or to be considered righteous in his sight. Our
good works will never outweigh our bad.
We also can’t be saved from our sins and have eternal life
with God by making up our own gospel or by following a false gospel being
taught by others. We can’t shorten (alter) the gospel to make it more
acceptable to human flesh and for it to be more appealing to this sinful world.
We are saved by God’s grace, through faith, and not of our
own doing. It is the gift of God, not a result of works lest any of us should boast
that we earned our own salvation. But… we are God’s workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk
in them (in practice). [Eph 2:8-10]
So, we can’t work our way into heaven of our own doing, by
our own decisions, by our own works. It is only because of what Jesus did for
us on that cross, and via his resurrection, that any of us have any hope at all
of salvation from sin and of eternal life with God.
But what are we saved from? And what are we saved to? And
what does God require of us? For God has works he has prepared for us to do,
but they are the works of God, not of our flesh, and which are initiated by
God, not by ourselves, and which are done in his power and strength, and not in
our own strength.
Well, Jesus died on that cross that we might die with him to
sin and live to him and to his righteousness. He died that we might no longer
live for ourselves but for him who gave his life up for us. And He gave up his
blood for us on that cross to buy us back for God so we would now honor God
with our lives (1 Pet 2:24; 2 Co 5:15, 21; 1 Co 6:19-20).
Jesus died that horrible death on that cross to free us from
our slavery to sin and so that we would now become slaves of God and of his
righteousness. He died that we might be crucified with him in death to sin, and
that we might be resurrected with him to newness of life in him, created to be
like God in true righteousness and holiness (Rom 6:1-23; Eph 4:17-24).
And Jesus died and rose from the dead, not only so that we
would die with him to sin but also that we might now walk (in conduct, in practice)
according to (in agreement with) the Spirit of God and no longer according to
our flesh (Rom 8:1-17; 1 Jn 1:5-9; Tit 2:11-14; Lu 9:23-26).
For, Jesus saved us and called us to a holy calling, to live
lives which are separate (unlike, different) from the world because we are
being conformed to the likeness of Christ. We aren’t saved so we can continue
living in sin guilt-free. For, if that were the case, we would not be being persecuted
for the sake of the gospel.
“But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
If we are sharing the
gospel as Jesus taught it and as his New Testament apostles taught it, we will
be persecuted. We will be hated, rejected, ostracized, called names, falsely
accused, attacked fiercely, kicked out of church fellowships and/or off of
websites and/or beaten and put to death.
But if we genuinely
believe what we say we do, then we must know how critical it is that we get out
the truth in spite of all opposing forces coming against us, and despite how we
might be treated in return. For we understand that it is the truth that sets
people free, and it is lies which send people to hell on a false promise of
heaven.
So, even though we
will be faced with much opposition, we will continue to share the truth which
we have become convinced of. We will not be ashamed of our Lord or of his gospel
even if other people try to shame us. We will remain strong in our faith and
determined to keep pressing on.
So, we will hold on
to the truth of the gospel, and we will not compromise with the world, and we
will continue to teach what is in accord with sound doctrine, and we will not
deny our faith or our Lord, by God’s grace.
Servant
of the Lord
An
Original Work / July 26, 2012
Based
off Romans 1:1-17
Servant of the Lord;
For the gospel you’re set apart.
Promised through the prophets of old:
Jesus, Son of God.
Through Him, and for His name alone,
We receive His grace
To call people, Him to obey;
Coming from their faith.
Servant of the Lord,
For the gospel you’re set apart.
Promised through the prophets of old:
Jesus, Son of God.
You belong to Christ;
Loved by God, and called to be saints;
Serving God with whole heart and mind;
Preaching Jesus Christ;
Always praying for others’ needs;
Helping hand to lend;
Giving courage to others’ faith,
For the praise of God.
You belong to Christ;
Loved by God, and called to be saints;
Serving God with whole heart and mind;
Preaching Jesus Christ.
Servant of the Lord;
Of the gospel, I’m not ashamed;
For salvation, power of God
To those who have faith.
In the gospel find righteousness:
Being right with God.
Turn from sin, and trust Jesus Christ.
By faith, live in Him.
Servant of the Lord;
Of the gospel, I’m not ashamed;
For salvation, power of God
To those who have faith.
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