Apostle Paul’s Last Appeal

2 Timothy 4:6-8

INTRODUCTION: The great Biblical writer William Barclay describes the scene with words that should challenge us all: Paul did not think of himself as going to be executed; he thought of himself as going to offer his life to God. His life was not being taken from him; he was laying it down. Ever since his conversion Paul had offered to God—his money, his scholarship, his strength, his time, the vigor of his body, the acuteness of his mind, the devotion of his passionate heart. Only life itself was left to offer, and gladly Paul was going to lay life down 2 Timothy 4:6

Notice Paul’s charge to Timothy in verses 1-5, 9. Notice Paul’s reason for wanting Timothy to come to him in verses 10-18. Demas, who had been a fellow-worker, Col. 4:14, had forsaken him for the world.

OFFERINGS
“I am ready to be offered.” That is, “I am a drink offering already being poured out.” Paul says that his life is being offered and sacrificed to God in one last act—the act of death. What a view of death! Seeing death as an offering and sacrifice being presented to God. The Greek word for offering or sacrifice (spendomai) is striking: it refers to the drink offering that was presented to God. When a person wanted to make a sacrifice to God, he often took a cup of wine or oil and poured it out as an offering and sacrifice to God. The drink offering symbolized the Lord Jesus pouring out His soul—dying—for us. Paul is saying, “I am pouring out my soul through death for the Lord Jesus Christ.

DEPARTURE
“The time of my departure is at hand.” Someone has said, “Youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, and old age a regret.” But not so with Paul. His youth might have been a blunder, his manhood a struggle, but his old age a regret—NO! He had desired to finish his course with joy, and now his prayer is being answered. Acts 20:24.

To depart is the picture of a ship hoisting the anchor and loosening the mooring ropes and departing one country for another country. Paul had been anchored and tied to this world, but the anchor and ropes of this world were now being loosed, and Paul was about to set sail for the greatest of all ports—heaven itself. (W.E. Vine).

A GOOD FIGHT
There is no Christian life apart from conflict. There are fightings without and within—fighting with self, sin, the devil, the world—but there is victory in God’s strength.

Athletic competitions were as popular in the ancient world as in our own. Most people were familiar with the training and discipline necessary to succeed in athletic contests. Paul described his life in similar terms, except that the focus and discipline he employed were for the good fight of faith. He gave his life to the only cause worthy of devotion.

A FINISHED COURSE
“I have finished my course.” That is, “I have run along the appointed track; I have fulfilled the Divine destiny.”

Paul’s glorious testimony. The way Paul describes his life is also full of meaning. He quickly glances back over his life and uses three pictures to describe it, the pictures of a soldier, an athlete, and a steward.

he endured to the end. He remained true to the gospel despite terrible opposition. It was the very thing he asked of Timothy. Jesus gave a similar sentiment in John 17:4: “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

A KEPT FAITH
“I have kept the faith.” Your Christian life begins in your trusting in Jesus. But that is only half. The other half is that Christ is trusting in you. One of the saddest Scriptures in all the Bible is John 2:24.

“The faith” referred to what had been entrusted to Paul; this also had been entrusted to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:20). 2 Timothy 4:7. Paul had never wavered in his faith and trusted that soon he would experience all the promises on which he had based his life and ministry.

Paul says that he had kept the faith. He had looked after the faith just like a good steward looks after the estate of his master. The Lord had entrusted the faith to Paul, and he had kept the faith. He had proven faithful; he had faithfully managed the faith for his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. The idea is that of a trust, of a management contract between Christ and Paul. Paul is saying that he had kept the terms of the contract; he had managed and looked after the trust faithfully and well.

A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”

There is a crown of righteousness—a crown that a person can receive, a crown that will make him acceptable to God. No person can ever be accepted by God unless he is crowned with righteousness—completely covered with righteousness and made perfect. Why? Because God is perfect and only perfection can live in the presence of God. Therefore, the only way a person can ever become acceptable to God is by receiving the crown of righteousness from God.

CONCLUSION:
As he neared the end of his life, Paul could confidently say that he had been faithful to his call. Thus he faced death calmly, knowing that he would be rewarded by Christ. Is your life preparing you for death? Do you share Paul’s confident expectation of meeting Christ? The good news is that the heavenly reward is not just for giants of the faith, like Paul, but for all who are eagerly looking forward to Jesus’ second coming. Paul gave these words to encourage Timothy, and us, that no matter how difficult the fight seems—keep serving the Lord. When we are with Jesus Christ, we will discover that it was all worth it.

And not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. This crown of righteousness, this reward, was not for Paul alone. It is promised to all who have loved the Lord and eagerly desire his return. What an encouragement to Timothy, to the loyal believers in his church, and to all believers. Whatever we may face—discouragement, persecution, or death—we know our reward is with Christ in eternity.

A drink offering consisted of wine poured out on an altar as a sacrifice to God (Genesis 35:14; Exodus 29:41; Numbers 28:24). Paul viewed his life as an offering, poured out before God. Paul had used the same comparison in Philippians 2:17, where he wrote, “Even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming for your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” There will be times when service seems wasted. Sometimes, being poured out will feel like being thrown out! When that happens, remember Paul’s image of the drink offering and be encouraged. Even if he had to die, Paul was content. Paul’s commitment was total; thus, sacrificing his life to build others’ faith seemed to him a joyous reward.

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