Sovereign Grace is Preexistent

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.

But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you (2 Timothy 1:6-14)

Paul’s mighty opening call to endurance is utterly gospel-centered. Embedded in the very heart of the call is one of the grandest descriptions of the gospel in the New Testament. This description is bracketed at both ends by the very word “gospel,” exquisitely encapsulating the grace of the gospel.

In Paul’s description, we first see sovereign grace, because the ability to endure suffering and shame is rooted in God’s grace: “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace” (1:8–9a). As Paul puts it in Titus 3:5, “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.” As he stated it most famously in Ephesians 2:8–9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” All glory goes to God for his sovereign, omnipotent, empowering grace!

Sovereign grace is also preexistent grace, “grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Tim. 1:9). Thus we understand that Christ existed before the beginning of time and that grace preexisted in Christ. This thought is marvelously expanded in Ephesians 1:4–6. This sovereign, preexistent grace is wholly sufficient to save us and to impart gospel endurance.

Ultimately, God’s sovereign grace, preexistent in Christ, became visible grace in the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ: “which [grace] now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10). This gospel is all-powerful. It can save anyone who believes (Rom. 1:16). And, it can sustain any regenerate person amid the rigors of suffering and shame. As Paul says, “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Tim. 1:12). The gospel-centered life will endure shame and suffering for the gospel.

Gospel Transformation Bible