Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. (2 Timothy 1:1-12 ESV)

“For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12, NASB

Confidence in Heaven Church of Christ at Medina July 5 th, 2015

“…for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able...” Paul had confidence in God’s ability and power. – Job 42:2 – “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” – Psalm 62:11 – “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God.” – Psalm 115:3 – “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.” – Luke 1:37 – “For nothing will be impossible with God.” – Ephesians 3:20-21 – “Now to Him who by His power within us is able to do infinitely more than we ever dare to ask or imagine – to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever, amen!” (J.B. Phillips)

“…for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able...” Paul had confidence in God’s character. – Paul had developed a trust in God…he came to know God. – Psalm 36:5, 111:7 – Romans 4:13-25 Abraham had great confidence and faith in God’s power, but also in the character of God. Abraham did not waver or doubt God’s ability and His steadfastness to His promise. We, too, can have this same confidence in the character of God because God has given us a guarantee…the resurrection of His Son from the dead. (2 Cor. 1:20)

What have we committed to God? Our soul in faith – 1 Peter 4:19 – “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” – Note the significance of our commitment: The value of our deposit (Mark 8:37) The danger of losing the deposit prior to giving it to God The understanding that it is not safe in our own possession Noting that God is willing and capable of guarding it Aware that it will be guarded until that Day Our hope in Christ – 1 Corinthians 15:12-28

Our great expectation – A Home in Heaven! Paul spoke often regarding his confident expectation. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:18-25, ESV)

Our great expectation – A Home in Heaven! Paul spoke often regarding his confident expectation. “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened— not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-10 ESV)

Our great expectation – A Home in Heaven! Paul spoke often regarding his confident expectation. “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,…” (Philippians 1:18-27 ESV)

Our great expectation – A Home in Heaven! Paul spoke often regarding his confident expectation. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8, ESV)

Our great expectation – A Home in Heaven! Paul often spoke about his confident journey to be with God, but his confidence was based on God’s grace and not in his own ability. Note the requirement of faith and obedience in his forward looking statements. – Philippians 1:27: Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,…” – “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10, ESV) Paul is not the only person to faithfully and confidentially expect a home with God. Consider Moses… – Hebrews 11:23-28 – Exodus 15:1-18

Our great expectation – A Home in Heaven! We also can expect a great reward when we are faithful to God. We can know that this reward is available to us based upon the power and character of God…just as Paul did. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13, ESV) We should preach, teach, and even sing of that great hope. This hope rests in God and not on our own merits, but it is a confident expectation just as Paul had.

Conclusion But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. (2 Timothy 1:1-12 ESV) There is a great Day coming and it can be met with joy and expectation, or it can be met with dread and fear. Which will it be for you?