‘By God’s grace I want to see you on the other side of the finish line: be there’

Gospel Coalition live blog 9: Ligon Duncan, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Miss.

Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-22

Two errors that have bedeviled the Christian church for 200 years:

1. If the church is going to be an effective witness in today’s world, the message must be changed (Theological liberalism).
2. The message is fine, but what we need if we are really going to be really successful is new methods. The methods are going to be key to reaching our culture. And this approach assumes that our methods are disconnected, and do not flow from, our message (Error of Evangelicalism)

Schleirmacher, and those like him, committed the error of liberalism. They did not sit down in a room and plot how to destroy Christianity. Their error out of a missiological desire.

The second error, an error of Evangelicalism, is thinking that theology is not connected to method. If we are calling people to die to themselves and pick up their cross daily and follow Christ, then we can’t say “have it your way,” to people as we do evangelism. There is a disconnect here.

Is this a veiled shot at creativity in contextualization? No.

Traditionalism (such as Duncan) in its approach to culture often ends up reinforcing traditional culture. Progressives (such as Keller) tend to reinforce faddish culture. The pastoral epistles land in the middle. We need creativity, but must be informed by theology. Our theology must inform our methodology.

What can we learn about God and godliness, about Christian life and ministry, in closing personal comments in an epistle? A lot. Paul will get to the Gospel in his closing remarks. Paul will get to grace in his closing remarks.

We can learn from closing remarks. Why?

1. Doctrine of inspiration.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for life and godliness. There is no part of God’s Word from which we should not expect to profit.

2. 2 Timothy is a public letter.

These letters (pastoral epistles) are personal, but are written with the congregation in view. The letters are meant to instruct, encourage and edify the church.

3. Incidental instruction.

The first and last part of Paul’s closing remarks give us direct application of the truths that are being propounded in them. In between this opening and ending comes personal exhortation. We can learn from these.

John Piper was right in his exposition about the main point of this book: Paul is exhorting Timothy to continue fanning into white-hot flame the gift of courage in the face of suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

Exhortation (4:6-8)

Paul says to Timothy, “I am about to cross the finish line: you cross the finish line, too.” Think of the last day, when countless hosts will sing to the King of glory. Think of that when you do ministry. You want to see people come to faith now, you want to see communities and lives transformed, you want to pour yourself out as Christ poured Himself out, but that is not your finish line.

Paul tells Timothy he can see the finish line and by God’s grace he will cross it. He exhorts Timothy to cross the finish line, too. The world, flesh and devil on every side want us to fall short of that finish line.

Requests (4:9-13)

We don’t know what books Paul is talking about when he asked Timothy to bring him his books. Spurgeon said, “Even an apostle must read.”

Some think that reading lots of books is stuffy and unnecessary. Paul had seen the Lord and yet he wants books. Paul is inspired and he wants books. Paul had written the majority of the New Testament and yet he wants books. With this request, Paul says to Timothy, “read books and read well.”

Brothers, you need to read. Study sound theological works, especially the Puritans and expositions of Scripture. The best way for you to spend your leisure time is to read or pray.

Paul cries, “bring the books!” Join that cry.

Paul tells Timothy that Luke is with him and he asks Timothy to send Mark. He also tells Timothy to bring a special set of parchments. Our minds could run wild with what went on at that meeting. We don’t know. But we do know that at the end of his life, Paul was still concerned about studying, reading and passing on the truth.

Some post-moderns say that you shouldn’t have information transfer in sermons. That is fine if you want to do that. But if you do, you are opposing Jesus and Paul. I’m going to stick with them (Duncan said). Jesus taught from the Word on the road to Emmaus. The Word Himself taught from the Word. And Paul

Sermons do include the transfer of information, but they are not merely information transfer. Through the transfer of information from God’s Word you teach people about God, the Gospel, grace and godliness. And as you do this, you bring them into the presence of God.

Warnings (4:14-18)

Being faithful in Gospel ministry doesn’t mean that you are not going to be left alone (4:16). Your master was left alone: all of his disciples deserted him. Why should you expect if this happened to the master that it will not happen to his disciples? Paul told Timothy that he may be left alone.

In this little section of warnings, Paul gets to the Gospel. Paul says that when he was left alone he was able to proclaim the message so that all the Gentiles might hear (4:17). The message is the Gospel. Paul sprinkles the Gospel into his letters throughout his letters through different pithy phrases.

Greetings (4:19-21)

Paul loves people in such a way that he wants to spread that love to them in a way that creates real Gospel community. There is an agenda in Paul’s salutation and greetings. He wants to build up the body of Christ by the expression of love.

Do you know how strengthening it can be to pass on commendation and greeting from brother to brother? Particularly brother to brother in ministry.

Benediction (4:22)

Paul’s benediction is very simple: “Timothy, God will be with you and so will His grace.”

In the garden, after Adam and Eve sinned, God told them to go. To go out of His presence. To go out from communion and fellowship with Him. Every time we hear a call to worship, God is saying, come. If you have a call to worship in your worship service, you have already preached the Gospel, because the Gospel is a call to come.

When the benediction comes, God says go, but it is not go away from me. God says that He will go with us. Paul tells Timothy the Lord will be with you.

And then Paul finishes with grace. How is Timothy going to face opposition and deal with personal struggles and shortcomings? Not with his own strength, but by grace. Something he hasn’t earned, and something none of us have earned.