Bible Study Lesson and Devotional #11: 2nd Timothy Chapter One
2nd Timothy 1:9 "Salvation"
Background:
Form: Personal Letter (Epistle)
From: Apostle Paul
To: Timothy
Date: 67 A.D.
Story: The Apostle Paul writes to encourage and embolden young Timothy.
Lesson: Vs. 9 Salvation “God, who saved us”
In verse 9 Paul introduces (8) concepts for Timothy to consider: (1) Salvation, (2) Efficacious Call, (3) Holy Living, (4) Human inability, (5) God’s Sovereign Will, (6) Grace, (7) Union with Christ, (8) Foreordination.
Here we will look at the Doctrine of Salvation:
1. Salvation is the gift of God. If it is a gift, how do we know if we have it? (see page 2)
2. Salvation is beyond time: it is past, present, future and from eternity past to eternity future.
3. The Doctrine of Salvation is the Gospel.
4. Salvation is the concept of rescue. In Salvation we are being delivered from something/someone.
5. We are saved through Christ Jesus from the “wrath of God.” 1st. Thes. 1:10. The Penalty of sin.
6. We are saved through Christ Jesus from the ‘fallen man.” Romans 6:11-14. The Power of sin.
7. We are saved through Christ Jesus from the “fallen world.” Romans 13:11. The Presence of sin.
8. God saved us to declare His Glory. Romans 9:22-24.
9. God saved us to live with Him once again. 1 Thes. 5:11.
10. God saved us for good works. Ephesians 2:10.
11. God saved us to become a priesthood; offering sacrifices to Him. 1st Peter 2:4-5
12. God saved us to give Him praise and honor. 1st Peter 2:9
13. God saved us to give us everlasting “life.” John 3:16
14. God saved us for the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:11-12
Supernatural
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God---not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV).
1. Biblical Salvation (the deliverance from danger or harm) is a Supernatural work of God and thus not fully perceivable by man who is limited by his sin nature in his knowledge and understanding. Thus, the Doctrine of Salvation must be “revealed to us” by God Who is guided by “the purpose of His own will.” The simple truth (that must be understood) at the outset, is that which is from God is unknowable apart from the intervention of God Who is the only One in the universe Who can fully understand His thoughts and decrees. Thus, in examining this great Doctrine, “we look through a glass darkly.”
2. Natural Revelation: We know and understand that God exists, this sinful man can do. This knowledge is made available to all people, in all places and in all times, since God has revealed His existence to all by His creation. This knowledge/ understanding is sufficient to condemn all who ever lived for not responding in true and acceptable worship and praise to the Creator of us all. This is the ultimate Cosmic Crime, for which every person voluntarily takes part, and thus every one of us is guilty before the Universal Eternal King as charged. For, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Rev. 4:11 NIV).
Furthermore, God has planted in the mind of every human being (past, present, and future) a knowledge of Himself, “so they are without excuse.”
“There is within the human mind, and indeed by natural instinct, an awareness of divinity [divinitatis sensum]. This we take to be beyond controversy. To prevent anyone from taking refuge in the pretense of ignorance, God himself has implanted in all men a certain understanding of his divine majesty (I.3.1).” Institutes of the Christian Religion:
3. Special Revelation: In God’s Devine prerogative He has chosen (by His own free will) to communicate to a select group of people (over the ages) in a way that reveals his plan, purpose, and personality in a Salvific (Salvation) way. This doctrine is easily illustrated in God’s calling out of Israel beginning in the life of Abraham when God called Abraham out of the land of Ur. This was Special Revelation (unique and specific) to a particular person. God called Israel out of the land of Egypt and announced to them (through Moses) His eternal law. This was Special Revelation to a specific unique group of people. Furthermore, God spoke through the Prophets and now perfectly speaks through His Son, which is the bases for the Revelation that we have now in the Old and New Testament.
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV).
4. The only way we can know that God has saved us is by His Word (Special Revelation) which is the only way for us to affirm the reality of God’s Special gift in our hearts.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17 NIV).