Graham continued his exposition of 2 Timothy this morning. This time just one short verse was studied.

Notes below.

2 Timothy [ 30:05 ] Play in Popup | Download

2 Timothy 1:12

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

I Know Whom I Have Believed by Daniel W. Whittle

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain:
But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

‘I know’
‘I’ – though others may doubt, I know.

‘Know’
See John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me
John 17:25 Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.

Not just think, but to know, a certainty. After my trip to China I think I could explain to you what deep fried scorpions taste like. You know what apples taste like!
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Colossians 2:1-4
I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no-one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

‘Whom’
Know who you have believed in.
It is not what I have believed in.
Nor is it how I have believed.

It is that I know WHOM I have believed.

You will know more about who he is by ready the Bible. Because Paul knew who God is he be confident about God being faithful in the remainder of that verse. See 2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

‘Believed’
More accurately described as “trusted”. Paul is continuing with the metaphor of a depositor depositing his pledge with
someone whom he trusts.

‘Persuaded’
Paul says he is persuaded. This is a conviction that has come about as the result of many influences. Perhaps he thinks back to the light and the voice on the road to Damascus. Perhaps he remembers is healing, or the words of prophecy spoken over him, or the demonstration of the faithfulness of Jesus in his life, or the regular encounter with Jesus through the Holy Spirit which is so real he described it in his letter to the church in Ephesus as a ‘seal’ and as ‘a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance’

Ephesians 1:13-14
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory.

He is persuaded, he knows despite the pressures and foes around him.

See Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced (or persuaded) 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.

‘He is able’ Yes God can cope.

‘Keep’ (or ‘guard’)
Keep my deposit (Greek = deposit) which I have deposited in God’s safe keeping. This deposit is all I that am and all that I have, my body, soul, and spirit.

See 1 Thessalonians 5:23
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:19
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Paul knew that a transaction had taken place.

When I submitted my life to Jesus Christ and he came to live in my by his Holy Spirit, a transaction took place. I deposited my spirit, soul and body with him, he deposited his Spirit in me (remember ‘seal’ and ‘a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance’). Yes body as well for that was also Paul’s confidence as he faced execution.

It was the confidence of Job in Old Testament times.

Job 19:25-27 (NIV)
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

It was the confidence Paul communicated to others in happier times.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58
I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

What is the deposit in verse 14?
I think it is conviction, the message of truth, the teachings of this new life, his revelation, all given life by the Holy Spirit.

Christ Himself, in dying, deposited his spirit into his father’s care for safe keeping

Luke 23:46
Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When he had said this, he breathed his last.

What do you or I need to deposit with him at this time?