Well, if you have your Bible with you this morning, please turn with me once again to 2 Timothy chapter four. 2 Timothy chapter four, as I mentioned last week, 2 Timothy and chapter four in particular in this letter is the final chapter. And as we make our way through it and towards the end of the epistle, we are going to be considering verses six through eight this morning, verses six through eight, and Paul's message and instruction to Timothy regarding enduring to the end. Enduring to the end. 2 Timothy chapter four, beginning in verse six, Hear now the holy, inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of the living God written for you and for me today. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing. Amen. Thus far, the reading of God's holy word, and let's go before him asking his blessing on the preaching of it. Our gracious God and heavenly Father, how wonderful is your word to us this morning. We pray for your spirit's work in and through it in our hearts and minds. Open our ears to receive it, oh God. Open our hearts, Lord, to know it to be your word and to embrace it as we then seek by your grace to apply it in our lives. We pray these things in Christ's name, amen. Well, beloved in the Lord Jesus, when a pastor knows what God's word is, when he knows it's the God-breathed word that does profitable work, bringing lively fruit in the hearts and lives of God's people, that pastor knows that he must use it for the purposes in which God gave it. Indeed, the Word had been at work in Timothy from a young age, teaching and correcting and training him for life and ministry. That same Word also needed to do its work in the hearts of the saints in Ephesus. as much as it needs to do its work even in your hearts and lives of those of you here seated today, as the Spirit indeed uses it to sanctify and equip you for every good work. This was all the more reason why Timothy needed to and all ministers need to preach that living word. We must be both courageous and compassionate heralds of Christ. We must preach the truth of the gospel with grace and conviction, praying that through the preaching of his word, God will extend his saving grace to convict and convert sinners. As your pastor, I pray that for the convincing work of the word in my own heart regarding any sin that is within me, but I also pray that the spirit would be pleased to work through my imperfect preaching to bring conviction in your heart regarding sin and error in you. But I further pray that the spirit would apply his sustaining and preserving grace through the salve of Christ to your tender wounds in just the ways that he knows that you need. I pray that he will lift you up even this morning as you sit under the preaching of the word and give you strength and boost your drive and your zeal to walk by faith in service to Christ even in the midst of much opposition and affliction. And so considering this, pastors must be ready and take opportunities the Lord provides to preach the word at any time. That's what Paul said, preach the word in season and out of season, Timothy, all sorts of occasions. The apostle Paul taught you that there's good reason for this, isn't there? There are times when people, even in the flock, don't want to listen to biblical preaching. This is something that you have to guard your heart against. When the itch comes to your ear, what are you going to do with it? Are you going to seek to deal with it and the roots of it? If you can't find the remedy or you aren't interested in seeking out the remedy, are you going to ask for help from me as your pastor or your elders? Are you going to let the itch fester to the point in which it lures you to find your own teachers to scratch it in the ways that you desire? Beloved, Christ deals with and relieves your itch. And he does so even primarily through the preaching of the word we've been taught. If you begin to wander, the voice of your shepherd that you hear through biblical preaching will address your heart and will bring you home. And therefore, as Timothy and all pastors need to remain disciplined and watchful in ministry for this reason, among many others, discipline yourself to sit under faithful preaching, attending on that word that you hear. with diligence, preparation, and prayer. And so as Paul has pressed these things to Timothy, he now once again gives himself as an example of endurance to Timothy. Hear his words this morning about his being poured out and nearing the end in verse six. Paul's fight and his race and his faith in verse seven. And the judge and the crown of righteousness in verse eight. And so he begins here in verse six by saying, for I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. Remember, as many of you may recall, I mentioned in the introduction to this sermon series on 2 Timothy, that this letter was the last that Paul wrote in his inspired writings and scripture. And this verse is how we know that to be true. Indeed, if you think about it, Paul's reflecting now on the time of his end approaching quickly, although he doesn't know the day. He knows the time is near. He may have seen Nero's obstinance and his opposition ramping up. He may have been seeing other signs of oppression and persecution growing stronger. that may have been part of it, as well as the Spirit maybe even revealing to him that his time was near. And so all the more reason to press these things to Timothy. But he had just said what? Fulfill your ministry. Do these things. Be watchful. Fulfill your ministry. And now let me take a moment, Timothy, and tell you how by God's grace I have fulfilled mine. This is his message to Timothy. It's his message to you today. And there's some wonderful, wonderful, glorious things here that the Lord has for you this morning in this final word as he recognizes his end approaching. If you think about it, Paul's impending death was one of the main reasons that he wrote the letter to Timothy as he desired to give a final appeal to his beloved son in the faith. Timothy was well loved by Paul. Paul cared for him. Paul nurtured him. The Lord used him to raise him up, to train him well, and he wanted Timothy to be well-equipped, knowing that Paul's time and being able to provide that instruction, those reminders, that encouragement, even that correction when needed, that was coming to an end for him personally. And so here he was invested and desired good things for his beloved son in the faith, even in his future ministry. His death was what Paul had in mind when he spoke of his being poured out as a drink offering. And how do you know that this is true? Why does Paul use the metaphor of a drink offering? Why would he say that also? Good questions. Know that the drink offering was part of the Old Testament sacrificial system. In Numbers chapter 15, beginning in verse five, Moses teaches you that a drink offering of wine was used in the sanctuary as an offering to God. We read there in verse five, and one fourth of a hen of wine as a drink offering you shall prepare with the burnt offering or the sacrifice for each lamb. Or for ram, you shall prepare as a grain offering, two-tenths of an ephah, a fine flour, mixed with one-third of a hen of oil. And as a drink offering, you shall offer one-third of a hen of wine as a sweet aroma to the Lord. This is all very important language that we're gonna see connected in a moment. Verse eight, and when you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering, or as a sacrifice to fulfill a vow, or as a peace offering to the Lord, then shall be offered with the young bull a grain offering of three tenths of an ephah, fine flour, mixed with a half a hint of oil. And you shall bring as the drink offering, half a hint of wine as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. Now, beloved, notice how the wine of the drink offering was poured on the sacrifice. Paul uses similar language in reference to himself, to the saints in Philippians 2, verse 17, where he says, yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all." Notice that at the time he wrote to Philippi, Paul knew that it was possible that he would die as a martyr. Remember what Paul told the Ephesian elders also in Acts chapter 20, beginning in verse 22. says, and see now, I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. And notice verse 24. But none of these things move me. nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Paul knew what was ahead. He knew the opposition and the strength of it. He would see it with more clarity when he faced it clearly. but yet he went forward that he would finish the race. You see the language connected here in 2 Timothy 4, that the ministry that he had and he received from the Lord would go forward to testify of the gospel. In 2 Timothy 4, 6, see that Paul doesn't speak of his death being a possibility as he did earlier saying, if I'm being poured out, but rather it was inevitable. Paul was prepared to die. Notice he said, I'm already being poured out. His death was a certainty, as he said, the time of my departure is at hand. And so as much as Paul sought to imitate Christ in how he lived, see that Paul also sought to imitate Christ in his readiness to die. having been faithfully obedient to his Lord, even to the point of death. Beloved, I want you to consider three things. There are some wonderful things in verse six to unpack here. First, Paul's words here give you a window into his theology of death. And it's good for you to consider and grow in your own understanding of what the Lord teaches you in the scriptures about death. Death is unnatural, according to scripture. It's disruptive of the created order. It's an enemy of the life that God created human beings to enjoy. And it's important for you to remember that death came as the wages of Adam's sin in the garden. God promised Adam in Genesis 2.17 that this would be true. if he fell into sin. And Paul teaches you in Romans chapter five, verse 12, therefore, just as through one man, sin entered the world and death through sin. And thus death spread to all men because all men sinned. Adam was our federal head. When he sinned, we all sinned. But, we see in Romans 5, 17, just a few verses later, but the free gift is not like the offense, for if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by which grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. Beloved, sin is the sting of death, but God, But God and his plan of redemption that was worked out in and through the person and work of Christ is wonderful and beautiful, even contained here beautifully in Romans 5 that speaks to you much and should inform your theology of death. Sin is the sting of death, and therefore, how wonderful it is when the gospel of Jesus Christ bursts onto the scene as a message of hope, as well as of faith and love. You were condemned under the right justice of God, apart from Christ, and yet here bursts forth this glorious message of hope. How wonderful that day was when Jesus's death drew the sting of death. How wonderful that day was when Christ defeated death in his resurrection. And how blessed will the day of his return be when he will finally destroy death. And even death in Hades will be cast into the fire. That's why for believers who die, my friends, death that is our enemy also becomes an entrance into life eternal with Jesus Christ who has conquered death. Death has no victory because the victory is Christ. So considering all of this, you can see how Paul points you to Christ here in 2 Timothy 4, 6, can't you? For Jesus knew his own death was coming as well. You see that very clear in scripture. Jesus knew that he had been faithfully obedient to his father. He had accomplished the mission. He had run the race well, even as the perfect God-man. Like the wine in a drink offering, Jesus' blood was poured out on the cross. Jesus spoke to this directly in Luke 22, verse 20. When he instituted the Lord's Supper, he picked up the cup of wine and said, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you. Indeed, Jesus' sacrifice fulfilled the need of a drink offering. For he poured out his soul. His blood was spilled, it was poured to pay for your sins and to bring you salvation. But secondly, with his coming death in mind, may the comfort and cheerfulness of Paul in 2 Timothy 4 be as much of a testimony to your heart as it was to Timothy. May this fruit of his faith be of great encouragement to increase your diligence and seriousness in your walk and service to Christ. For that's why Paul shared it with Timothy. That's why he told him these very things. He was faithful unto death as Timothy needed to be. As much as Timothy struggled, as much as you may struggle, beloved, The truth of Christ and the example of Christ and the example of the Apostle Paul shine to you to say, yes, amidst everything that we go through and against all of the confusion and the doubt and the struggle and the pain and the hardship, we must continue to press on for Christ. We must be faithful. We must be faithfully obedient to him to the end. enduring to the end. And there is good reason why, which Paul will unpack in a moment. But indeed, as you are serious in your walk in service to Christ, why do we also see that important in Paul's words? The courage and comfort of dying saints and pastors, especially dying martyrs, are a great confirmation of the truth of the Christian religion. as well as a great encouragement to you and pastors everywhere in our work. Timothy needed to be encouraged by this, you need to be encouraged by this, the people in Ephesus needed to be encouraged by this, and saints in every generation. But thirdly then, live today and every day for Christ in such a way so that you are prepared to die well. We're gonna see what that means. but that you are prepared to die well. The gospel teaches you that the riches of the glory is Christ in you, the hope of glory, Colossians 127. By Christ's spirit, he lives in you so that the life you live is by faith in Christ, Galatians 2. 20. And so therefore, those of you who know the glorious reality of the power of Christ in you are able to live each day ready to die because you have the hope and expectation of glory. You know the rich inheritance that is yours in Christ and the promises that are yes and amen in him. There is no doubt or confusion. Will it come to pass? It will come to pass because they are promises to you in Christ. And so as Paul reflected on the details of his endurance, he could confidently say by God's grace in verse seven, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. As Paul charged Timothy to be consistent in fulfilling his ministry in the preceding context, as Paul has exhorted and encouraged Timothy to press on as a warrior for Christ, as a runner for Christ, as a faithful follower of Christ, Timothy also needed to be able to testify to the good fruit of a life that was preserved by God as he saw Paul persevering to the end. And yet see how Paul's concern wasn't that he had been a success. Again, it wasn't about Paul. This wasn't a kind of a sleight of hand, a little slip of pride that was underneath Paul's statement there. No, far from it. But rather, he was thankful by God's grace that he was faithful to Christ. That Christ used him for his wonderful purposes to be a blessing to his people. He was thankful. Never forget what Paul teaches you about the good fight in 1 Timothy 6, 12. He says, fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, notice, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Beloved Paul was enlisted in the spiritual military life, so to speak, where he fought the good fight of faith, which was a fight with the world, the flesh, and the devil. It was a fight filled with contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. Paul went through the trials, he went through the difficulties, he went through the challenges of the Christian life, and he finished well. Remember what Paul taught Corinth also in 1 Corinthians 9, beginning in verse 24. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. This very much connects to what he's saying in 2 Timothy 4, doesn't it? And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Beloved, the finish line was in view for Paul. He could see it up ahead. All of the duties that Paul called Timothy to do, all of the duties that you were called to do are all such that Paul pressed on in himself and was soon to break the ribbon. But as he also said to the saints in Philippi in Philippians 3.14, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Paul kept the faith as he kept the doctrine of faith, which was evident in his upholding it in his ministry. Again, another wonderful example of Timothy in life as a son of God, as a disciple of Christ, and as a minister of the gospel. all three of these layers and roles and duties that Timothy had as well. Paul was a very good example. And where Timothy struggled and where Paul encouraged him, where Paul lift him up, it was also a great comfort and encouragement to say, Timothy, look, as much as I've called you to endure, I was preaching to myself as well. For I have had similar struggles just as you have. You're younger in years than I am. I'm further down the road than you were. But yet, press on and endure to the end, Timothy. Endure to the end. Beloved, I hope that you see the example of Paul's endurance to the end here, and may that be your focus and prayer as well. What a great comfort it is for a dying saint to see how the call to stand, fight, run, and keep, then joyfully and rightfully and reflecting at the end, turns to the past tense testimony of I fought, finished, and kept the faith. Towards the end of your days, What a comfort it will be for you to be able to speak in this manner as you reflect on God's grace in your life, as you even impress to younger generations that very same encouragement and message, whether it be to your children and deafling parents, it needs to be to your children, whether it be to fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord that you're walking with and encouraging. May this be your testimony. I pray that it is as you seek to continue by the grace of God to be faithful to Christ until your last breath. It's easy to give in, to throw in the towel. We've talked a lot about that, haven't we, in the wrestles of life, as Paul has said many things to Timothy, as he's addressed many weaknesses and challenges with Timothy. The weaknesses and challenges of the Christian life the things that many of us, all of us face in different forms and fashions. And yet we endure by the grace of God and what a joy it is to see that testimony in the end. And so what was left? What remained for Paul? Well, he says in verse eight, finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing. Beloved see, similar to how Paul teaches you in Colossians 1.5, that hope is laid for you in heaven. See here that the reward of a crown of righteousness was laid up for Paul. Truly such a crown is laid up for all who have received the righteousness of Christ by faith, which is evident by your loving his appearing. See that statement there that he gives you. The evidence of faith, the fruit of faith, the fruit of your salvation. is not that you walk or cower in fear of the return of the Lord as it would be a terror to you, but that, no, you love his appearing. Come, Lord Jesus. I long for it, like Paul said. I long for your return and to be in your eternal presence. You love his appearing. The crown of believers is a crown of righteousness purchased by the righteousness of Christ and bestowed as a reward of faithfulness, notice here. The crown is an emblem of victory. And speaking of this crown, Paul is not talking about being saved by his own good deeds, for Paul knew that the only righteousness, only the righteousness of Christ justified him, Galatians 2, 15 and 16. And yet once a person has been justified by faith alone, he will do good works that God will reward in the life to come. Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 16, section six on good works helps summarize this truth well. It says, notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him, not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in God's sight, but that he, looking upon them in his son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections. Beloved, know that when Paul says this crown is laid up for you, he literally means that it has been prepared, it is in safekeeping for you because you are joint heirs with Christ. Matthew Poole, a well-known commentator, comments that this crown of righteousness is another kind of crown than what the conquerors used to have in the Grecian games. It is a high and great reward, he says. a glory with which my whole man shall be encompassed, the purchase of Christ's righteousness and an ample reward of mine also, the giving out of which also will be the effect of God's truth and justice. So learn about the crown and what that crown is and why it's given, but also see the fact that it is given by God. as a reward. You can see this clearly in verse eight. As Paul speaks about how the crown would be received, he told Timothy that the Lord, the righteous judge, would give it to him on that day. Beloved, the righteousness of the judge, who is Jesus, is important here. For Christ is the righteous judge as his judgment is according to truth. And this crown is one that is given to you out of his free mercy on that day of judgment. He is the righteous judge who judges well and does all things well and knows what is true and right. And it is, he is the one who then gives that crown even as the righteous judge to his faithful servants. Beloved, I hope you see in this passage your Lord Jesus. I hope you see his faithful obedience that Paul points you to in his own. I hope you see his being poured out for you on the cross. I hope you see that he is the fulfillment of the drink offering. But even beyond that, beloved, Tertullian was right. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. It's so true that God is often pleased to use persecution to cause his church to spread out and to spring up in greater faith and greater number. Indeed, precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints, Psalm 116, verse 15. The bravery of martyred Christians inspired faith and boldness in those who observed their deaths. and even in us who read about such deaths. But keep in mind that martyrs weren't just a thing of the past. We even have those today. This would be true for Timothy as It ought to be true for you. Paul's comfort and courage in his view of his coming death, along with his reflection of his accomplished mission, must stir you to greater love and good works. It must stir you to fight even stronger, to run even harder. It must stir you to keep the faith, even as you look forward to your own death. And as you do so, have a right theology of death that is in accordance with what God has revealed to you in scripture. As the writer wonderfully says in Hebrews 9, 27, and as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this, the judgment. So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for him, he will appear a second time apart from sin for salvation. Christ is saving you, he has saved you, and he will save you. The presence of sin will be done away with, indeed, as he ushers you into eternity. The death of death and the death of Christ, that is a wonderful, even popular title. Known and written by John Owen, many of you are familiar with it, but as you consider that truth, the death of death in the death of Christ is put to you. Along with everlasting life that is yours in Jesus. As you are in Christ, you must have great zeal to fight hard and to run well, having no need to fear death. Many of you may be sitting here this morning and I recognize that sometimes it is a challenge when we think about death. Not only whatever's going to happen and what it's going to feel like or the experience of it, which we have no knowledge of, but yet do you feel and fear death? As you are in Christ, you have no need to. It's not that you run headlong into it, searching for it. No, serve the Lord all of your days in the calling and station that the Lord has given you with your whole heart. Paul wrestled, right? He said it's to live as Christ, to die as gain. He desired to be with the Lord, but yet he recognized that the Lord and his providence and his timing had him to minister for a longer period of time than he would have given himself. His desire was not the Lord's will. And he knew that and he was at peace with that. And he was committed to do what the Lord would have him to do. You need to have the same thought and focus and understanding. Your days are in the Lord's hands. Death will come. But it is not something that you need to be fearful of as you are in Christ. You don't need to fear that last day. as you stand before Christ, for you look forward to the resurrection. You look forward to the judgment. You love his appearing, and therefore you have the promise of enjoying full communion with the triune God and the eternal reward that he will give you as Jesus looks at you on that day, and he knows that you are his, and you know that he is yours, and you stand in the righteousness of Christ before him. and he smiles at you, and he welcomes you to your eternal home. It is a glorious picture, even as death is a door that we will all face, but that as you are in Christ, it is a door that you will go through unto life eternal. And even beyond life eternal, That isn't the main thing. The main thing is life eternal with the living God. Life eternal in full communion with him in heaven forever. Worshiping him for all eternity. That is the beauty and the wonder. Amen. Praise God for his word. Let's pray together. Our gracious God and heavenly father, we thank you for this wonderful word. in these final days for Paul and time for Paul as he looked forward and also reflected and sought to encourage Timothy in what he needed to do. Lord, you also teach us and encourage us in wonderful lessons and teach us wonderful things that we need to be mindful of and to stand upon, even as we stand upon Christ and look forward to serving him and being with you for all eternity. Oh God, it is. a wonderful word to us today. Bless us as your people, we pray, in Christ's name, amen.