Paul's Confidence

The absolute confidence of Paul toward “the Lord” at the end of his life and ministry is to be commended and followed. He believed the Lord would not only deliver him “from every evil work,” but that the Lord would “preserve” him “unto his heavenly kingdom.” This was Paul’s confidence toward the Lord in the ministry, and in his salvation (See 2 Timothy 1:12 & Philippians 1:7)

The faithfulness of Paul is on display here as well. Paul said that the Lord had “delivered” him out of “all” the “persecutions” which he “endured,” and he goes on to say, “all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
Not only was Paul faithful in the ministry of “preaching” to the end, but he was faithful to live a godly life within the ministry.

For all of Paul’s “boasting,” he understood it was not Paul that was able to keep himself alive long enough to fulfill his calling, and that it wasn’t the brethren that were going to keep him encouraged; it was the Lord.

It was the Lord that “stood” with Paul when “all men forsook” him. It was the Lord that strengthened Paul in his weakened conditions, having suffered persecutions and kept in prison for 3 years. It would be the Lord that would preserve Paul spiritually and physically until his arrival within the heavenly kingdom.

Paul’s spirit was confident, not in man, but in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Verse 22)