His Forever
A Sermon on 2 Timothy 1:12
Originally preached June 21, 1964
Scripture
12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Sermon Description
What is the focus of Christianity? Some say that Christianity is about simply being a good moral person, while others say that it is about religious experiences. In this sermon from 2 Timothy 1:12 titled “His Forever,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that Christianity from start to finish is concerned with the person and work of Jesus Christ. This Jesus was delivered up for humanity’s sins, rose from the dead in victory, and now reigns in heaven. Christians must not be distracted by anything other than Christ, for when Christianity is no longer about Christ, it seeks to be true religion. They must not trust in themselves, but rest wholly in Christ. Christians must understand that their relationship with God is not about their works, but about Jesus Christ’s unchanging love for them. This puts the emphasis away from good works (which are important) and points towards the works of Christ. The Christian ought to live a life of good works not because they are seeking to justify themselves, but because they have already been justified in Christ and are secure because He loves them.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon is focused on 2 Timothy 1:12. The verse states: "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
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The sermon begins by explaining the context of the verse. Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned for preaching the gospel. Despite his circumstances, Paul was joyful because of his faith in Christ.
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Paul's victory was not due to his temperament or stoicism but because of his belief in the gospel. The gospel has the power to help people of any temperament or background.
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To have the same experience as Paul, we must hold onto the same truths that Paul taught Timothy. We must believe the gospel, be persuaded of its truth, and commit ourselves to Christ.
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The first essential is to believe in Christ, the Son of God who died to save us from our sins. We must believe that Jesus is the eternal Son of God who became man to redeem us.
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Mere intellectual belief is not enough. We must be persuaded of the truth of the gospel. It must become personal to us. We must realize we are sinners in need of salvation which only Christ provides.
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Being persuaded leads to committing ourselves to Christ. We entrust our lives and eternal well-being to Him. This results in peace and removes fear of death.
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Committing to Christ means He controls our lives. Our view of life changes. We realize the world is evil and hopeless without God. We expect trials and are not surprised by evil and suffering.
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Committing to Christ means being willing to suffer for Him rather than deny Him. Paul was imprisoned for preaching the gospel but considered himself a prisoner of Christ.
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Committing to Christ leads to rejoicing in suffering because it drives us closer to Him. Suffering makes us value His salvation and presence more.
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Committing to Christ leads to confidence in Him. We know His love shown through the cross, His promises to never leave us, His unchanging character, and His power over all things, even death.
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We must ask ourselves if we have been persuaded of the truth of the gospel and committed ourselves to Christ. If not, we must listen to the testimony of saints through the ages who have found Christ faithful. We must trust in Him.
Sermon Q&A
Understanding Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on 2 Timothy 1:12
What is the key verse that Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on in this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on 2 Timothy 1:12: "For the which cause I also suffer these things. Nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." This verse forms the foundation of his entire sermon as he explores the essence of Christian faith and assurance.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say distinguishes Paul's confidence from mere stoicism or natural optimism?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Paul's confidence was not based on temperament, psychological disposition, or stoicism. He states: "There is nothing that I know of that is further removed from the character of the apostle Paul than that kind of gleb optimist." Paul was actually sensitive and easily depressed by nature. His confidence came solely from believing the gospel and having a relationship with Christ. This differs from natural optimism because it's available to anyone regardless of temperament, and it's grounded in Christ rather than inner human resources.
What are the three essential elements of saving faith according to Lloyd-Jones' sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the three essential elements of saving faith are:
- Believing the truth about Jesus Christ - acknowledging who He is as the Son of God and what He did through His death and resurrection
- Being persuaded of these truths - moving beyond intellectual assent to personal conviction where "it comes to you with power"
- Committing yourself to Christ - entrusting your soul and eternal welfare to Him, like making a deposit in a bank
He says all three are necessary for the Christian experience that Paul had.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the concept of "committing" oneself to Christ?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes committing oneself to Christ as similar to making a deposit in a bank. He states: "You take your soul as it is in its rags and tatters its filth, and all the mud and the mire of evil that is upon it. And you handle it all out of him like a man who puts that treasure or that money of his in that safe deposit." This commitment means you stop worrying about your soul and trust Christ completely with it. He uses the illustration of someone leaving a valuable possession with a friend and then constantly calling to check if it's safe, showing this is not genuine trust. True commitment to Christ means giving Him full control and not taking back any part of your salvation.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the Christian's view of life in this world?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones says Christianity offers the most realistic view of life in this world. He states: "There is no view in the world tonight that is so realistic about life in this world as the christian gospel." He argues that Christians expect tribulation because Jesus promised it ("In the world, ye shall have tribulations"). Christians aren't surprised by evil, wars, or moral decline because they understand the fallen nature of the world. This view differs from the "false optimism of the nonchristian" who believes the world can become perfect through human effort. The Christian is freed from this delusion while simultaneously having confidence in Christ's ultimate victory.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones answer the question of how we can be confident Christ will keep what we've committed to Him?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides four reasons we can be confident Christ will keep what we've committed to Him:
- His love - demonstrated supremely at the cross: "He came into this world, he left the glory of heaven because he loved me"
- His promises - "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" and the promise to prepare a place for us
- His constancy - "He cannot deny himself" and is "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever"
- His ability and power - proven by His victory over death: "He burst us under the bends of death and rose triumphanto the grave"
These attributes of Christ provide the basis for the Christian's confidence.
What practical impact should this faith have on a Christian's life according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this faith should have several practical impacts:
- Our whole life should be controlled and dominated by Christ - "If you don't live like the righteous, you won't die like the righteous"
- We should be willing to suffer anything rather than deny Christ - as Paul considered himself "a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ"
- We can even "glory in tribulations" because difficulties drive us closer to Christ
- We gain freedom from fear of both life and death
- We have peace and rest of mind knowing our eternal future is secure
He emphasizes that this faith transforms our entire perspective and gives us resources to face any circumstance.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the difference between intellectual belief and saving faith?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes intellectual belief as detached and observational - "you are more or less looking on at it all in a detached manner." You might acknowledge the facts about Jesus but remain uninvolved personally. By contrast, saving faith means "it comes to you with power, that you realize that it's talking to you personally," and you see yourself "in the context of eternity." The key difference is that intellectual belief keeps Christianity at arm's length as something to be studied, while saving faith embraces it as personally vital and life-changing. He says intellectual belief "doesn't change anybody" whereas saving faith transforms your entire life.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the universality of the gospel's offer?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the gospel is for everyone regardless of background or temperament. He states: "The glory of the gospel is that it comes to us and tells us, you can be delivered. You can become like this... it doesn't matter what you are by nature, doesn't matter what your antecedents are. None of these things matter at all." He stresses that the gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth," making it universally applicable to all people in all circumstances and time periods.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones conclude his sermon and what final appeal does he make?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by appealing to his listeners to be persuaded and commit themselves to Christ. He quotes the poem "Art Thou Weary" and imagines a heavenly choir of "saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs" all answering "Yes" to affirm Christ's trustworthiness. His final appeal is: "Be persuaded, my dear friend, and commit your soul and your eternal welfare to him. And then whatever may happen to you in this life and in this world, you'll always be able to say, nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that glorious day."
Other Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.