The Apostle Paul has just said that it was important to work hard at putting God’s Word into practice until the life of Jesus becomes our natural lifestyle.  Likening such spiritual disciplines to the physical rigour of working out in the gymnasium (all large Greek/Roman cities had at least one gym), Paul said that daily practice in obeying God’s Word was a necessity for all believers (1 Timothy 4:6-8).

Truth is always true, but until it is received and obeyed it brings no blessing.  Timothy knew how hard the Apostle Paul had previously laboured in preaching the gospel (2 Timothy 3:10-13).  So, Paul urges his trusted assistant to keep working in the same way to make Jesus known in the way that he lives as well as in what he taught (1 Timothy 4:15-16).  Both men had abandoned their former way of life (Ephesians 4:22-24).  Their hope was exclusively in the Lord Jesus Christ who is God the Son, the Saviour of the world.  Despite many diversions and obstructions from false teachers, Jesus and His cross must remain central.  Apart from Him there is no hope for this life or eternity (Acts 4:12).
 
Importantly, Paul does not say that Jesus is the Saviour ‘of believers’, but ‘of all people’.  That does not mean that everybody will be saved, but that His salvation is available to all people irrespective of their current background, culture or belief (1 Timothy 2:4).  People who trust Him enjoy the benefit and blessing of being saved from sin and its future punishment – that is why they have confident hope about the future.  But what about those who currently do not believe? The offer of salvation is still open to them because Christ died for everybody’s sins (1 John 2:2 , 2 Peter 3:9).  Therefore, believers should strive to live Christ-like lives and then make Christ known to unbelievers, urging them to repent and turn to the only Saviour of the world while they have time.
 
The words for ‘labour’ and ‘strive’ convey the meaning of hard toil to the point of exhaustion in the face of opposition which may throw the gospel back in the face of the evangelist.  That was the hard reality for the apostolic team and continues to be experienced in dedicated gospel ministry.  Opposition is not a sign that you are wrong, but that the gospel is so potent that hardened sinners will resist it with all their strength.  Timothy needed to be reminded that the gospel is of eternal value to those sinners and so it is worth every effort to live it and speak out how others can be saved, whatever the cost to the gospel-bearer.  Are you willing to be courageous for the gospel like that?  Believers who are willing to risk their reputation, or even their life, to bring the gospel to the lost will receive Christ’s reward (Matthew 5:11-12).