1. Be Strong In The Grace That Is In Christ Jesus
2 Timothy 2:1-7
Be Strong In The Grace That Is In Christ Jesus

2. In Paul’s second imprisonment.
“The time of my departure has come … I have finished the course” (4:6)
Parting words to someone he needed to carry on the fight. cf. 2 Peter 1: ; 1 Timothy 6:12

3. In Paul’s second imprisonment.
What has already happened?
“All who are in Asia (including Phygelus and Hermogenes) turned away from me” (1:15)
Demas deserted Paul “having loved this present world” (4:10).

4. Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy
In Paul’s second imprisonment.
“Difficult times will come” (3:1)
“The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine … and will turn away their ears from the truth” (4:3-4)

5. Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy
What is Paul asking of Timothy?
“Be diligent … handling accurately the word of truth.” (2:15)
Be “useful to the Master” (2:21)
“Continue in the things you have learned” (3:14)

6. Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy
What is Paul asking of Timothy?
“Be sober … endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (4:5)
All summed up in the exhortation: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2:1)

7. How can we be “strong in the grace”?
How would Timothy be able to:
“Fulfill your ministry”?
“Strong in the grace”?
2 Timothy chapter 2 – Paul exhorts Timothy by way of three comparisons.

8. As a good soldier … (verses 3-4)
First, we better realize we’re in a war.
1 Peter 5:8; 1 Timothy 1:18; 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10ff
“Suffer hardship with me …”

9. As a good soldier … Three keys:
“Suffer hardship with me …” 2 Timothy 1:7-12; 4:5; Matthew 5: ; 1 Peter 4:12-16; Hebrews 10:

10. As a good soldier … Three keys:
11/12/2017 am
As a good soldier …
Three keys:
“Undistracted devotion” and whole- hearted service.
“No soldier in active service entangles himself …” Hebrews 12:1-2; Matthew 13:22; 2 Peter 2:20; 1 Corinthians 7:35; 1 Chronicles 28:9
Albert Barnes points out that the “Roman soldiers were not allowed to marry, or to engage in any husbandry or trade; and they were forbidden to act as tutors to any person, or curators to any man’s estate, or proctors in the cause of other men. The general principle was, that they were excluded from those relations, agencies, and engagements, which it was thought would divert their minds from that which was to be the sole object of pursuit.”
“It is not secular employment that is forbidden, but entanglement with it.”
Chris Simmons

11. As a good soldier … Three keys:
11/12/2017 am
As a good soldier …
Three keys:
Submission – “please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” Lose sight of our own will.
“Enlist” – literally to gather a (volunteer) army. Galatians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 5:9; Psalms 40:8
Albert Barnes points out that the “Roman soldiers were not allowed to marry, or to engage in any husbandry or trade; and they were forbidden to act as tutors to any person, or curators to any man’s estate, or proctors in the cause of other men. The general principle was, that they were excluded from those relations, agencies, and engagements, which it was thought would divert their minds from that which was to be the sole object of pursuit.”
“It is not secular employment that is forbidden, but entanglement with it.”
Chris Simmons

12. Competing as an athlete …
11/12/2017 am
Competing as an athlete …
What does it mean to “compete” Greek; athleoo? To strive or contend.
Must strive. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
The Greek athlete was required to spend ten months in preparatory training before the contest. During this time he had to engage in prescribed exercises and live a strictly
separated life in regard to ordinary and lawful pursuits of life, and he was placed on a rigid diet. Should he break training rules, he would, in the words of the A.V., be a castaway (1 Cor. 9:27), barred from engaging in the athletic contest.”
If you’re not cheating you’re not trying.
Chris Simmons

13. Competing as an athlete …
11/12/2017 am
Competing as an athlete …
What does it mean to “compete”?
Focused on the prize – the victor’s crown. 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12
The Greek athlete was required to spend ten months in preparatory training before the contest. During this time he had to engage in prescribed exercises and live a strictly
separated life in regard to ordinary and lawful pursuits of life, and he was placed on a rigid diet. Should he break training rules, he would, in the words of the A.V., be a castaway (1 Cor. 9:27), barred from engaging in the athletic contest.”
If you’re not cheating you’re not trying.
Chris Simmons

14. Competing as an athlete …
11/12/2017 am
Competing as an athlete …
What does it mean to “compete”?
Compete according to the rules. 2 Timothy 1:13; 1 Timothy 4:6-8; 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
The Greek athlete was required to spend ten months in preparatory training before the contest. During this time he had to engage in prescribed exercises and live a strictly
separated life in regard to ordinary and lawful pursuits of life, and he was placed on a rigid diet. Should he break training rules, he would, in the words of the A.V., be a castaway (1 Cor. 9:27), barred from engaging in the athletic contest.”
If you’re not cheating you’re not trying.
Chris Simmons

15. Working hard as a farmer …
11/12/2017 am
Working hard as a farmer …
“The hard-working farmer”
“To grow weary, tired or exhausted” (Thayer). “To feel fatigue” (Strong). Matthew 11:28
Chris Simmons

16. Working hard as a farmer …
11/12/2017 am
Working hard as a farmer …
“The hard-working farmer”
To be spent. 2 Corinthians 12:15
Continual effort. 2 Timothy 4:2
The reward comes later. 1 Corinthians 3:8; Galatians 6:6-10; Romans 2:7
Chris Simmons

17. 11/12/2017 am
To be “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” we’re to be as the …
Soldier who is willing to suffer and offer undistracted devotion in order to please He who enlisted us.
Athlete who competes according to the rules in search of the crown.
Farmer who diligently labors in the hope of reaping what he has sown.
Chris Simmons

18. But what if we have never …
Enlisted in the Lord’s army?
Begun to run the race?
Put our hand to the plow?