Christ’s Strengthening Grace

II Timothy 2:1-7 William H. Banegas

Christ’s Strengthening Grace December 31, 2008

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Introduction:

Thesis: Believers in Christ must strengthen themselves in His grace to consistently live for and obey Christ that they may live a life in which they glorify God to the fullest extent.

Believers need this grace everyday of their lives in Christ.

Without Christ’s grace we would not have salvation.

Without Christ’s grace we would not have what we need to live for He provides for us our daily needs.

Believers need this grace to obey Christ’s mandates for separated living.

Believers have been entrusted with the precious treasure of God’s Word.

The term “committed” is better translated “entrusted”.

The term has the idea of assigning one to a particular responsibility which requires diligent protection.

Believers must take the Word of God and diligently protect it.

The term “good thing” can also be translated treasure.

One assigned to security detail at Fort Knox has such an assignment because of proven faithfulness.

One assigned to security of a building containing sensitive material has such an assignment because of proven faithfulness.

If either of these were to act contrary to their position they would immediately be removed.

Believers must act in accordance with the value of the treasure of the Gospel.

In Matthew 13 2 men gave up all they had for a treasure which was so precious to them.

Christ compares their attitude to the same attitude that one must have towards the Kingdom of Heaven.

Believers must retain God’s Word.

The phrase “hold fast” can also be translated retain.

This term has the idea of maintaining something or promotion.

Timothy was to take the Word of God and further his exposure to its message.

Believers in Christ must make effort to expose themselves to God’s Word.

I suggest daily time in His Word but if not daily then at least some other time through the week other than in church.

Believers must guard God’s Word.

The phrase “keep” is better-translated “guard”.

The term has the idea of vigilance in order to protect.

Timothy was to vigilantly protect the truths of the Scripture.

Believers in Christ must have such a penetrating knowledge of God’s Word that they can discern its Truths from the errors which man would patch into God’s Word.

Believers in Christ must defend the truths of the Scripture against the gainsayers of the world.

I Peter 3:13-16 encourages us to be ready with our testimony of salvation to those who ask.

The context indicates that those who ask are those who are in opposition to the Word of God.

Believers must disciple others in God’s Word.

Timothy was charged to faithfully instruct others in the Word of God.

This charge was to instruct others in the teachings of Paul.

The teachings were heard of many.

We can infer that these are the same teachings Paul described as “sound words”.

Believers in Christ must also commit to such diligent instruction of others in the Word of God that they may grow in Christ.

This takes place in the classroom with Sunday School Teachers.

This takes place from the pulpit as the preacher preaches the Word of the Lord.

This should take place in the pew as you sit next to you fellow brother or sister in Christ.

This should take place in fellowship with others whether it be in the privacy of your home or the fellowship hall in our church.

This should take place in the correspondence of our e-mails.

This should take place on the telephone when speaking with other believers.

This charge had the intended end of promoting the Truths of the Scripture among others.

Timothy was charged to teach faithful men, men who could be trusted.

This is promoting the cycle of discipleship where one instructs another who instructs another who instructs another and so on.

Believers need this grace to live faithfully for Christ.

Believers must submit to Christ as military soldiers submit to their superiors. Yes sir!

Believers must submit to Christ as a faithful athlete submits to rigorous training to receive a prize. Sweat and determination

Believers must submit to Christ diligently as a hardworking farmer labors to receive a good crop. Single-mindedness

Conclusion: