The following is a sermon transcript from our Sunday Service at The Rock Church in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Each week, we gather to worship, learn from God’s Word, and grow together. This transcript is provided as a free resource to encourage and equip you in your walk with Christ. While you’re welcome to read and share this content for personal use, we kindly ask that it not be redistributed or published elsewhere without prior written consent from The Rock Church.
Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt like you were being held captive? It could be your job—waking up on a Monday morning, not this Monday, but realizing, “Oh no, I have to go to my prison cell called the cubicle.” Or it could be school. You think about all of the years that are left until you’re finally free.
Of course, there are many more serious forms of captivity. Some are trapped in their marriages. Some feel trapped in their homes. It’s their relationships that seem stuck. It’s their health conditions that never seem to ease. Captivity carries with it a very negative sense.
But there’s another kind of captivity that’s more than positive. It’s actually quite necessary for the Christian life. So what am I talking about? It’s being held captive for Christ.
At first glance, that doesn’t make much sense. Are you saying that if I am in Christ, He has all control over me, all power over me, and more importantly, I’m not free to make decisions and do the things I want to do? Yes. That’s exactly right.
Now, before you get upset with me, consider the “freedoms” you’ve experienced in your life. How has that worked out for you? Most of us have realized this: trying to take control of our lives and doing whatever we want often results in terrible experiences.
And when personal freedoms are taken to their limits, the inevitable result is captivity—held captive to our thoughts, lusts, desires, and preferences. The more we exercise these “freedoms,” the thicker the walls of the prison, the heavier the chains.
So what is the solution? How could Christ possibly be the key to spiritual freedom? It has everything to do with who He is and what He has done.
We like to think in terms of “me, myself, and I,” but the Lord thinks in terms of God’s glory and our good. And it’s our thinking that must change, not God’s.
Apostle Paul: Captive Yet Free
Consider the Apostle Paul in his prison cell in Rome. Chained to a guard. Unable to enjoy any personal freedoms. Every move he made was under someone else’s authority. He couldn’t do as he pleased, and yet his understanding of the situation was different than we might expect.
If it were me, I’d be sending prayer requests home: “Pray for my release. Pray they treat me fairly.” But Paul expresses none of these.
He looks not at his circumstances, but to the One who holds all things together.
As a prisoner for Christ, he understands that God’s power is never hindered, His presence never limited, and His understanding knows no bounds.
Consider Tertullian, one of the early church fathers of the second century. He believed that the more Christians were persecuted and killed, the more the gospel would spread. He famously said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
The harder the opposition, the greater the spread of the gospel.
Big Idea
Being held captive for Christ ensures the greatest spiritual freedom.
Let’s focus on three points related to our captivity for Christ:
- Stay focused on the significance of the threefold office of Christ.
- Stay focused on the Christ of the Word and the completion to come.
- Stay focused on the character of Christ and our privileged position.
Captive in Christ
Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt like you were being held captive? It could be your job—waking up on a Monday morning, not this Monday, but realizing, “Oh no, I have to go to my prison cell called the cubicle.” Or it could be school. You think about all of the years that are left until you’re finally free.
Of course, there are many more serious forms of captivity. Some are trapped in their marriages. Some feel trapped in their homes. It’s their relationships that seem stuck. It’s their health conditions that never seem to ease. Captivity carries with it a very negative sense.
But there’s another kind of captivity that’s more than positive. It’s actually quite necessary for the Christian life. So what am I talking about? It’s being held captive for Christ.
At first glance, that doesn’t make much sense. Are you saying that if I am in Christ, He has all control over me, all power over me, and more importantly, I’m not free to make decisions and do the things I want to do? Yes. That’s exactly right.
Now, before you get upset with me, consider the “freedoms” you’ve experienced in your life. How has that worked out for you? Most of us have realized this: trying to take control of our lives and doing whatever we want often results in terrible experiences.
And when personal freedoms are taken to their limits, the inevitable result is captivity—held captive to our thoughts, lusts, desires, and preferences. The more we exercise these “freedoms,” the thicker the walls of the prison, the heavier the chains.
So what is the solution? How could Christ possibly be the key to spiritual freedom? It has everything to do with who He is and what He has done.
We like to think in terms of “me, myself, and I,” but the Lord thinks in terms of God’s glory and our good. And it’s our thinking that must change, not God’s.
Apostle Paul: Captive Yet Free
Consider the Apostle Paul in his prison cell in Rome. Chained to a guard. Unable to enjoy any personal freedoms. Every move he made was under someone else’s authority. He couldn’t do as he pleased, and yet his understanding of the situation was different than we might expect.
If it were me, I’d be sending prayer requests home: “Pray for my release. Pray they treat me fairly.” But Paul expresses none of these.
He looks not at his circumstances, but to the One who holds all things together.
As a prisoner for Christ, he understands that God’s power is never hindered, His presence never limited, and His understanding knows no bounds.
Consider Tertullian, one of the early church fathers of the second century. He believed that the more Christians were persecuted and killed, the more the gospel would spread. He famously said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
The harder the opposition, the greater the spread of the gospel.
Big Idea
Being held captive for Christ ensures the greatest spiritual freedom.
Let’s focus on three points related to our captivity for Christ:
- Stay focused on the significance of the threefold office of Christ.
- Stay focused on the Christ of the Word and the completion to come.
- Stay focused on the character of Christ and our privileged position.
1. The Threefold Office of Christ (2 Timothy 2:8)
“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel.”
Why remember Jesus Christ? What does that have to do with your life today?
You may be asking, “What is the threefold office of Christ?” I’m glad you asked.
Paul writes this to Timothy—a young pastor facing struggles, fears, and doubts. Paul, writing from a prison cell, is reminding Timothy not of strategies, systems, or human strength. Instead, he says, remember Jesus Christ.
Let’s break this verse down into three phrases and how each represents one of the offices of Christ:
Christ as Priest
“Risen from the dead”
This speaks to Christ’s priestly office. The Levitical priests in the Old Testament offered sacrifices to cover the sins of the people. But their sacrifices had to be repeated. They were never sufficient.
Christ offered Himself as our great High Priest. His perfect sacrifice covered all our sins—past, present, and future. The resurrection was the proof that God the Father accepted the sacrifice. It was sufficient. Complete. Done.
He now intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father with all power and authority. And He’s coming back to establish His kingdom.
So be encouraged. Keep remembering Jesus Christ—risen from the grave. Hold on to Christ, even when everything else is trying to hold on to you.
Christ as King
“The offspring of David”
This refers to Christ’s kingly office. David, a type of Christ, pointed us to a perfect king. David sinned grievously, but Jesus never fails. Ever.
That means Jesus rules and reigns perfectly over your heart and life. Even when you feel like the flesh, the world, and the devil are winning, Christ has the final say.
- The flesh is no longer your ruler.
- The world is no longer your king.
- The devil no longer holds you captive.
You’ve been transferred into Christ’s marvelous light. You are under King Jesus.
And not only is Jesus king, but He came from the lineage of David—a man. This speaks to His humanity. He understands us better than we understand ourselves. What a comfort!
Christ as Prophet
“As preached in my gospel”
What do prophets do? They proclaim God’s Word. In the Old Testament, a prophet spoke on behalf of God, often under threat of death if they spoke falsely.
Jesus is the perfect prophet. He never lies. He never fails. And He speaks through the Scriptures today. The entire Word points to Him. The Word is meant to inflame our hearts, not just inform our minds.
So don’t just know Jesus is priest, prophet, and king. Treasure Him. Behold Him. Worship Him.
2. The Christ of the Word and the Completion to Come (2 Timothy 2:9-10)
“…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.”
Why must we suffer? Not all suffering is the result of our own sin. Some suffering is because we live in a fallen world. Some suffering is for the name of Christ.
Paul is in chains. No personal freedom. Yet what does he say? He’s not focused on release. He’s not dreaming of easier days. Instead:
- He endures for the sake of the elect.
- He believes that God is using his suffering.
- He proclaims: “The word of God is not bound!”
Your suffering could be the seed of someone else’s salvation. When others see your joy, your endurance, and your hope in the middle of pain—they see Christ. They see that Christ is alive in you.
The Power of God’s Word
The gospel speeds ahead in places of persecution. Why? Because the world looks on and asks, “Why do these people suffer for a man from Nazareth?”
Because He is not just a man. He is the Savior of the world.
And the world hates this. They want to be their own priest, their own prophet, and their own king. But Christ alone holds those offices.
Paul knows his suffering doesn’t save anyone. But his endurance helps testify to the One who does. If Christians fall away easily, the world sees no power in our faith.
The Elect and Evangelism
Paul endures for the sake of the elect. Some get uneasy with that word. But it simply refers to God’s people:
- Saved by grace alone
- Through faith alone
- In Christ alone
- According to Scripture alone
- For the glory of God alone
Some of those elect don’t yet know they are elect. That’s why we proclaim the gospel.
We don’t determine who is or isn’t elect. We don’t stop praying for lost people just because they haven’t responded yet. That’s not our role. Our role is to preach. God saves.
Even when you think God isn’t working, trust that He is.
Eternal Glory
What do we gain?
“…that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
Does that stir your heart? It should.
We are not just saved from wrath. We are saved for glory. Christ is coming back. You will receive a glorified body. You will reign with Him forever.
That reality strengthens us now. Even when:
- Life gets harder.
- Circumstances don’t change.
- Pain persists.
3. The Character of Christ and Our Privileged Position (2 Timothy 2:11-13)
“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.”
Paul now turns to a well-known saying among the early Christians, and he reminds us of its truth.
Our Union with Christ
“If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him.”
This isn’t about physical death—it’s about dying to sin and self. As Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Your old life is gone. You’re alive in Christ. You already reign with Him now, spiritually seated in the heavenly places.
Our Endurance in Christ
“If we endure, we will also reign with Him.”
Does this verse cause fear? “What if I don’t endure?”
The truth is, if you are in Christ, you will endure. Because Christ is in you. He gives you the strength to persevere.
We do not endure by our own power, but by the power of the Spirit. This promise is meant to encourage, not scare. You will reign with Christ.
Denial and Faithlessness
“If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”
Jesus said it clearly: if you deny Him before men, He will deny you before the Father. There are those who fall away and prove they were never truly His.
“They went out from us, but they were not of us…” (1 John 2:19)
But the next line offers the greatest comfort:
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful.”
We stumble. We fall. We are often weak. But Christ is never faithless. His grip is secure.
God’s Unchanging Character
“For He cannot deny Himself.”
God cannot act contrary to His nature. He cannot break His promises. He cannot reject those who are truly His.
- He cannot lie.
- He cannot fail.
- He cannot be deceived.
That means if you are in Christ, you are secure.
Even when you’re weak, Jesus is strong.
Even when you waver, Jesus stands firm.
Even when you sin, Jesus intercedes.
That is your privileged position in Christ.
Final Encouragement
Stay focused on Christ:
- Not just as priest, prophet, and king—but as your priest, prophet, and king.
- Not just on the Word of Christ, but on the Christ of the Word.
- Not just on His character, but on your position in Him.
So where does your focus need to shift today?
- From suffering to the Christ of your suffering?
- From fear to the promise of eternal glory?
If you don’t know Christ, call upon Him. Confess Him as Lord. Ask Him to help you believe.
If you do know Him, keep going. Keep trusting. Keep enduring.
Closing Prayer
Lord, we come to You now to confess that You are Lord, Savior, King, our priest, our prophet. You’ve given us Your Word, Your Spirit, and Your Church. Help us see that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that awaits us.
Strengthen us by Your grace. Sustain us by Your Word. Remind us that even when we are faithless, You remain faithful.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Confession Reading
Chapter 8, Paragraph 9 — Christ as Mediator
“The office of mediator between God and humanity is appropriate for Christ alone, who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God. And this office may not be transferred from Him to anyone else, either in whole or in part.”
Let us now stand and sing to our great Prophet, Priest, and King.
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