Blake Long

Our faith in Jesus Christ holds no value if we take away in Jesus Christ. At that point, “faith” is no longer faith, but blind wishful thinking about nothing. But, of course, that’s not the reality of Christianity. Our faith rests in the objective, perfect, atoning work of Jesus Christ.

Tim Challies once observed, “Faith counts for nothing unless its object is Jesus Christ.” That is precisely the point. The Apostle Paul hints at this message, and its implications for the Christian life, in 2 Timothy 1:12, where he pens:

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 (ESV).

In the context of this passage, the Apostle Paul is referring to his suffering as a prisoner. He makes it abundantly clear that, though he is imprisoned, he is unashamed of that. Why? For He knows for whom he believed—Jesus!

Friends, the point of our faith is not that we have faith, but for whom we place our faith: the Son of God. May we not boast in our faith, for even the faith we exercise is not our own, but it was a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).

For we know whom we have believed, Jesus, the one who took on human flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). The one who lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15) and died on the cross for those who would believe (John 19:30); the one who rose from the grave just three days later to proclaim His victory over sin, death, and Satan (Romans 6:9); the one who ascended to the right hand of the Father (Acts 1:9-12) and now intercedes for His friends (Hebrews 7:25).

This one, Jesus, is for whom we have believed.

He is the one that comforts us in times of affliction, in moments of despair, in instances of pure commotion. He is the one who reminds us His love, instructs us to keep our eyes on the glory of God, and lovingly corrects us when we go wayward. He is the one who is patient with us, understands our circumstances more than anyone, and exposes our sin so we may repent and grow to be more like Him.

He is the one who, like the Apostle Paul said, is the reason we’re unashamed to suffer. Our suffering—whether minor or severe—is used by God to mold us more into the image of Christ; therefore, we mustn’t be ashamed to suffer. For we are suffering for the one who suffered it all for us!

Christian, here’s the foundation: we live for Christ, we suffer for Christ, we even die for Christ. These were some of Paul’s final words from prison, which exemplified what all Christians should do.

The late Harry Reeder commented:

As he nears the end of his earthly ministry, about to die for his devotion to Christ, his words are simple yet profound: I have no regrets. Why would Paul—about to die a martyr’s death—say, in effect, “I suffer without regrets willingly and even joyfully”? Paul lived by faith in Christ, and he died in faith for Christ.

We must be willing and ready to bank our entire faith upon the one for whom we have believed—Jesus.