I Know Whom I Have Believed

I Know Whom I Have Believed

2 Timothy 1:12

Nearing the end of his life, Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy... from prison. At this point he was elderly, weary in body, scarred from countless beatings. He knew something of rejection, slander, and fear.

Imagine being in your “Golden Years” (as we like to call them), only to find yourself in chains, like a criminal, on account of sharing the Good News of Jesus. Paul’s calling to preach the Gospel of the Lord he’d loved and faithfully served, had cost him dearly. He knew he was on his final lap... and his days in this life were coming to an end.

Yet, there’s no despair, no regret, no second-guessing with Paul. Instead, his resounding testimony echoes through the ages with unshakable confidence: “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed.”

These simple, yet powerful words clearly reveal three Truths of Christian assurance:

The first being... The Certainty of Suffering for the Gospel.

Paul was suffering on account of his obedience to Christ; “That is why I’m suffering.”

The gospel is not a path of leisure, or ease in this life... the gospel is a call to self-denial and cross-bearing. Jesus even said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25)

Paul knew this Truth all-to-well. His faithful witness brought him scorn and prison. Jesus had already declared, “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20).

Of course, Paul’s words underpin an essential truth of our faith: and that Truth, is that union with Christ means sharing in His sufferings before we share in His glory.

You won’t hear this truth from the Prosperity Gospel or “Word of Faith” camps, with the likes of Joel Osteen, or Benny Hinn, or Kenneth Hagan, or Paula White (who currently has the ear of our president). But the Truth, with a capital “T” is that God often allows His people to endure hardship “for their own humbling and to raise them to a closer dependence upon [Christ].” (Westminster Confession 5.5).

The fact is, if you and I find ourselves, ridiculed, or ostracized, or belittled (or worse!) on account of our faith in Christ, we shouldn’t be surprised. Jesus told his disciples clearly: “in this world you WILL have trouble” (John 16:33). The path of discipleship runs through hardship. But in Christ, suffering is not defeat—it is fellowship with Him, for he has overcome the world.

Listen: Suffering for the sake of self is foolishness... but suffering for the sake of Christ is life!

And that brings us to the second truth of assurance found in our Lesson for today... The Foundation of our Faith is Christ Himself!

Paul says, “I am not ashamed, for I know Whom I have believed.”

Notice carefully—Paul does not say, “I know what I have believed.” There’s no doubt that doctrine, and theology are important. Good, or right theology is essential. But there’s something even more important that our doctrines, or our thoughts about who Christ is! And Paul got this! He understood that even though doctrine is essential, his confidence rested not in abstract words and thought about Jesus... but in a living Savior. Christianity is not merely adherence to creeds, or statements about Christ; it’s about union with the risen Christ.

Put another way: Faith is more than just knowledge, or even belief! Satan certainly believes, and the demons tremble in belief (and fear) before the Lord. (James 2:19)

Of course, Christian Faith certainly includes knowledge and belief... but it’s more! It’s a personal trusting dependency on Christ Himself—the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. John Calvin said, “Faith is not a distant speculation about God - but a warm embrace of Christ, by which He dwells in us and we in Him.”

Do you know whom you have believed? Not just what you believe about Him—but do you know Him? Knowing whom you believe is the essence of saving faith.

When you and I know Whom we believe... we also know that He will never leave or abandon us... which brings us to the 3rd truth of Christian Assurance in 2 Timothy 1:12...

And that’s The Assurance that Christ will Hold us Fast... that he will keep us until the day of His return, and our glorification.

Paul says, “I know Whom I have believed, and I’m convinced that he is able to guard what I’ve entrusted to Him for that day.”

Paul’s great assurance is the gospel entrusted to him, his very soul, and the ministry given him—Christ Himself will guard it all until the Last Day.

This is the doctrine of perseverance of the saints. Our salvation does not rest on our grip of Christ, but on Christ’s grip of us. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28).

The great reformed preacher Charles Spurgeon said, "It is not your hold of Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to your hand with which you are grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to your hope, but to Jesus, the source of your hope; look not to your faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul."

Jesus holds us fast (secure)!

The Westminster Confession (WCF 17.1) beautifully states: “They, whom God has accepted in [Christ], effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.”

Paul’s assurance was not his self-confidence but, rather, his Christ-confidence. This is why Paul could face life & death unashamed. His life, his ministry, his eternal soul... was in the safe keeping of Christ.

My prayer for us today is that Paul’s words would become our reality:

+ When you suffer for Christ, remember suffering is the mark of true discipleship.

+ When doubts arise, don’t rest in ideas or precepts... rest in the Living Christ—know whom you have believed.

+ When fears come, trust that it is Christ who guards your life, mind, body, and soul, until the Day of His appearing.

Therefore, do not be ashamed of Christ. Stand boldly, suffer faithfully, and rest confidently. For the One in whom we have believed is able—mighty to save, mighty to keep, and mighty to bring us to himself.

“For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”

For this is the Word of God for the People of God.

Thanks be to God. Amen.