Bible Questions Answered:
“How do we through hardness become
Christ's soldiers...?”
Tamara/ Kyiv City, Kyiv Ukraine
Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:
II Timothy 2:1-13 NLT (A Good
Soldier of Jesus Christ.)
1 My dear son, be strong through
the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.
2 You have heard me teach things
that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these
truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on
to others.
3 Endure suffering (endure
hardness- KJV) along with me,
as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in
the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer
who enlisted them. (Full
attention must be given to his service.)
5 And athletes cannot win the prize
unless they follow the rules. (Rules
of engagement.)
6 And hardworking farmers should be
the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. (Emphasis on hard work.)
7 Think about what I am saying. The
Lord will help you understand all these things.
8 Always remember that Jesus Christ,
a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the
Good News I preach.
9 And because I preach this Good
News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal.
But the word of God cannot be chained.
10 So I am willing to endure
anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ
Jesus to those God has chosen.
11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with Him, we will also live with Him.
12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.
Hardness, itself, does not make anyone
a soldier of Jesus Christ. Paul was not a Christian, because he was
suffering in prison, he was a Christian because he had received The Lord
Jesus Christ, as his Savior.
Hardness (suffering) is something a
Christian, may or may not face in their lifetime, but if they do, as
the Apostle told Timothy one must go on being faithful to The Lord
who has called them.
Various Bible Versions II Timothy
2:3):
“Suffer hardship with me” - ASV
“Take thy part in suffering
hardship”-RHM
“Share hardships with me” - TCNT
“Join the ranks of those who bear
suffering”- GSPD
“Accept your share of suffering”-WEY
“Suffer Afflictions with me”-ALF
Paul's opening remarks to young
Timothy:
II Timothy 1:8 NLT
So never be ashamed to tell others
about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m
in prison for Him. With the strength God gives you, be
ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
Paul's admonition to soldiers of the
cross:
II Timothy 2:4-7 NLT
4 Soldiers don’t get tied up
in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please
the officer who enlisted them.
5 And athletes cannot win the prize
unless they follow the rules (God's
Word.)
6 And hardworking
farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.
7 Think about what I am saying. The
Lord will help you understand all these things.
II Timothy
2:15-26 NLT
15 Work hard so
you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a
good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who
correctly explains The Word Of Truth.
16 Avoid worthless, foolish
talk that only leads to more godless behavior.
17 This kind of talk spreads like
cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus.
18 They have left the path of Truth,
claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in
this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.
19 But God’s Truth stands firm
like A Foundation Stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows
those who are His,” and “All who belong to The Lord must
turn away from evil.”
20 In a wealthy home some utensils
are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The
expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones
are for everyday use.
21 If you keep yourself pure,
you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will
be clean, and you will be ready for The Master to use you for
every good work.
22 Run from anything that
stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous
living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of
those who call on The Lord with pure hearts.
23 Again I say, don’t get
involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start
fights.
24 A servant of The Lord must
not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to
teach, and be patient with difficult people.
25 Gently instruct those who
oppose The Truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s
hearts, and they will learn The Truth.
26 Then they will come to their
senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held
captive by him to do whatever he wants.
Paul tells all
Christian Soldiers, to wear God's armor:
Ephesians
6:10-18 KJV
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong
in The Lord, and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore
take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
(Seven pieces of
Christian Armor.)
14 Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with Truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of
faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of The Spirit, which is The Word Of God:
18 Praying always with
all prayer and supplication in The Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The Apostle Paul,
told Timothy the main ingredient of spiritual victory, is....the
grace of God.
II Timothy 2:1
NLT
My dear son, be strong
through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.
Victory for
spiritual strength and warfare, is to be found through the grace of
The Lord.
And the Apostle
says that grace, comes to the child of God through obedience and
faithfulness, to
The Lord Jesus
Christ.
Now the Apostle
Paul, knew full well that young minister Timothy would “not,”
always have an easy time of teaching others, so he cautioned him....
II Timothy 2:1-3 NLT
1 My dear son, be strong through
the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.
2 You have heard me teach things
that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these
truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on
to others.
3 Endure suffering (endure
hardness- KJV) along with me,
as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Timothy
would not just be fighting against some evil men, but hosts of evil
spiritual entities as well.
Ephesians 6:12
KJV
For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Our God promises
strength in time of suffering:
Isaiah 40:31 KJV
But they that wait upon The Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 41:10 KJV
Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I
will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with The Right Hand Of My
Righteousness.
Ephesians 3:16
KJV
That He would grant you, according
to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His
Spirit in the inner man;
And
Our God, Promises Us His Nearness:
Genesis 28:15
KJV (God's promise to Jacob, our promise as well!)
And, behold, I am with thee, and
will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee
again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done
that which I have spoken to thee of.
Exodus 33:14 KJV
(The Lords promise to Moses, our promise also.)
And He said, My presence shall go
with thee, and I will give thee rest.
Deuteronomy 4:7
NLT
For what great nation has a god as
near to them as The Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on
Him?
Deuteronomy 20:1
KJV (The Lords promise to
Moses, we may claim.)
When thou goest out to battle
against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people
more than thou, be not afraid of them: for The Lord thy God is with
thee..."
Isaiah 43:2,3
KJV
2 When thou passest through the
waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not
overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be
burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am The Lord thy God, The
Holy One Of Israel, thy Savior..."
Matthew 18:20
KJV
For where two or three are gathered
together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matthew 28:20
KJV
Teaching them
to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am
with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
"...for He hath said, I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Promises To
Faithful Soldiers:
Mark 13:13 KJV
And ye shall be hated of all men for
My name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall
be saved.
Hebrews 3:14 KJV
For we are made partakers of Christ,
if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
Revelation 2:26
KJV
And he that overcometh, and keepeth
My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
