Remember Jesus Christ

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 95:1-7
• Hymn — Praise My Soul the King of Heaven
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1
• Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 23:15-29
• Pastoral Prayer
• Hymn — Abide with Me
• Sermon
• Hymn — O God Our Help in Ages Past
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: Remember Jesus Christ

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:8-13

I. The Person of Jesus Christ — 2 Timothy 2:8

A. Paul's gospel summarizes Christ in two essential claims: offspring of David and risen from the dead

1. This terse summary mirrors apostolic preaching throughout Acts and the early church fathers (Ignatius of Antioch, c. AD 108)
2. Paul expands this summary in Acts 13:32-39, quoting Psalm 2, Isaiah 53, and Psalm 16

B. The resurrection distinguishes Jesus from David

1. David's body saw corruption — his dust spells continued condemnation under the law and the curse of Genesis 3
2. Jesus rose bodily and is now seated at the Father's right hand — his resurrection spells freedom from condemnation and forgiveness of sins

C. Application: In our trials, we are to remember the risen Davidic King under whose banner we now stand — not condemnation, but freedom and forgiveness

II. The Purpose of Jesus Christ — 2 Timothy 2:9-10

A. Paul is in chains, treated as the worst of criminals — to preach the gospel is to enter a war; Paul is a prisoner of war

1. Yet the word of God is not bound, even when its messenger is chained
2. Paul endures everything for the sake of the elect, that they may obtain salvation in Christ with eternal glory

B. To compromise the gospel for cultural acceptance would be to bind the unbound word

1. A gospel accommodated to imperial or cultural approval is no longer the unbound word of God
2. God's elect are those who bind themselves to the unbound word, willing to suffer so that word might flourish — illustrated by Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 1) and Peter's confession in John 6

C. Application: Remember Jesus Christ and his unbound word, and the purpose he carries out through it for his elect

III. The Promise of Jesus Christ — 2 Timothy 2:11-13

A. An early Christian saying (possibly a hymn) bolsters the promise of eternal glory for the elect

B. Verse 11 — If we have died with him, we will also live with him

1. Parallels Romans 6:7-8: death to the old self through faith-union with Christ guarantees eternal life
2. The Christian's death to sin is the ground of assurance of resurrection life

C. Verse 12 — Two conditional statements set in contrast

1. Positive: If we endure, we will reign with him — the crown of glory awaits those who persevere through suffering
2. Negative: If we deny him, he will also deny us — a warning against apostasy, illustrated by those who abandoned Paul (Phygelus, Hermogenes, and others in 2 Timothy 1 and 2 Timothy 4)

D. Verse 13 — If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself

1. Christ cannot deny those purchased with his blood — his faithfulness does not depend on ours
2. Illustrated by Christ's words to his disciples before the crucifixion in Mark 14:27-28: they will fall away, but he will be raised and go before them
3. Samuel Rutherford (17th-century Scottish Presbyterian): "Often and often I have torn up my copy of God's covenant with me, but blessed be his name, he keeps it safe for me in heaven"

E. Application: Stumbling Christians find their confidence not in their own consistency but in a covenant-keeping Lord who is the same yesterday, today, and forever — remember Jesus Christ, your promise-keeping, soul-winning, risen Davidic King