2 Timothy. Who is a Spiritual Christian?
Paul wrote a letter, shortly before his execution, to Timothy who was leading the church in Ephesus. He summarises what is most important in a Christians life emphasising that the most important feature of a spirit-filled life is holding firmly to Jesus. Early in the letter Paul writes,
“I am reminded of your sincere faith.” 2 Timothy 1:5
Nothing is more important than to remain in a faithful relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Clarence Jordan
Clarence Jordan was such a Christian man with unusual abilities and commitment. He had two PhD’s, one in agriculture and one in Greek and Hebrew. So gifted was he, he could have chosen to do anything he wanted but he chose to serve the poor. In the 1940s, he founded a farm in Georgia, and called it Koinonia Farm. It was a community for poor whites and poor blacks. As you might guess, such an idea did not go over well in the Deep South of the '40s. Ironically, much of the resistance came from church people who followed the laws of segregation as much as the other folk in town. The town people tried everything to stop Clarence. They tried boycotting him, and slashing workers' tires when they came to town. Over and over, for fourteen years, they tried to stop him.
Finally, in 1954, the Ku Klux Klan had enough of Clarence Jordan, so they decided to get rid of him once and for all. They came one night with guns and torches and set fire to every building on Koinonia Farm but Clarence's home they riddled with bullets. They chased off all the families, except one black family which refused to leave. Clarence recognized the voices of many of the Klansmen, and, as you might guess, some of them were church people. Another was a local newspaper reporter. The next day, the reporter came out to see what remained of the farm. The rubble still smouldered and the land was scorched, but he found Clarence in the field, hoeing and planting.
“I heard the awful news,” he called to Clarence, “and I came out to do a story on the tragedy of your farm closing.”
Clarence just kept on hoeing and planting. The reporter kept prodding, kept poking, trying to get a rise from this quietly determined man who seemed to be planting instead of packing his bags. So, finally, the reporter said in a haughty voice,
“Well, Dr. Jordan, you got two of them Ph.D.s and you've put fourteen years into this farm, and there's nothing left of it at all. Just how successful do you think you've been?”
Clarence stopped hoeing, turned toward the reporter with his penetrating blue eyes, and said quietly but firmly,
“About as successful as the cross. Sir, I don't think you understand us. What we are about is not success but faithfulness. We're staying. Good day.”
Beginning that day, Clarence and his companions rebuilt Koinonia and the farm is going strong today.
The question Paul goes on to answer is what Christian faithfulness means.
Keep praying
Paul’s prayers demonstrated that his whole life revolved around living for God. He constantly prayed out of gratefulness to God and particularly for people’s walk with God.
“I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.” 2 Timothy1:3
What does it say about a person’s walk with his heavenly Father and Saviour if prayer is treated indifferently?
Keep Witnessing to non-Christians
Some may think this is a strange way for Paul to move onto in his description of the features of a real faith, but this is what he does,
“So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.” 2 Timothy 1:8
An open acknowledgement that ‘Jesus is Lord’ is a fundamental requirement for all Christians. Paul had written to the Romans,
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
The church in Mongolia was very small when the communist regime fell and a parliamentary democracy started in 1990. But in just 30 years, 2.1 per cent of the population have put their faith in Jesus. This rapid growth has come about largely through personal evangelism. Tsogoo is now a Physics professor at Khovd university who is now a Christian who loves teaching the Bible to men’s groups. He had no Christian background or knowledge at all until a friend returned with a strange book and a new faith. His friend encouraged him to read the Bible and he became intrigued. A few years later he declared himself to be a Christian and he also committed himself to acquainting those he meets with the message of the Bible.
Could this opening indicate that Paul considers a longing to share the faith in Jesus as an essential mark of being spiritual?
Keep teaching the Bible
This is what Paul asks Timothy to do next, to keep on sharing God’s message to others.
“What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you . . .” 2 Timothy 1:13-14
We guard the gospel by faithfully passing it on, otherwise it will die with us! The prime purpose of a church is to teach the Word of God to others and encourage people to keep living by its precepts. Paul repeatedly returns to this theme. Later in this letter Paul again emphasises that the Bible is central to the Christian faith.:
“. . . and how from infancy you have known the Scriptures that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of god may be equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17
In the final chapter teaching what the Bible teaches becomes the impassioned plea,
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4
Train others to pass on the gospel
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Training others is vital in a church and vital for a successful Christian. What a disaster it is when people expect the minister to be doing the evangelism, pastoring and teaching of a church. No, we should all be thinking how we can pass on what we have learnt to others, including children in our families and others around.
An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service.
“Pastor," said the man, "something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There's been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he's just a boy.”
The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling.
“I feel it all," he replied, "but God knows I've tried to do my duty.”
On that day the minister's heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign. After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him and asked,
“Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher--perhaps a missionary?”
Again tears welled up in the minister's eyes.
“Ah, this heals the ache I feel,” he said. “Robert, I see the Divine hand now. May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will become a preacher.”
Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the church of Jesus Christ, reaching even some of Africa's most savage chiefs. His name was Robert Moffat, the same Robert who years before had spoken to the pastor that Sunday morning in the old Scottish kirk. Lord, help us to be faithful. Then give us the grace to leave the results to you.
There are Christian groups that feel secure because they adhere to orthodox Christian doctrine and who may even give lip service to evangelism but which die out because they are so introspective. They haven’t followed what the Bible teaches about becoming salt of society, their members don’t actually invite friends to join their group to hear the gospel. They do not take the time to make friends with those outside the faith but think that God will work just because they ask him to. Prayer is key but not a substitute for living the life. One test is to ask ourselves who of our friends we are praying for. Another test is to look at how many outsiders are attending their Bible study groups. A third test is to look back and think which non-Christians we have either spoken to about Jesus or invited to come and hear about him in the last month.
Paul’s letter to Titus begins with this need,
“. . . straighten out was was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town . . . He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught.” Titus 1:5,9
“There are many rebellious people . . .They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach.” Titus 1:10-11
Make living for Christ your life’s work
For many Christians today there is little to differentiate them, during the working week, from their secular friends; their speech and behaviour are little different. Paul compares the single-minded commitment a representative of Jesus should have to the singled-minded commitment of a soldier, an athlete or a farmer.
“No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” 2 Timothy 2:5-7
At times hard decisions about our priorities will have to be made. One stormy night in Birmingham, England, Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, was to speak at a meeting at the Severn Street schoolroom. His hostess told him that nobody was likely to attend on such a stormy night, but Taylor insisted on going. “I must go even if there is no one but the doorkeeper.” Less than a dozen people showed up, but the meeting was marked with unusual spiritual power. Half of those present either became missionaries or gave their children as missionaries; and the rest were faithful supporters of the China Inland Mission for years to come.
Remain Christ-centred
There are many emphases within today’s churches, such as helping alleviate social needs with food banks, water wells for Africa, and supporting those with health problems. These are all worthy causes and should be supported; however it is easy for these to become the church’s main concern and replace the teaching of the gospel; everyone has a need for Jesus. A spiritual Christian will keep the relationship with Jesus right at the centre of their daily life. Everything Christians do should be to please Jesus and bring him honour. Paul wrote to emphasise this,
“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.” 2 Timothy 2:8
The message of the church is essentially how people may become right with God so they can serve him. The Bible is clear, people can only serve God and go to heaven if they have personally put their faith in Jesus.
“There I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” 2 Timothy 2:10
All Christians have been chosen by God to both glory in Christ and to glorify Christ, by passing his message on to others so that they may be saved.
Professor David Short of Aberdeen was the Queens Physician in Scotland. He was very eminent and highly regarded. One day, he overheard some people talking about him: they were saying what a great person he was in so many areas. But he noticed that they did not mention his being a Christian. He then realised that much of what he had done in medicine had been for his glory and not for the glory of the Lord Jesus. We have been chosen to be Christians in order that we might glorify Christ and nothing less.
One of the common arguments for leaving Christ out of our conversations is that we might lose friends or influence. We may be rejected or not invited back. The devil loves such arguments. So many have drifted from Christ because of such thinking; they think of the price and not the privilege and future glory in paradise that there is for those who remain in Christ. Of course we must we wise how we say things. We must not be the offence, but people will inevitably find the message of the cross foolish (1 Corinthians 1:17-18).
Paul wrote,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered from the truth. They say the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.” 2 Timothy 2:15-18
So a spiritual Christian is someone who is determined to obey God as we have been taught in his word and does not drift from this.
A spiritual Christian is also someone who lives in the certain knowledge that Jesus has saved them from the consequences of their sin but who also knows that they will have to give an account to him of the decisions they have made in life.
“If a man cleanses himself from the latter (ignoble purposes), he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared for any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:21-22
To be spiritual is hard work. We are accepted freely into God’s kingdom and are empowered so that we can do this work for him. Church history is full of groups and individuals who think they are safe because they have accepted orthodox beliefs or are in the right organisation but have not moved on to walk the talk. Bonhoeffer called such teaching ‘cheap grace’ – it produces shallow impotent Christians.
To become a spirit-filled person means to be determined to have God at the centre of my life. To be a spiritual man is costly, it will affect how we spend our time, our finances, and our priorities.
Remain loyal to your church and Christians in difficulties
It is all to easy to become upset with others in our churches and look for other groups to join. There may be a time, if Scriptural truths are not being taught in a church and you feel you cannot bring people to hear the gospel there, and there seems no hope of changing this,for a move to be necessary. However most church hoppers do so for less honourable reasons, for their own preferences, prestige or purposes. Paul had been faithful in passing on what Jesus had taught and yet some, such as Phygelus and Hermogenes (2 Timothy 2:17) and Alexander (2 Timothy 4:14) had deserted him for worldly reasons
Stand against false teachers
Today there are are so many sects and false teachers about. Christians in Africa are being inundated with ‘health and wealth teaching’ that has infiltrated the continent from America. This encourages people to see material and physical benefits as the reward for being Christians. Sects such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and the so-called Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), that do not teach Biblical truths and are not therefore Christian, are seducing many people all over the world.
There are those who think that criticising the teaching of other groups is unloving. Paul thinks it is vital, he specifically names Alexander and says,
“You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.” 2 Timothy 4:15
Paul began his first letter to Timothy with this concern,
“ . . . so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer . . .” 1 Timothy 1:3
Conrad Mbewe has pastored in Lusaka, Zambia, since 1987 and has seen prosperity teaching become an unwelcome guest that has taken up permanent residence in Africa. A Reformed Baptist, he hopes to see a revival of the true gospel in his country. He has said,
“We need to address prosperity theology here in Africa because it has replaced the true gospel of salvation with a kind of “gospel” that is no gospel at all. This is happening in what once were mainstream evangelical circles. Everywhere, especially on radio and television, almost all you hear is this message about how God in Christ wants us to be physically healthy and materially prosperous. You hardly ever hear sermons about sin and repentance. So salvation has now become deliverance from sickness and poverty. It is temporal rather than eternal. Prosperity theology is like the Arabian camel that gave the impression it simply wanted a little space in the tent, but now the whole of it is inside and the true gospel is outside.”
The effect of false teaching is false living. Paul gives a long list of the consequences of rejecting God, finishing with,
“. . . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 2 Timothy 3:4-5
Paul contrasts this with the character of someone dedicated to Christ,
“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings . . .” 2 Timothy 3:10-11
Willing to suffer for Christ
A successful Christian is willing to suffer because of his commitment to Christ. Suffering only comes to those who put their heads above the parapet and speak up for Christ. Lie low and the flak will fly past you to others. Just be kind and respectful and no-one will trouble you. But Paul says,
In fact everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12
Pleasing Jesus matters more to the spiritual man than pleasing others.
Looks forward to being with Christ in eternity
What a wonderful summary Paul could give of his own life as it comes to an end; his execution was fast approaching. He could say,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that day – and not to me, but also to all who have have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7
The spiritual person will be able to say something similar at the end of their life.
Summary
A successful Christian is therefore a person who is sold out to the service of his Saviour. Jesus does want all his people to be effective and productive for him, but he will only use those who work hard at being the sort of people he wants. Peter wrote at the end of his life about what really matters. We rely on the free grace of God for our acceptance by him but then build on this.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:3-8
We must ‘make every effort’ to be like Jesus in our character and purpose. Jesus’ priority was to train up future leaders who would be effective in establishing his church. God wants all his people to work hard at becoming good, knowledgable and godly people and so becoming effective and productive for him.
Is that really me?
BVP
