Alistair Begg – A Trustworthy Saying

Alistair Begg’s Message from Truth For Life

This message is made available by Truth For Life. For more information, visit us online at truthforlife.org.

I invite you to open your Bible to 2 Timothy, chapter 2. The passage can be found on page 995 of our church Bibles, which are available in the pews. We’ve placed these Bibles there to help you follow along and ensure that what is being shared aligns with Scripture.

2 Timothy 2:1-13 (ESV)
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

“The saying is trustworthy: For if we have died with him, we will also live with him. If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.”

We thank you, gracious God, for giving us the Bible so that we can think clearly about its message. We pray for the guidance of your Holy Spirit to help us understand what it says and to discover its deep meaning for our lives. Help us, we ask, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today, we focus on 2 Timothy 2:11-13. It’s encouraging to reflect on the simplicity and order of continuing from where we left off. We take this approach because we believe that God speaks through His Word. It’s not about what I, Alistair Begg, or anyone else says about the passage—it’s about the transformative work of God’s Word through the Holy Spirit.

As we study the Bible, it’s important not only to understand it but to allow it to change us. This is the goal of teaching, to encounter God in a life-changing way. Some have asked me what I’ll be doing when I return to Parkside Church. I’ll continue our study in 2 Timothy, starting from verse 11, picking up from where we left off. The Bible does its work in the hearts of those who need it, feeding those who require instruction, opening the eyes of those who don’t understand, and softening hardened hearts.

In the beginning of 2 Timothy 2, Paul reassures Timothy of the resources available to him. The key phrase is “be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Paul isn’t calling Timothy to rely on his own strength but to depend on Christ’s grace to empower him.

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