GRACE IN THE FACE OF DEATH
Text: 2 Timothy 4:16-22
16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
Intro:
Paul is coming to the end of his letter to Timothy and to the end of his life. Paul was in a difficult situation. But as hard as it was for Paul, he was gracious. He exuded grace in the face of death.
Swindoll: Staring death in the face can bring out the very best in people. The real prospect of death carrying us away from this world forces us to push aside pettiness as we focus on what is most significant.
Sometimes death, or even the prospect of death, can bring out the very best in people.
- If you knew you only had hours to live, what would come from you? Grace? Grudges? Resentment? Regrets?
- Would you have grace to overcome fear and dread?
1. Grace To
(v. 16)
History tells us that Christians were charged with all sorts of crimes and brought before Roman judges for condemnation. Tradition tells us that Paul was condemned by resolution of the Senate on the charge of
Paul was arrested and imprisoned and then all his friends and colleagues abandoned him. After all Paul had done, no one came to his defense.
- Paul prayed that their inability (for whatever reason) to be at his trial for his defense not be held against them. That is a response of grace. Paul didn’t hold a
2. Grace To Make Jesus Known (v. 17)
Paul is in jail. His freedom is restricted. He is facing death. He sees in his imprisonment an opportunity for the
Paul says here that Jesus stood by him. His friends and coworkers might have left him high and dry, but Jesus was with him.
- Jesus stood with him so that the proclamation (preaching) might be fully known (accomplished). Paul has his wits about him. He knows the gospel’s preaching will not end with him. The gospel will keep moving forward.
3. Grace To Glorify God (v. 18)
- Regardless of the outcome of Paul’s trial and what the verdict was, Paul knew that he would ultimately emerge as a free man. He fully expected Jesus to “deliver” him not by helping him to avoid suffering or pain, but by
- The Lord does this by giving the evil deeds of humanity a divine purpose, and by giving eternal glory to the one who bears suffering with patience, endurance, faithfulness, and grace.
- Knowing God would rescue Paul through his execution, Paul gave God glory in the midst of his difficulty.
- He uses here the term doxa which means to “to believe, to think.” To be glorified is to be revealed in such a way as to be thought good.
- To be glorified is to be vindicated in the eyes of all witnesses. Paul shined the light on God’s righteousness while suffering in prison, and he planned to proclaim His goodness by dying well.
- Paul wasn’t looking to be vindicated. He was looking to vindicate and glorify God in his death.
4. Grace For My Moment (vv. 19-20)
- Paul concludes this letter as he normally does each of his letters with several greetings. He mentions Priscilla and Aquila. He first met this couple in Corinth. They became close friends. Ultimately, the two of them moved on to Ephesus where it appears they remained.
Paul also addressed the household of Onesiphorus. Who this is particularly, we do not know.
Paul mention two men by name that Timothy would have known: Erastus and Trophimus. But even here in verse 20 we see Paul’s response of grace. Paul could have thought, or whined, or complained that it wasn’t
5. Grace For Others (v. 21)
- Paul mentions four people here by name that are mentioned no where else in scripture. But note that even here we see a measure of Paul’s grace response to them.
- Paul sends their greetings which means they are in
6. Grace For You And You All (v.22)
- First Paul directs his benediction to Timothy individually. The pronoun “thy” (you) is
- Second, Paul expresses his desire for Jesus’ grace to fall upon all who would hear and read these final words penned by him. The “you” here is
- Paul’s great desire is evident even to the very end. Here was a man changed by grace, saved by grace, called by grace and now wanting his ministry to be an extension and conduit of Jesus’ grace ministry.
Application:
- Paul was a man filled with grace and extending grace in the face of death.
- Can we do the same?
- Paul’s final words: Grace be with you. Amen.
- There must be grace in us if we are to