Persecution every Christian’s Lot.
2 TIMOTHY iii. 12.
_Yea, and all that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer Persecution_.
WHEN our LORD was pleased to take upon himself the form of a servant, and to go about preaching the kingdom of GOD; he took all opportunities in public, and more especially in private, to caution his disciples against seeking great things for themselves, and also to forewarn them of the many distresses, afflictions and persecutions, which they must expect to endure for his name’s sake. The great apostle _Paul_ therefore, the author of this epistle, in this, as in all other things, following the steps of his blessed Master, takes particular care, among other apostolical admonitions, to warn young _Timothy_ of the difficulties he must expect to meet with in the course of his ministry: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of GOD; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now, as _Jannes_ and _Jambres_ (two of the _Egyptian_ magicians) withstood _Moses_ (by working sham miracles) so do they also resist the truth; and (notwithstanding they keep up the form of religion) are men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” But, in order to keep him from sinking under their opposition, he tells him, that though GOD, for wise ends, permitted these false teachers, as he did the magicians, to oppose for some time, yet they should now proceed no farther: “For their folly (says he) shall be made manifest unto all men, as theirs (the Magicians) also was,” when they could not stand before _Moses_ because of the boil; for the boil was upon the _Magicians_, as well as upon all the _Egyptians_. And then, to encourage _Timothy_ yet the more, he propounds to him his own example; “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at _Antioch_, at _Iconium_, at _Lystra_; what persecutions I endured; but out of them all the LORD delivered me.” And then, lest _Timothy_ might think that this was only the particular case of _Paul_, says he, in the words of the text, “Yea, and all that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer persecution.”
The words, without considering them as they stand in relation to the context, contain an important truth, that persecution is the common lot of every godly man. This is a hard saying, How few can bear it? I trust GOD, in the following discourse, will enable me to make it good, by shewing,
I. What it is to live godly in CHRIST JESUS.
II. The different kinds of persecution to which they, who live godly, are exposed.
III. Why it is, that godly men must expect to suffer persecution.
_Lastly_, We shall apply the whole.
1. _First_, Let us consider what it is to live godly in CHRIST JESUS. This supposes, that we are made the righteousness of GOD in CHRIST, that we are born again, and are one with CHRIST by a living faith, and a vital union, even as JESUS CHRIST and the Father are One. Unless we are thus converted, and transformed by the renewing of our minds, we cannot properly be said to be in CHRIST, much less to live godly in him. To be in CHRIST merely by baptism, and an outward profession, is not to be in Him in the strict sense of the word: no; “They that are in CHRIST, are new creatures; old things are passed away, and all things are become new” in their hearts. Their life is hid with CHRIST in GOD; their souls daily feed on the invisible realities of another world. To “live godly in CHRIST,” is to make the divine will, and not our own, the sole principle of all our thoughts, words, and actions; so that, “whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we do all to the glory of GOD.” Those who live godly in CHRIST, may not so much be said to live, as CHRIST to live in them: He is their Alpha and Omega, their first and last, their beginning and end. They are led by his Spirit, as a child is led by the hand of its father; and are willing to follow the Lamb whithersoever he leads them. They hear, know, and obey his voice. Their affections are set on things above; their hopes are full of immortality; their citizenship is in heaven. Being born again of GOD, they habitually live to, and daily walk with, GOD. They are pure in heart; and, from a principle of faith in CHRIST, are holy in all manner of conversation and godliness.