Our Forefathers Faith
2 Timothy 1:1-18
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our text for this morning comes from St Paul's Second letter to Timothy. This letter was written while Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea Philippi. There are many times throughout this letter where Paul will make reference to people by name, we have already heard several other people mentioned here in Chapter one. If you have any further questions about the Epistle in general please ask me later.
But St Paul mentions a couple of things of interest for us this morning. He says, "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." St Paul reminds us that he was brought up in a household of faith. Yes, this was a Jewish household, but around the same time that Jesus himself was growing up in a Jewish household. Most people think about the same time Jesus was doing his ministry or shortly after his crucifixion St Paul came to Jerusalem to study under Gamaliel.
But all of this started because he was brought up in a household of faith. He grew up with parents that took their faith seriously and understood the traditions. St Paul was encouraged to continue his studies beyond just common, or simple knowledge. Thus, he learned and grew in faith.
St Paul reminds us that Timothy was raised the same way. "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." Timothy grew up with a Father who was a Gentile, but his mother and grandmother help to instruct him in the Jewish faith. They taught him about the Passover. They taught him about the Day of Atonement. They taught him about the feast of Booths, the glory of King David, and horror of the Exile in Babylon.
Timothy and Paul both grew up in households of Faith. They learned from their family and their traditions. They can see how their faith is joined with the faith of those who came before them. They are reminded how they are connected with those who have went before them. So we remind ourselves about the faith we received from our Parents. We remember the faith we received from our ancestors.
But this weekend of the Fourth of July, we are reminded not only about the faith our parentage or ancestors in a biological or family sense. We are reminded of our forefathers writing their declaration of independence 239 years ago. They were not ashamed to stand up and speak.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
After this very declaration, there were many men, women, and children who spilled their blood in order to almost fourteen years later finally establish a new union. I can not condone the rising up against your governing authority. I can only point to the faith of those who have come before us. Last, Sunday I mentioned the German princes who were not ashamed to suffer all on account of the testimony about our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is now up to us to pass on what we have learned from those who have went before us. Remember the old saying, those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it, -- while those who study history are boring and never speak, thus we are doomed to repeat it anyway.
Thus, St Paul is reminding us of Timothy's history, his own history, and even the history of the people in Asia. In verse 15, "You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes." The people have fallen away. You know people that are no longer here. You know people that no longer believe. You likewise know people that are ashamed to speak or even find themselves discouraged to speak. Take the time to speak with these people. You may not be able to tell them how you are suffering or imprison on account of your faith and still willing to speak. But we do have the testimony of St Paul.
Where would we be if St Paul didn't speak? Where would we be if St Timothy didn't speak? Where would we be if those Lutheran Princes didn't speak? Where would we be if Martin Chemnitz and CFW Walther didn't speak?
Where would we be today if those men didn't sign the declaration of Independence? We can talk about the many theories, but ultimately the answer is we would not be here. God has called you to be here. He has called you to hear his word. He has given you the faith that once dwelt in Lois, Eunice, Timothy, Mark, Luke, John, Onesiphorus, Paul, Peter, Jeremiah, Isaiah, King David, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These are our forefathers and it is in their footsteps we have been called to speak to the world around us.
"Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you." May we tell the world, what God has told to us, through our forefathers.
All men are created equal. All men have fallen short of the glory of God and deserve nothing good. All men have one savior who spilled his blood so that he who believes in him should be saved and have eternal life. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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