Known and Persuaded of God

Please turn with me again to 2 Timothy and chapter 1. And the text is verse 12. For the witch cause I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I'm 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. And that is really the text for this morning and God willing this evening as well.

So it's like part one and part two, which I often do that with messages of part one and part two. Last week I was at Brixton and I can't do it there because the congregation in the morning and the congregation in the evening are different, apart from about one person. So we can't get away with doing part one and part two, but often I will do a message in two parts. But before we get to verse 12, let's just look at some of the verses before that and some of the precious truths of those words.

And we have Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God. It was God's will and purpose of Paul should be an apostle. It certainly was not the will of Paul because of course in the first place he was known as Saul of Tarsus and he was very much He hated the church, breathing out threatenings against the church before, of course, there was that meeting with the Lord on the Damascus Road. So it certainly was not the purpose of Paul originally to be an apostle, but it was the purpose of God that he should be an apostle. And then in verse two we have to Timothy, my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy and peace.

And those words are lovely words, aren't they? Grace, mercy and peace. We could spend all day just ruminating, just soaking ourselves in those lovely words. Grace, being given what we don't deserve. Mercy, not being given what we do deserve. and peace that comes from God, which passes, doesn't it? All understanding. And may it be that those are words that we love and that we can say that we know them in our own hearts and lives, that we have been dealt with in in mercy, that God has shown great grace, and that we have peace, despite all the things that might be happening in life that seem far from peaceful.

Then in verse five, we have, when I call to remembrance, The unfeigned or strong, sincere faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also. To have a godly influence in our lives, that's a wonderful thing. I'm thankful that my grandmother and my mother were Christians.

My grandmother on my mum's side of the family. My grandmother apparently was quite sort of strict. I didn't really feel that too much myself. As her only grandson, I got away with it. I thank God indeed for my grandmother on my mum's side and my mum. And it's good, isn't it, to be thankful for those in our families who are believers. They say grace doesn't run in families. Not everyone in our families are believers. So with me, and I'm sure that's so with you as well, that not everyone is saved.

And here we have, don't we, the unfeigned faith that was in Timothy and Paul was persuaded that that was so in Timothy. And in verse 8, it says, be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. So this young man, Timothy, Paul was saying, don't be ashamed of the Lord. Nor of what's happened to me, I'm in prison. But may that not put you off the Lord, because I'm in prison. Imprisoned because of the Lord.

So be not ashamed, and we shouldn't be ashamed, should we, of the Lord. I'm not ashamed to own my Lord. is a hymn that perhaps we sing from time to time. And verse nine says, Who have saved us and called us with an holy calling? Yes, we are the Lord and we are saved. And we're called with an holy calling, there should be We are the Lords.

There should be evidence of holiness in our lives. I'm not saying that we're suddenly perfect and live without sin. That, of course, is not the case. And then may there be an evidence of the work of God in our lives. Because it has to be from God. It's not according to our works. Our works do nothing to contribute to our salvation. Our good works come as a result of being saved, not done in order that God will say, well, you've done quite a lot of good this week or this year, then that'll help you. No. if it was based on our works, well, we would fail, wouldn't we? We'd have to 100% obey God's word and none of us can do that.

But we are saved, don't we? According to his own purpose and grace. And which was given us in Christ Jesus before even the world began. So we are the Lords we were chosen before ever the world was made. And that's amazing to think even before the great things of creation that we see were made. It was in the heart of God to save a people for himself.

But then We go now to verse 12. And really, I sort of want to break it down into four words. Perhaps we'll look at a couple this morning and a couple this evening, depending on time and how I feel. Let me try and do that. So again, the text is, for the witch cause I also suffer these things.

Nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. So the first word is know, for I know. And to know God It's not just about knowing God in the head, academically. But we know God in the heart.

No sort of suggests some sort of confidence, doesn't it? No, if you're doing a quiz, and you're to put your hand up if you know the answer. And a question is given and you frost up your hand and you give the answer. It's a bit embarrassing if you give the wrong answer in your confidence that you showed, but providing you know the answer. Well, that's good, isn't it? You get the question right. So there's a kind of a confidence, isn't there, with knowledge.

But it's not a case, is it, of just knowing about God, but knowing God. You know, perhaps we can know about people, But we don't, but we can say we don't really know them. We know about them. But if you spend time with them. And you kind of. That will help you to really get to know them. something of what they're like in their personality and likes and dislikes and their temperament. And you learn that by getting to know them.

And so it is with the Lord, isn't it? That we get to know about God, obviously, through reading his word, but not just the case of knowing about God in the head and being able to quote scriptures. But we need a relationship, don't we, with God, with the Lord. Psalm 56, 9 to 13 says, when I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back This I know, for God is for me.

In God will I praise his word. In the Lord will I praise his word. In God I have put my trust. I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Thy vows are upon me, O God, I will render praises unto thee, for thou has delivered my soul from death. Will not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? And as perhaps it's in tough times in life, And here, the psalmist is speaking of his enemies. And perhaps it's in those tough times that we really get to know God in a very special way that really goes to the heart.

Romans 8.28, a verse that I'm sure we all love.

There it says, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. And to be able to say, yes, despite all the difficulties and tragedies and disappointments of life. I know, not just in my head, but I know deep down that God is working his purposes out. That God's way is right. that my disappointments are his appointments.

And so it's good for experience for us to really know God. It's very easy, isn't it, to know about God and about the Bible and And, you know, we're quite impressed sometimes with people that seem to really understand scriptures and what they mean and everything. And that's good in some ways, but what really counts is really deep down, do we know God and is it reflected in our lives? with those that we rub shoulders with from day to day, and those who don't know God, who don't love God, that they can say of us, We can see, you know, despite the fact that I don't believe in God or I don't hold the views that you have about God or I don't whatever, I can see that what it really matters to you, what the Lord has done, what he means to you.

May we be able to say as the hymns and one of my favorite hymns says, blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. And that's something that we can all say, we are the Lord's. Not say in an arrogant sort of way, but in the certainty of knowing, of knowing that we are Sinners, as I say, we need to perhaps know in our minds initially, yes, we're sinners and our only way of salvation is the Lord Jesus Christ. But then to know our sin and the deep stress and the deep pain of those sins, knowing that and knowing that in no way can we do anything about them and the only one who can is the Lord Jesus Christ who came into this world to save sinners.

So may it be that we know God in the heart. As this verse says, for I know whom I have believed. Yes, I'm sure a lot of people say, perhaps believe in God in a very general sort of way. But may with us, we know it through experience. and that the Lord has dealt with us, that the Lord has changed us, that we know the forgiveness of God that comes through the Lord. We know that we are by nature hell-deserving sinners, but that our only hope is the Lord Jesus Christ.

So may our confidence, we said about confidence. Confidence is not necessarily a bad thing. It's quite good often to be confident. But of course, it's not a case of being confident in ourselves, but in God and what he has done. And we are, aren't we, to put our confidence in God rather than in princes, as we're told in the Psalms.

Then moving on from no, the second word, and we just look at this one, now and the other two words this evening, is persuaded. For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded. Well, it is very easy to be persuaded. You know, somebody comes along, got the gift, a salesman comes along, and sort of tries to sell you something. And we can easily be persuaded to buy it or go along with it or to do it, whatever. Very easy, isn't it? I guess we all can say the right things. in order to sort of persuade somebody.

I'm not talking like in terms of persuading with the gospel of sort of a hellfire and brimstone sort of preaching. We hear about that, don't we? And loud voices and all that. And the preacher sort of pointing to you and say, you're going to hell. And you've probably heard of that sort of thing. And that perhaps can be quite off-putting and quite frightening. Maybe the Lord has used that to save some people, but it's not really the way that we should go about things. But again, really it comes from knowing the Lord and being persuaded. It sort of links in with that.

Romans 8 again, following on from the verse that I mentioned later on in that chapter, verse 38. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So may we know the love of God, and be persuaded when nothing can shift us or separate us from the love of God, nor all the disappointments and all the hassles that happen in life and all the people perhaps who are against us. As we read, don't we, if God be for us, who can be against us?

So there is to be, isn't there, that persuasion. Again, in the heart. And really, it sort of takes it more from the head to the heart, something that is far more serious and far more of value and far more strong, far stronger is to have this persuasion. We read, don't we, of King Agrippa in Acts 26, For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For this thing was not done in a corner.

Then a gripper said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. So the preaching of Paul, it was having some sort of effect, but it was almost persuading King Agrippa. But that's a situation that we don't want to be in, to be just almost persuaded. Sometimes to be almost persuaded is a good thing. if somebody has been going back to the salesman trying to sell you perhaps some investment. And then at the last minute, you decide not to sign on the dotted line. You were almost persuaded, but thankfully you didn't. But when it comes to the things of the Lord and our salvation, and our souls, then it's not a good thing to be almost persuaded. We need to be persuaded, don't we?

There is a hymn that says, almost persuaded now to believe, almost persuaded now to receive, Seems now some soul to say, go spirit, go thy way, some more convenient day on thee I'll call. I think there was one also who said, well, I'll give this some thought at a more convenient time.

When is a convenient time? We're told in the scriptures, now is the day of salvation. Hear his voice now. Be persuaded now. That hymn goes on to say, almost persuaded, come, come today. Almost persuaded, turn not away. Jesus invites you here. Angels are lingering near. Prayers rise from hearts so dear. O wanderer, come. And the final verse. Almost persuaded, harvest is past. Almost persuaded, doom comes at last. Almost cannot avail. Almost is but to fail. Sad, sad, that bitter well. Almost, but lost.

That's a very sad thing, isn't it? To be almost persuaded about the love of God. and about the state that we're in by nature and the wonderful way of salvation that there is through the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to be persuaded, not just in our minds, but in our hearts. Because that's the sad truth, isn't it? Almost persuaded. but then lost, lost to eternal torment. It's a very sad and perilous state to be in, to be almost persuaded.

It may be that we are persuaded that we have that we know the Lord in our hearts, that we are sure. And I think that as life goes on, as a Christian, as our lives go on, I think that we sort of build up sort of an armory of evidence that God can be trusted, that God is true, that God is faithful. that God loves his people with an everlasting love. We may have been through a tough time in the past in some way, and God brought us through it. We have that in our memories, we recall that and say, well God, on the basis that God doesn't change, he was good to me then, He provided for me then. He saw me through then. Why can't he do it now? He's the same God. He will do it again. So may we have that saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, that persuasion that we read about in this verse.

And we could develop it more, but may it be, I'll probably leave those thoughts for this morning as it's quite warm today. But may it be that we, in our hearts, it's a heart religion, isn't it? And our faith It's not about what we do, but what has been done. That perhaps is the difference between Christianity and other religions. With us, it's a case of what's been done by the Lord Jesus Christ. With other religions, it's a case of what you have to do. But of course, what we do as Christians is as a result of what the Lord has done.

So may we have that saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Know that we are hell deserving sinners. Know that we can't save ourselves and that the Lord Jesus is the only one who can, who came and lived and died and then rose again on the third day and then ascended to heaven and will come again one day in great glory.

So those, I'll leave it, those thoughts for those two words, know and persuade. They are very much linked in, aren't they? And may our faith be in the Lord. He won't let us down. You know, sometimes you hear people say, you know, about how they've been let down, perhaps by Christians. Well, our trust is not in other Christians. Other Christians will let us down. I'll let you down. Because I'm a sinner and I've known the grace of God, but I'm still a sinner. But the Lord won't let you down. The Lord won't let me down. He's never let me down. He will never let me down. He will never let you down either.

So we should put our trust in the Lord and look always to him in all things. Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. God willing, we'll continue with two other thoughts from two other words this evening on that text, but we'll leave that here for this morning. May the Lord bless to us his word. Amen. Let's sing our closing hymn also from Gatsby, psalm number 567. 567. Jesus, the Lord, my Saviour, is my shepherd, and my God, my light, my strength, my joy, my bliss, and I his grace before. From 567 to 857. My Saviour is my shepherd and my God. I find my strength, my joy, my bliss, and I His praise recall.

Jesus Christ, how fair it was to meet. Jesus Christ, how good the smell of fresh fresh fresh fresh fresh fresh fresh fresh fresh fresh fresh fresh Righteousness, happiness, all which we need. In Jesus Christ, the King of grace, ever more stand complete. This my blood, this my sweet blood. before me was made. And with me, O earth, and with me, all shall join and The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forevermore. Amen.

Known and Persuaded of God

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Known and Persuaded of God

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