Lessons I learned from 2 Timothy

2 Timothy 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 given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

God has saved us not according to our works, we are elected not based on our good works or our good background, it is solely by the grace of God and according to His purose that we are saved. And we are elected even before the world began, God already intended to have us saved in Christ Jesus before the world began. I find this an amazing truth.

2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.


God has given Christian spiritual gifts. Don't hide our gifts, use it for God's glory.


2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Shame on us Christians who never preach the Gospel to anyone, never concern about the lost. I quote from Tozer:

"To me, it has always been difficult to understand those evangelical Christians who insist upon living in the crisis as if no crisis existed. They say they serve the Lord, but they divide their days so as to leave plenty of time to play and loaf and enjoy the pleasures of the world as well. They are at ease while the world burns....I wonder whether such Christians actually believe in the Fall of man! "

We should be partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel, so often we don't want to suffer for fear of offence toothers, we are ashamed of the Gospel. The reason why we are still left on earth is to be a witness for Christ for God's glory. So may we pray for courage and the Spirit's help to proclaim the Gospel.

2 Timothy 2:14-16 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Very often we quote verse 15 to show the importance of rightly dividing the word of truth, however verse 14 and verse 16 are important, it says we are to rightly study God's words so that we will not strive about words with no profit. We don't study the Word to engage in carnal debate which will lead to strife and ungodliness.