(10) For unto this we work and we struggle, since we have set our expectation on the living God, who is savior of all people, especially believers.
Paul was always toiling for the sake of the Gospel. He was preaching, engaging in conversations – even when it meant he’d be beaten, imprisoned, tortured, rejected, and hated.
And he makes note of this in a section of Scripture talking about one’s personally being nourished by God, being holy before God, and experiencing the presence of God. He clearly did not disjoin his personal walk with God from his ministry, preaching, leading to his own martyrdom. We should learn from that. Service to God is connected to, not distinct from, our walks with him. Pastors should toil, being fed by God’s word.
But why does Paul bring it up? He begins the verse saying, ‘for unto this.’ He’s justifying a statement – he’s backing a statement up. Which statement? The previous one – he just got done saying that the statement is trustworthy. Which statement?
Nourishing oneself on the word of God brings about godliness which brings about the experience of the presence of God here in part and full in the future when Jesus returns. Jesus has sent his Spirit to give us glimpses of him now – and will come full later and we will see him.
Paul is talking about his hard work to give evidence for the promise of God. Why on earth would some work themselves, literally, to death? There must be a reason! In Paul’s case, it was because of the promise of God – his presence, in the Spirit now, and in the fullness of Christ at his return.
Toil – hard work as if the things of this world and happiness here doesn’t matter - comes from being fed by God’s word.
He gives a related reason for his toil as well: “since we have set our expectation on the living God, who is savior of all men, especially believers.”
There was a point in the past at which Paul made a decision – to commit his future to the promises of God about Christ’s return – and forgiveness through his death, received by faith.
Why can he strive and struggle? Because he has an expectation for the future based on God’s promises.
This future is both near future and distant future. We get God’s presence in part through the Spirit now, and in the fullness of the Spirit when Christ returns later.
This is why Paul describes God as the living God. He is active. He is sovereign. He reigns over all things. His promises are true and can be trusted. If we obey his word, we will suffer – but his promises are true. We will never be willing to suffer unless we believe his promises!
This is also why Paul describes God as savior of all men, especially believers. If anyone is saved in this world – from an early childhood death, from a motorcycle accident, from cancer – it is by God’s sovereign and merciful hand. Every time someone is saved, God is showing off his great grace.
And those things are happening now! God is sovereign, living, and active now. And so we can trust his promises – and thus strive and toil and suffer for the Gospel – now.
But God is savior of believers in a particular way – we will be in the new creation with him, experiencing the fullness of his love and glory, forever.
God is the savior, all of the time, in every circumstance, and so we can trust him, fix our expectations on what he has promised us in Scripture, and move forward to serve him in this world – announcing Christ as King and Savior despite what happens.
The end of all this is that pastors fix their hopes on the great promises of God so that they will nourish themselves on the word and be filled with God’s fullness, as the Spirit glorifies Christ among us and in us for our joy and his glory – and as this happens, we speak the good news to others, and we depose falsehood – so that all will hope in Christ – and glorify God forever.
SUMMARY:
1) Paul worked really hard all the time for the sake of the Gospel.
2) His personal life with God was not distinguishable in practice from his ministry.
3) His life should be an example to us – striving because of God’s promises.
4) His life gives evidence for the reality of God’s promise – his gracious presence.
5) That gracious presence is now through the Spirit, and in the future in Jesus’ return to earth.
6) Toil must come from a decision to place one’s expectations on, and trust in, God’s word.
7) God is sovereign savior in all ways, at all times, now and forever.
8) Pastors must nourish themselves on the word, trust God’s promises in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and move forward in proclamation of the Gospel.
9) All believers should imitate this, being nourished on the proclaimed Gospel.
PRAYER:
God, you are Holy. You are so gracious. You are sovereign over all things. You control everything, now, and in the future. You are trustworthy. You have given us a glimpse of your glory in your word. Help us to see it, to trust you. Give us great delight in your presence. Cause us to become more like you, being convinced that the promises of your presence are greater than anything this world can offer. Cause us to reflect Christ in word and deed in this world, for his glory. Save your people through the word communicated by these means.
Thank you for your promises – that you’ve forgiven us in Christ, declared us righteous, and are sending him to gather us as your children to yourself. In Him we pray, amen.
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