Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Timothy 2:1-13
Andy Nagahara
A. Be strong! (1-7)
1) The strength comes from entrusting the good deposit to reliable people (1, 2)
1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
2) The strength comes from keeping the priority as a follower of Jesus (3-7)
3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No one serving as a soldier gets involve in civilian affairs–he wants to please his commanding officer.
5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
B. The grace that is in Christ Jesus (8-13)
1) Dying with Jesus (8-11)
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
2) Living with Jesus (11-13)
11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
Summary
We have decided to follow Jesus, and that was the most meaningful decision of our life. How can we make our own follower's life dynamic? At first, what we must to know is that we are in the grace that we died with Jesus and so we are living with Jesus. Then, we will be able to be stronger by working to form the community together with other followers, as well as by knowing and keeping the priority in our life as the follower of Jesus.
For Discussion
1) What is meant by a good soldier of Christ Jesus?
2) How do you explain about "If we died with him, we will also live with him"?