The Full GospelSample

Power, Redemption, and Hope // The Gospel According to 1 Timothy

Because of Jesus, we have been given power for the present, redemption for our past, and hope for the future. These three elements of the gospel are described by the Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy, Paul’s apprentice and a young church leader. Paul writes:

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 2 Timothy 1:7-8 NIV

Jesus gives us power for the present. When we choose to follow Jesus, He makes us into more than we could ever be on our own. It is not an accident that Paul contrasts timidity with power, love, and self-discipline. He recognizes that one of the greatest threats we face in our discipleship to Jesus is fear.

If we are timid, afraid, and insecure, then we will never fulfill our God-given purpose. Jesus will call you to follow Him to places you’ve never been, He will ask you to do things you’ve never done, and He will require you to trust Him even when you don’t understand.

In order to live a life devoted to Jesus, we need power. We need power to overcome our fear. We need power to trust in the goodness of God when confronted with the brokenness of the world. We need power to stand firm when following Jesus leads to suffering.

And we need power to truly love the way God has commanded us to love. Love is a choice to sacrifice ourselves for the good of another. If we are enslaved to sin, dominated by the flesh, and riddled with fear, then there’s no way we’ll choose to help someone else if it’s going to cost us.

This is why the Spirit of God gives us power for the present. Because the only way we can choose to be faithful to Jesus today, and every day, is with a power that is beyond our own. But that’s not all Jesus offers. Paul continues:

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time … 2 Timothy 1:9 NIV

Jesus offers redemption for the past. At the moment of our salvation, we become a new creation and the broken mess we used to be is washed away. In its place is a masterpiece of grace. Jesus saved us. The work of redemption has been completed. Forgiveness is finished.

This can be really hard for us to understand because when people wrong us, we tend to hold onto the hurt even after an apology has been offered and repentance has taken place. As a result, we often project our struggles to forgive onto God. So we struggle to believe that we are fully forgiven. Deep down, we think God is a lot more like us than He really is.

But He isn’t. Instead, God is holy. He is set apart, unique, different, and altogether better and beyond the deficiencies that define us. He is perfect. And He always tells the truth.

So when Paul tells us, “[God] has saved us and called us to a holy life…” we can trust that this is true. This is what makes the gospel such good news.

… but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:10 NIV

Finally, Jesus promises us hope for the future. Death’s grip on humanity has been shattered. Jesus, the light of the world who shines in the darkness, stepped into the grave and walked out the other side. And now, life and immortality has been made available to all who trust in Him. Through His victory, we have the hope of eternal life.

No matter how difficult things may get in this life, eternity awaits. And Jesus is preparing a place for us where there is no more death, pain, sin, suffering, or shame. The hope we have in Jesus can never be broken because the kingdom He rules is unshakeable and everlasting.

This is why the gospel is such good news. Jesus gives us power for the present, redemption for the past, and hope for the future.