Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 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. 2 Timothy 1:11-14

Sitting in a cold, wet dungeon while awaiting his execution, Paul had been deserted by many. Many shunned him and the ministry he had been called by God to preach. He had been sent into the gentile nations to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the only hope of salvation. In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the law had been fulfilled. The gospel message was man’s only hope of salvation. Light had truly come into the world; yet, most men shunned the light and rather chose darkness. Because of his preaching, because he had done what God commanded him to do; Paul now sat in this cold, damp dungeon cell with only the light that would pierce through the hole cut in the roof. Yet, from this prison cell; Paul considered himself God’s prisoner. Everything was God’s will being carried out.

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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Timothy 1:1-2

 

Paul began this letter as he had many, simply stating: “I am Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ because of the will of God, according to His good pleasure.” Paul realized that God’s bestowing upon him this position as apostle was according to grace alone and by the will of God. Thirty years of devotion in teaching the gospel of Christ had not overwritten the truth. Paul knew beyond a shadow of doubt that none of it was by his own power or might. Every step of this journey of faith had been God’s grace being poured out upon him. Paul never forgot that he was smugly, proud fully heading in the opposite direction. Wrapped tight within religious cloaks he was headed to Damascus to gather up the Christians so that they could be imprisoned. He wanted to wipe out these heretics before their doctrine could spread.

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9:1-6

Paul was not in search of salvation that day as he walked down that road. He was not even indifferent. He was hell bent on destroying the church, that is; until God opened the eyes of His heart by blinding Him with the magnificence of His Glorious Son, Jesus Christ. No one else who surrounded Paul that day could see Jesus–all they saw was a bright light. No one else heard the words being said–although they did hear sounds like words.

Now, as Paul sat in this cold, damp dungeon from which he wrote this final letter; he begins

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I want to remind you to stir into flame the strength and boldness that is in you ⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:6 TLB &1:7 KJV)

It had been just 30 years since Paul had first met the risen Jesus Christ. Thirty years since Paul had so dramatically converted from persecutor of the church to follower of Jesus Christ. Of all the apostles, he had been the most educated. From early childhood, he studied the Jewish parchments–a Pharisee, a Roman citizen, and a devoted Hebrew from the tribe of Benjamin. He followed the law to the letter and would have been considered a spiritual leader, champion for the cause against the early Christians. That is until that day, when he came face to face with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus.

Over the 30 years since he was first called to preach the gospel of Christ, he had been beaten, stoned, and imprisoned. Now, once again; he was imprisoned. This time sentenced to die. He was thrown into a dungeon cell of the Mamertine prison. There was an 18 inch square hole in the roof through which was his only contact with the outside world. Cold, damp and most likely infested with rodents; Paul would spend the last months of His life in this prison cell. It was from there that he wrote this last letter to Timothy and urged Timothy not to let the passionate flame for spreading the gospel of Christ die, not to allow fear to dampen his courage and not to let go.

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Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. I John 4:17

Perfect love, Wow! Isn’t that what we all desire? No fear of failure, no fear of rejection, no fear of losing hope, no fear of pain nor sorrow. Fear torments the soul, never allowing rest–what if he or she leaves me? What if they get angry? What if my heart is irreparably broken? What if… and the list goes on. Perfect love casts away all the doubt and fear!! Most of us would cry out “sign me up” I want that! So, it all hinges on that word “Herein is our love made perfect.”

“Herein” is a declaration used within binding legal contracts. Within these words are bound the truth of our love being perfected. So we must go to the verses just before this statement and only there find our way to this perfect love that removes all fear.

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