2 Timothy 1:8-18 - Prepared to Suffer

Well, it’s good to be with you here this week. If you have your Bibles, we are continuing in our series in 2 Timothy. So turn there or look it up on your phone, and we’re going to be in verses 8 through 18. If we have not met yet, my name is Brad, lead pastor here at The Well. I’m really excited to spend some time in this text specifically as we continue in our journey in 2 Timothy.

Here at The Well, one of the things we try to do is come alongside one another and walk out this messy process of life with God. We realize that when we come to faith in Jesus, our life is often still riddled with the old self that rears its ugly head. That old flesh comes out, and the reality is that we need the ongoing transformational work of God in our lives. If you’re looking for a place that’s going to enter in with you and walk with you so that down the road we might look more like Jesus, then today you’re in the right place. If you’re looking for people who are already perfect, I don’t know that that place exists, but I can tell you for sure it is not here.

The Centrality of the Gospel

Through the years, we’ve developed what we call eight foundational practices of the Christian life. They work together as we submit to Christ and He does a work in us. It starts with embracing the Gospel. That is where life begins, and that is where we always return. From there, we begin to share our story, intentionally pursue community, experience ongoing freedom, live on purpose, serve faithfully, give generously, and celebrate the work of God.

The interesting thing with a list like that is you might look at some of those and think, I’m doing pretty well there. That’s great! Don’t get cocky. You’re probably doing well because God is at work in your life in that area, so He gets the credit for it. On other practices, you might say, Oh man, I’m really struggling there. Don’t heap shame and guilt on yourself. You need the Gospel because God is right there with you in that struggle.

Notice that embracing the Gospel is where everything begins and where everything returns. If you’re doing well, it comes back to embracing the Gospel. If you’re struggling, it comes back to embracing the Gospel. Which begs the question: what is the magnificence of this Gospel? Because if we do not understand the Gospel, we cannot understand the Christian life. And if we do not understand the Gospel, we cannot do what this text invites us to do: to suffer well with Christ.

Paul unpacks the beauties of the Gospel for us. In Christ, we are fully forgiven, fully accepted, fully known, and fully loved. Paul says in Romans 8 that if God is for us through the Gospel, who can be against us? Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Is there anything that can separate us from God’s love through the Gospel? The answer is no.

Romans 8:31-39 (NASB)

What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [is] against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The beauty of this Gospel is that God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even while we were dead in our sins, made us alive together with Christ. He raised us up and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace and kindness toward us in Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-7 (NASB)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Paul says he has been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer he who lives, but Christ who lives in him. That is the backdrop. When your heart is warmed to the truth of a risen Jesus, you’re willing to lay down everything in pursuit of Him, because nothing is worth holding onto if it keeps you from Christ.

Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

’I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Paul told Timothy last week to kindle afresh the gift of God that was in him. He reminded him that God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NASB)

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Now we come to verses 8 through 18, which is a call to courage through the Gospel. One scholar said of this passage that few passages in the New Testament possess such a sheer sense of grandeur regarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a stunning picture not only of what the Gospel is, but what the Gospel does in us.

Unashamed of the Testimony

Paul begins in verse 8 by calling Timothy to bold endurance.

2 Timothy 1:8 (NASB)

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with [me] in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

That phrase, “do not be ashamed,” uses very specific language in the Greek. It literally forbids an act that has not yet begun. Paul isn’t saying, “You’re being ashamed, so quit it.” He is saying, “You aren’t ashamed, and you must never become ashamed.” Do not be ashamed of the Gospel or of Christ.

Why would Timothy be tempted to feel shame? The Roman Empire was a shame-based culture. Paul was writing this letter from a dark prison cell. Paul was Timothy’s spiritual father. Word had certainly spread to Ephesus—one of the largest cultural hubs in the empire—that Paul had been arrested again. The persecution starting in Rome was beginning to ripple outward. Associating with Paul was dangerous and socially costly. Yet Paul tells him: do not be ashamed of our Lord or of me, His prisoner.

What is the testimony of our Lord? In Mark 8, Jesus taught that the Son of Man had to suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mark 8:31 (NASB)

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

One of the biggest misunderstandings the Jewish world had when Jesus arrived was that they expected a political ruler and a military deliverer. What they got was a Savior who went to the cross. What they didn’t realize is that the conquering King is still coming. In Revelation 19, Jesus rides in on a white horse, striking down the nations in righteous judgment. That day is coming. But first, Jesus had to do the heavy lifting regarding the sin in the human heart. The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. It’s not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick.

Luke 19:10 (NASB)

‘For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.’

Paul summarizes the testimony of Jesus in 1 Corinthians 15 when he says that he delivered what was of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NASB)

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

This is the Gospel: that Jesus took on human flesh, lived the life we could not live, died the death we should have died, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father. Paul declares in Romans 1:16 that he is not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

Romans 1:16 (NASB)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The Roman world patted Christians on the head and said, “Oh, that’s cute. You believe in this crucified carpenter. We believe in the great pantheon of gods.” But this simple Gospel—of an incarnate Savior who sought us while we were enemies of God and died in our place, offering salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—has transformed the world far more than any empire or pagan deity ever could.

Paul tells Timothy, “You don’t need to be ashamed of Jesus, and you don’t need to be ashamed of my testimony, even though I’m sitting on death row.” What was Paul’s testimony? In 1 Timothy 1, Paul wrote:

1 Timothy 1:12-15 (NASB)

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are [found] in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost [of all].

I don’t know what your story is, but for those of you who lived foolishly for a long time before coming to faith in Christ, reading Paul’s words gives immense hope. We are in good company! Jesus’ testimony was that He came to die for sinners; Paul’s testimony was, “I proclaim Christ as the foremost of sinners saved by grace.”

When the Gospel takes root, everything changes. In Philippians 3, Paul says that whatever things were gain to him, he counted as loss for the sake of Christ. He considered everything rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord.

Philippians 3:7-10 (NASB)

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from [the] Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which [comes] from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

When you truly trust Jesus, you realize nothing else matters compared to Him. Paul tells the Colossians, “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone complete in Christ.”

Colossians 1:28-29 (NASB)

We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

When we embrace Jesus, the renovation project begins. God isn’t afraid to pull out the sledgehammer and heavy power tools to tear down our old nature. He is patient, He plays the long game, and what He began in you, He will faithfully bring to completion.

Prepared to Suffer Well Together

Following Christ is not easy. Alongside our internal personal transformation, there is an external reality: we must be prepared to suffer well together.

Paul writes in verse 8, “Join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.” That word for suffer has a sense of plurality to it. It literally means suffer together. You do not have to suffer alone. When you come to faith in Christ, you are adopted into the family of God. We bear one another’s burdens. We weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn.

If you are evaluating the claims of Jesus, you need to know upfront: the Gospel does not promise an easy, trouble-free life. I wish it did; it would make evangelism much easier! But Paul explicitly warns in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB)

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Paul told the Philippians that it had been granted to them on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

Philippians 1:29 (NASB)

For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

I love how Paul frames that: you receive a two-fold privilege! You get to believe in Him, and you get to suffer with Him. When we live for Christ in a culture that rejects God, we look different. We draw the hostility of a world that is at odds with God. Jesus said in Matthew 5, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven.”

Matthew 5:11-12 (NASB)

’Blessed are you when [people] insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. ’Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Peter echoed this in 1 Peter 3, saying that even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear their intimidation, but set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you.

1 Peter 3:14-15 (NASB)

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always [being] ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

That ability to give an answer of hope in the midst of suffering doesn’t come from human willpower. It comes from deeply embracing the Gospel.

The Sovereign Purpose of God

Look at how Paul describes our salvation in verses 9 and 10.

2 Timothy 1:9-10 (NASB)

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Tucked into verse 9 is one of the greatest theological truths that brings immense comfort: God saved us not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ from all eternity. God made the first move in your salvation.

Paul explains in Ephesians 1 that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, predestining us for adoption as sons.

Ephesians 1:3-5 (NASB)

Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

Whenever you mention predestination, it can lock up people’s mental hard drives because we love our sense of autonomy and free will. Years ago, a man in our church was arguing back and forth with me on this. He was upset because he was convinced that he had chosen God entirely on his own. I asked him, “What is your problem with God making the first move?” He answered, “It makes what I did very small, and it makes God very big.” I said, “And what exactly is the problem with that?”

Titus 3:5 tells us He saved us not on the basis of deeds done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5 (NASB)

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Scripture tells us that no one seeks after God on their own. If there is ever even a tiny spark in your heart that is curious about God, praise Him—He is already at work! We proclaim Christ to everyone as if it is entirely up to us, but we sleep peacefully at night knowing God is the one doing the heavy lifting.

Paul continues in verses 11 and 12, stating that he was appointed a preacher, apostle, and teacher of this Gospel.

2 Timothy 1:11-12 (NASB)

for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Paul declares, “I know whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” What absolute assurance we have in a risen Savior! Our faith is not a religious philosophy where we cross our fingers and hope we picked the winning team. We serve a God who conquered the grave on our behalf and sits at the right hand of the Father.

Yesterday, I was at the hospital bedside of a dear friend in the ICU. He is nearing the end of his earthly race. His family was gathered around, and we were crying and praying together. What a blessed assurance to know with absolute certainty that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. There was no fear, no insecurity, no wondering. His destiny is sealed in a risen Savior. The sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18 (NASB)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Three Means of Grace to Suffer Well

How do we lay hold of the courage to suffer well for Christ? Paul provides three practical means of grace in verses 13 through 18.

1. Retain the Word of God

The first means of grace is found in verse 13.

2 Timothy 1:13 (NASB)

Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Paul says to hold fast to the standard of sound words—the Scriptures. Cling to your Bible. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Back in the spring of 1994, I attended a convention in Missouri while considering joining the staff of FCA. A speaker got up for chapel named Tommy Nelson. He walked up to the pulpit and said, “If you have your Bibles—and I trust that you do—turn to Malachi 4. We’re going to start in verse 1 and hit this thing on the run. If you don’t have a Bible, bring it tomorrow; you’re going to need it.” Everyone bowed their heads to pray except me. I thought, Who is this guy?

He preached through Malachi with incredible power. In Malachi 4:4, as the Old Testament closes, it says, “Remember the law of Moses.” Tommy made the point that in non-essential, cultural matters, feel free to be progressive. Drive a car instead of a horse and buggy. Wear modern clothes. But in the areas of divine revelation and morality, be archaic! Be unapologetically old-fashioned where God has spoken.

Malachi 4:4 (NASB)

’Remember the law of Moses My servant, [even the] statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.

That principle has stayed with me. In non-essential things, carry an iPhone and use modern tools. But in matters of divine truth and morality, stand firmly on the Word of God. A lighthouse doesn’t apologize for shining its light; it stands firm so ships in turbulent waters don’t crash against the rocks. The Bible is divinely inspired and authoritative. If a preacher ever stands up and shares mere human opinion instead of walking through chapter and verse, find another church. It must always be the text.

2. Guard the Power of the Holy Spirit

The second means of grace is in verse 14.

2 Timothy 1:14 (NASB)

Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to [you].

We are called to guard the treasure through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. The root issue of the fall in Genesis 3 was autonomy: the desire to do life without God. Because of the fall, we were all born with a default drive toward autonomy, which the Bible calls living “in the flesh.” Doing life apart from God means doing life isolated and weak.

Paul teaches in Romans 8 that the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. If you belong to Christ, you are not in the flesh; the Spirit of God lives in you.

Romans 8:6-10 (NASB)

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able [to do so], and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. You don’t need to beg God to show up; He is already with you. We often fall into the trap of thinking God only stays near when we perform well, and that He abandons us when we struggle. That is conditional parenting, not our Heavenly Father. He has sealed you with His Spirit. Guard that treasure by walking in daily, open communion with Christ in you.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NASB)

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

3. Lean on the People of God

The third means of grace is found in verses 15 through 18.

2 Timothy 1:15-18 (NASB)

You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me– the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day– and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.

Paul mentions that many in Asia deserted him, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. But then he highlights a man named Onesiphorus, who regularly refreshed Paul and was not ashamed of his chains. When Onesiphorus arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found Paul in prison. To “refresh” means to restore cheer and courage after deep distress.

I want to meet a man like Onesiphorus! He went from prison to prison in Rome until he found his brother in Christ to encourage him. We all need an Onesiphorus in our lives, and we all need to be an Onesiphorus to someone else. That is why we emphasize community groups and ministry teams at The Well. When someone goes through a brutal season, the body of Christ rallies to lift them up.

Conclusion: We Will Fight in the Shade

To wrap this up, how do we respond to this text?

First, continually return to the Gospel. Without the Gospel, we have nothing. When you are celebrating, go to the Gospel. When you are weeping, go to the Gospel. When your life is thriving, go to the Gospel. When you’ve made a mess of things, go to the Gospel. There is no other message that brings life from the dead.

Second, be prepared to endure hardship for Christ’s sake. Suffering isn’t a question of if, but when. As our culture grows darker, the light of Christ will shine brighter through His people. If following Jesus brings cultural disdain, we will endure it together.

There is a famous line from the movie 300 where the enemy warns the Spartans, “Our arrows will blot out the sun,” and the Spartan replies, “Then we will fight in the shade.” Whatever opposition comes our way, we know whom we have believed. He is able to guard everything we have entrusted to Him.

Finally, draw near to God’s means of grace: His Word, His Spirit, and His people. If you aren’t currently anchored in Scripture, walking with the Spirit, and connected to Christian community, let us help you take that step.

Let’s pray together.

Father, thank You for Your Gospel. Thank You for the truth of the Scriptures, chapter and verse, and for the faithful saints who went before us. Holy Spirit, draw us near to Your Word. Teach us to live in open communion with You. Help us to surround one another with encouragement, prayer, and support. Make us a church that boldly lives out the Gospel in our city and our neighborhoods. We give You all the glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.