Unchained

Unchained
Words of Faith 7-14-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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2 Timothy 2
[8] Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my Gospel, [9] for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. [10] Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Paul's call before Timothy was to contend with endurance as a good soldier, an athlete's vigor, and a farmer's hard work. Paul urged Timothy to remember Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead and descended from David.
This was the big picture: Keep on remembering Jesus. Don't stop. Don't quit. Keep on.
Christ is our hope because He was raised from the dead and descended from David. The term "raised from the dead" emphasizes His deity. The phrase "descended from David" lifts up His humanity. It is not a "dead Christ" that Timothy was to memorialize, but the risen, living Lord. This was Paul's Gospel.
But there was a price to be paid. Paul was suffering for this very Gospel. The Greek literally says, "I am suffering evil... as an evil-doer." He was "chained like a criminal." Yet, he was not chained in his spirit. He rejoiced that "God's Word is not chained." The preacher was in prison, but the Word of God was still moving and transforming lives.
This is the nature of the Gospel. This is the power of His Word. The Apostle could patiently endure everything for the sake of those who were being saved. These "elect" are those whom God has already chosen or those whom He will choose for admission into the Christian Church by faith.
The whole purpose of Paul's ministry was that people might "obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus." The ultimate goal of this salvation is "eternal glory." But there is no doubt that it is all in Christ from beginning to end.
This is the Truth that can never be chained. No matter the persecution that may afflict those who preach or the obstacles set out by those who oppose the believing movement of Christ.

Father God, I rejoice with the Apostle knowing that the Word is not chained. I celebrate the power of the Gospel to change lives. I pray for the truth of the Gospel to powerfully impact the world. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.