2 Timothy 2:3 - Enduring as a Soldier of Christ

2 Timothy 2:3 - You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. -- World English

Every Christian as a soldier of Jesus is in a war. His warfare is, however, spiritual, not with physical weapons often associated with being a soldier. A good soldier obeys his commanding officer. Unlike the hatred that often prevails with soldiers fighting carnal battles, Jesus tells his soldiers to love their human enemies in this world, and to do good to those who hate them.

The Christian has several things he must battle: 1) sin and evil in his own flesh, 2) allurements of the world to sin and evil, and (3) the deceptive attacks of Satan and his demons that would lead us away from what is right to what is sinful and evil in God's sight. The common element in all three is sin and evil. What the world considers to be good, may, in fact, be evil from God's standpoint, so the good soldier of Christ should endeavor to come to know what is evil according to God's standards, not by the world's standards.

As a soldier in an army of the world must believe and have faith in the cause for which he is fighting, so the soldier of Jesus must be convinced in his own heart of the righteousness of his cause. This involves the heart loyalty of the Christian soldier in submission to Jesus and his God. 

One of the commands of our commanding officer is to let our light shine in the world and to preach the Gospel, the Good News, to others. To let our light shine does not mean to flaunt what we might deem to our own righteous acts before others, or to condemn others, but rather to simply and humble be obedient to Jesus' commands as we are able, so that others may see our faith and love for what is right in Christ. The goal is let Christ be seen in us, not that others may see our own righteousness. To preach the Good News is to present the truth from the Bible about Christ to the best of our ability and knowledge.

We are assured, however, that obedience to Christ will bring persecution. Thus, the need for endurance while facing the opposition of a world that does not love or care for God's righteousness. -- Ronald R. Day

Some Related scriptures: Isaiah 5:20; Mathew 5:44; Matthew 26:4; Luke 6:27; Luke 6:35; John 12:25; John 15:19;  Romans 7:14-25; Romans 8:12,13; Romans 12:17; Romans 13:14; Ephesians 6:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9; James 4:7, and many more. List other scriptures or present comments below.

Alternate:

Being a soldier of Christ means have heart loyalty to Jesus, but if our heart is actually in submission to someone else other than Jesus and his God, we fall short of true obedience to the one whom we profess as our "commanding officer." There have been and still are many who would seek to bind us to themselves, or to some man, or group of man, other than Jesus and his apostles, so as to claim all must be obedient to and/or in agreement with what such men may say. Some even make such an agreement as a basis for salvation. I do not believe that our Lord Jesus approves of such a bondage to leaders.

Related:

Soldiers of Jesus Christ

Psalm 37:4 - Delight in Jehovah

Psalms 37:4 - And delight yourself in Jehovah, that He may give you your heart's desire.

-- Green's Literal.

Psalms 40:8 - I delight to do Your will, O My God; and Your Law is within My inmost soul.

John 5:30 - I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don't seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.

John 6:40 - This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

To delight in Jehovah means to have a will of heart that conforms to His will in our life. Thus our heart's desire, our ambitions, is to do His will. His eternal law written in our hearts is not an outward obedience to the letter of the written Law given to Israel; it is having a geniuine love for the righteousness that is expressed in the Law Covenant, but even more importantly, as given to us in the example of Jesus, the one whom Jehovah anointed and sent. (Isaiah 61:1; John 17:1,3) Due to Adam's sin (Romans 5:12-19), we need to realize that by nature (Ephesians 2:2,3), in our sinful flesh (Romans 8:3), we can never be fully in harmony with God's righteous standard; and thus we need to realize that Jesus is the only means by which we may be reconciled with God. -- John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:24; 5:1; 1 Corinthians 5:18-20; Galatians 2:16,17; 5:4.

John 6:58 - Bread From Heaven

John 6:58 - This is the bread which came down out of heaven -- not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever."

Jesus said his flesh figuratively came down from heaven, as did the manna that fed Israel actually came down from heaven. (John 6:31) It was the Heavenly Father who prepared the body of flesh and blood for Jesus. (Hebrews 10:5) Thus, Jesus' flesh was without the condemnation that is upon mankind through Adam. (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22) His flesh was therefore sinless, as was Adam's before Adam sinned. If Jesus remained faithful while in the days of his flesh (Hebrews 5:7), he could offer his body of flesh with its blood for all who are dying in Adam, and that is what he did. The condemnation upon Adam would have been eternal had not Jesus paid the price to bring mankind out of that condemnation. (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; 1 Timothy 2:5,6) Jesus thus eternally sacrificed his body of flesh with its blood for our sins. (Luke 22:19; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 2:24) Consequently, anyone who figuratively eats of the figurative bread through faith in Christ, will live forever in the age to come. -- John 17:3; Mark 10:30; Luke 18:30; Romans 3:25,26; 5:1,21; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 John 5:13.

Romans 8:17

{Romans 8:17} and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ if indeed we Jointly suffer with him, that we may also be jointly glorified with him. -- Restoration Light Improved Version.

It appears that Paul is referring to two levels of relationship in this verse. The first is that of sonship, which makes one a general heir of God, but the second is that of being joint-heirs with Christ, which calls for more than that which is required to be a son. To be joint-heirs with Christ means one receives the highest reward, receiving a glory that is even greater than that of the angels. Such a high reward, however, requires suffering that is of the same level that Jesus himself suffered. Indeed, very, very few of God's children actually obtain this highest reward.

Titus 3:5 - Saved Through Mercy

Not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. -- Titus 3:5

The term, “works of righteousness” in our text, appears to reflect works under the Law Covenant, or possibly by works of conscience by which some would seek to justify themselves. Jewish believers in Christ, before they became believers, were seeking justification according to Law. Paul reported of the Gentiles, although without the Law, have a law to themselves, by which many sought justification by their works. (Romans 2:13-15) Paul later says, however, that neither the Jew or the Gentile was justified by their works. (Romans 3:9) No one was actually justified, made straight, declared righteous, by means trying to keep the Law Covenant. (Ecclesiastes 1:15; 7:13; Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20,28; Galatians 2:16; 3:11,24; 5:4) The Law, being, weak due to sinful flesh, never, of itself, effected justification for anyone. (Romans 8:3) It is only as one is justified, regenerated, renewed by the Holy Spirit, that one, as a new creature in Christ, is made sinless, straight, just. For such, it is reckoned, or counted, that the old creation has passed away, and all things have been made new; by partaking of the powers of the age to come, it is as though the present age has already passed away. –  2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 6:5; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-5.

Related:

The Right Foundation of Faith

Psalm 149:5 -- Let the Godly Rejoice

 {Psalm 149:5} Let the godly rejoice in glory. Let them sing for joy on their beds. -- RLIV.

"The godly" above in the Hebrew signifies ones with piety, having devotion to God. It is these that the Psalmist addresses with a call to rejoice in being honored to have the privilege of such devotion, as well as any special rewards that may eventually come those with such devotion.

A bed signifies a place to rest. The rest of those who belong to Christ is, of course, his faith in God and in the Lord Jesus. It is not, however, a passive rest but the Psalmist tells us to "sing" while upon our beds; this, we believe, refers to actively telling others about God and His Son, what they have done and will do for us and the whole world of mankind.

Psalm 18:3 -- I will call upon Jehovah

I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised. -- Psalm 18:3,  American Standard Version.

No matter what our circumstances may be in life, we should always remember to call upon Jesus' God, Jehovah (Micah 5:4), in thanks and gratitude for what we have, whether it be little or great abundance. To the consecrated child of God, it is not something that should be put in the back of the mind to do when we have nothing else to do. It is a matter that should be of constant concern at all times, no matter what we are doing. To call upon Jehovah would thus signify a heart unity with Jehovah's purposes as He has revealed them in the Bible.

Only those, however, who are truly consecrated can reach a high level of appreciation of how Jehovah is worthy to be praised. In a way, all of us will, in our sinful flesh, fall short of such appreciation of Jehovah's worthiness. It is only as we walk by the spirit as new creatures in Christ, and not according to the sinful flesh, that such can be fully appreciated.

Nevertheless, for the regenerated child of God, the only way to call upon Jehovah is in the name of His Son, Jesus. There is no other way that God has given for us to come to Him. 

***********

1 Timothy 3:13; Isaiah 2:3 - Evil Grows Worse But Soon to Be Removed

2 Timothy 3:13 - But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. -- World English.

Isaiah 2:3 - And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. -- American Standard Version.

It is often observed how the prevalence of sin continues to increase, and sin is often presented as being good. The tendency of this course of man into greater darkness confirms the teaching of the Bible that the tendency of sin is downward toward deeper degradation and departure from the ways of Jehovah. Ever since the sin of Adam, mankind has been living in what the Bible calls "the present evil age." (Galatians 1:4) The Bible speaks of the world before the flood of Noah's day, how it had become corrupted, and how that world was destroyed. (Genesis 6:11,12;  2 Peter 3:6) The same has been true of the long dispensation since the flood -- the dispensation in which we are now living, which is also to pass away. (2 Peter 3:7,10) Jehovah, however, foreknew the predominance of evil. Jehovah, therefore in His Word has foretold the prosperity of sin for a time, and that "evil doers shall wax worse and worse" (2 Timothy 3:13) until the due time should come when a third dispensation set in the Divine Plan for Messiah's Kingdom shall be inaugurated. Only the powers of the age (dispensation) to come will be sufficient to grapple with and suppress the powers of evil so long entrenched in the earth. And thus it is written, the Messiah shall rule the nations "with a rod of iron" (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27) and then his kingdom will become "the desire of all nations." (Haggai 2:7) At that time, all nations shall learn the ways of Jehovah. -- Isaiah 2:2-4. 

Psalm 121:8 - Jehovah Will Keep Your Way

Psalms 121:8 - Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth and for evermore. -- American Standard Version.

As applied to those who belong to Christ in this age, we should understand the application of the above to be to the new creature, not to the sinful flesh. Jehovah will keep the way of His sons throughout the time in this present evil age, as well as throughout eternity, whether at home, outside of the home, on land or on sea, indeed, even while in the oblivious condition of sheol. God, through His spirit, is ever with His people, and thus the new creature, as long as he earnestly seeks Jehovah through Jesus, will always be under Jehovah's protection, in this life, while in the death condition, and after being rescued in last day from death into all eternity.

*************

1 Corinthians 9:24 - Run That You May Win

{1 Corinthians 9:24} Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run even so, that you may win. -- American Standard Improved Version.

Paul is using the races of his day as an example of the effort needed for a Christian to win the prize of joint-heirship with Christ. He is not speaking of obtaining life through Jesus, or of justification through faith by means of faith in Jesus, etc. He is not speaking of becoming a child of God. Through faith, we become reckoned as justified and become begotten (of the spirit) again as new creatures in Christ. (John 3:3; Romans 3:28; 5:1; 8:14; 2 Corinthians 5:17) Having become a child of God, we are later given a place (Romans 8:23; Galatians 4:5 - adoption in many translations) in the kingdom, receiving rewards based on what we have done while in the present body. (2 Corinthians 5:10) The goal set before us is to become, not just heirs of God as sons, but also joint-heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17) Sadly, I believe that, while many consecrate themselves to God, very few actually attain the prize of their high calling. (Philippians 3:14) Paul likens the effort needed to obtain that prize to a runner in a race, in which many run, but only one wins. The same kind of vigilance and resolution is needed to attain the prize of joint heirship.

Nevertheless, I do not believe that any will actually be allowed to live for eternity who do not prove themselves fully in harmony with God and Jesus. Thus, I believe that the Bible shows that even if one does not attain the prize of joint-heirship with Christ, such will still eventually need to attain the same kind of integrity towards God and Jesus as demonstrated by those who do attain the prize of joint-heirship. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

See also:

Daily Heavenly Manna for April 9

+++++++++++++++

Isaiah 58:1 - Awake, Zion

Isaiah 52:1 - Awake, awake, put on your strength, Zion; put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.  -- World English Bible version.

Isaiah 52 is variously applied. Some apply this to Israel returning from the Babylonian exile; some to the Millennial age, and some to the church in this age or to the resurrection and glorification of the church.

I believe it is basically referring to the full restoration of Israel in the age to come. The prophetic call for the Holy City to awake does provide a picture of the Kingdom Age when the Holy City will be loosed from the shackles that now hold Jerusalem in blindness to their Messiah and the time when "all Israel will be saved." (Romans 11:25) I believe that eventually, through Jesus' ruling over Jerusalem all nations of the earth will be blessed with the knowledge of Jehovah and will learn Jehovah's ways, and then there will be healing for all nations and peace all over the earth. This is all part of the Gospel, the Good News concerning our Lord Jesus and what he is yet to do. -- Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14; Revelation 22:2.

Nevertheless, the command to awake is similar to the command given to Christians in Romans 13:11 and Ephesians 5:14. An application could also be seen to the eventual glorification of the church. --  Ronald R. Day, Sr.

*********

Psalm 62:5 - My Expectation

My expectation is from him. -- Psalm 62:5.

If we belong to Christ, these words should surely bring a blessing in our lives. Whatever may happen, our expectation is from Jehovah, our God. We cast all our cares upon Him, and thus we are able to go about our service to Him in quietness, walking in the path of righteousness. Giving our hearts in submission to His care, we have peace although we may be surrounded by many who are murmuring and at unrest. We find contentment in whatever our Heavenly Father may send in answer to our prayers of faith. We may not receive from our Heavenly Father what we might expect. What we receive from our Heavenly Father may not be congenial to the feelings of the physical man, but we have the assurance that Jehovah is our strength in the time of trouble. (Psalm 37:39) Thus, although all may appear to be dismal from the standpoint of what is seen by our physical eyes, we should raise our thoughts above the physical to the spiritual, and thus rejoice in Jehovah, and be joyous in the God of our salvation. -- Habakkuk 3:17-19.

************

(

03-24 - Hebrews 13:5 -- God Never Leaves His People

{Hebrews 13:5} Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you." -- American Standard Improved Version.

At times we may feel that we should not have a share in the common aches, pains and suffering of mankind under the curse. If we have consecrated our life to our Heavenly Father and His Son, we should seek to be content in whatever our Heavenly Father may provide for us. Paul himself had to learn to be content, and he tells us that he had come to know how to have an abundance and also how to be lacking. He tells us he could do all this through Christ, who gave him strength. (Philippians 4:12,13) We who are sons of God also need to have this faith in God through Christ, for our Heavenly Father has assured us that He will not forsake us. This does not mean that he will forever spare of from the death of our bodies that we presently serve in, but it does mean that he will be with us to give us strength through Christ through all our phases of life. Our part is to put faith in his promises.

Related:

Daily Heaven Manna for March 3

Precious Promises to Help in Trials -- Tom Gilbert

The Conquest of Fear

Covetous Conversaton

Be Content With Such Things as Ye Have

God Will Be With Use -- Dawn Magazine

Some Related Scriptures: Genesis 28:15, Exodus 2:21, Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Samuel 12:22, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalms 37:25, Psalms 37:28, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 41:17, Matthew 6:25, Matthew 6:34, Luke 3:14, Philippians 4:11, Philippians 4:12, 1 Timothy 6:6-8. 

**************