Faith Passed On

This was Paul’s last epistle and was Paul’s advice to Timothy.  Paul knew his time was about up.  He would be martyred by beheading.  He speaks about faith passed on.

II Timothy 1: ⁵ When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. ⁶ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. ⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; ⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, ¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: ¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. ¹³ Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

This is pertinent to us today.  We’ve been here at the church 17 years.  Times have changed drastically since 1998.  We saw a decade and a century come and go.  We’ve seen changes like the early church.  Prophecy says it will be this way.  What keeps us going?  We’ve seen valleys and mountain tops but our faith kept us going.  We were saved by the same Savior as others in the past.  They passed on a real faith.  Faith is the gift of believing and trusting Jesus as Savior.  THE faith is gospel.  Christianity was not established as a religion but as the truth of the living God.

I’m thankful for a family who passed their faith on and people in my early Christian life that instilled faith.  It is our responsibility now.  Many had a hand in introducing us to Jesus and establishing us in the faith.  They were willing to share and help in the faith.  Thank God for someone who cared enough to share the truth.  People have been the encouragement we needed.  No matter what the devil says or how the world threatens, the Bible says God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

There is a choice before us. We can let our faith pass away or we can pass it on.  Many have passed on and are waiting for us.  While they were here they passed on what they had.  That’s our responsibility—to pass on what we have.  Paul credited Timothy’s grandmother and mother for passing their faith on to him.  Paul encouraged Timothy not to be ashamed but to pass on his faith.  Our chief duty is to pass on the truth and not be ashamed.  We can let our faith die with us or we can pass it on.  If we encourage a lost soul to trust Jesus we’ve passed it on.  Let your light shine and if someone gets saved because of your faith, you have passed it on.

This world has become wicked.  Years ago the movement started that God was dead but there were some who kept believing.  Those people helped instill my faith.  They didn’t give up and were faithful.  Paul told Timothy to keep it going and be true to his faith.  It will carry on long after we’re gone if we’ll do that.  When the apostles died, they left a faith that kept going.  That early church generation passed on their faith.  We have it today.  The same God who took care of them takes care of us.  Don’t be afraid of this world.  We have a spirit of love, power and sound mind.  It will overcome.  In this age of craziness the only ones who have sense are the ones keeping the faith.  No matter how bad it gets, be faithful until death.  Let’s live in such a way that the torch is carried on after we’re gone.

Be faithful.  Be true.  Keep it stirred up.  That which dwells in us can dwell in others. What the world needs is Jesus.  If you fail to pass on your faith it will be gone when you are.  The transmission is heart to heart, generation to generation.  Make it a point to pass your faith on so that we’ll meet the Lord bringing in the sheaves.

Remember this old song:  It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Soon all those around will warm up in its glowing.  That’s how it is with God’s love.  Once you’ve experienced it, you want to sing its fresh like spring.  You want to pass it on.