In 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul reminds us that God, Himself, is the ultimate guardian of the Gospel. He also tells Timothy that all Christians have a responsibility to “guard the Gospel.” What does it mean to “guard the Gospel?” The word for “guard” is a military term used of a soldier on watch. Paul reminds Timothy and us to trust the security of God.
Paul charges Timothy in 2 Tim. 1:13-14 to build upon the rock-solid confidence he has in the unchanging gospel to “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.” The word “follow” is also translated “hold on to.” The word for “sound” means “healthy.”
The gospel makes spiritually sick people whole in Christ. Timothy is told to give God’s people healthy teaching (doctrine) so that they can “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.” (2 Peter 3:18)
The gospel is not just healthy words and the outline for our teaching, but it may be thought of as the “good deposit. ” (2 Tim. 1:14, ESV) The Greek word for “good” can be translated as “beautiful.” That means that the gospel is beautiful, and it is to be “guarded” with such care that it is not damaged. Timothy experienced the presence of heretics in his ministry in Ephesus. It is no different in our day. It is because if this that we must “guard” the precious gospel.
Paul stopped at Miletus in Acts 20:28-30 to see the Ephesian elders. He told them that the Holy Spirit had made them “overseers” to care for the church of God.” He told them that there would be threats to the church from within. In light of that, they. as well as us today, have a responsibility to completely stand upon the Word of God because it is there that we find the resources to live the Christian life. Paul wrote in Eph. 6:11 that we must “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
If we do this, we will be faithfully “guarding the Gospel,” and “contending earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3).
from An Approved Servant of the Lord Series http://larryslines.com
Larry Miles is part-time minister at the Mackville Church of Christ in Mackville,KY. He attends
Cherry St. Church of Christ, New Albany, IN