HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF
JOHN PIPER JULY 21, 2012 2 TIMOTHY 28-19
At the desiringgod.org blog David Mathis writes, “The doctrine of election
is a sharp scalpel. It can be wielded with care and skill, and taken up to give
life and heal. Or, in the hands of an untrained fanatic or detractor, it can be
used to harm, to sever vital arteries and mutilate hurting people by spinning
out untrue implications. In this five-minute clip, Dr. John Piper encourages us
to follow the apostle Paul’s powerful example in 2 Timothy 2:10 and wield the
dear doctrine of election with gospel care.”
“I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may
obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” – 2
Timothy 2:10
ELECTION: HANDLE WITH CARE
You might think Paul is simply
building on the previous foundation stone here, but look carefully at the
words he uses, and ask why? He could have said, “Therefore I endure everything
for the sake of the church.” Or, “I endure everything for the lost.” But
he chose the word “elect”. Why? "I endure everything for the sake of the
elect.” Because the tone of this text is one of triumph and confidence and
certainty. That is how he is trying to help Timothy. The word elect
means: God has a people. He has chosen them before the foundation of the
world (Ephesians 1:4). Timothy, in this ministry we
cannot fail. God will call his elect.
We must be so careful when handling
weighty doctrines like election. And Paul shows us how right here. He guards
from two mistakes. One is the mistake of saying, “Well, if there are people
chosen before the foundation of the world, then we don’t need to risk our lives
to save them.” Paul says just the opposite: “I endure everything for the
sake of the elect that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ
Jesus.” The certainty that there are elect does not make me stop
preaching or stop suffering, it makes me confident that my preaching and
my suffering will not be in vain. The elect will obtain salvation (see Acts 13:48; 18:10).
And the other mistake he guards us
against is saying: “Well if Paul must preach and suffer to persuade lost people
to believe in Jesus and be saved, then there can be no eternal election. All
there is is people’s own choice." But Paul says the opposite: “I endure
everything for the sake of the elect that they may obtain the salvation
that is in Christ Jesus.” My commitment to suffer for the gospel does not mean
no one has been chosen to believe it. It means I am God’s instrument to save
those who are.
And then he adds one more phrase to
encourage Timothy to press on in his work: “. . . that they also may obtain the
salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” Remember,
Timothy, you are leading the elect to eternal glory. And you are one of them.
And therefore you too will have eternal glory. Or as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “This light momentary
affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison.” Don’t begrudge your short suffering in this life. It is preparing
for you an eternal weight of glory.
So foundation stone #3 is that the
victory of the gospel is sure not only because Christ is risen as the eternal
king, and not only because the word of God is not bound, but also because, from
all the undeserving sinners in the world, God has chosen a people for eternal
glory. Endure everything, Timothy, and you will be the instrument of their
salvation.
