The Firm Foundation of God Stands

Amen. Take your Bibles and let's go to 2 Timothy. As we begin our study through 2 Timothy this morning, let me just say this, I think if the Apostle Paul were writing a hymn to emphasize what he's saying to Timothy in 2 Timothy, that hymn would be a good one.

Because it's centered on the church and her supernatural element and the blessed power and the creation of God that she is and how God will preserve her to the end. Well that's part of what Paul is telling Timothy. Go to 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 19 because chapter 2 verse 19, actually the very first phrase, is a fitting summary of what Paul is getting across to Timothy in this letter.

I want you to listen carefully this morning. There's there's such weightiness, such gravity about what Paul is saying to Timothy as he is continuing to instruct him in how to pastor and oversee the church at Ephesus. 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 19, the first phrase, nevertheless the firm foundation of God stands.

Nevertheless the firm foundation of God stands. Now I entitled the exposition of 1 Timothy, beautifying the bride, her form and her fashion. Because that's exactly what God was doing through Paul as he guides Timothy in structuring the church, that's her form, and how the church should function, that's her fashion. And as the church is, listen, is structured God's way, functions God's way, is empowered with God's truth and God's power, then the church is the beautified bride and even more so as she matures until the day of our glorification when we'll finally bear forth our full beauty.

And so that's what this is all about. God getting glory through the church being the church. So we talked about that and actually the theme verse for that, if you want to look, I think it'll be on your screen, but 1 Timothy chapter 3, back when we were going through 1 Timothy, verses 14 and 15 was something of a statement of summary for that book. He says in verses 14 and 15, 1 Timothy 3, I'm writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long, but in case I'm delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the support of the truth. So we had that and then we come over to 2 Timothy now and God continues through Paul, writing this letter to Timothy, telling him how to carry on forward his beautifying the bride in her form and in her fashion. Actually 2 Timothy is about five or maybe seven years later than the writing of 1 Timothy. While he continues the instructions, there's something more to bear here because now the Apostle Paul is in his second Roman imprisonment.

He's in a very serious, very difficult setting. Paul knows for certain that his execution is imminent and so his rights to Timothy in an effect tells Timothy, no matter what happens and no matter what I have been through and Timothy, no matter what you may go through, please know this, nevertheless the firm foundation of God stands. In effect, Timothy, stay faithful to the end. Finish all the way out just like I am because we're about something that is of God and it will stand. Matter of fact, it will stand for all time and eternity.

The work is worth it. We are laboring in the building of God's house and it counts for all time and eternity. So stay faithful to the finish because the firm foundation of God stands is where we're going to be as we look at 2 Timothy and go through it together, all right?

Now let's talk about the author of the book. Of course we know that the author here, the human author that is, is the esteemed Apostle Paul. Apostle Paul was a late addition to the apostolic band. Matter of fact, Paul was not converted or a follower of Christ when Christ ministered on the earth.

God came to him or Christ came to him after his ascension into heaven. Paul even referred to himself in 1st Corinthians as one untimely born. The other apostles were born during Jesus' ministry, but Jesus came and got me later on.

I am one untimely born. You remember the story from Acts chapter 9, the Apostle Paul is about the task of persecuting Christians. And then we have in Acts 9, 4 through 6, And he, that Saul, or the Apostle Paul, fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, who are you, Lord? If you get knocked down so hard from a light from heaven, you just go ahead and say, that's the Lord. Who are you, Lord? And he said, well I'm Jesus whom you're persecuting, but get up and enter the city and it will be told you what you must do.

Now how's that for sovereign election? I mean out of nowhere, God intervened, knocks him to the ground, he's humbled and broken, he looks up and the Lord says, I'm about to tell you what you're gonna do for me. He didn't have a vote, it wasn't a committee meeting, church didn't vote, nothing happened, God just got him.

He says, I'm one untimely born. So the author, humanly speaking, is the esteemed Apostle Paul. Now the audience, the audience of course is Timothy, but it's also all the pastors of all the ages. If we want to know how to beautify the bride, which by the way if you don't want to know how to do that you don't need to be in the ministry, we're about God's glory through his church. We're about God being pleased and being seen through his church, being structured and functioning as he wants it to be structured and, excuse me, function.

So it's for all the pastor, but it's also for the local church. Of course Timothy read this and discussed it with the local church family. Let's remind ourselves about Timothy now. Timothy was Paul's younger understudy and he was a very devoted disciple of the Apostle Paul. Timothy was a native of either Derby or Lystra, we can't be for sure. Timothy's mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois were devoted believers and of Jewish heritage. Timothy's father, however, was a Greek. Timothy was no doubt converted under the Apostle Paul's preaching in his hometown area and then some time elapsed and Timothy grew greatly in the Lord. He was a spiritual young man of God and he gained quite a high esteem among the local churches in that region, which led to Paul choosing Timothy to be his companion and his close associate. And we know of all the companions of Paul, Paul pointed out that Timothy was his top guy. Matter of fact he said this in Philippians chapter 2 verses 19 through 22. Paul says, but I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.

Notice this, for I have no one else of kindred spirit who would genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Apostle Paul says Timothy is the best guy I've got.

They actually ministered together for about 17 years from AD 51 to AD 68. Now we do know that Timothy had some physical limitations, some perhaps you would say emotional weaknesses. He seemed to be stressed a lot. He seemed to struggle with anxiety and I'd like to back up and say I don't know a pastor who's trying to do it right who doesn't do some of that myself so I sympathize with him. Paul had to instruct him some on those things and talk to him about taking care of himself, himself rather.

It's probable that Timothy was more fitted for the associate role than for the primary role in ministry leadership. So now let's come to the date. When did the Apostle Paul write this?

Most likely about 67 AD, perhaps 68. You can't pin it down exactly but that's very, very close. Now we come to the last area that I'll spend the bulk of our time on, the setting and the purpose. The setting of the purpose again, Timothy saying stay faithful to the finish because the firm foundation of God stands. So we remind ourselves this morning that the Apostle Paul spent a good deal of time in Roman prisons. He wrote 1 Timothy, most likely he did, Titus, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians from the prison house in Rome. I don't know if the Lord was speaking to me but I've had so many people encourage me to put some things in writing and I never have time.

I thought well is God going to put me in jail to get me to do some writing? Now it wouldn't be the writing Paul did, he was inspired to write Holy Scripture but it did come to my mind. Now he's writing to Timothy what we call 2 Timothy and this is during Paul's second imprisonment and just before Paul's martyrdom by execution.

2 Timothy has a much different tone than the book of 1 Timothy. During the first imprisonment when he probably wrote 1 Timothy, Paul was under something of a house arrest. He was anticipating his soon release and he could go out and visit with all the brethren and visit the churches and preach the gospel more and travel. But now in this second imprisonment he says nothing about being released, he says nothing about future ministry in the earth.

In this second book to Timothy he speaks about the completion of his earthly ministry and he writes about the reward that awaits him in heaven. We do know for a fact that the second imprisonment was far more difficult. As I said the first imprisonment was like a house arrest. He could stay in the quarters he was renting, he had crowds that would come, he could preach to people and lots of visitors coming and going.

But the second imprisonment was much more restrictive and much more severe. He was in much like a solitary confinement. One occasion he said, quote, I'm treated like an evildoer, end of quote. Paul's in a place now where literally it's difficult to find him and also very dangerous to be seen associating with him.

You might find persecution for yourself if you were known to be associated with him. Paul talks of how many abandoned him during this period. In second Timothy 4 16 as he went before the judge he says, at my first defense no one supported me but all deserted me.

May it not be counted against them. He lived through the horrors of one planned execution that was stayed already and seemingly that was a last minute thing. In second Timothy 4 17 he said, but the Lord stood with me and strengthened me so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished and that all the Gentiles might hear and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth. That has to refer to I was close to martyrdom and somehow God gave me grace and it didn't happen at that town. But now he's certain again that his execution is on and it will be very soon. He writes second Timothy with no hope of being delivered. This time he writes from the perspective that my persecutors are going to have their way with me and unjust and violent death is now inevitable.

Let's back up for a moment and think about the cultural historical context of all that's going on. Nero is the Roman emperor at this time. Nero is a vile and a cruel man and he especially hated this new little religious movement called Christianity. For example, Nero had many Christians crucified. Nero had Christians covered in animal skins and had dogs hunt them to their death. Nero would dip Christians in oil and suspend them on poles and light them to lighten the streets at night. One historian writes of how Nero would dip Christians in oil put them on poles and set them aflame and had them placed around his palace gardens as he threw masquerade parties in drunkenness and revelry. That's Nero. So Paul is imprisoned under Nero's charge.

Probably two specific charges were against Paul at this point. Number one, he was guilty of leading a novel illegal religion and number two, they found him guilty of leading a conspiracy to burn down Rome. We do know it's a historical fact that in this day a great fire was set in Rome and burnt a lot of the city down to the ground. And Nero conveniently blamed it on Christians. But history also records that Nero had been trying for some time to tear down much of the city and rebuild these colossal buildings in his own honor.

Neuropolis he was going to call it, for his own fame and glory. And so the rumor is that Nero probably set the fire himself so he could rebuild what he wanted because the senate would not let him do it. He conveniently though made Christians the scapegoat. Nero was a cruel man. The Apostle Paul is in his prison for being a Christian pastor and teacher. A leader of this new and, according to Rome, illicit and illegal religion. The Apostle Paul would probably identify with the words of Martin Luther who in the 15th and 16th century led something of the Protestant revolution out of Roman Catholicism back to the Bible. Martin Luther wrote, let goods and kindred go.

This mortal life also the body they may kill. God's truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever. So that's something of the contextual surrounding that Paul and even Timothy finds himself in. And you know Paul as he's writing this knowing his execution is just at hand has to be wondering is Timothy going to be next? And so he writes to him and says, Timothy it's worth it. Stay faithful to the end Timothy because the firm foundation of God stands. Now something of the theme or the purpose. We've talked about this quite a bit already because I couldn't help but say it but we'll say it again. Timothy I want you to be faithful. That's the purpose of the book. Timothy I want you to stay with it.

Timothy I want you to finish out well. And you've got to wrap this in all that the Apostle Paul is presently dealing with and all that he has dealt with. When we consider the frailty and the weakness of our fallen state. When we consider our physical and emotional being. When we consider the trials of this present sinful world. The Apostle Paul suffered through storms and bad weather and he suffered with disease and all the myriads of discomforts and pain that accompany this life and this ministry. When we consider the blunders and the failures of even ministers who are given it the very best they have.

When we consider the unrelenting attacks of the enemy to discourage us and destroy us. And in the Apostle Paul's case he's considering the soon and certain execution he will experience though he is an innocent man. Considering that in these final days on the earth the Apostle Paul is imprisoned in squalor and most of his associates have forsaken him.

And actually in a human perspective his numbers aren't good his ministry could be considered a failure. But considering it all Paul says Timothy stay with it like I've stayed with it Timothy. Because the firm foundation of God stands.

By the way it's the only thing that will stand. Now this firm foundation of 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 19 is the church. And for time and space history before we get to our glorified state it's the local churches of God. Paul tells the church at Corinth for example in 1st Corinthians 3 10, I laid a foundation and another is building upon it. What did Paul lay in Corinth in the city of Corinth? He started a church. It was God's church. Then in the next verse 1st Corinthians 3 11 he says for no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid which is Jesus Christ. So in one case clearly the church is emphasized now Jesus Christ is emphasized as the foundation. So you ask the question well is Christ the foundation or is it the church? Yes the church is his body. The church's head is Christ.

They go together. The church is his work and he embodies his work. 1st Peter 2 4-6 comes to mind and coming to him as a living stone which has been rejected by men but is choice and precious in the sight of God. Think about that just for a moment all of these Roman leaders and the culture in general looked upon these ragtag outcast bunch as just sort of a sect of Judaism. They called themselves Christians.

They're just kind of nobodies. But God looked at them and said no but they're precious stones. I'm building something the natural eye can't see yet. At the judgment day they'll see it brothers and sisters but they can't see what God's building yet. Verse 5 of 1st Timothy 2 you also as living stones Christ is choice and precious but there's living stones that's us are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ but this is contained in scripture behold I lay in Zion a choice stone a precious cornerstone and he who believes in him will not be disappointed. In the foundation work God's doing right now in the world Jesus is the cornerstone everything squares to him but the rest of us who know him are the living stones in the foundation his local churches. Of course we do know that Christ technically speaking is separate from his church but listen Christ cannot be separated from his church.

Technically speaking we know the church is separate from Christ but the true church cannot be separated from Jesus Christ. He is the foundation his church is the foundation. It's the firm foundation that Paul tells Timothy, Timothy stay with it don't quit no matter what happens to me stay faithful because the firm foundation of God will stand. It's the only thing that's going to stand it's the only thing that's going to be left when he returns and establishes his glorious eternal kingdom. Have you ever thought about that God's going to return Jesus Christ is returning and the only thing that we know now that will be here when he returns is the church.

Because it's of God. He's laid a foundation and he's laid this foundation in the earth and he calls it his new creation. The foundation of the new creation is already starting.

This sinless eternal glorious new creation is being planted in this earth as local churches are planted in the earth and they will stand for time and for eternity no matter what. When we think about no matter what let's think a little bit about the man writing this letter to Timothy and what no matter what meant from his perspective. I can't cover all of it but I'm going to take the Apostle Paul's wording to give you something of an outline of what he went through and yet he pens nevertheless even though all that's true in effect it's worth it because quote the firm foundation of God stands. Matter of fact God prescribed Paul's sufferings. God told a man Ananias to go get Paul and Ananias said I don't want to go get this Saul of Tarsus he's having Christians carted off into prison he's having Christians put to death and God tells Ananias no no no I'm changing things I'm about to show him how many things he must suffer for my sake. I mean right before Paul began his ministry God said you're going to suffer greatly for me in the earth. Paul in 2 Corinthians 4 said he was often perplexed he said he often despaired he said I'm often struck down and I'm always delivered to death for Jesus sake.

In 2 Timothy 3 he speaks of persecutions and afflictions in Antioch, Iconium and in Lystra. In 1 Corinthians 15 he says I'm in jeopardy every every hour and I have fought beasts. In 2 Corinthians 4 he says I'm hard pressed from every side. In 2 Corinthians 6 he mentions tribulations, distresses, stripes, imprisonments plural, tumult, sleeplessness and sorrowful. In 2 Corinthians 12 he mentions infirmities. In 2 Corinthians 12 7 and 10 he talks about the thorn in his side which was either a person or a physical malady. He talks about reproaches and he talks about needs. In Galatians 4 he mentions his physical infirmities and he says in Galatians 6 I bear in my body the marks of Christ.

In Romans chapter 9 he says I have great sorrow and continued grief and he says I have stripes above measure. He said I was 40 times hit minus one. I was shipwrecked and spent a night and a day in the deep. Three times I was beaten with rods and I was stoned. I was under the peril of robbers and the perils of the Jews and the Gentiles and the perils among false brethren. I've no weakness and toll. Every one of these words are Paul's words. I was often in hunger and in thirst.

I was often cold and naked and even experienced snakebite. And then on top of it all Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11 I've always had the continual burden for all the churches. Some of you have a hard time making it to Sunday school on time. Shame on you in Jesus name. Some of you daddies need to write a draw a line in the saying that said this household will be faithful to God. And I know you're not wicked. I know you're not evil and I love you deeply because I know you love the Lord. Gird up your loins.

Re-commit your hearts. It's worth it because the firm foundation of God stands. Suffering all these and yet these difficulties, these trials, these obstacles, these attacks never threatened to undermine God's true church. Never shook the church's foundation. Never caused her to fall over.

Didn't even cause her to lean or totter or to go wobbly. Far from it. The sufferings the Apostle Paul experienced and all who are godly and carry their cross in this anti-Christ world will experience are but new pillars being driven deep below the already immovable foundation to further anchor her to the bedrock of Jesus Christ. Paul comes to the time for his execution but he didn't call it that. You know what he calls it?

The time of my departure. Old Roman guards must have ridiculed him and said, hey buddy you about to get it son. He'd probably say, whoa my departure's right ahead. I love the way that Paul looks at the way Paul looks at it. Most have abandoned him. He's alone.

His outward ministry numbers are not good. Caesar and the house of Rome are glad that they have disposed of him and destroyed his following. Yet Paul said, no you don't understand I'm just I'm just finishing my course. He hadn't altered what God was doing at all. And as I've read through second Timothy several times and as I read through Paul's not sad. Paul's not disappointed.

Paul is not depressed. Rome is convinced that he's through and his little Christianity movement will die on the earth with him. But Paul's not going to die in the earth. He's going to depart from this earth and be united with his Lord and Savior in heaven.

Now there is something he's leaving behind in the earth. Gospel seed. Gospel seed. Paul has faithfully planted precious gospel seed over the entirety of Caesar's empire. And after his departure Paul knows in God's sovereign timing that God will spiritually water that seed and God will spiritually put heat on that seed and that seed will germinate and produce true life under the glory of God over the entire Roman Empire. History records 238 years later and 38 Caesars later Christianity became the most prominent religion in the known world. Powerful. That's what I keep telling you church about our work with Anchored in Truth. It may look small and it may have not had the biggest bang to human eyes but it's true.

It's true and it can't be stopped or held back. The firm foundation of God stands. So in this context again Paul's writing to Timothy just before his execution and says Timothy I've stayed with it and it's all worth it. I'm finishing out well Timothy and so must you. Timothy stay faithful to your part of the work in laying God's foundation in the earth, preaching the gospel, planting new testament churches. I told you in my first exposition of 1st Timothy that the theme would be beautifying the bride, her form and her function because Paul writes in 1st Timothy 3 14 and 15, I'm writing to you to know how we ought to conduct ourselves in the household of God. So I called it beautifying the bride, her form and function. Now Paul's telling Timothy I've done my part in beautifying the bride. I've guided you in Timothy and how to do it also.

Now finish out well. Timothy remain faithful to this process of beautifying the local church, beautifying the bride of Christ is the only thing that matters. It's eternal and it's the only thing that lasts for time and eternity. It's the firm foundation of God. So Paul writes to Timothy and Timothy despite everything that's happened to me, everything that is happened and going to happen to you, nevertheless the firm foundation of God stands. And there we stand. We stand on a foundation that all the powers of Rome couldn't conquer. As a matter of fact every time they tried to put it down they just pushed the seed into more fertile ground.