The Importance of Progressive Instruction

204 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 1:11, “ to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. (2 Tim 1:11) Paul is speaking about the gospel. He was appointed or assigned by God to (1) preach the gospel, to (2) be an Apostle, and to (3) teach this gospel to the Gentiles. This word for “appointed” here is used to denote a setting of food on the table. Paul was appointed (placed on the table if you will) by God to bring the food of the Gospel first of all to the Jew and then the Gentile. He “sets” the table with the Gospel, and Jew and Gentile can either receive it or reject it! He does this as (1) a preacher, (one who heralds the news, like a town crier if you will) He is a preacher employed by God in the work of proclaiming salvation! “Hear ye hear ye, Jesus died for your sins!” He was also appointed to (2) serve as an Apostle of the gospel! An apostle is one who is personally appointed to serve as an ambassador for Christ and this appointment is initiated by Christ Himself in a person to person encounter! Paul was appointed an Apostle on that day when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus! He was also (3) appointed as a teacher. According to the Zhodiates Study Bible, those appointed as teachers are gifted by God to give progressive instruction concerning God's redeeming purposes. So for Paul, it was not only to serve with the authority of an Apostle, and to proclaim the gospel. But he was also to follow that up with progressive instructions to help believers mature in their faith. Instructions that will help us all “work out our salvation.” These instruction of Paul concerning God's purpose in redeeming us are found throughout his New Testament letters, as he sought to teach these various churches (and consequently you and I) how to live as Christians. I think it's important for all of us to realize that the message of the Bible does not end with salvation. God does not save us and leave us orphans. He comes to us with further “progressive” instructions that are meant to strengthen our faith and help us to finish the race in the best possible manner.