II Timothy 2:8-9, "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound."

This morning, there are times and seasons when we pause to reflect and remember different things. Yesterday, a national holiday of remembrance (Memorial Day) sets aside regular time to remember those that have fought and died for the liberty and freedom that we enjoy today. As we go through life, we need to have times of remembrance - not to air out old grudges and dig up old hatchets - to think about the tender mercies and grace that God has showered down upon us through many seasons of life. Furthermore, while in reflection on how good the Lord has been to us, we need to foremost keep in memory the most noble thought and thrust that gives power to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: His resurrection. If one looks at the "resurrection chapter" of I Corinthians 15, there are interesting bookends to a discussion on the resurrection. The first bookend is the gospel (for without the resurrection, there is no gospel). This first bookend (Verses 1-4) shows that remembrance of the resurrection is the meat of a gospel sermon (coupled with the suffering and death of Christ). The other bookend is the end result of the gospel, for the gospel is meant to impact people's life to encourage them to act like the children they already are. (Verse 58) Steadfast, unmovable, and grounded in this grand thought of the resurrection is what the labourer desires to be the end product of gospel labours.

As Paul is instructing the young minister Timothy, he is in the midst of a discussing many aspects of the ministry. He mentions the perpetuity of it (Verse 2), the comparison of it to soldiering (Verses 3-4), the striving and tasting of it (Verses 5-6), the searching of it (Verse 7), and obviously the end result of it that he is building to: salvation in it (Verse 10). As Paul is steadily marching toward the salvation of the gospel in verse 10, he pauses to reflect on the heart of the message. The heart of the message is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and not only does that thought give power to the message, but it gives strength to the messenger. What Paul is discussing in our verses above has immediate impact on both parties in verse 10. Perhaps by the end of this investigation, we will see how the thoughts in our verses correlate with the next verse.

Paul encourages Timothy to remember or reflect on Jesus Christ's resurrection. Paul says that his gospel is in harmony with (or down from) that blessed event. As we ponder the impact of the gospel today, where does the "rubber meet the road?" Consider our best duty, labour, and efforts. What if we readily heard that we were supposed to do A, B, C, and D, and likewise heard that we were not supposed to do W, X, Y, and Z? What if the minister had texts to show that holding to the first set and abstaining from the second set were valid points to consider? At the end of the day, we might understand that one set is good for us and another is bad for us, but how heartily will we feel to do it?

Paul encourages Timothy to recall to mind the resurrection, for therein lies the power for a minister's call to duty. By coupling the teaching of the resurrection to our duty, we encourage the hearers to remember that failing to fulfill the first set or abstaining from the second set does not leave us out in the cold. We still have an advocate with the Father. Our Mediator is still seated in heaven holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. Because He lives, we have a present help in this very hour. Indeed, the magnanimous thought of us living with Him in heaven some sweet day in accordance with the reality of His resurrection is a grand theme to consider, but consider also that His resurrection gives the tenderness of feeling today to follow after Him as we should. By knowing that He lives and recalling it to mind, we can have confidence and trust that He will strengthen us today for the things that we stand in need of. (Philippians
4:13)

Furthermore, Paul identifies this teaching of the resurrection as the identifying mark that causes him to suffer for his teaching. People were not going to get up in arms at his discussion about a man named Jesus - they readily admitted that such a man lived and walked this earth. However, they were going to become quite perturbed at Paul's assertion that this same Jesus that was dead is now alive, for that is proof positive that He is the very Christ (anointed) that should come and redeem His people. Paul tells his examiners repeatedly in the books of Acts that the hope of the resurrection is the reason he is being called in question. Paul's discussion with King Agrippa revolves around the resurrection. (Acts 26) Paul's bonds and imprisonments came at the heels of teaching that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who hath arisen from the dead, seated in heaven with all majesty, power, and glory.

However, Paul understood something about his message that was comforting to him as shown by the last phrase from the verses above: "but the word of God is not bound." What does Paul mean by this? We know, assuredly, that the Living Word (Jesus Christ) is not bound, for He is above all principalities and powers right now. Is that what Paul means? I believe that Paul rather has the same subject on his mind as the Saviour did in Mark 13:31. As the words of our God shall endure longer than the heaven and the earth, so Paul understood that this message and these words were not bound. They would outlast him, for they would endure longer than he would. It should be a comfort to any God-called minister to know that we have no impact on someone's eternal home, but it should be equally comforting to us to know that the message's worth does not succeed or fail with us. We will one day - if the Lord does not return first - press a dying pillow. Is that the end of the gospel message and the word of God on earth? Praise God it is not! It is not bound, even if we are. It is not restricted, even if we are imprisoned. He has promised that His light would not go out from this earth, but faithful men would be instructed in these things in every generation. (Matthew 16:18, II Timothy 2:2)

Because of these blessed thoughts, Paul was willing to endure all things for the elect's sake. He was willing to suffer whatever man might throw at him. He knew that the gospel did not rise or fall with him, but he was willing to do whatever he could for the cause. Why? If we were going to sum up in one sentence Paul's desire for preaching, how would we say it? We could say it many ways, but looking at Paul's language usage, I like to say it this way - "I want you to know what I know." Paul desired that people know what he knew. (Romans 9:1-3, Romans 10:1-4, Acts 20:21-27) He desired them to be saved to a knowledge that he was blessed to have. Paul knew that the work of Christ secured their salvation, but he laboured for them to have a salvation also (in addition to) that eternal glory.

Paul desired that the elect family of God call to memory or be taught about the resurrection of this man Jesus of the house of Judah of the seed of David. He desired that they understand that this resurrection declares Him to be the Son of God with power (Romans 1:4), and he desired that they fully understand that this resurrection shows proof positive that the Father is satisfied with the work of His Son. This resurrection is for our justification (Romans 4:25) that we understand that satisfaction has been made. Paul wanted so very much for God's people to have peace with God (Romans 5:1) that he was willing to suffer whatever might come for that end. Are we willing to do likewise today? Are we willing to take and suffer whatever comes? Are we willing to endure? Are folks willing to listen and hear? The only way for these questions to be yes, yes, yes, is for us to keep in memory that Jesus Christ the righteous has arisen. Knowing that, we can boldly say, "I have strength for today, for my Saviour lives, and if in death, He shall guide me through that cold, dark shadow into the glorious sunshine of His radiance."

In Hope,

Bro Philip