Second Timothy: Part 1

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

February 16, 2023

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

Our purpose tonight is to emphasize the applicability of second Timothy for us today. The two letters to Timothy plus the epistle to Titus have always been regarded as forming a separate group of letters, different from the other letters of Paul. They are commonly known as the Pastoral Epistles. These letters are very important because in them we see, as nowhere else, some major problems which continually confront the Church community.

Unlike the Epistle of 1 Timothy, which primarily concerns instructions concerning the church, the Epistle of 2 Timothy is primarily directed to Timothy, the bishop of the Church at Ephesus at the time of the writing. Therefore, this epistle is oriented and directed to those whom God sets in leadership positions in the Church for their own encouragement and exhortation. However, this Epistle also applies to every believer who sincerely desires to mature in Christ.

I believe that scripture is clear that all denominational churches will continue their present mode of operation until the Lord returns. Baptist churches, Methodist churches, and Anglican churches will continue as in the past until the Lord returns. The same is true for nondenominational churches and so-called charismatic or Spirit-filled churches. Why is that true? because our churches have never experienced anything different and we can only minister out of our experience. As I have said many times, if all you have ever eaten is hamburger, you have no idea what filet mignon tastes like.

The Apostle John says, in 1 John 1:1-4, 

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."

Therefore, we can only minister what we have received experientially. Yes, there are a number of good men who love the Lord and who preach and teach good things. Some of those leaders believe that their church is really progressing in the right direction. Sadly, most of them have only tasted hamburger because of the huge pull of traditions of men. It is very difficult to walk in something you have never experienced before. To try to teach anything that you have never experienced before is a waste of time.

I do not believe that the Lord is working with any of our named churches today. A good question is whether the Lord has ever been working with any of our named churches. He definitely is working with individuals as He builds His church. We have churches that are built by man and the Church that only the Lord is building. Why would the Lord work with any church that man is building? 

Jeremiah 3:14-15, "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." 

"One of a city and two of a family" is not a lot.

Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." 

I am quite certain that our Evangelical pastors will interpret those verses to mean a two-way street ... either we are "saved" or we are not. I have some difficulty with that interpretation. That leads us into the big error of "once saved, always saved." I believe we must look at all of scripture, not just the verses that seem to say what we have been taught by men.

Young's Literal Translation of the Bible puts it this way... 

"wide is the gate, and broad the way that is leading to the destruction, and many are those going in through it; how strait is the gate, and compressed the way that is leading to the life, and few are those finding it." 

This is definitely more accurate and consistent with the rest of scripture. In other words, the way that is leading to destruction is a process from which we must repent. Likewise, the way that is leading to the life (which is the Lord Jesus) is a process which compresses us or presses us out of our measure into His measure.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9, "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:"

Psalm 76:1-2, "To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. In Judah is God known: His name is great in Israel. In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion."

All those that dwell in the Promised Land have been born again. However, those verses in Psalm 76 speak of four levels of Christianity. Zion is where the Lord desires all Christians to dwell. That does NOT speak of a natural, physical piece of real estate. Zion speaks of the overcomers over all of time. Zion is the spiritual realm where we walk with the Lord, as did Enoch. Many different verses say that the LORD dwells in Zion.

The last two verses in the book of Joel, Joel 3:20-21, say, 

"But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion."

 

Let me repeat Joel 3:21 ... 

"For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion." 

Does it surprise you that when Jesus shed His blood at Calvary, that did not atone for everything?

Joel 3:21 is confirmed in Hebrews 9:22, 

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." 

Almost all things are by the law purged with blood. The word "law" in Hebrews 9:22 does not speak of the Mosaic law. It speaks of what some call God's moral law. What has not yet been purged by the blood of Jesus? our physical body. That is called the redemption of our body in Romans 8:23 and Ephesians 1:14.

1 Corinthians 15:50-57, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Paul's relationship with Timothy was very close. Paul calls Timothy his "son." The name, "Paul," means "little." Paul was indeed little in his own eyes, but undoubtedly great in the eyes of the Lord. Timothy's name, which means "honored of God," appears as the co-author of 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:19-23, about Timothy, "I have no man likeminded."

After Paul's release from prison in Rome (Acts 28), and after his fourth missionary journey, during which he wrote the Epistles of 1 Timothy and Titus, Paul was again imprisoned under Nero, within a short time of his martyrdom. It was during this time that he wrote 2 Timothy, which was the last known epistle written by Paul. In contrast to his first imprisonment, when he lived in a rented house (Acts 28:30), he now suffered in a cold dungeon (2 Timothy 4:13), chained like a common criminal (2 Timothy 1:16). His friends even had a hard time finding out where he was being kept (2 Timothy 1:17). Paul knew that his work was done and his life on earth was nearly at an end (2 Timothy 4:6-8). As such, if you knew that the end of your earthly life was near, would you not write that which you considered to be most important to your dearly beloved son (2 Timothy 1:2)?

From Acts 19, the Lord had made a large number of Christian converts through Paul's ministry. Within the original apostolic generation, Ephesus became the numerical, geographical, and probably the spiritual center of Christendom. There were no church buildings or structures, which only began to be built about 230 years after the days of Paul. Does that say anything to us today? Those structures started to flourish under the reign of the emperor Constantine, just as he ceased persecution of Christians. In Paul's day churches met mostly in the homes of the Christians themselves, each with its own pastoral leadership. Paul apparently ordained Timothy as the first overseer of the Church at Ephesus. As such, Timothy's work was primarily with those pastors or house church leaders. There were no seminaries to supply trained pastors. They had to go through the school of the Holy Ghost. Are we more "advanced" today than was the Church at Ephesus? Now we have seminaries and bible colleges to train the pastors, and we have nice, comfortable church structures. But how many Pauls do we have? How many Timothys do we have?

One of the prominent features of this epistle is the church's departure from the truth (see 2 Timothy 1:15, 2:17, 3:8, 4:4, and 4:10). There has been a corresponding departure from the truth in the Christian community today, although most of those who have departed are not aware of such departure. That has nothing to do with going to heaven one day. It has everything to do with not pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Most professing Christians today have been very satisfied with the status quo and enjoyed the peace and quiet of their weekly church routine. That is, until the Lord sent the Covid pandemic three years ago. Now we can't wait to get back to our weekly church routine. That, of course, is the very nature of deception, which is commonly based on a lack of spiritual understanding.

Now let us turn to

2 Timothy 1:1, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus."

No man ordained Paul as an apostle. He did not go through a seminary. He did not go through a Bible college. He did not receive his office by the will of any man or ecclesiastical organization. Neither did he receive his ministry by his own will or desire. God ordained before the foundation of the world that Paul would be an apostle. He was sent forth by the Holy Ghost (Acts 13:4), not by any man or organization. Paul saw his calling as an apostle as an honor, a privilege, and a solemn responsibility as a servant and a good steward of God.

The promise of life is in Christ Jesus. There is no life outside of the risen Christ ... only existence. Jesus said, 

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by Me" 

(John 14:6). 

That is indeed a promise of utmost significance.

2 Timothy 1:2, "To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."

Paul speaks "grace and peace" to the churches in his epistles but includes the word, "mercy," to individuals, such as Timothy and Titus. All of us, as individuals, need the mercy of God.

God's mercy means His pity, loving compassion, and kindness toward His people or His tenderness of heart toward the needy. Mercy is not something God owes to us. Mercy cannot be owed ... it is something God extends in kindness and grace to those who do not deserve it. His mercy is beyond our understanding. In the biblical Hebrew language, the word for "mercy" shares the exact same three-letter root as the word for "womb." God's "mercy" toward humanity denotes the same kind of divine protection that a baby has in its mother's womb.

God desires to fellowship with His people, and the blood of the spotless Lamb is the only means by which that communion is made possible. The mercy seat of the Old Testament and the blood sprinkled upon it by the high priest, prefigured Christ to come. The mercy seat was as real as the cross to come. Christ is now our mercy seat.

More than 200 verses in the Bible speak of the mercy of God. To read all of them would take a long time. I will read only three such verses.

Deuteronomy 4:31, "The Lord your God is a God of mercy."

Lamentations 3:22-23, "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

 

Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."

With respect to that last verse, I encourage you to read the parable recorded in Matthew 18:23-35. If we desire mercy from the Lord, we must show mercy to others.

Note from verse 2 of 2 Timothy that Paul does not send anything from himself. How can Paul send grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord to Timothy? because he was in constant touch with the mind of God.

In all of Scripture, grace comes before peace. There can be no peace except that we receive and walk in His grace.

2 Timothy 1:3-4, "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;" 

These two verses emphasize the close relationship that Paul had with Timothy. 

Thessalonians 5:17-18, "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 

Therefore, Paul practiced what he preached because he prayed night and day for Timothy without ceasing. Is there a message for us in that fact? 

2 Timothy 1:5, "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." 

That speaks of the intercession that Lois and Eunice undoubtedly entered into on behalf of Timothy. Do you find it strange that neither Timothy's father nor his grandfather is mentioned? Timothy's father was a heathen Greek. This fact is mentioned twice in Acts 16:1 and 3.

Now, what does Paul mean by the "unfeigned or sincere faith"? Even in Paul's day, and certainly ever since, the word "faith" has been changed from its true meaning by too many professing Christians. Unfeigned or sincere faith is the faith that is in Christ and the faith which is a gift of God when we are born from above. That unfeigned faith has been changed in far too many cases in practice to mean faith in a doctrine or a creed. This truth is brought out in 1 Timothy, chapter 4, verse 1, 

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

We have been living in the latter times ever since the resurrection of Christ. Perhaps one of the greatest heresies that Paul faced is called Gnosticism. That heresy still permeates the Church community today and has reared its ugly head through some nationally known Christian leaders. I will not here get into any details about Gnosticism because I do not believe in giving equal time to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. I will simply say that Paul addresses that multi-faceted monster many times in his two epistles to Timothy.

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."

Whenever we see the word "wherefore" or "therefore," we should always ask, "why is it there for?" In verse 6, when Paul says "wherefore," it is because he wants us to emphasize the truth, not all of the lies of the enemy. My wife has always like to garden ... to get her hands dirty working in the yard. Many years ago, the Lord gave her a little analogy of how to have good grass, free of weeds ... not to focus on getting rid of the weeds but by building up the roots of the grass. When the roots of grass are strong, the good grass will choke out the weeds. This truth is very evident with zoysia grass. Our front yard is half full of zoysia grass and it is very rare to see one weed growing in it, even though we never fertilize it.

I have had personal encounters with several Christians in leadership positions who focus primarily on deliverance for other Christians. I believe that is a much-misguided emphasis. Although scripture is clear concerning deliverance for non-Christians, I have not yet found one example in scripture when a born-from-above believer received deliverance. A few months ago, I asked a personal friend and solid man of God if he knew of any scriptural example of a true believer being delivered from a demon. His immediate response was also "no."

While the Bible does not explicitly state whether a Christian can be possessed by a demon, related biblical truths make it clear that if Christians are demon possessed, they are no longer Christians. Consider Judas, who betrayed Jesus.

Hebrews 6:4-6, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame."

Genesis 1:4 says that God divided the light from the darkness. There is a distinct difference between being possessed by a demon and being oppressed or influenced by a demon. Demon possession involves a demon having direct/complete control over the thoughts and/or actions of a person (Matthew 17:14-18). Demon oppression or influence involves a demon attacking a person spiritually and/or encouraging him/her into sinful behavior. In all the New Testament passages dealing with spiritual warfare, there are no instructions to cast a demon out of a true believer. We believers are told to resist the devil (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9), not to cast him out.

In Verse 6, Paul exhorts Timothy to stir up the gift of God, which was in him by the putting on of Paul's hands. I remember a word that came forth in a believers' meeting about forty-seven years ago. The essence of that word was:

The kingdom of God is like unto a concrete mixer truck, where the chosen people of God are like the concrete inside that truck ... they must constantly be stirred up or they get hard and set in their ways. But that concrete was never designed to stay inside the truck forever. It must be poured out into a mold, the mold designed by the Owner. That mold is in the image and likeness of Christ. Then when that concrete has been shaped by the hand of the Master, it is ready to be stepped on, perhaps even spit upon, and used to make the pathway easier for others to walk. They then can endure rain, hail, storms of every type, excessive heat, ice, and any form of weather or abuse. For they have been established by the Master Craftsman.

We should also note that,

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

James 1:17

Men can only prophesy or impart gifts that the Lord has already given. Men only confirm that which the Lord has done.

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Colossians 1:23

Please note the use of the past tense, "was preached," in that verse. 

Peter 4:4-6, "Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." 

2 Timothy 1:7-8, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 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;" 

Four times in 2 Timothy, Paul exhorts that no believer should ever be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord (2 Timothy 1:8, 12, and 16; and 2:15). 

"This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes" (2 Timothy 1:15).

ALL they which are in Asia included the believers in Ephesus, where Paul, some 10-12 years earlier had poured out himself for three years, teaching and praying for the believers there.

Today, no believer in the United States would say that they are ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. However, we must remember that in those days there was severe persecution against believers, both from the Roman Empire and from the ruling Jews. If anyone professed that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead and was both Lord and King, they were subject to imprisonment and even death. The Lord may send us similar persecution in the near future. The form of that persecution may be different but it must come. It will take a stick of dynamite to move us believers away from our apathy and lethargy. That stick of dynamite is the Holy Ghost. An ever present, timely word for us all is, 

"Be ready, for we know not when Jesus will return." 

In 2 Timothy 1:8, note that Paul said he was a prisoner of the Lord, not a prisoner of the Roman emperor. That brings to mind the similar statement by Jesus when He told Pilate that he (Pilate)

"could have no power at all against Me [Jesus] except it were given thee from above" (John 19:11).

Finally, also in verse 8, Paul exhorts Timothy (and us) to be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel (or to suffer hardship with the company of saints). Many years ago, a word came forth in the presence of a few Spirit-filled believers about our calling to suffer with Christ. A few believers looked as if that were some strange doctrine. Those who say that Christ suffered so that we do not have to suffer are lacking in their understanding of the word of God. We are called to identify with Christ in every respect, except His Headship. That includes His sufferings. Suffering has always been God's method of bringing many sons to glory.

For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10

If the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through sufferings, where does that leave us? How do you think that we are made perfect?

1 Peter 4:1-2, "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." 

Moreover, Paul and Peter both rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake.

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church: 

Colossians 1:24

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:13

Romans 8:17-18, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

2 Timothy 1:9, "Who hath saved us, and called us with an 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,"

Note that His purpose and grace for us was given in Christ Jesus before the world began. There is no purpose for us outside of Christ.

The key words that we want to emphasize are, "according to His own purpose and grace." Purpose and grace are two things, not one. Every believer appreciates the grace of God, which was given us in Christ Jesus, and rightly so. None of us can comprehend the depth of the amazing grace of God. We believers tend to associate the grace of God primarily with respect to our salvation. No doubt many believers have written many articles and books about the grace of God, for that is an inexhaustible expression of God towards us.

However, we need to remember that Scripture is very orderly. The word, "purpose" appears before the word "grace." Therefore, His purpose is even greater than His grace. He has saved us (by His grace) and called us with a holy calling according to His own purpose. We have not been saved for our pleasure, not for our benefit, not so we can be blessed, not for our prosperity on earth, not for our purposes, not for our comfort, and not so that we can go to heaven one day. We have been saved for His purpose. Any other reason for our salvation misses the mark. Grace is His enabling power by which we can fulfill His purpose for creating and making us. Grace is the means toward the end; the end is His purpose for us. Therefore, it is imperative that we understand and cooperate with His purpose for us.

Genesis 1:26-27, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Verses 26 and 27 speak of two different actions on the part of God. The word "make" in verse 26 is a different word than the word "create" in verse 27. Verse 26 sets out God's intention or His end product for man. Verse 27 speaks of the first step toward fulfilling that end product. Isaiah 43, verse 7 clarifies those steps. 

"Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him."

The Lord is still in the process of "making" man in His image. There are numerous references to this truth; e.g., Luke 15:19, the parable of the "prodigal son," where the younger son repented and asked his father to "make" him as one of the hired servants. Many scriptures speak of the Lord "making" His chosen people ... all those who are willing to be made.

The question, however, is, "Why did God create man?" What was God's purpose for creating man? We are told in Genesis 1:26 that man was to have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (but not over other men). We also know that man disobeyed God (Genesis 3) and was banished from the Garden of Eden. In the process, man forfeited his right to dominion on the earth. Man also lost the covering of the glory of God; instead he received the covering of the skin (not animal skins) which all humans have. But God had an additional purpose for man.

We must remember that God is omniscient. He lives in eternity. He knows what we will have for breakfast tomorrow (if anything) even though we do not know until tomorrow comes. God lives in the eternal "now." God therefore knew that the first Adam would sin. God never had a "backup" plan; He never had a "Plan B" in case man was disobedient. Was it God's will for the first Adam to sin? No! But He knew what the first Adam would do.

Matthew 3:16-17, "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased."

The Father had so much pleasure in the Son that He desired to have many sons. God's purpose in creating man was to have many sons with whom He could have fellowship for eternity.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Romans 8:19

Jesus, as a man, came to earth as a servant. The prophet Isaiah said, in 

Isaiah 42:1-8, "Behold My Servant, Whom I uphold; Mine elect, in Whom My soul delighteth; I have put My spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for His law. Thus saith God the LORD, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the LORD: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images."

Note that in the first four verses of Isaiah 42, the judgment of God is spoken of three times. We believers like all of the smooth-sounding words, but we must remember from,

1 Peter 4:17-19, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."

All believers are likewise called to be servants, doing everything as unto the Lord.

Philippians 2:5-11, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

The Lord said (in Isaiah 42:8) that He will never give His glory to another. But He will share that glory. If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). To him that overcometh will the Lord grant to sit with Him in His throne (Revelation 3:21).

We need to be careful here. For we are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God. Descendants of the first Adam will never inherit anything. There is none righteous, no, not one. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. They that are in the flesh cannot please God.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

We live by His faith, not by our faith.

The Father always had in His master plan that the last Adam would have dominion over all. His purpose was given in Christ before He created man.

 

For it pleased the Father that in Him [in Christ] should all fullness dwell. 

Colossians 1:19

Calvary was never an afterthought or backup contingency. No man, except the Man Christ Jesus, could ever keep the law. Likewise, no man, except Christ Jesus, can ever live the Christian life. Christ in you, the hope of glory. Nothing must be of me. Everything must be of Christ. Anything that focuses on the first Adam, the flesh and blood human being, misses the mark. That is one reason why Paul wrote the Book of Galatians.

It was never God's purpose to create man, save him, and make him "better" or more like Jesus. Anything that emphasizes man is off-center. Whenever man corrupts that which God has done, God never makes that thing "better." Rather He replaces that corrupt thing. The Book of Hebrews has many examples of that truth: the law and grace; the Levitical priesthood and the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek; animal sacrifice and the sinless sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary, the old covenant and the new covenant, the first Adam and the last Adam.

Next week, the Lord willing, we will continue with 2 Timothy, chapter 1 and verse 10. Until then, as in 

Numbers 6:24-26, "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."

Glory to the Lamb! Amen and amen.