1
00:00:04,878 --> 00:00:05,926
Good morning.

2
00:00:07,512 --> 00:00:08,512
Good to see everyone.

3
00:00:08,512 --> 00:00:11,566
It's good to be home.

4
00:00:13,148 --> 00:00:21,557
Take your Bibles, if you will, and turn to 1 Timothy, almost said 2 Timothy.

5
00:00:21,922 --> 00:00:29,486
1 Timothy chapter 6, as we come close to closing out this study this morning.

6
00:00:31,132 --> 00:00:37,085
I didn't say we're closing it out this morning, but I said we're coming close to closing
it out, just to be clear.

7
00:00:37,085 --> 00:00:39,430
ah

8
00:00:43,564 --> 00:00:52,823
We had a good trip, uh ran into some rain, but uh thankfully nothing more than that out in
North Carolina.

9
00:00:52,944 --> 00:00:57,178
And had a really enjoyable time and got to see some folks we hadn't seen in a while.

10
00:00:57,178 --> 00:01:02,833
So appreciate everyone who filled in for me while I was out of town.

11
00:01:03,194 --> 00:01:06,737
Let's begin with a word of prayer and then we'll get into our study.

12
00:01:08,224 --> 00:01:18,560
Our gracious Father in heaven, we bow before your throne, grateful for the day you've
granted to us, for the life that you have given us, for the grace and the mercy that you

13
00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:20,060
shower upon us.

14
00:01:20,101 --> 00:01:27,125
We're grateful for your word, which reveals to us your heart, your mind, your will for our
lives.

15
00:01:27,125 --> 00:01:36,450
And we pray that as we come to know you through your revelation, through your word, that
we might strive to become more like you each and every day.

16
00:01:37,216 --> 00:01:46,881
Lord, we're grateful for your Son who came and died on the cross for our sins that we
might have the hope of eternal life, that we might have the salvation that is found in

17
00:01:46,881 --> 00:01:48,771
Christ and nowhere else.

18
00:01:48,892 --> 00:01:55,054
And Lord, we are grateful that we know both how to live and how to move and have our being
in Christ.

19
00:01:55,275 --> 00:01:57,075
We pray for the church.

20
00:01:57,075 --> 00:02:07,240
We pray for it here in this one location in Collierville, but we also pray for it the
world over that we might have boldness to speak, that we might have peace around

21
00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:13,362
that we might preach the gospel without interference, that we might boldly proclaim your
name.

22
00:02:13,982 --> 00:02:19,684
We pray that you be with those who are struggling in lands where that is not the case.

23
00:02:19,905 --> 00:02:26,527
Those who fear for their lives because of their willingness to proclaim the name of
Christ.

24
00:02:26,527 --> 00:02:35,350
And we pray that you give them safety, we pray that you give them refuge at a rock and a
shelter in the times that are difficult.

25
00:02:35,712 --> 00:02:39,039
All this we pray and ask in Jesus' name, amen.

26
00:02:45,678 --> 00:03:07,979
1 Timothy chapter 6 Paul has written to Timothy concerning his life, how he is to behave
in the church of God, how he is to act, what he is to teach, the teachers that he is to

27
00:03:07,979 --> 00:03:11,622
encourage, and the teachers he is to stop.

28
00:03:14,612 --> 00:03:29,841
And as he closes out this letter to Timothy, he says, verse 11, I think this is where we
left off two weeks ago, but you, man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness,

29
00:03:29,841 --> 00:03:34,094
godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

30
00:03:37,002 --> 00:03:53,854
When Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 2, he says in chapter 2 verse 1, you
therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and the things that you

31
00:03:53,854 --> 00:04:00,958
have heard from me among many witnesses commit these to faithful men who will be able to
teach others also.

32
00:04:01,139 --> 00:04:06,592
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

33
00:04:06,856 --> 00:04:14,628
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may
please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

34
00:04:14,788 --> 00:04:20,790
And also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according
to the rules.

35
00:04:21,250 --> 00:04:30,573
Now, in chapter two of Second Timothy, Paul tells Timothy, you are a soldier of Jesus
Christ.

36
00:04:31,093 --> 00:04:34,934
How is it that Timothy can be both a soldier

37
00:04:35,519 --> 00:04:39,485
and one who pursues gentleness.

38
00:04:40,748 --> 00:04:44,244
Aren't those ideas in opposition to one another?

39
00:04:51,948 --> 00:04:52,938
Okay.

40
00:04:54,320 --> 00:05:00,345
Doesn't a soldier, isn't a soldier someone who does harm to people?

41
00:05:01,867 --> 00:05:02,848
Alright.

42
00:05:03,148 --> 00:05:14,018
Who does Paul tell us we are fighting against as soldiers of Jesus Christ?

43
00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,262
Alright, Satan, the world?

44
00:05:18,494 --> 00:05:23,178
as other passages tell us, principalities and powers of darkness.

45
00:05:23,659 --> 00:05:35,249
He doesn't say, grab up your sword, teach people that Jesus is the Lord, and if they don't
accept it, off with their head.

46
00:05:36,311 --> 00:05:38,793
That's not the message of Christianity.

47
00:05:38,793 --> 00:05:44,678
Now, that is the message that has been co-opted many times through the years.

48
00:05:45,398 --> 00:05:53,481
The Roman government and the Roman Catholic Church utilized a similar method of converting
people.

49
00:05:53,522 --> 00:06:02,455
You could proclaim Jesus as Lord, or you can go to prison, or you can be stoned, or you
can be killed, or you could be killed by a sword.

50
00:06:02,455 --> 00:06:08,488
You could have many things done to you if you didn't bow the knee to the Roman Catholic
Church.

51
00:06:09,649 --> 00:06:11,649
But was that Christianity?

52
00:06:12,230 --> 00:06:13,050
No.

53
00:06:14,158 --> 00:06:19,598
That wasn't what Paul called upon Timothy to be.

54
00:06:19,918 --> 00:06:24,758
He said, you need to pursue righteousness.

55
00:06:25,118 --> 00:06:28,858
You need to pursue godliness.

56
00:06:29,018 --> 00:06:32,238
You need to pursue faith.

57
00:06:32,298 --> 00:06:35,438
You need to pursue love.

58
00:06:35,538 --> 00:06:39,078
You need to pursue patience.

59
00:06:39,538 --> 00:06:43,518
You need to pursue gentleness.

60
00:06:45,662 --> 00:06:51,104
If you're pursuing something, when do you quit pursuing?

61
00:06:52,345 --> 00:06:55,022
When you catch it, all right?

62
00:06:56,026 --> 00:07:05,810
If you are running down the dog that escaped from the leash on the walk, you stop running
when you catch it.

63
00:07:06,250 --> 00:07:15,414
When you're running down the child who misbehaved and is trying to escape, you stop when
you catch it.

64
00:07:15,414 --> 00:07:23,569
when the police officers running down the criminal they don't catch the criminal and keep
running well you know it's a good day to

65
00:07:27,606 --> 00:07:39,810
And yet, if you take these principles that Paul has established here and you turn over to
Peter's writing.

66
00:07:46,146 --> 00:07:49,142
You read in 2 Peter chapter 1.

67
00:07:51,682 --> 00:07:54,823
Paul says pursue these things.

68
00:07:55,764 --> 00:07:58,906
Peter says add these things.

69
00:07:58,906 --> 00:08:06,970
Notice what he says, 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 5, but also for this very reason, give all
diligence.

70
00:08:07,751 --> 00:08:11,013
Add to your faith virtue.

71
00:08:11,193 --> 00:08:13,834
To virtue, knowledge.

72
00:08:13,834 --> 00:08:16,166
To knowledge, self-control.

73
00:08:16,166 --> 00:08:18,697
That's the patience that Paul talks about.

74
00:08:18,697 --> 00:08:20,344
To self-control,

75
00:08:20,344 --> 00:08:30,157
perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly
kindness love.

76
00:08:30,157 --> 00:08:35,798
For if these things are yours," but notice he doesn't say, yours full stop.

77
00:08:35,798 --> 00:08:40,359
He says, are yours and abound.

78
00:08:41,620 --> 00:08:46,281
You will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

79
00:08:47,182 --> 00:08:49,058
Peter makes it clear

80
00:08:49,058 --> 00:09:00,667
that as you go through this cycle, you go out of my diligence, I am going to add faith to
my life.

81
00:09:01,328 --> 00:09:07,692
And out of my faith, I am going to add virtue to my life.

82
00:09:08,434 --> 00:09:14,282
And out of my virtue, I am going to add knowledge and then self-control.

83
00:09:14,282 --> 00:09:17,286
And to my self-control, I'm going to add perseverance.

84
00:09:17,286 --> 00:09:19,649
And to my perseverance, I'm going to add godliness.

85
00:09:19,649 --> 00:09:21,602
And to my godliness, I'm going to add brotherly kindness.

86
00:09:21,602 --> 00:09:24,596
And my brotherly kindness, I'm going to add charity or love.

87
00:09:24,596 --> 00:09:26,668
And when I get there, I'm done.

88
00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:30,111
No, I don't think so.

89
00:09:31,726 --> 00:09:39,346
If you were to envision this as something you add to your life, envision it like a clock.

90
00:09:40,346 --> 00:09:51,366
Because when the clock gets back up there to zero or to 12, however you like to think
about it, what happens next?

91
00:09:53,550 --> 00:09:54,691
starts over.

92
00:09:55,893 --> 00:09:57,333
It keeps going.

93
00:09:57,815 --> 00:10:00,597
It doesn't say, well, I made it through a day, I'm done.

94
00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,221
Figure out your time for yourself tomorrow.

95
00:10:05,523 --> 00:10:06,304
No.

96
00:10:06,304 --> 00:10:08,726
It says, all right, let's do it again.

97
00:10:10,712 --> 00:10:16,440
Hence, Peter's point, if these things be in you and abound.

98
00:10:20,236 --> 00:10:34,037
picture that Peter paints here is you've added these things on top of one another, having
reached the culmination of adding love to all of these attributes.

99
00:10:34,037 --> 00:10:44,705
He says start over and add to your love, faith, and add to your faith, knowledge, virtue.

100
00:10:44,746 --> 00:10:46,287
To your virtue, knowledge.

101
00:10:46,287 --> 00:10:49,942
Build, compound on one another.

102
00:10:49,942 --> 00:10:54,891
These attributes just keep building.

103
00:10:57,998 --> 00:11:04,767
Paul tells Timothy, pursue these things.

104
00:11:05,550 --> 00:11:14,322
And notably, he never tells him when he will have achieved enough so that he can stop
pursuing.

105
00:11:17,216 --> 00:11:33,992
It is the challenge of realizing that no matter how long we strive, no matter how long we
learn, no matter how diligent we are, there is not going to be a point.

106
00:11:35,778 --> 00:11:40,020
Where we go, all right, I've learned everything God wants me to learn.

107
00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:43,401
I've done everything God wants me to do.

108
00:11:43,822 --> 00:11:47,363
I've accomplished everything that God wants me to accomplish.

109
00:11:48,144 --> 00:11:49,285
Sit back and rest.

110
00:11:49,285 --> 00:11:52,426
I'm retired from Christianity now.

111
00:11:54,574 --> 00:11:56,254
That doesn't work, does it?

112
00:11:56,875 --> 00:12:02,397
That's not what God teaches us, and it's certainly not what God instills in His servants.

113
00:12:02,858 --> 00:12:18,625
As a matter of fact, Jesus will say, when the Master comes in, and the servant who's been
serving all day long sees the Master come in, does the servant, is the servant told by the

114
00:12:18,625 --> 00:12:21,236
Master, why don't you sit down and let me serve you?

115
00:12:23,746 --> 00:12:25,087
Jesus said no.

116
00:12:26,228 --> 00:12:38,178
Rather the servant girds himself and serves the master who has come in for, as Jesus
points out, when we've done everything that is required of us.

117
00:12:40,194 --> 00:12:43,080
We are still an unprofitable servant.

118
00:12:44,184 --> 00:12:50,077
We are still one who has simply done what we are required to do.

119
00:12:53,464 --> 00:12:56,450
Paul will write over in 2 Timothy chapter 4.

120
00:13:00,174 --> 00:13:01,854
Second Timothy chapter four.

121
00:13:04,610 --> 00:13:11,456
In verse 6, for I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my
departure is at hand.

122
00:13:12,438 --> 00:13:16,982
Paul says, sitting in a Roman prison for the second time.

123
00:13:19,158 --> 00:13:22,996
His life is coming to a close and he knows it.

124
00:13:25,260 --> 00:13:28,973
And he says, I'm about to be poured out as a drink offering to God.

125
00:13:29,714 --> 00:13:33,316
You gotta have some Old Testament context to know about the drink offerings.

126
00:13:33,316 --> 00:13:37,460
You gotta go read Exodus and Leviticus about those ordinances.

127
00:13:38,601 --> 00:13:45,726
But these were offerings that were poured out as the part of the offering.

128
00:13:46,528 --> 00:13:51,011
And he says, I am already being poured out as a drink offering.

129
00:13:51,011 --> 00:13:54,654
In the time of my departure is at hand, I have fought the good fight.

130
00:13:54,654 --> 00:13:56,095
I have finished the race.

131
00:13:56,095 --> 00:14:02,957
have kept the faith." Okay, sounds like a retired Christian, right?

132
00:14:03,357 --> 00:14:05,057
Sounds like he's done.

133
00:14:05,338 --> 00:14:07,738
He's saying, know what?

134
00:14:07,858 --> 00:14:10,319
I did what I was told to do.

135
00:14:10,319 --> 00:14:13,240
I achieved what I was commanded to achieve.

136
00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,541
I have finished the course.

137
00:14:15,541 --> 00:14:17,601
When you finish the course, what do you do?

138
00:14:17,602 --> 00:14:18,962
You quit the race.

139
00:14:20,886 --> 00:14:22,667
That's not what Paul says.

140
00:14:23,127 --> 00:14:31,560
He says, Finally there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the
righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have

141
00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:32,811
loved his appearing.

142
00:14:32,811 --> 00:14:42,435
Be diligent to come to me, for Deim is his forsaken me, having loved this present world,
and has departed for Thessalonica, Cretians for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.

143
00:14:42,435 --> 00:14:43,846
Only Luke is with me.

144
00:14:43,846 --> 00:14:49,952
Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for...

145
00:14:51,660 --> 00:14:52,710
ministry.

146
00:14:53,692 --> 00:15:00,948
Paul says I fought the good fight, I finished my course, I kept the faith, I'm being
poured out, by the way I'm not done.

147
00:15:03,244 --> 00:15:10,592
As a matter of fact, I need you to bring John Mark because he's useful to my service that
I'm continuing to do.

148
00:15:12,628 --> 00:15:21,664
Antichicus I have sent to Ephesus, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when
you come and the books, especially the parchments.

149
00:15:22,205 --> 00:15:37,535
Not only is Paul not done ministering and needs some assistance to be able to continue it,
he wants the Scriptures with him so he can continue studying and reading.

150
00:15:38,276 --> 00:15:41,302
Paul, an individual who had access to

151
00:15:41,302 --> 00:15:56,757
divine revelation who was an inspired apostle was interested in having the text of the
scriptures in his hands and at his access even at the point in his life where he says my

152
00:15:56,757 --> 00:15:57,958
life's almost over.

153
00:16:00,076 --> 00:16:07,733
That should tell us something about what we are to be doing when our life is almost over.

154
00:16:08,975 --> 00:16:19,636
It tells us something about how we should treat our Christianity when we reach the point
in life where we go, you know what, I can't do what I used to do.

155
00:16:21,868 --> 00:16:26,825
I can't accomplish what I used to accomplish.

156
00:16:27,948 --> 00:16:32,734
I can do this much, I used to be able to do this much.

157
00:16:33,557 --> 00:16:35,058
I can't do that anymore.

158
00:16:36,702 --> 00:16:48,956
And yet Paul is quite clear as he writes to Timothy, I might be only able to do this much,
but that doesn't mean I'm done.

159
00:16:50,414 --> 00:16:56,663
Because as far as Paul was concerned, he wasn't going to be done until this life was over.

160
00:16:57,766 --> 00:17:03,553
So he tells Timothy, pursue these things.

161
00:17:05,484 --> 00:17:14,741
He goes on to say, I urge you, verse 13, wait, let me go back to verse 12, fight the good
fight of faith.

162
00:17:14,741 --> 00:17:24,447
Lay hold on eternal life to which you were also called and have confessed the good
confession in the presence of many witnesses.

163
00:17:25,328 --> 00:17:28,684
Paul makes it clear to Timothy,

164
00:17:28,684 --> 00:17:44,608
that Timothy has the ability as every Christian has the ability to lay hold on, to grasp
and hold and secure eternal life for themselves.

165
00:17:46,996 --> 00:17:55,628
Is Paul saying that Timothy can know that he is saved no matter how Timothy acts from that
point forward?

166
00:17:57,049 --> 00:18:08,112
Is Paul teaching a security of the saints that, you know what, it doesn't matter how you
live, you've been saved and you're saved and from that point forward, no matter what

167
00:18:08,112 --> 00:18:11,153
happens, you can never lose your salvation?

168
00:18:12,373 --> 00:18:16,204
No, as a matter of fact, go back to 1 Timothy chapter one.

169
00:18:24,430 --> 00:18:36,110
1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 18, charge this charge, commit to you, son Timothy, according to
the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.

170
00:18:36,110 --> 00:18:38,450
Now what did he just tell him to do again?

171
00:18:39,330 --> 00:18:41,970
Wage a good warfare.

172
00:18:43,530 --> 00:18:44,950
Same idea.

173
00:18:45,430 --> 00:18:48,210
Beginning of the book, end of the book.

174
00:18:48,470 --> 00:18:54,570
He says wage a good warfare, having faith and a good conscience which some having
rejected.

175
00:18:55,500 --> 00:19:13,705
He says, you hold your faith together with a good conscience because there have been those
who have had the faith and have held it with an unclean conscience, with an evil

176
00:19:13,705 --> 00:19:15,106
conscience.

177
00:19:15,747 --> 00:19:24,044
He says, having faith in a good conscience which some having rejected concerning the faith
have suffered shipwreck of whom are

178
00:19:24,044 --> 00:19:34,203
Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan." They may learn not to blaspheme.

179
00:19:34,564 --> 00:19:49,887
Here are two individuals called out by name by Paul as individuals who had the faith of
Christ at one point, but now they have been turned over to Satan because of their

180
00:19:49,887 --> 00:19:51,308
blasphemy.

181
00:19:54,584 --> 00:19:58,440
Paul is quite clear you can lose your salvation.

182
00:20:00,702 --> 00:20:14,716
And if you hold the faith of Christ with an evil conscience, Paul will escort you out of
the body of Christ and hand you back to the world where you belong.

183
00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:21,294
Paul tells Timothy, you fight the good fight of faith.

184
00:20:21,755 --> 00:20:30,463
You lay hold on eternal life to which you were also called and have confessed the good
confession in the presence of many witnesses.

185
00:20:30,984 --> 00:20:42,094
I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things and before Christ Jesus who
witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, if you...

186
00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:51,548
care to understand what the good confession is, what is it that Jesus witnessed before
Pontius Pilate?

187
00:21:00,568 --> 00:21:01,479
Say what?

188
00:21:02,745 --> 00:21:04,789
That he was innocent is one thing.

189
00:21:11,246 --> 00:21:12,071
Okay.

190
00:21:18,638 --> 00:21:21,536
Turn back to John chapter 18.

191
00:21:29,004 --> 00:21:37,081
John chapter 18 verse 28, then they led Jesus from Calphus to the Praetorium, and it was
early morning.

192
00:21:37,081 --> 00:21:44,407
But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that
they might eat the Passover.

193
00:21:44,548 --> 00:21:50,514
Pilate then went out to them and said, What accusation do you bring against this man?

194
00:21:50,514 --> 00:21:55,988
They answered and said to him, If he were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered him
up to you.

195
00:21:56,258 --> 00:22:01,202
Then Pilate said to them, you take him and judge him according to your law.

196
00:22:01,202 --> 00:22:12,291
Therefore the Jew said to him, it is not lawful for us to put anyone to death that the
saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which he spoke signifying by what death he would die.

197
00:22:12,371 --> 00:22:20,017
Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again called Jesus and said to him, are you the King of
the Jews?

198
00:22:20,438 --> 00:22:26,272
Jesus answered, are you speaking for yourself about this or did others tell you concerning
me?

199
00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:29,111
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew?

200
00:22:29,351 --> 00:22:32,613
Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me.

201
00:22:32,613 --> 00:22:34,373
What have you done?

202
00:22:34,753 --> 00:22:38,435
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world.

203
00:22:38,455 --> 00:22:44,258
If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I should not be
delivered to the Jews.

204
00:22:44,258 --> 00:22:46,878
But now my kingdom is not from here.

205
00:22:46,999 --> 00:22:50,740
Pilate therefore said to him, Are you a king then?

206
00:22:50,860 --> 00:22:54,902
Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king.

207
00:22:55,362 --> 00:23:01,151
For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world that I should bear
witness to the truth.

208
00:23:01,151 --> 00:23:05,978
Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.

209
00:23:09,154 --> 00:23:26,738
the witness that was born, the confession that was made was that Jesus Christ was King,
Lord, Savior, not of a kingdom on this earth.

210
00:23:28,376 --> 00:23:29,991
but of a spiritual kingdom.

211
00:23:31,576 --> 00:23:36,709
Paul says that Timothy has made the same good confession.

212
00:23:37,590 --> 00:23:43,334
The same confession that was made by Christ before Pontius Pilate.

213
00:23:45,710 --> 00:23:50,674
So then consider that you keep this commandment without spot.

214
00:23:51,395 --> 00:24:04,926
By the way, just before we get off of that confession, if you're waging a warfare, if
you're fighting a good fight, that generally implies you belong to what?

215
00:24:07,382 --> 00:24:08,649
A military.

216
00:24:10,232 --> 00:24:13,565
Typically, who has a military?

217
00:24:15,946 --> 00:24:17,074
a government.

218
00:24:18,922 --> 00:24:23,336
if we were to use a first century term, a kingdom.

219
00:24:25,454 --> 00:24:34,554
at the top of that authority structure of that government of a kingdom there is what?

220
00:24:35,074 --> 00:24:35,794
A king.

221
00:24:38,094 --> 00:24:44,440
Paul's telling Timothy, you are a soldier of Jesus Christ.

222
00:24:45,722 --> 00:24:50,187
You follow the orders of the king.

223
00:24:51,329 --> 00:25:00,448
And you profess allegiance to no one but your king.

224
00:25:03,042 --> 00:25:13,638
because he declared himself to be king before the one who put him to death whose authority
was derived power.

225
00:25:15,192 --> 00:25:17,063
but his authority was not.

226
00:25:17,604 --> 00:25:26,699
He says, I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things and before Christ
Jesus who witnessed the good confession, before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this

227
00:25:26,699 --> 00:25:31,911
commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing.

228
00:25:32,572 --> 00:25:37,375
I've mentioned this before, but it's worth mentioning again.

229
00:25:38,016 --> 00:25:42,238
There are two terms that are often,

230
00:25:44,010 --> 00:25:50,554
merged together in our understanding, but we should be careful with that.

231
00:25:51,836 --> 00:25:56,639
About Jesus' return, one of those terms is coming.

232
00:25:56,739 --> 00:26:00,661
You've heard of the second coming, right?

233
00:26:01,603 --> 00:26:06,666
That's the term we most often use in our language today.

234
00:26:08,428 --> 00:26:15,160
There's another term in the New Testament speaking of Christ's return and it's the word
appearing.

235
00:26:17,341 --> 00:26:32,405
Interestingly, when you notice the text and the message of the context in those texts
speaking concerning His coming versus His appearing, two things you should note.

236
00:26:33,666 --> 00:26:35,564
The first one is

237
00:26:35,564 --> 00:26:51,032
that in most contexts where the discussion is of the coming of Christ, the return of
Christ, to deliver His servants, to deliver the faithful up into glory, the term appearing

238
00:26:51,032 --> 00:26:51,892
is used.

239
00:26:53,612 --> 00:26:59,690
The term appearing is the positive term of Christ's return.

240
00:27:02,658 --> 00:27:06,753
Paul uses that idea that Christ will appear.

241
00:27:09,196 --> 00:27:28,559
The term coming is most notably and consistently used in regards to those who are not
faithful to God and was a term indicating his return for judgment and condemnation and

242
00:27:28,559 --> 00:27:29,590
justice.

243
00:27:31,278 --> 00:27:45,818
So Paul will help us to understand as he writes to Timothy that you are to be doing this
until you see the return of your Lord.

244
00:27:48,620 --> 00:27:51,762
You serve faithfully until you see your Lord.

245
00:27:53,506 --> 00:28:12,336
The term coming more often was a warning that there is a day where Christ will return and
those who are not prepared, His coming will be as a thief in the night.

246
00:28:13,377 --> 00:28:17,759
His coming will be for judgment and justice.

247
00:28:18,780 --> 00:28:22,942
And His coming will mean their destruction.

248
00:28:23,458 --> 00:28:24,240
Okay?

249
00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:31,838
So as you think about terms and what they mean and how they're seen in Scripture.

250
00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:46,540
I it might be useful for us to spend more time talking about our Lord Jesus Christ's
appearance than His coming because they give different connotations.

251
00:28:47,121 --> 00:28:49,603
Now, notice what He says.

252
00:28:49,762 --> 00:28:54,186
He says, which He will manifest in His own time.

253
00:28:54,808 --> 00:29:02,956
One of the things, Timothy, that you need to be aware of and that you need to be fully
conscious of is you don't get to set

254
00:29:02,956 --> 00:29:06,590
the timetable for our Lord Jesus Christ appearance.

255
00:29:07,893 --> 00:29:17,666
You don't get to anxiously wait for Christ to return and then give up hope when He hasn't
come yet.

256
00:29:19,246 --> 00:29:28,686
There were those in Peter's day and time as Peter was writing to Christians over in 2
Peter.

257
00:29:31,118 --> 00:29:44,012
2 Peter chapter 3, writes, Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle in which I stir
up your pure, uh I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder that you may be mindful of

258
00:29:44,012 --> 00:29:52,509
the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandments of us, the
apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus and Savior.

259
00:29:52,509 --> 00:29:54,012
I'll get my words out eventually.

260
00:29:54,024 --> 00:30:01,859
knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last days walking according to their
own lusts and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?

261
00:30:01,859 --> 00:30:06,982
For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of
creation.

262
00:30:07,103 --> 00:30:17,360
For this they will willfully forget, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and
the earth standing out of the water and in the water, by which the world that then existed

263
00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:18,178
perished.

264
00:30:18,178 --> 00:30:28,722
being flooded with water, but the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the
same word are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

265
00:30:28,942 --> 00:30:35,725
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand
years, and a thousand years is one day.

266
00:30:35,725 --> 00:30:44,929
The Lord is not slack concerning His promises, some count slackness, but is long-suffering
toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

267
00:30:45,169 --> 00:30:48,330
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

268
00:30:48,446 --> 00:30:52,688
in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with
fervent heat.

269
00:30:52,688 --> 00:30:55,750
Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

270
00:30:55,750 --> 00:31:07,936
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to
be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,

271
00:31:08,017 --> 00:31:14,080
because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat.

272
00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,792
Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens."

273
00:31:17,792 --> 00:31:21,369
and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

274
00:31:22,978 --> 00:31:29,866
Peter, as he writes, he says, there's some scoffers among you.

275
00:31:31,628 --> 00:31:39,243
who insists that, you know what, since creation everything's just continued on the way
it's always been.

276
00:31:40,424 --> 00:31:44,136
Nothing ever changes, so we should just assume it never will.

277
00:31:46,126 --> 00:31:50,026
Put away all this nonsense about Jesus returning.

278
00:31:50,526 --> 00:31:53,766
Put away all this nonsense about a day of judgment.

279
00:31:53,766 --> 00:31:56,126
The world's still here.

280
00:31:58,732 --> 00:32:01,868
And I just checked and he's not back yet.

281
00:32:02,712 --> 00:32:05,618
So we might as well just live.

282
00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:12,977
Peter says, no, you need to go read your Old Testament scriptures.

283
00:32:13,759 --> 00:32:19,206
Do you not remember that there was a day in which people were just living?

284
00:32:22,508 --> 00:32:26,546
and God brought a flood and wiped the planet clean?

285
00:32:27,610 --> 00:32:33,822
No, everything has not always just continued the way it was since creation.

286
00:32:35,436 --> 00:32:37,711
There is a God who is active.

287
00:32:37,711 --> 00:32:44,202
There is a God who judges and there is a God who has promised.

288
00:32:48,226 --> 00:32:52,884
that his son is returning and that when he does

289
00:32:54,722 --> 00:32:57,386
this world and everything in it is going to be burned up.

290
00:32:58,570 --> 00:33:07,066
That the universe and all the things that make up the elements thereof are going to pass
away.

291
00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:22,578
There is much talk in our world today about becoming a multi-planetary species, as Elon
Musk would put it.

292
00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,242
But his, the reason he's...

293
00:33:28,802 --> 00:33:43,811
with frenetic energy striving to get humanity to Mars is there's a higher likelihood of
humanity continuing to exist if we're on two planets, in case something happens to Earth

294
00:33:44,231 --> 00:33:49,354
or, you know, we enter into a mass nuclear war.

295
00:33:53,090 --> 00:33:59,518
There are some things of which the world worries about that Christians shouldn't have to.

296
00:34:01,336 --> 00:34:12,512
There are some things of which the political structures and the power structures and the
financial structures of this world are concerned.

297
00:34:15,020 --> 00:34:18,248
that we shouldn't really spend a whole lot of time being concerned.

298
00:34:21,036 --> 00:34:22,970
because this much is true.

299
00:34:24,456 --> 00:34:30,100
One day, this universe that God created is coming to a close.

300
00:34:31,926 --> 00:34:40,084
And when Christ returns, it doesn't matter if you're on Earth or Mars or Venus or in
another solar system.

301
00:34:42,636 --> 00:34:48,972
because when Christ returns, this physical existence will end.

302
00:34:51,158 --> 00:34:59,264
And Peter was not referring to a new heavens and a new earth in the physical sense.

303
00:35:00,566 --> 00:35:08,992
He was not looking for a city that he could dwell in called the New Jerusalem that was on
this earth.

304
00:35:09,934 --> 00:35:15,438
He was not looking for a renovated planet where sin no longer existed.

305
00:35:17,324 --> 00:35:19,975
He was looking for the same thing that Abraham was looking for.

306
00:35:19,975 --> 00:35:23,536
If turn to Hebrews chapter 11.

307
00:35:32,108 --> 00:35:41,722
Hebrews chapter 11 verse 8, By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the
place which he would receive as an inheritance and he went out not knowing where he was

308
00:35:41,722 --> 00:35:42,723
going.

309
00:35:43,203 --> 00:35:51,526
By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country dwelling in tents with
Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise.

310
00:35:51,867 --> 00:35:59,130
For he waited for the city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God.

311
00:36:00,718 --> 00:36:05,938
True or false, the city of Jerusalem existed before it was in Israel's hands.

312
00:36:10,562 --> 00:36:14,527
We know that because it existed in the days of Abraham.

313
00:36:16,140 --> 00:36:19,628
because the king of Salem, Melchizedek...

314
00:36:21,494 --> 00:36:26,069
was presented an offering from Abraham.

315
00:36:28,344 --> 00:36:30,195
Jerusalem already existed.

316
00:36:30,656 --> 00:36:33,318
The city of peace already existed.

317
00:36:34,139 --> 00:36:34,889
And guess what?

318
00:36:34,889 --> 00:36:40,704
When Abraham met Melchizedek, he didn't suddenly say, look, there's the city I've been
looking for all this time.

319
00:36:40,925 --> 00:36:42,886
The city that was built by God.

320
00:36:43,227 --> 00:36:45,168
The city that someday would be the city of David.

321
00:36:45,168 --> 00:36:46,429
This is it.

322
00:36:46,810 --> 00:36:47,710
No.

323
00:36:50,092 --> 00:36:54,388
He showed honor to Melchizedek, but he didn't say, hey, that's the city I've been looking
for.

324
00:36:56,564 --> 00:37:05,158
No, he waited for a city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God.

325
00:37:05,479 --> 00:37:07,700
You go forward just a few verses.

326
00:37:08,441 --> 00:37:24,520
Verse 13, these, Abraham, Sarah, he says, these all died in faith, not having received the
promises, but having seen them afar off, were assured of them, embraced them, and

327
00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:25,484
confessed.

328
00:37:25,484 --> 00:37:28,315
that they were strangers and pilgrims?

329
00:37:28,315 --> 00:37:29,247
Where?

330
00:37:31,193 --> 00:37:33,631
on the earth.

331
00:37:36,750 --> 00:37:53,870
Abraham apparently was far more knowledgeable of the promises of God than some individuals
today who are claiming that when Christ returns those who are faithful to him will receive

332
00:37:53,870 --> 00:37:57,730
an inheritance on the earth.

333
00:38:00,734 --> 00:38:03,870
That is not the inheritance Abraham and Sarah were looking for.

334
00:38:05,758 --> 00:38:09,303
they looked for a land for their descendants.

335
00:38:10,286 --> 00:38:17,888
They looked for an inheritance on the earth that was part of their promise, but that was
not the place they were headed towards.

336
00:38:20,024 --> 00:38:22,057
They said, we're strangers here.

337
00:38:26,572 --> 00:38:29,237
James and I were discussing something just recently.

338
00:38:31,022 --> 00:38:32,903
about the government shutdown.

339
00:38:33,364 --> 00:38:41,530
And I mentioned that one of the points of discussion was about money allocated for illegal
aliens.

340
00:38:41,991 --> 00:38:46,234
His brain immediately went aliens outer space.

341
00:38:47,182 --> 00:38:50,137
I said, no, no, no, that's not how the aliens used.

342
00:38:50,959 --> 00:38:54,581
The word alien means someone who is not from there.

343
00:38:54,642 --> 00:38:58,845
Someone who is originally from there.

344
00:38:58,845 --> 00:39:00,108
said, you have.

345
00:39:00,108 --> 00:39:03,295
you have those in scripture who are spoken of as aliens.

346
00:39:03,295 --> 00:39:04,598
They're not from outer space.

347
00:39:04,598 --> 00:39:06,111
They're not from Israel.

348
00:39:06,914 --> 00:39:09,319
They are those who are Gentiles.

349
00:39:09,319 --> 00:39:10,982
uh

350
00:39:13,813 --> 00:39:16,003
As you think about this...

351
00:39:18,056 --> 00:39:21,859
Abraham and Sarah said, you know this planet Earth?

352
00:39:22,283 --> 00:39:23,516
We're not from here.

353
00:39:26,656 --> 00:39:28,157
and we don't plan to stay.

354
00:39:31,650 --> 00:39:43,794
So often we in our mind tie our life, our being, our existence to our physical birth.

355
00:39:45,358 --> 00:39:57,344
to our physical family, to the place where we grew up on this planet, to the existence
that we've had on this planet.

356
00:39:58,664 --> 00:40:10,570
And yet Paul is telling Timothy, you are a warrior of a kingdom that is not of this world.

357
00:40:12,254 --> 00:40:19,368
and the life which you are to lay hold of is not of this world.

358
00:40:21,300 --> 00:40:30,516
and the king which you serve is a king over a kingdom which is not of this world.

359
00:40:38,466 --> 00:40:40,393
He says that you keep this command.

360
00:40:42,466 --> 00:40:52,310
without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ appearing, which He will manifest in
His own time.

361
00:40:53,211 --> 00:41:10,618
He who is the blessed and only potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who alone
has immortality dwelling in unapproachable light.

362
00:41:11,896 --> 00:41:19,486
whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.

363
00:41:21,496 --> 00:41:30,134
Paul reminds Timothy, all the striving that you see around you for the things of this
world.

364
00:41:32,224 --> 00:41:41,236
you remember that yes, you have to provide for your own and if you don't do that you're
worse than an infidel.

365
00:41:42,197 --> 00:41:45,177
Yes, you have to take care of those who are in need.

366
00:41:45,558 --> 00:41:50,259
Yes, you have to provide for those who are serving in the service of God.

367
00:41:50,259 --> 00:41:52,120
Yes, you have to do all those things.

368
00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:53,450
Yes, you have to preach the truth.

369
00:41:53,450 --> 00:41:54,810
Yes, you have to love people.

370
00:41:54,810 --> 00:41:56,481
Yes, you have to care about people.

371
00:41:56,481 --> 00:41:58,361
Yes, you have to fight a good fight of faith.

372
00:41:58,361 --> 00:42:00,962
Yes, you have to be in a good example, but

373
00:42:00,962 --> 00:42:04,340
This world isn't what it's about.

374
00:42:08,270 --> 00:42:09,791
because everything we do.

375
00:42:11,734 --> 00:42:16,146
is not so we can sit in a seat of power in this world.

376
00:42:17,934 --> 00:42:22,472
It's not so we can rule over a province of people in this world.

377
00:42:24,630 --> 00:42:29,721
It is so that we can dwell with a king.

378
00:42:31,394 --> 00:42:32,818
we have never seen.

379
00:42:34,766 --> 00:42:43,462
that no man is seen, that we might dwell in His abode.

380
00:42:45,442 --> 00:42:53,106
that we only have human terms to, in such a minuscule way, describe.

381
00:42:55,608 --> 00:43:06,109
Paul says you lay hold on eternal life and you never look back.

382
00:43:06,871 --> 00:43:08,032
Thank you for your attention.