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.
Introduction: What Is a Guardian?
A keeper. A protector. Now these are just some of the words that are used to describe who a guardian is. Why and for whom? Well, quite simply, it’s a child or adult with disabilities. They don’t have anyone to look out for them. A guardian is that one who is appointed by the court, a legal representative. He is an advocate fighting for the rights of others.
What are some qualities of a good guardian? Certainly he must be kind and compassionate, caring, patient, loyal, loving. Why? Well, quite obviously, these are crucial in the proper care of the helpless one. Without them, what happens? The child is left to despondency, to despair, to defeat. But with these things, there is hope. There is joy. There is an opportunity for a better life.
So whatever do I mean by the phrase “guardians of the gospel”? No, no, not guardians of the galaxy. Listen, children. Surely the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
Spurgeon said that all we have to do is let the thing out of the cage—the lion that is—and the work will be done. So why then protect it? Why defend it? Or put another way, why is it so important to preserve the truth of God’s Word? Well, without it, what are we left with? It’s a false gospel, a false Jesus, a different one, a different God altogether—leaving people as orphans, wandering the maze of life with no direction.
That’s the sad reality of so many churches that have departed from orthodoxy—another word for sound teaching. What happened? Why would they do that? Don’t all Christians value the primacy, importance, and clarity of the gospel? Well, sadly not. They’re caught by the winds of the culture, by the pressures of pleasing man.
And so what is the key? How do we stay the course? Why is it that almost every denomination falls into the same trap, given enough time, to leave behind what is right and good and true?
We all know that this is a spiritual battle. We face an enemy who is crafty, who is roaming the whole earth, seeking whom he may destroy. Top of the list is the church—looking for cracks in the foundation, looking for leaks in the roof. And surely but steadily, the structure becomes unstable, the wood all rotten.
You see, a guardian of the gospel understands the treasure of the gospel. He understands that he’s found that pearl of great price, that diamond in the rough, the spiritual riches that only come from Christ. And what does he do with that treasure? He holds it out like a diamond. And just like a diamond, the gospel has so many angles to it—so much beauty to behold and so much power to transform.
But a guardian of the gospel also knows from whom he received the treasure. And he doesn’t draw from his own strength to keep the treasure. He has both the power of God indwelling in him and a great Savior to guide him.
A guardian of the gospel sets his hands to the plow and he doesn’t look back. He knows from whom he was called. He knows from whom he is kept. There is a guardian of the soul who will never let us go. He is the one, the only one, who makes it possible for us to maintain faithful guardianship of this glorious gospel.
And that’s what we’re looking at today from the text. It’s not a duty dispensed without a power possessed. You see, it’s not an obligation to keep without a strong Savior to guard. Because the temptation is to look and say, “Well, man, how can I keep this wonderful gospel?”
But we have a promise here. And if you’re taking note, here it is—the big idea: The faithful guardianship of Christ inspires the faithful guardians of the gospel. You see how that order works?
And I want to offer three key points from the text:
- Feeble faith, guarded by a strong Savior, will endure to the end.
- The pattern of Christ, formed inward, produces a pattern of godliness expressed outward.
- Looking forward to the mercy of Christ in the future keeps the focus on faithful service in the present.
These are all in the sermon notes on the Church Center app, so you can certainly go there.
Point 1: Feeble Faith, Guarded by a Strong Savior, Will Endure to the End
Reading the Text
We read together verses 11 to 12, 2 Timothy chapter 1. Bibles under your seat.
“And this gospel we’re talking about, the gospel for which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and teacher—which is why I suffer as I do. Notice the suffering is based on the appointment. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.”
Dear church, do you hear the treasures of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are they ringing in your ears? As we consider these two verses, do you hear? Do you know? Are you being transformed by the power of the gospel?
The Apostle Paul doesn’t come on the scene to announce his grand and glorious faith. He doesn’t say, “Oh, how great my faith is. Oh, how much greater my faith is than all of you.” Do you hear that from the Apostle Paul? No, of course not.
I want to encourage you today. Though your faith may be feeble, it is guarded by a strong Savior and will endure to the end.
Feeble faith? Yeah—weak faith.
What do you mean, Pastor? I’ve heard all my life that I just need to have more faith. I need to have more faith for the healing, for the promise, for the deliverance. Yeah, I know. Sadly, this has been the experience of many Christians—only to be left discouraged and downcast.
Why? Because the healing didn’t come. And the pastor blamed it on you because of your lack of faith. Oh no. This is the travesty. This is what drives believers away from the church.
Dear Christian, I want you to see the preserving power of the Savior by the Spirit. I want to note several key phrases here in just these two verses.
First: was appointed.
Second: for whom I believed.
Third: able to guard.
Consider all of these actions in the passive tense.
What do I mean by that? Any students of grammar? Active versus the passive voice. Pastor, please. I didn’t come here to hear about this.
In other words, in the active voice, I’m speaking. I’m doing the action. But in the passive voice, I am receiving. The action is happening to me.
For example, the president appoints cabinet members to his administration—active voice. Passive voice? The transportation secretary was appointed by the president.
Consider the Apostle Paul. Did he appoint himself to the roles of preacher, apostle, and teacher? Did he come to this realization and say to himself, “You know, I’ve decided I want to teach the Christians instead of kill them. Let’s do that. That sounds wonderful.”
No, of course not. It was the encounter that he had with the risen Lord Jesus. And it was Christ that spoke to him. And it was Christ who has appointed you to eternal life if you have believed in his name.
And if Christ has appointed you to eternal life, surely he will equip you for this life.
Notice the three ways that Paul was appointed: preacher, apostle, teacher.
As a preacher, he is a herald, a proclaimer of God’s Word, the gospel—that the only way to be saved is through Christ alone. And the call is for all men everywhere to repent, to believe, to embrace this glorious Savior by faith.
So Paul is engaged in the public ministry of preaching, the private ministry of teaching, and he’s also called as an apostle, sent out into the world to proclaim this glorious gospel to all the Gentiles, to all the non-Jews, to all the pagans, to all those that reject.
And most importantly, all of these roles—whether preacher, teacher, apostle—necessitate something very important to the entire ministry of the Christian faith. And that is this: a complete dependence upon the Spirit of the living God.
Why? Imagine if we did not receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Oh, how impossible the Christian life would be. How would we understand the Scriptures? How would we be able to resist sin and temptation? How would we ever be able to walk in a manner worthy of the calling? And the answer, of course, is a resounding no and never.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is essential in the life of the church. And what is the primary role of the Holy Spirit? Well, of course, to point us to Christ. So that we would know and understand more of Jesus. That we would see Jesus. That we would experience his power by the Spirit to transform our lives from one degree of glory to another.
But notice in verse 11 why Paul was able to suffer. Was he able to suffer because he had a strong faith or a strong Savior? Well, it seems as though, was it because he was so disciplined or worked so hard at his Christian life?
No, of course not. He knew the one who had appointed him to preacher, teacher, apostle. He knew that if it was Jesus that appointed him, then he would surely equip him for this good work. He knew that he was in prison in Rome for Christ. And there is no one more worthy to suffer for than Jesus.
And because of that, he didn’t feel like some prisoner who had committed a crime. No—he was in chains simply because of his commitment to guard the gospel, to advance the gospel, to proclaim the gospel to all that would hear.
Paul doesn’t say, “I’m not ashamed because I know what I believe.” Wouldn’t that be what the religious leaders would say?
Have you heard other people claiming to be very religious—perhaps even pastors—who just like to talk about how much Greek and Hebrew they know? Some just want to go on and on about all the doctrine they have housed in their mind. And they’ll say, “Hey, look at me. Look how much Scripture I’ve memorized.”
⚠️ Word of caution, dearly beloved: it is not how much of God’s Word we know, but how much we know the God of the Word.
Pastor, are you saying I shouldn’t memorize Scripture? That I shouldn’t spend time in God’s Word every day? No, I think you’re missing the point. The real question is: what is the motivation behind knowing the Word of God?
Do you want to know it so that you can know the triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit? To see the fullness of Christ, the wonders of the Spirit, the love of the Father? Or is it so you can wear your spiritual badges? “Look, here’s my badge for memorizing Romans. Here’s mine for Genesis—I got that a few years ago.”
Paul is very clear: he knows whom he believes.
What is he saying? What is the substance of that phrase? He knows Christ. He saw the resurrected Jesus when he got saved. But what does it mean to know Christ?
It’s to trust Him. To trust Him with his life, knowing that when he died, he had complete confidence that he would be with the Lord in glory. It’s a confidence in a faithful, promise-keeping God. It’s believing that all of God’s Word—Spirit-inspired, without error, profitable for correction and training—really is sufficient for every good thing in the Christian life.
Even though we may have feeble faith, we serve a strong Savior who will keep us until the end.
Paul says he is fully convinced that Christ is able.
Think about your own life. Think about the weakness of your own faith—how easy it is to fall into sin. Now look to the Savior, who is able to keep you, to guard you.
I would challenge you: spending all your time looking at your sins and failures is part of the problem. Yes, we recognize our sin. Yes, we repent. But then we turn back to Christ. We don’t stay stuck in guilt and shame—we lift our eyes to the Savior.
Paul was not ashamed. He wasn’t ashamed of his chains, even though he was abandoned, deserted, treated as worthless—even by brothers in the faith.
This is often the Christian life: being abandoned by the world.
But here’s the good news: Jesus doesn’t just keep us for a few more years, and then let go. He doesn’t say, “I can only bear you a little bit longer, you fool. I can’t do it anymore.” No! He bears with us until the end.
And that’s what Paul reminds us: Christ will keep us until that Day—the day of the Lord, when Christ returns or calls us home.
Why is that important? Because it shows us who God is. It shows His love, His patience, His character. He is long-suffering. He knows our frame. He knows we are but dust. He knows how easy it is for us to fall.
And yes, God allows us at times to fall into sin—not because He tempts us (James is clear that He cannot), but because in His wisdom, He uses our weakness to remind us how much we need Jesus.
Paul was appointed, convinced, guarded, entrusted. These are gospel promises. He wasn’t convinced because he built up great arguments or read all the right books. No—he was convinced by Christ Himself.
Without the Spirit opening our eyes, the human heart will never believe. We are dead to the things of God. But Christ comes in, turns on the lights, and suddenly we see.
So, even with feeble faith, the strong Savior keeps us. That is what makes us faithful guardians of the gospel.
Point 2: The Pattern of Christ Formed Inward Produces a Pattern of Godliness Expressed Outward
Verses 13–14 say this:
“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.”
There it is again—entrusted. So, the question is: what is this pattern? What’s Paul talking about? And more importantly, what is the pattern for the church to follow?
These are important questions. Paul is encouraging young Timothy in the midst of false teachers who were wandering to and fro. There’s a danger here—that if the pattern Paul prescribed isn’t followed, it won’t go well for Timothy or for the church.
So let’s ask: what are these sound words?
“Sound” simply means true, uncorrupted, incorruptible.
Now, do people in the world keep everything true and uncorrupted? Or is it the opposite? Well, of course, it’s the opposite. Everything—whether in government, business, or yes, even the church—tends toward corruption.
So what are the “sound words” Paul speaks of?
It’s the sound doctrine. The purity of the gospel. These words come from the person and work of Christ.
And what do we know about Scripture? All of it points to Christ.
So here’s a good test: when you’re listening to a teacher—whether in person or online—ask this question: does the teaching exalt man, or does it exalt God?
If a preacher is saying, “Look what God did for me! Sow your seed, and you’ll get what I got!”—that’s not exalting God. That leaves you discouraged, like you’re just not trying hard enough. That’s prosperity gospel all over again.
No—the pattern Paul is giving Timothy is a gospel pattern: exalt God, humble man. Because the truth is this: we are far more wicked and weak than we’d ever admit, and God is far more gracious and loving than we’ll ever fully realize.
That’s why this pattern matters so much.
Paul says this: for the church to follow the pattern, we need something written down, something agreed upon, something we can trust to help us navigate God’s Word.
Now, any time you hear the words creeds and confessions, some people wince. Some will say: “No creed but Christ.” Others say: “No book but the Bible.”
But what does that really mean?
The truth is, every church has creeds and confessions. A creed is simply a statement of what you believe. The question isn’t whether you have one—it’s whether yours is biblical.
Scott Aniol of G3 Ministries gives a helpful illustration: The Bible is like a vast forest of mountains, rivers, valleys, and trees. A confession is like a roadmap. And what does a roadmap do? It helps you navigate the forest.
Now, let’s be clear: a confession has no authority over the Bible. Scripture is the highest authority. But confessions are guardrails. They help keep us from drifting into dangerous errors.
Think about it—how many times have you heard some “new teaching” online? Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a faithful roadmap to compare it against, to see if it really matches Scripture?
That’s why we, at The Rock, hold to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. Not as something to worship, not as a source of boasting, but as a tool that points us back to Scripture, helping us worship the God of the Bible rightly.
Because we’re not interested in exalting man. We’re interested in exalting Christ.
And this is the pattern Paul is urging Timothy to follow: sound words, healthy words, the words of Christ.
Notice how he puts it in verse 13: “in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
You see, the pattern isn’t just outward—it has to be formed inwardly first. When the faith and love of Christ are at work inside us by the Spirit, then godliness will flow outward.
But the danger is this: trying to produce external godliness by our own strength. Looking at Paul or Jesus as just “models” and saying: “I need to try harder to be like them.”
No. The faith and love of Christ must be poured into our hearts by the Spirit first. Then the overflow is godliness, repentance, and good works.
That’s why Paul says in verse 14: “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
The Spirit Himself is guarding the treasure of the gospel in us. And at the same time—we are called to guard it too. Which is it? Is God guarding it, or are we?
The answer is yes. Both. God guards His gospel in us, and we, by His Spirit, guard it as it flows out of us.
And the question is this: do the sound words in you produce godliness flowing out of you?
Because right doctrine—orthodoxy—always produces right worship—doxology. And together, that’s what builds up the church.
Point 3: Looking Forward to the Mercy of Christ in the Future Keeps Us Faithful in the Present
Paul writes in verses 15–18:
“You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. But when he arrived in Rome, he searched for me earnestly and found me—may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.”
Let’s introduce the cast of characters.
- On one side: Phygelus (whose name means “fugitive”) and Hermogenes (meaning “lucky-born”).
- On the other side: Onesiphorus (meaning “useful one”).
Fugitive and Lucky—probably not the good guys, right? And you’d be correct. They abandoned Paul, letting him rot in prison. Why? Fear. They thought that if they stood with Paul, they’d be killed too.
But Onesiphorus—the Useful One—was different. He dropped everything to search high and low until he found Paul.
Do you think that was easy? Of course not. But he pressed on because something deeper motivated him: the Spirit’s deposit of faith and conviction in his heart. He risked danger, even his life, and still found Paul.
So what made the difference?
Grace.
Fear drove Phygelus and Hermogenes away. But grace compelled Onesiphorus to remain faithful, to risk everything for the sake of love.
And Paul prays that Onesiphorus will “find mercy from the Lord on that day.” What day? The day of the Lord—the Second Coming of Christ.
For those who are in Christ, that’s a day of mercy and joy. For those outside of Him, it’s a day of judgment.
And here’s Paul’s point: looking forward to the mercy of Christ in the future fuels faithful service in the present.
When you live in light of eternity, it changes your perspective on suffering. You see your present struggles as temporary. You’re motivated to keep going, to serve, to refresh others in Christ.
Think about it: how many times has a simple text, a meal, a prayer, or a conversation from another believer refreshed your soul? Better than cold water on a hot day is fellowship with the people of God.
That’s what Onesiphorus did for Paul. He refreshed him. He stood by him when others turned away.
And isn’t that what we’re called to as the church? To refresh one another, encourage one another, strengthen one another—because we share the same Spirit who dwells in us.
So Paul’s final charge is this: be a useful one. Don’t be like Fugitive or Lucky, who ran in fear. Instead, be like Onesiphorus—faithful, courageous, motivated by mercy, refreshing others in Christ.
Closing Application
Faithful guardianship of Christ is what inspires us to be faithful guardians of the gospel. We look at what Christ has done, and it motivates us to go and do likewise.
If you have the Spirit dwelling in you, you are a guardian of the gospel. But rather than being burdened by that reality, be encouraged that Christ is guarding you. The Holy Spirit is in you—the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
So do not despair, even if your faith feels feeble. It is being guarded by a strong Savior until the day of His return. Do not be discouraged if your life does not yet reflect a perfect pattern of godliness. Christ is being formed in you, and that is a process. Do not be downcast though you suffer now, because the mercy of Christ is coming to make all things right. Let that hope motivate you to love and good works.
In application: refresh a brother or sister in Christ this week. Call, pray, serve, or encourage them. Let us continue in these things for the glory of God.
Confession and Assurance
Let us take a moment of confession before our God, acknowledging where we have misplaced our hope. It is not about having “more faith,” but about having more of Jesus. It is not about works-based righteousness for our comfort, but about Christ’s righteousness credited to us. It is not about focusing on our present challenges, but on our future hope.
So we confess, and then we turn to the Lord to receive assurance that Jesus paid it all.
Prayer:
Gracious God, we come to confess our sins and misplaced hopes. We turn to You, Lord Jesus, the one who refreshes our souls. Thank You for the gift of the church, the body of believers gathered together to love and serve one another. May our love for each other be a testimony to the world, showing the reality of Christ in us. Empower us by Your Spirit to live faithfully and serve for Your glory. We bow before You in awe, worship, and gratitude, giving thanks in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reading from the London Baptist Confession of Faith
Before we sing, I want to read from the London Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 5, “Divine Providence,” paragraph 7.
“As the providence of God in general reaches to all creatures, so, after a most special manner, it takes care of His church, and disposes of all things to the good thereof.”
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