But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. —2 Timothy 1:12-14 Earlier in this letter to Timothy, Paul hammered the theme of not being ashamed as a key factor in endurance, even under suffering. Now he is giving us the key to not being ashamed. He tells us, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed. He is saying, The reason I’m not ashamed and willing to suffer is because I know Jesus Christ. That phrase, I know whom I have believed, captures the past, present, and personal quality of Paul’s relationship with Christ. His faith wasn’t intellectual belief in a concept or idea of a savior, but a deep connection with the risen Savior. He had just described Jesus in verse 10 as the One “who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” In other words, Jesus is someone not to be ashamed of knowing!
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 13:22:35 +0000
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