Be Strong in Grace
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2 Timothy 2:1-13
2 Timothy 2:1-13
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
BE STRONG
“Be strong,” proclaims the fact that despite all the faith which one might have, that the Christian life and ministry is going to be opposed by the evil one.
THE WORST THING THAT satan CAN DO IS TO HINDER THE CHILD OF GOD
he can definitely hinder us.
THE GRACE THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS
“In the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” tells us how to be strong.
Every single believer needs an uninterrupted, constant flow of the grace of God, in order for us to be what we must be in Christ.
This is what Paul was speaking about when he said, “in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
Christ has always had grace, but the cross made it possible for Him to give believers a continuing river of grace. That’s what the phrase “in Christ,” actually means.
Believers frustrate the grace of God, when they are depending on things other than the cross of Christ.
All the believer has to do to be strong in the Lord, is to exhibit faith in the finished work of Christ.
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
That basically is the Gospel given to Paul by the Lord Jesus Christ.
COMMIT TO FAITHFUL MEN
“The same commit thou to faithful men,” refers to others called of God.
“Faithful” in the Greek is “pistos,” which refers to the sense of “trustworthy.”
ABLE TO TEACH OTHERS ALSO
“Who shall be able to teach others also,” proclaims an apostolic succession in respect of teaching rather than of administration.
WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE MODERN CHURCH?
Regrettably and sadly the modern Church little knows the Scriptures.
Most of the Church world simply follows their denominational leaders.
There should be only two reasons for a particular church being selected:
The uncompromised Word is preached.
The anointing of the Holy Spirit upon that Word.
Rare is the good church.
Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
HARDNESS
“Thou therefore endure hardness,” presents phraseology that every modern preacher should read and study very carefully.
“Endure hardness” in the Greek is “sunkakopatheo,” and means “take your part in suffering hardship if called upon to do so.”
A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST
“As a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” proclaims one of Paul’s most favorite expressions.
The Holy Spirit had Paul to use the metaphor of the “soldier.”
A soldier must be trained.
We should be disciplined in our service for Christ, exactly as is the soldier in the service of his country.
No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE
“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life,” refers to the fact that a soldier is just that.
“Affairs” in the Greek is “pragmateia,” and means “the prosecution of any affair.”
The picture is of a soldier concerned only in the military affairs of the great empire.
We must not get involved in business affairs in the sense of trying to make money on the side.
The “affairs of life” must never override the “affairs of the Kingdom.”
TO PLEASE HIM
“That he may please Him Who hath chosen him to be a soldier,” refers to Christ being the Commander in Chief.
Every Christian has but One to please. And those five words “that he may please Him,” has been the dividing line in the Church from the beginning. It is not possible to “please Him” and please man at the same time.
CONTROL
So-called leaders desire to control all in their denominations.
Men more and more want to control what is being done.
EVIL!
It was not the drunks or such like who crucified Christ, even as evil as those particular sins actually are. It was rather the religious leaders of Israel, who carried out the most evil of all evil deeds.
“Religion” is the “good side” of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which deceives so many people.
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”
Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
STRIVE FOR MASTERIES
“And if a man also strive for masteries,” refers to engaging in a contest. “Striveth for the masteries” is one word in the Greek, “athleo,” from which we get our words “athletic or athlete.”
HE MUST STRIVE LAWFULLY
“Except he strive lawfully,” refers to the fact, that he must abide according to the prescribed conditions of the contest.
The victor would not teceive the crown unless he had striven lawfully.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO STRIVE LAWFULLY AS IT REGARDS OUR WORK FOR GOD?
Abraham and Sarah in the beginning did not strive lawfully.
To “strive lawfully” means to “walk after the Spirit.”
In order for the believer to “strive lawfully,” he must at all times keep his faith in the cross of Christ.
That is the only manner in which one can “strive lawfully!”
That and that alone is to “strive lawfully!”
The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.
THE HUSBANDMAN AND THE LABOR
“The husbandman that laboreth,” proclaims all the work that goes into the sowing of seed in order that a crop may ultimately be harvested.
PARTAKER OF THE FRUITS
“Must me first partaker of the fruits,” presents the emphasis on the word of “partaker.”
LABORETH
“Laboreth” in the Greek is “kopiao,” and means “to grow weary.”
Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
CONSIDER
“Consider what I say,” refers to the fact that Timothy is to understand what Paul is giving is actually the “Word of the Lord.” He must consider it!
“Consider” in the Greek is “noeo,” and means “to perceive with the mind to understand, consider.”
“Consider what I say,” is not meant merely to apply to this of which he speaks, but rather, the entirety of the Word of God. The question should be asked as to how faithful do you actually consider what is said in the Word?
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,
Paul is not so much saying to Timothy: “Remember the actual resurrection of Jesus”; rather he is saying: “Remember Jesus forever risen and forever present; remember your risen and ever-present Lord.
THE SEED OF DAVID
“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David,” presents the incarnation. Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, is the ideal soldier.
“The seed of David” refers to the fact that He came through this particular lineage, hence He was called “the Son of David.” This information that David was to be the favored one., was revealed to him by the Lord.
THE “WAY” AND “MEANS” OF REDEMPTION
It was to Abraham that God gave the “way” that the great redemption of humanity would be brought about.
OUR SUBSTITUTE AND REPRESENTATIVE MAN
As our representative man, Jesus died “as” us.
It is not so difficult for one to be a “substitute,” but is something else altogether for one to be a “representative man.”
As our representative man, he serves as our “proxy.”
THE RESURRECTION
“Was raised from the dead according to my gospel,” refers as is obvious, to the resurrection of Christ.
Jesus’ resurrection guarantees the coming rapture and resurrection of all saints.
for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.
SUFFER TROUBLE
“Wherein I suffer trouble,” proclaims the fact that it was because of his preaching of the gospel that Paul suffered trouble.
If a preacher even presently, preaches the gospel without fear or favor, he will still “suffer trouble.”
What type of trouble?
The trouble he will suffer will come from three sources, “the world, the flesh, and the devil.”
He will probably have the least trouble from the world.
Some may attempt to claim that Paul never had any trouble personally with the flesh. Paul had trouble in this area!
THE WORD OF GOD
“But the Word of God is not bound,” has reference as stated, to the fact that the gospel as given to Paul has been preserved by that apostle. The only way that one can bind up the Word of God, is to compromise its content. Persecution cannot stop the Word. It’s only the compromise of the Word that destroys it.
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.
THE ELECT’S SAKE
“Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake,” refers to all who have accepted Christ.
SALVATION
“That they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory,” proclaims the fact that no price is too high to pay.
We learn here that all salvation is totally and completely and without reservation “in Christ Jesus.”
Identification with Him, guarantees salvation.
At the moment of salvation, every single believing sinner was literally “baptized into the death of Christ.”
FAITH AND NOT WORKS
All the believer has to do is place his faith in the finished work of the cross.
We Christians try to earn victory in many and varied ways. These ways constitute “works.” God operates totally and completely on the principle of faith and faith alone, and that means faith in what Christ did at the cross.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “WORKS”?
The “works” of Christians in their efforts to try to obtain victory or whatever it is we are seeking from the Lord, are very similar to the works projected by unbelievers.
Both of these “works” and we speak of the works by the saved and the unsaved, are all “good works!” And because the works are good, it makes us believe that surely this ought to earn us something with the Lord.
These “good works,” generally constitute very religious things.
When we try to earn something from the Lord, we turn these things into “works.”
“Works” are very deceptive.
IN CHRIST
God does everything for us, through what Christ did at the cross.
All the sacrifices offered up in the Old Testament times, portrayed the coming cross of Christ.
Christ is referred to seven times in the last two chapters of Revelation as “the Lamb.”
DOES THE CHURCH KNOW THIS?
The Church has had so little teaching on the cross in the last several decades, that it actually knows very little about this all-important subject. The far greater majority of the Church would not agree to that.
THE CROSS AND OUR SANCTIFICATION
When the word “sanctification” presently is used, it’s little understood by most Christians. As salvation is to the sinner, sanctification is to the saint.
The word “sanctification” means, “to be set apart strictly unto God.”
The sanctification of the saint will be and is the Holy Spirit’s most important effort.
This all-important work of the Holy Spirit is “progressive sanctification.”
There is actually only one sanctification.
It’s the business of the Holy Spirit to get unacceptable things out, which we refer to as progressive sanctification.
Entire church denominations think that sanctification can be brought about by rules and regulations. Instead of sanctification, they will do little more than breed hypocrisy and self-righteousness.
THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST
Anytime we attempt to sanctify ourselves, we are adding to the finished work of Christ.
Victory over all sin is all in the finished work of Christ.
OUR FAITH
Every single thing that the child of God receives from the Lord, is received totally and completely in the realm of “faith!”
It is all by faith.
When we say “faith,” we are primarily speaking of the object of faith. Our faith must be totally in the cross and Christ’s resurrection and in nothing else.
That means our faith must not rest within our Church.
All the believer has to do, is to simply place his faith in the cross of Christ. satan will attempt to move our faith to something else.
The believer must place his faith totally and completely in the cross of Christ.
Once the believer’s faith is placed in the finished work of Christ, the Holy Spirit will do in the believer’s life what must be done.
It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
DEAD WITH HIM
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
TO LIVE WITH HIM
“We shall also live with Him,” actually says in the Greek, “We shall live by means of Him.”
If we do not understand our “being dead with Him,” we will not understand our “living with or by Him.”
Now we want Him to live within us and through us.
We want to live a victorious, overcoming Christian life.
If one does not know what it means to “be dead with Him,” then it’s virtually impossible for them to know and understand how to “live with Him.”
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
“Suffer” is translated “endure.”
ENDURANCE
satan’s one purpose is to move our faith away from the cross. And that’s where the endurance is.
A DENIAL OF CHRIST
“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
What type of denial is the Holy Spirit speaking of here?
In Hebrews, there were Jews who were considering going back to Judaism, which would require a denial of what Christ did at the cross. It was not so much a denial of Christ per se, but rather, a denial of His substitutionary work regarding the cross. Untold millions around the world accept the person of Christ in many and varied ways. To fully accept Christ, one must accept what He did at the cross on behalf of mankind, or one hasn’t really accepted Christ.
The substitutionary offering of Christ as a sacrifice, is being denied in one way or the other. Whenever the world of psychology is held up as the answer to the ills and aberrations of mankind, this is a denial of Christ.
So what is happening presently, is very little different than the Jews of old ho had accepted Christ, but were now seriously considering going back to Judaism, which would have demanded a denial of Christ.
The entirety of the spirit of this “denial,” centers up on a denial of the veracity of the cross. A denial of Christ can be done in the direction we take. Regarding the cross of Christ, by its action the Church is giving a vote of “no confidence.” If one is going to accept psychology as an answer to the ills of man, then one must deny the veracity of the cross of Christ.
To deny the cross in any capacity as it regards our Christian experience, is to deny Christ.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
FAITHLESSNESS AND FAITHFULNESS
This verse refers to the faithlessness of those who claim to be believers.
The faithfulness of Christ demands first of all, that He, will continue to bless those who come to Him and exhibit proper faith in Him.
TRUE TO HIS WORD
Christ will remain true to His Word.
The Word of God is vastly significant.