I Know!

I know!

Text: 2 Timothy 1:12.

“For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

          Paul knew what it would cost him to serve as a preacher, nevertheless he was able to say “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” Romans 1:16.

So, Timothy also should not be ashamed either. Can we truly say with Paul and others before us, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ”? The basis of Paul’s assurance is knowing the Lord Jesus, and His power to keep us, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” Philippians 3:10.

I want to speak of this word “Know” today. Here the word “know” (Gr oida) means “absolute knowledge,” beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The word “Keep” (Gr phylassō) is a military term meaning “guard.” That which. What is Paul committing, I believe it is his salvation and his service?

The word “Committed” (Gr parathēkē) is a banking term meaning “to deposit.”

“That day” no doubt refers to the day of Christ and the Judgment Seat of Christ, where believers’ service and works will be judged: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 3:11.

I love these words “For I know.” There are two words for “know” in the Greek:

1.    To know as you are told, to be taught by a teacher etc.

2.    To know by vision and faith. This is the one I want to speak about.

1.    KNOW-KNOWING-KNOWLEDGE.

“For I know whom I have believed.”

The translation of several Hebrew and Greek words for “know” are found in the Bible, covering a wide range of meanings: intellectual understanding, personal experience, and personal relationship.

Here the word:

“Know” (the Greek oida) means “absolute knowledge,” or “total, complete, utter, unlimited knowledge.” The word covers the idea of; an active relationship between the one who knows, and the Person.

This suggests have seeing or recognizing; or experiencing knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, one KNOWS, to have the fullness of Knowledge. The basis is to know the Lord Jesus, and His power to keep us.

This is a spiritual knowledge of Christ and is necessary to faith in Him: an unknown Christ cannot be the object of faith, for knowledge and faith go together: they that truly know Christ believe in Him, and the more they know Him, the more strongly they believe in Him.

This knowledge which they have of Christ is not from them, but from the Father, who reveals Christ to them, and in them. By which a man sees Christ and His grace; goes to Him in his need; and lays hold of Him as Saviour; where he commits his all unto Him; and walks with Christ till he receives eternal salvation.

          In the New Testament one knows God through a knowledge of Jesus Christ:

“Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also” John 8:19.

“That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” Colossians 2:2-3.

Knowledge of Christ Jesus gives direction, conviction, and assurance to our faith. Knowledge is a spiritual gift given to us by God. “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:8, which can grow, increase, be filled, and abound.

          God’s knowledge is said to be omniscient. He knows all things; His understanding is beyond measure. He knows the thoughts of our minds and the secrets of our hearts. He knows past events, present happenings, and even our future.

So, it is good to have Knowledge of God. Paul does not say, “we” or “they” or even “others,” but he says “I.” Paul places this verse in his own personal experience of life, by which we should do also.

2.    BELIEF, TRUST AND FAITH.

          “And am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

Paul knows Jesus Christ whom he has trusted:

A.   “I am persuaded.” Here the word used means: To guard, to guard against robbery or any loss.

B.   “That which I have committed unto Him,” Literally, “my deposit,” as in a bank, the bank of heaven which no robber can break into “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal” Matthew 6:19.

C.   “Against that day.” The day of Christ's second coming. Elsewhere, the day of the Lord, the day of Jesus Christ, the Day of Judgment.

                                          

By that which Paul had committed to Christ is meant here, not just his labours and sufferings for Christ, as if he had deposited these in Christ's hands, It seems best of all to interpret it of his natural life, the care of which he had committed to Christ, trusting in Him for eternal life and salvation, believing He was able to save him to the uttermost.

          Persuaded means: to win over, to bring about a change of mind. Paul knows because he was persuaded by Christ. Look at Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

CONCLUSION:

          The phrase “whom I have believed” expresses Paul’s unshakable trust in his Saviour. This speaks not of Paul’s confidence in himself, but of Christ’s trustworthiness. Paul was certain that God would keep his deposit, his life and the eternal rewards of his ministry.

“For I have FULL KNOWLEDGE, by the Holy Spirit, WHOM (the Lord Jesus Christ), I have believed and remain steadfast and am persuaded, to prevail upon Him, that He is able to keep what I have committed and deposited to Him until that Day.”