Preach the Word, Part 2

[Sung Psalm: 104

When Paul wrote to the Philippians he said that he was still pressing on to obtain that for which Christ had laid hold of him.

Now he says, “I have finished the race.” Paul's work is complete.

Timothy must now carry on the work of an evangelist. Timothy must now continue in the work that Paul began.

Remember that when Paul wrote these words, the Christian church barely existed.

Among the millions of people who lived in the Roman empire, there were only a few thousand Christians.

From the way Paul and the other apostles talk, it is likely that the heretical groups that used the name of Jesus outnumbered the Christians!

[Incidentally, people today often talk about the “Gospel of Thomas” or other “ancient Christian” documents that tell “other” stories about Jesus; we shouldn't be surprised by that! The apostles themselves were well-aware of these “other” stories – and warned the church against them!]

And yet Paul has complete confidence that this tiny, beleaguered group is going to grow and expand throughout the whole earth!

Why?

Because Jesus is who he said he was!