Gospel of John [17:17-18]. The Lord's priestly prayer; part 32. 2Ti 2; Passages of the

Title: Gospel of John [17:17-18]. The Lord's priestly prayer; part 32. 2Ti 2; Passages of the "gospel," and the "mystery."

 

2TH 2:7

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

 

1TI 3:16

And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness:

He who was revealed in the flesh,

Was vindicated in the Spirit,

Beheld by angels,

Proclaimed among the nations,

Believed on in the world,

Taken up in glory.

 

Twelve mysteries in the Bible:

1) The kingdom of heaven, MAT 13:3-50.

2) The Rapture, 1CO 15:51-52; 1TH 4:16.

3) The body of Christ, ROM 16:25; EPH 3:1-11.

 

4) The bride of Christ, EPH 5:28-32.

5) The indwelling Christ, GAL 2:20; COL 1:26-27.

6) The incarnate Christ, 1CO 2:7; COL 2:2, 9.

7) Godliness, 1TI 3:16.

 

8) Iniquity or antichrist, 2TH 2:3-12.

9) Israel's present blindness, ROM 11:25.

10) The seven stars or progression of the Church, REV 1:20.

 

11) Babylon the prostitute, REV 17:5, 7.

12) The mystery of God (His allowing evil for a time and then ending it), REV 10:7; 11:15-19.

 

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2TI 1:6 And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

 

2TI 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

 

2TI 1:8 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,

 

2TI 1:9 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,

 

2TI 1:10 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,

 

How priceless is immortality and light? This is why Paul, Timothy and others would sanctify themselves in the truth and suffer for it.

 

Death is abolished, but not in the sense that the believer doesn't experience it. The word is better translated in this context, "is made of no effect."

 

The dying saint has his interest and attention so fixed on the Lord Jesus and the glories of Heaven, that that stark specter, death, is only on the periphery of his consciousness.

 

2TI 1:11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.

 

2TI 1:12 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.

 

When Paul states that he knows whom he has believed and is convinced he is revealing that his faith is like a well driven nail. It is there to stay. Convinced is in the perfect tense - "I have become convinced and will remain convinced forever."

 

There is an element of finality and completeness possible in practical sanctification. The believer may definitely choose the mind and will of God as the rule for his life.

 

Almost all of my Greek scholars agree that the proper translation of the last part of this verse should read:

 

and have come to a settled persuasion that He is of power to guard that which has been committed as a trust to me [his Christian service] with reference to that day. [Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest]

 

Vine's expository dictionary says the same thing.

 

Vincent comments:

The meaning of the passage is that Paul is convinced that God is strong to enable him to be faithful to his apostolic calling, in spite of the sufferings which attend it, until the day when he shall be summoned to render his final account. [Vincent]

 

I spend the time to reveal this correction since it is vital to our subject of sanctification in the truth. As with Paul, every believer has been called with a holy calling. Every believer has a ministry and certain effects of that ministry that have been determined by God.

 

EPH 2:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

Paul's passionate embracing of the "all surpassing knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord (Php 3:8) … did not encourage contemplative quietism; it constituted an insistent call to lifelong action. [F.F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free]

 

For the believer these effects, or fruit, will only result if he sanctifies himself from the world and the flesh and abides in the vine. This takes certain sacrifices in leaving the ways of the world behind, our own personal desires behind, our own plans behind while we vigorously pursue the way, the truth, and the life. The question Paul is addressing here is, "Will God complete the work in me?" Will God fulfill the holy calling in me? Paul states that he is absolutely convinced that He will. In fact Paul uses a military word phulasso, which means to guard, defend, and keep watch over that which was entrusted to him.

 

Php 1:6

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

2TI 1:12 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.

 

2TI 1:13 Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

 

2TI 1:14 Guard [phulasso], through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

 

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2TI 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,

 

2TI 2:9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

 

2TI 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

 

2TI 2:11 It is a trustworthy statement:

For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him;