Remembering Who Jesus Is! -- 2 Timothy 2:8-14a
Remembering Who Jesus Is! -- 2 Timothy 2:8-14a
By Pastor Lee Hemen
August 31, 2008 AM
Who is Jesus to you? Think about that for a moment, will you? Who is Jesus to you? Is He some nice guy who went about doing good or perhaps a good guy who went about being nice? Is He the Son of God for you, the messiah, or perhaps your little buddy that you keep on your dashboard just for insurance sake? Who is Jesus for you? In today’s world there are many perceptions of who Jesus is, some of them right on and some of them quite odd. I believe as never before, Christians need to remember who Jesus is.
This question was forefront in the mind of Paul when he wrote his pastor friend Timothy at Ephesus. He wanted Timothy to never forget and to continually remind others of “these things.” In today’s world we as believers in Jesus must be about remembering who Jesus is. He is not “Jesus Christ,” in the sense that we equate this as his personal name, but rather He is the Savior of the world. Paul wanted Timothy to fully understand who Jesus was because Timothy was finding it difficult to remain focused on what his own ministry was to be about. This is true for Christians right now as well. Therefore let’s pause with Paul in remembering who Jesus is.
READ: 2 Timothy 2:8-14a
Paul would write to the theologically struggling church at Corinth, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1) He knew that a musical instrument, no matter the big noise it made, quickly faded away and was nothing by itself. The same is true for those who claim Christ but really have no idea who He is. Sometimes, Christians can sound good, but like a clanging cymbal are soon quiet in their lives in Jesus. In remembering who Jesus is, Christians need to remember that…
I. Jesus is the instrument of our salvation! (v. 8a)
1. An instrument is only a piece of brass or wood until it is played! Paul realized this held true for the spiritual realm as well. Here’s what I mean: Christians have to “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.” “Christ” is not the last name of Jesus. He is not Mr. Christ, rather, it refers to and describes for us who Jesus actually is, the promised Messiah. Literally, “the anointed one” whom the Hebrews and thereby the whole world had been waiting for! The Jews longed for a military leader that would reestablish the kingdom of David and drive out their hated Roman conquerors. Instead they got a suffering servant that Isaiah wrote about that was “descended of David.” However, Jesus was “raised from the dead” to prove that what He related about Himself was completely true! He related to His disciples privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (Luke 10:23-24) and “He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’” (Luke 24:46-47) We must never forget that Jesus is the Messiah, the instrument of our salvation!
EXAMPLE: I will never forget when I was playing the violin in a junior orchestra, that each instrument had a part and an importance to play. Whether it was the first or second violins, violas, or cellos each had an importance in the quality of the music played. The same was true for the drums, brass, and the lowly triangle. In fact, I remember we had just finished Beethoven’s familiar Fifth Symphony and the orchestra had ended in a great crescendo. There was a lull and then the person holding the cymbals dropped one with a resounding crash. It was not the proper punctuation or ending for the piece of music played. In fact, it was not just embarrassing for our conductor, the teen who made the faux pas wanted to crawl away. Instead, the conductor said with a flourish, “And thus ends Beethoven’s Fifth, with a resounding crash!” No matter what occurs in life, we must never forget that Jesus is the Messiah, the instrument of our salvation!
There is an old song called “Johnny One Note,” that tells the story of a young man who could sing only one note really loud. In fact, he sang it so loud that you could not hear the brass or the drums, only his one note. Often, Christians are accused by other religions of being “Johnny One Notes,” because we will not sing any other spiritual song but the one we know concerning Jesus. Paul would applaud those who willingly are accused of just singing out loud the one note of Jesus Christ. In fact he told Timothy that in remembering who Jesus is we have to remind ourselves that…
II. Jesus is the gospel message we suffer for! (vv. 8b-10)
1. The song Christians should sing over and over is “Jesus saves!” Paul bluntly wrote Timothy that “This is my gospel.” It was Paul’s “good news.” The melodic message of hope to a spiritually dead sin-fallen world. Paul took his message so seriously he was willing to suffer for it. We find that he was “chained like a criminal,” But even in his chains Paul knew that “God's word is not chained!” Preaching the good news about the crucified but resurrected Son of David was what had landed Paul in a Roman jail. Much of the Book of Acts catalogs Paul’s suffering for the cause of Christ. Paul endured “everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” Do you understand the implications of Paul’s words to Timothy? He meant that he was willing to suffer and sing his solo for the sake of us, who he called “the elect.” We are chosen of God and it was Paul’s privilege to sing the message loudly even if it meant he suffered for it! And, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, that is what we are called to do as well. We are called to join the chorus and sing out loud the one noted tune that Jesus is the only means of salvation. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Peter echoed Jesus’ lyrics by singing, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) and we as believers need to sing it loud and proud remembering that Jesus is the gospel message we suffer for!
EXAMPLE: There are those who try to twist the gospel to suit their own means. Using it as a sounding board to garner more money for the poor, making Jesus out as just another good spiritual teacher, or as a means to liberate the oppressed. In the 60s and 70s it was popularized by communistic leaning theologians called “Liberation Theology” and it has gone totally out of vogue now. However, there are still those who see Jesus as a means to ease their personal pain in life or as a good buddy, but none of these is the gospel message we suffer for. The reason the Christian, like Paul, suffers for the gospel’s sake is because the real gospel contains at its core the spiritual truth to “obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.” Christians suffer because people do not want to come to the realization that Jesus is the means for spiritual salvation and not the agent for social or political change. Can a Christian influence bring these things about? Certainly, but that is not the reason for the gospel message. We must remember that Jesus is the gospel message we suffer for.
Several years ago I read about a young husband who forgot that he was married. According to the newspaper account, the day after the newlyweds returned from their honeymoon, the husband was 3 hours late getting home from the office. Dinner was burned--and his bride was burning mad. He had absentmindedly gone to his mother's house! As humorous as that is when people who belong to the Savior suffer from a similar memory problem, it's not very funny. Christians need to remember that…
III. Jesus is our identification! (vv. 11-13)
1. A trustworthy saying is only as good as the truism it is built upon! Paul was so certain of what he knew to be true that he openly declared to a timid Timothy, “Here is a trustworthy saying!” Here is something you can take to the bank! Here is something you can count on! Here is an eternal truth for spiritual life: “If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.” WOW! The Christian is so identified with Jesus that they are His because of His death, burial, and resurrection. They have by faith died to self; are risen to new life in Him; now live for Him no matter what they do, think, or say; and cannot ever be separated from His love for them! Paul knew that Christians “are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” and he would write that “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) Do you believe this little child of God? If this is true, then are you willing to be identified with Jesus Christ? Are you? Then, “keep reminding (yourself) of these things!” Remember who Jesus is. He is our identification!
EXAMPLE: Spiritual identity is important to God. Why? He wants those who claim to know Him to really know Him. Let me explain: Several years ago a 5-year-old boy recognized himself on a TV show about missing children. He had thought he was where he was supposed to be. But when he saw himself on television, he realized that he was separated from the one to whom he rightfully belonged. He told his babysitter, who then called the authorities. Before long, he was in the arms of his mother. It's easy to assume that everything is all right spiritually and that we are where we ought to be, yet not really know who God is. We may think we do, but we have never trusted in Jesus His Son. Can you imagine realizing that you had been “missing” for years only to realize you were not really who you thought you were? Jesus related that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Spiritual identification is still important. Who do you identify with and whom are you identified with? Paul would say, remember who Jesus is. He is your identification.
Conclusion:
We who are united to Christ need to remind ourselves continually that we belong to Him, and we are to choose to live for His glory. Paul did just that with Timothy, helping him and us a Christians to remember who Jesus is. Jesus is the instrument of our salvation, Jesus is the gospel message we suffer for, and Jesus is our identification.
---
NOTE: This article is copyrighted by Pastor Lee Hemen © 2008 and the property of Pastor Lee Hemen. You are welcome to copy it, email it, or use it but please if you copy it, email it, or use it you must do so in its entirety.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
August 31, 2008 AM
Who is Jesus to you? Think about that for a moment, will you? Who is Jesus to you? Is He some nice guy who went about doing good or perhaps a good guy who went about being nice? Is He the Son of God for you, the messiah, or perhaps your little buddy that you keep on your dashboard just for insurance sake? Who is Jesus for you? In today’s world there are many perceptions of who Jesus is, some of them right on and some of them quite odd. I believe as never before, Christians need to remember who Jesus is.
This question was forefront in the mind of Paul when he wrote his pastor friend Timothy at Ephesus. He wanted Timothy to never forget and to continually remind others of “these things.” In today’s world we as believers in Jesus must be about remembering who Jesus is. He is not “Jesus Christ,” in the sense that we equate this as his personal name, but rather He is the Savior of the world. Paul wanted Timothy to fully understand who Jesus was because Timothy was finding it difficult to remain focused on what his own ministry was to be about. This is true for Christians right now as well. Therefore let’s pause with Paul in remembering who Jesus is.
READ: 2 Timothy 2:8-14a
Paul would write to the theologically struggling church at Corinth, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1) He knew that a musical instrument, no matter the big noise it made, quickly faded away and was nothing by itself. The same is true for those who claim Christ but really have no idea who He is. Sometimes, Christians can sound good, but like a clanging cymbal are soon quiet in their lives in Jesus. In remembering who Jesus is, Christians need to remember that…
I. Jesus is the instrument of our salvation! (v. 8a)
1. An instrument is only a piece of brass or wood until it is played! Paul realized this held true for the spiritual realm as well. Here’s what I mean: Christians have to “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.” “Christ” is not the last name of Jesus. He is not Mr. Christ, rather, it refers to and describes for us who Jesus actually is, the promised Messiah. Literally, “the anointed one” whom the Hebrews and thereby the whole world had been waiting for! The Jews longed for a military leader that would reestablish the kingdom of David and drive out their hated Roman conquerors. Instead they got a suffering servant that Isaiah wrote about that was “descended of David.” However, Jesus was “raised from the dead” to prove that what He related about Himself was completely true! He related to His disciples privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (Luke 10:23-24) and “He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’” (Luke 24:46-47) We must never forget that Jesus is the Messiah, the instrument of our salvation!
EXAMPLE: I will never forget when I was playing the violin in a junior orchestra, that each instrument had a part and an importance to play. Whether it was the first or second violins, violas, or cellos each had an importance in the quality of the music played. The same was true for the drums, brass, and the lowly triangle. In fact, I remember we had just finished Beethoven’s familiar Fifth Symphony and the orchestra had ended in a great crescendo. There was a lull and then the person holding the cymbals dropped one with a resounding crash. It was not the proper punctuation or ending for the piece of music played. In fact, it was not just embarrassing for our conductor, the teen who made the faux pas wanted to crawl away. Instead, the conductor said with a flourish, “And thus ends Beethoven’s Fifth, with a resounding crash!” No matter what occurs in life, we must never forget that Jesus is the Messiah, the instrument of our salvation!
There is an old song called “Johnny One Note,” that tells the story of a young man who could sing only one note really loud. In fact, he sang it so loud that you could not hear the brass or the drums, only his one note. Often, Christians are accused by other religions of being “Johnny One Notes,” because we will not sing any other spiritual song but the one we know concerning Jesus. Paul would applaud those who willingly are accused of just singing out loud the one note of Jesus Christ. In fact he told Timothy that in remembering who Jesus is we have to remind ourselves that…
II. Jesus is the gospel message we suffer for! (vv. 8b-10)
1. The song Christians should sing over and over is “Jesus saves!” Paul bluntly wrote Timothy that “This is my gospel.” It was Paul’s “good news.” The melodic message of hope to a spiritually dead sin-fallen world. Paul took his message so seriously he was willing to suffer for it. We find that he was “chained like a criminal,” But even in his chains Paul knew that “God's word is not chained!” Preaching the good news about the crucified but resurrected Son of David was what had landed Paul in a Roman jail. Much of the Book of Acts catalogs Paul’s suffering for the cause of Christ. Paul endured “everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” Do you understand the implications of Paul’s words to Timothy? He meant that he was willing to suffer and sing his solo for the sake of us, who he called “the elect.” We are chosen of God and it was Paul’s privilege to sing the message loudly even if it meant he suffered for it! And, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, that is what we are called to do as well. We are called to join the chorus and sing out loud the one noted tune that Jesus is the only means of salvation. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Peter echoed Jesus’ lyrics by singing, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) and we as believers need to sing it loud and proud remembering that Jesus is the gospel message we suffer for!
EXAMPLE: There are those who try to twist the gospel to suit their own means. Using it as a sounding board to garner more money for the poor, making Jesus out as just another good spiritual teacher, or as a means to liberate the oppressed. In the 60s and 70s it was popularized by communistic leaning theologians called “Liberation Theology” and it has gone totally out of vogue now. However, there are still those who see Jesus as a means to ease their personal pain in life or as a good buddy, but none of these is the gospel message we suffer for. The reason the Christian, like Paul, suffers for the gospel’s sake is because the real gospel contains at its core the spiritual truth to “obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.” Christians suffer because people do not want to come to the realization that Jesus is the means for spiritual salvation and not the agent for social or political change. Can a Christian influence bring these things about? Certainly, but that is not the reason for the gospel message. We must remember that Jesus is the gospel message we suffer for.
Several years ago I read about a young husband who forgot that he was married. According to the newspaper account, the day after the newlyweds returned from their honeymoon, the husband was 3 hours late getting home from the office. Dinner was burned--and his bride was burning mad. He had absentmindedly gone to his mother's house! As humorous as that is when people who belong to the Savior suffer from a similar memory problem, it's not very funny. Christians need to remember that…
III. Jesus is our identification! (vv. 11-13)
1. A trustworthy saying is only as good as the truism it is built upon! Paul was so certain of what he knew to be true that he openly declared to a timid Timothy, “Here is a trustworthy saying!” Here is something you can take to the bank! Here is something you can count on! Here is an eternal truth for spiritual life: “If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.” WOW! The Christian is so identified with Jesus that they are His because of His death, burial, and resurrection. They have by faith died to self; are risen to new life in Him; now live for Him no matter what they do, think, or say; and cannot ever be separated from His love for them! Paul knew that Christians “are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” and he would write that “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) Do you believe this little child of God? If this is true, then are you willing to be identified with Jesus Christ? Are you? Then, “keep reminding (yourself) of these things!” Remember who Jesus is. He is our identification!
EXAMPLE: Spiritual identity is important to God. Why? He wants those who claim to know Him to really know Him. Let me explain: Several years ago a 5-year-old boy recognized himself on a TV show about missing children. He had thought he was where he was supposed to be. But when he saw himself on television, he realized that he was separated from the one to whom he rightfully belonged. He told his babysitter, who then called the authorities. Before long, he was in the arms of his mother. It's easy to assume that everything is all right spiritually and that we are where we ought to be, yet not really know who God is. We may think we do, but we have never trusted in Jesus His Son. Can you imagine realizing that you had been “missing” for years only to realize you were not really who you thought you were? Jesus related that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Spiritual identification is still important. Who do you identify with and whom are you identified with? Paul would say, remember who Jesus is. He is your identification.
Conclusion:
We who are united to Christ need to remind ourselves continually that we belong to Him, and we are to choose to live for His glory. Paul did just that with Timothy, helping him and us a Christians to remember who Jesus is. Jesus is the instrument of our salvation, Jesus is the gospel message we suffer for, and Jesus is our identification.
---
NOTE: This article is copyrighted by Pastor Lee Hemen © 2008 and the property of Pastor Lee Hemen. You are welcome to copy it, email it, or use it but please if you copy it, email it, or use it you must do so in its entirety.
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