Two Safe Deposits

In 2 Timothy 1:9–10, we were given a summary of the gospel. What is the gospel? It is that Jesus Christ, by his life and death, destroyed our death, and brought to light for us life and immortality. On the basis of this reality, we can believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for our eternal salvation. Therefore, we can be unashamed and fearless of all trials, persecutions, and even death for proclaiming this gospel. This is true of all true believers in Jesus Christ.

When anyone trusts in Jesus, he is making a deposit with the mighty risen Christ—the deposit of his very life—so that he may keep it forever safely. In turn, God in Christ deposits with us his precious gospel, so that we may proclaim it and guard it by the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the second deposit, the gospel, leads us to the first deposit of our life to Christ to keep it forever. Second Timothy 1:11–14 speaks of both of these precious deposits.

Have you trusted in our Savior, Jesus Christ? If so, you have nothing to fear. Your future is clear and glorious. You are redeemed forever. You are in Christ, who is given all authority in heaven and on earth.

Thank God for the gospel! God appointed Paul, a former persecutor of the church, to be a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of this glorious gospel. Of him we read in Acts 9:15, “The Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man [Paul] is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.’” Paul introduced himself to the Galatians as “Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead” (Gal. 1:1).

Jesus Christ also appointed pastors and teachers in his church: “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11). We read about this also in Acts 20:28 in Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesian elders: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has [appointed] you overseers.”

My authority as a pastor comes first from God to speak to you. I am not speaking my words; it is the word of God coming to you in God’s ordination. The authority of the apostle is the authority of God himself.

Paul Was Appointed a Preacher

Paul begins, “And of this gospel I was appointed a herald” (v. 11). The first point Paul makes is that God appointed him to be a preacher. The Greek word is kêrux, preacher. We find this statement also in 1 Timothy 2:7: “For this purpose I was appointed a herald.”

As a preacher, Paul was to live out and proclaim the gospel to the whole world in the power of the Holy Spirit. This instruction is for all God’s ministers. Elsewhere Paul told Timothy, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim. 4:15–16).

The gospel reveals eternal life to dying sinners. That is why we must preach the gospel. We do not preach philosophy, science, or idols of gold and silver or anything else in this world, because none of these can save us from death. So Paul writes, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2). He also says, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:7–8).

Paul explains how the gospel saves us: “‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Rom. 10:13–15). The preacher must be sent by God to preach the gospel. And we must hear the gospel, believe the gospel, and call upon the name of the Lord, and be saved forever.

Money cannot save us. Philosophy cannot save us. No earthly power can save us. Jesus Christ alone saves us. He clothes with salvation those who are humble and believing. He will never save an arrogant person.

A preacher must proclaim clearly and loudly the news from the palace of King Jesus: “Hear ye! Hear ye! Jesus saves sinners. Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our justification. Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that you may be saved.”

Jesus told his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Paul declares, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Rom. 1:16).

The gospel is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes. Why, then, are most people not saved? It is because they will not believe. They are wicked and arrogant. In fact, some even call themselves gods. But it is God, not anyone else, who gives us life. So we must declare and proclaim the God triune. There is no other God besides him.

Paul Was Appointed an Apostle

Then Paul says, “I was appointed . . . an apostle” (v. 11). Paul was appointed by the risen Christ to formulate the gospel and speak for Christ. He was given the power of attorney. So he speaks and writes and acts in behalf of Jesus Christ.

In Acts 9, we read that Paul was arrested by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. He cried out, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. . . . Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:5–6).

Paul was appointed directly by Christ. To the Corinthian church he writes, “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?” (1 Cor. 9:1). Elsewhere he speaks about the gospel that was entrusted to him: “the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service” (1 Tim. 1:11–12). This is also true of a pastor, who is appointed by Christ and appointed by the Holy Spirit for our benefit.

Paul Was Appointed a Teacher

Next, Paul says he was appointed as a teacher. He is speaking about a teacher who will instruct people in the gospel doctrine and ethics. In Acts 2:42 we read that the early disciples “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” The apostles’ teaching is not philosophy concocted by man. The gospel is God’s revelation to men so that they may be saved.

In Acts 11, we read that Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, “he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people” (Acts 11:25–26).

A good teacher will also entrust the gospel to reliable men who, in turn, are qualified to teach others until the end of time. For example, in this church we have many qualified pious and learned teachers, by the grace of God. In fact, it is the duty of the church to train pastors and teachers for the gospel ministry. It is not the duty of a seminary or an institute. So Paul instructed Timothy, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:1–2).

A teacher must be Spirit-filled and word-filled. Such a man will teach the word of God with absolute authority. Paul told the young, timid, Timothy, “Command and teach these things” (1 Tim. 4:11). Where did Timothy get the authority to command? From God himself. Elsewhere, Paul told Timothy to not let anyone despise him (1 Tim. 4:12). If a person despises the authority of God, he will despise the pastor. But such a person will never embrace the gospel that comes to save him.

Paul’s appointment as preacher, apostle, and teacher was also an appointment to suffer for the gospel. Jesus told Ananias, “I will show [Paul] how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:16). In Acts 16, we read that after Paul and Silas “had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison” (Acts 16:23).

In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul gives more details of his sufferings:

Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (2 Cor. 11:23–27)

A true pastor is called to suffer. Unbelievers and even some believers may hate him. But Jesus said, “Woe unto you if people speak well of you” (Luke 6:26). People will speak well of us if we do not preach the gospel to them. And Peter writes, “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear his name” (1 Pet. 4:16). If we want to be Christians, Christ will save us, but he will also ordain us to suffer for the gospel.

No one should become a pastor and teacher unless God has called him. Paul suffered continually until his martyrdom. He was beheaded because he preached the gospel. The gospel offends sinners who are Lilliputians, little nothings, who maintain that they are righteous and have no need for Jesus Christ.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, which is the testimony concerning our Lord (2 Tim. 1:8). He said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it alone is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” The gospel does not save anyone who will not believe. Faith is the instrumental cause of our salvation. The meritorious cause is the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Thus, Paul was exhorting Timothy to not be ashamed of the gospel. He testified that Onesiphorus was not ashamed of Paul’s chains. Paul was Christ’s apostle and prisoner, kept in a dungeon, in chains, because he preached the gospel.

We are proud of the gospel, for it is the only remedy for a dying, hell-bound sinner. We ought to be very proud to share the gospel, for outside of Christ there is no salvation.

Paul suffered much for the gospel, yet he was not afraid or ashamed. Why? Because, he said elsewhere, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (PGM) The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20). Paul also wrote, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20). This demonstrates a clear understanding of the gospel. We do not serve Jesus Christ to make more money or to become famous. Our happiness is bound up with Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Are you ashamed of the gospel? If you are, consider the words of Jesus himself: “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).

Paul Knew Whom He Believed

Why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel? Because, he said, “I know him,” (i.e., Jesus Christ). What does it mean to know Christ? It means that Paul had experimental, relational knowledge of Jesus Christ and God the Father. And not only did he have information about Christ, but he knew him personally. Paul trusted Christ as his Savior and Lord, as the one who loved him and died for him. Christianity is a personal love relationship with Jesus Christ, based on the knowledge of the gospel. We love him because he first loved us.

This idea of knowing as loving is found in John 17:3. Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Paul knew him who foreknew him. Foreknew means foreloved from eternity.

Do you know Jesus in this way? Do you love Jesus? Paul says also that he believed in Christ in the past, and he was believing in him even as he was about to be killed. In Greek, it is in the perfect tense (“I believed in the past; I believe in him now; I believe in him forever”).

Additionally, Paul said that he was fully convinced beyond a shadow of doubt of one thing. What was he convinced of? That Jesus Christ is almighty to safely keep, to protect, to preserve, and to guard what he deposited with him, that is, his life. As Paul says in Romans 8:38–39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When Paul believed in Jesus of Nazareth, he entrusted to him his precious life for safekeeping forever. In ancient times, when a man would go on long journey, he would deposit with a friend his most precious possessions. The friend would keep that deposit safe and deliver it back to the depositor when he returned from his journey.

The emphasis in this analogy is on the good faith and fidelity of the depository. Our depository is the infinite, self-existing, self-sufficient eternal God, the Creator of all the universe, and the Redeemer of his people. It is the triune God, who is truth, who is faithful, and who cannot lie. So Paul was trusting God to give back to him his life, in spite of his impending death. He knew that by faith in Jesus, we have already crossed over from death into life, never to go back. Jesus said, “Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:26).

Paul trusted God and was fully convinced, first, that God was almighty to do this. He is dunatos, mighty. He has dunamis, great power. Elsewhere Paul wrote, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 1:18–20). Our God is almighty. He spoke, and the universe came into existence. But the cost for our redemption was to send his Son to come and live, and die and be raised up. The sovereign God is almighty to do this, and he never changes. He is infinite, and he is personal.

Second, Paul knew that God was able to guard his deposit without any harm. God is the safest depository in the universe. Yet he is not part of the universe. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29). This is security, a safe deposit. We are kept safe forever by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus died, he committed his life to God the Father: “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46). And on the third day, God raised him from the dead.

Stephen also entrusted himself to God. He was stoned to death. But before he died, “while they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’” (Acts 7:59). That is what we are to do also. Peter writes, “Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator” (1 Pet. 4:19). Why should they do this? Paul gives the reason: “The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thess. 3:3).

He will keep our lives against the day of judgment when he will justify us. He himself spoke of this: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. . . . Then [the wicked] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matt. 25:34, 46). Jesus Christ justified us, and he will justify us on the day of judgment.

Guard the Gospel

Finally, Paul exhorts Timothy to guard the gospel deposit (vv. 13–14). He must hold on to the gospel he heard from the apostle. Timothy cannot formulate the gospel, because he is not an apostle. But he must guard the gospel deposit entrusted to him by Christ and Paul.

First, Paul says that Timothy must hold on to the standard, the sound words he heard from the apostle. The gospel is a saving gospel. The word “sound” means health-giving. It is a health-giving gospel. It gives life to the dead, just as the words of Jesus instantly raised the dead Lazarus from the tomb. When we hear the gospel, God raises us up from the dead. Because of his great love and rich mercy, God made us alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:4–5).

The gospel heals sin-sick souls. Paul writes, “[A pastor] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9). He also says, “I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you” (1 Cor. 11:2).

We have no right to change the gospel. We have no right to add to, subtract from, or misinterpret the gospel, or only preach from selective texts. We must preach the whole gospel (Acts 20:27) and oppose all heresies and heretics.

In 2 Timothy 2 Paul says that there were people who denied the resurrection itself. We oppose the heresy of liberalism, which says that Jesus was just a man like us—a nice man, a moral man, but not perfect God and perfect man, who died for our sins upon the cross. Liberal churches will never preach Jesus Christ in terms of his person and work.

But there is also the heresy of antinomianism. Those who promote it are damned because they are preaching a different Jesus, a different gospel, and a different Spirit. Such people say, “Jesus saved us so that we can sin more. Don’t you like to sin? Well, if you just believe in Jesus, you can sin all you want.”

Many modern seminaries, even Reformed seminaries, are embracing the antinomian heresy as taught by people like Meredith Kline, Michael Horton, Steve Brown, Tullian Tchividjian, Charles Ryrie, and Zane Hodges. Their message is that a person does not have to obey God. People young and old love this idea, but it will send them to hell itself. Jesus Christ, through the apostle, pronounced anathema upon those who teach this type of heresy.

Paul spoke about this: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Tim. 4:1–2). He also said, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. . . . [People will be] treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them” (2 Tim. 3:1, 4–5). He also writes, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Tim. 4:3–4).

We must preach the gospel with all authority, which is what we do in this church. We do not entertain dying sinners. We preach the gospel to them, and God raises them from the dead, so that they may live for God’s glory and for their own eternal happiness. It matters what we preach, what we believe, and how we live. Timothy is to hold on to the apostolic gospel by trusting the gospel and living out the gospel in love.

Everything we need to glorify God we receive from Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). He gives us grace to do what he wants us to do, to live a successful life. Life is found in Jesus (2 Tim. 1:1). Faith and love is found in Jesus (2 Tim. 1:13). Grace is found in Jesus (2 Tim. 2:1). Salvation is found in Jesus (2 Tim. 2:10). Everything we need is found in him. From Christ the vine, we receive everything we need to bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit for the glory of God the Father. We are in Christ, and we receive all from Christ.

So Paul tells Timothy, “Guard the good deposit.” He must guard it against those who would corrupt and destroy the gospel. But all such heretics are demon-possessed. The devil lies and contradicts the Bible. But he will not succeed. The gates of hell shall never prevail against Christ’s church, which he is building upon the sure foundation of the gospel. Paul writes, “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows [that means the Lord loves] those who are his,’ and, ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness’” (2 Tim. 2:19). Is that antinomianism?

We must defend the gospel, preach the gospel, live the gospel, teach the gospel, and pass the gospel on to future generations. We may even die for the gospel. This is the duty of all God’s people, especially of pastors and teachers. It would be easier to conform to antinomianism, but we must not do it.

How can we who are weak in ourselves keep this deposit of the gospel? How can we guard the gospel deposit of Christ, which Christ entrusted to us? Paul says we can do so through the Holy Spirit, who permanently dwells in us. He rules us, guides us, comforts us, enlightens us through the Scriptures, and empowers us. Thus, we can do all things through him who gives us strength to resist the devil, to obey our Lord Jesus Christ, to guard the deposit, and, finally, to die in faith in Jesus Christ.

The Bible clearly tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. God dwells in us. The word dwells in us, and faith dwells in us. Everything we need is in us in Jesus Christ. Jesus lived and died the propitiatory death on the cross and was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. And so we can be faithful to the gospel deposit by the power of the infinite God, the Holy Spirit, who is our resident boss. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we must glorify God with our bodies. When we are alone, we must understand that we are never truly alone if we are Christians.

Conclusion

There are two safe deposits, both kept by God Almighty. He keeps our lives safe, and he keeps the gospel pure through his holy church, by the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us.

In Acts 16, we read that the Philippian jailer was convicted of his sins and cried out in the middle of the night, “What must I do to be saved?” The simple answer came: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your entire family shall be saved.”

God’s gospel will never vanish from the earth. When we think the church is dying, God will pour out his Spirit and revive her by renewing interest in the gospel. Study the true revival of the great Protestant Reformation.

Therefore, let us pray for revival of true Christianity in our times. Let us say, Revive me, O Lord. Revive my family. Revive my church. Revive God’s holy universal apostolic church throughout the whole world. May there be a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let there be a great hunger for the bread of the gospel, so that the revived church may influence the culture and nations for the good, that godliness may increase and wickedness decrease.

The gospel is the only hope of the whole world. May our triune God begin to revive us even this day.