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"According to His own purpose..."

Text: 2 Timothy 1:9

PROFOUND DIVINE PURPOSE DISCOVERED

The apostle Paul sought to share with Timothy how he too could live significantly and be fruitful in ministry. Salvation in Christ was just the beginning. The discovery of a profound divine purpose would stand him in good stead.

“Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to His own
purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus
before time began.”
2 Timothy 1:9

1. “According to His own purpose”

a) Our salvation and our calling are to be traced to God’s Divine purpose.

b) It is an awesome and profound thought indeed!

i) This Divine purpose has to be revealed by the Lord.

ii) It is often discovered in life and in ministry.

iii) It takes much spiritual maturity to fathom God’s Divine purpose.

2. Paul’s life was a classic example

a) After Paul was gloriously saved God sent Ananias to baptise him and to heal him from blindness.

b) Ananias raised objections because he was aware of the wicked deeds of Paul. (Saul was his pre-conversion name.)

c) But God said these words to Ananias (Acts 9:15-16)

i) Paul was a chosen vessel.

ii) He would bear the Lord’s name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel.

iii) He would also suffer much for the sake of the Lord.

d) Paul went on to fulfil God’s divine purpose outlined for him.

3. “And grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began”

a) A major word in Paul’s vocabulary was “grace”.

b) Paul went on to become an outstanding servant of God.

i) He founded churches.

ii) He made disciples.

iii) He wrote significant epistles.

c) But in Paul’s evaluation, grace in the Lord Jesus, was the key to his great success.

d) The operation of God’s grace may be traced to “eternity past” (“before time began”).