IN CHRIST JESUS
A. J. Gaskin
2 Timothy 1: 1, 9, 13; 2: 1, 10; 3: 12
Paul’s second letter to Timothy is of special interest as his last communication before his death. In his first letter he addresses him as his true child in faith, but in this valedictory letter he speaks of him as his beloved child, and six times he uses the expression “In Christ Jesus”.
He says, “according to promise of life, the life which is in Christ Jesus”. It brings on to view another Man, the Man Christ Jesus in whom the promises of God are assured, for in Him is the yea and the amen. How very sure is everything that is in Christ Jesus! Peter speaks of the greatest and precious promises which have been given to us that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1: 4). Christ Jesus
is first of all the Christ, the anointed Man, singled out by God as fully able to carry out every divine purpose with dignity and distinction, and to complete all to His glory, and at the same time it is coupled with His blessed personal name, the name of Jesus. In 2 Timothy 1: 9 it is
“according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus”. It is obviously all on the divine side, but we come into it for our blessing, for it is given to us in Christ Jesus. That purpose goes back before the ages of time. How infinitely great are those divine purposes! In verse 13 the practical need for an outline of sound words is brought in.
We can understand that Timothy could have stored up the apostle’s teaching in his memory and especially in his heart. These words are to be believed, for they are to be “in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus”.
In 2 Timothy 2 we are reminded of the “grace which is in Christ Jesus”. The apostle delights to bring in these blessed attributes which are in Christ Jesus. How beautifully they were displayed in that blessed One—“full of grace and truth”. They were displayed even in the presence of hatred, scorn and derision. Now they are livingly expressed as being in Christ Jesus. In verse 10 it is “salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory”. Who but He, the Saviour of the world as the Samaritans in John 4 could call Him, the true Joseph, could bring in such salvation. Apart from Him everything would have been lost. And who could tell the price that was paid? It was His precious blood shed on Calvary’s cross. What eternal glory was secured as a result of that tremendous transaction. All those precious attributes are to be seen livingly in those who “desire to live piously in Christ Jesus”, but that faithfulness will involve persecution. But the promise of life, purpose and grace, faith and love, grace, salvation with eternal glory, are greater compensation for they are experienced as in Christ Jesus. May our faith in that blessed Person be greatly strengthened as it is eternally secured in Christ Jesus.