Be Strong In Grace

0:02 Looking at our world from a theological perspective. This is the Theology Central podcast making Theology Central. Good morning everyone. It is Tuesday, November the twenty sixth, twenty twenty four. It is currently ten thirty three am Central Time, and I am coming to you live from the Theology Central studio located right here in Abilene, Texas. Can you believe that it's November the twenty sixth? I mean, can you believe that? I don't know what that means to you. It may not mean anything to you. You may be like, who cares November the twenty sixth, December the twenty six It may not matter to you, But to me, I'm looking at it going I cannot believe that. Basically this year is over? And so how do we end this year? Like?

0:54 What do we do? Right? I mean we what do we do over the basically just a little over a month to bring this year to an end? What do we do? What do we? And I know there's so many things like I probably need to go back and go, Okay, I need to do a message here, I need to do a message there to try to wrap that up. I need to bring this to some kind of conclusion so there is going to be a little bit of a desire to try to wrap some things up. And obviously, I mean, look so much so many of my ideas and things I thought we were going to do in twenty twenty four, not a lot of those materialized in a really the way that I envision. But you have to at least look, that happens every single year because I always have more ideas than I can actually pull off, right, so, and sometimes I just have an idea and then I lose interest in the idea. I understand that, but I mean, obviously, if anyone has been listening, I mean I really thought, like in December of twenty twenty three, that way before before November of twenty twenty four, that a lot of there had been a lot of major changes that would have happened here, and I didn't even know if the podcast would still be going. So I guess in some ways it's understandable that, you know, I had ideas, but there was a back of my mind going, Okay, I'll start this, but you know it's all going to be kind of done by June or Joe, Like there's gonna be all these major changes. But you know what we're still here. So what is the one thing we have

2:26 accomplished in twenty twenty four. The one thing we have accomplished in twenty twenty four, and I think we have stayed true to it, is the sermons two point oh app sermon challenge. We have reviewed sermon after sermon after sermon. I now, I probably could have done a better job at turning on the microphone at certain times, going all right, guys, here are some new things added to the sermon's two point oh app Oh wait, look at this. Hey, here's this conference going on. I probably could have done a better job of that. And so so I can critique how things went. But if anyone actually participated, if anyone even slightly participated somewhere around them, they should have a notebook right now. They should be able to flip the pages and they should see sermon they listen to after sermon after sermon after sermon. They should be able to go back and look at the summaries that they were to write down in their notebook. I don't know if you listened to twenty, I don't know if you listen to forty. I don't know if you listen to fifty. Whatever, the number is. I hope that number is far greater than at any other year in your life, of how many sermons you'll listen to. It that may not. It may be like, well, whether you were doing the challenge or not doing the challenge, I would have listened to the exact same number of sermons. And that may be true.

3:47 But if you listen to any more because of the challenge, I can't say that. And I think this is very important. I don't think we can pat ourselves on the back and go, oh, look look at how how spiritual we are. We listen to fifty sermons, we listened to one hundred. That would be the actually the opposite of what I want to accomplish. What I hope is, well, I listen to all of these sermons and then just be honest with what you learned. Maybe maybe maybe it makes you more discouraged. Maybe after listening to all of these sermons, you may have come to the conclusion, for crying out loud, nobody agrees on anything, this is insane. Maybe you came to the conclusion of nobody knows how to handle the text of Scripture. I mean, let's be honest. For me, I kind of I mean, I look, on one hand, I am so glad we've done the sermons two point oh app challenge, right, I'm so glad. I still think because one, I want people utilizing this tool, so I mean thing, I think that's a good thing. On the other hand, if I'm just gonna be honest, even though I'm glad I did it, I did, I kind of arrived at a pretty discourage you kind of dark place because it kind of just made me realize when it's all said and done, I have found myself probably realizing a truth that has bothered me basically my entire Christian life, which is I don't really fit in to this Christian world.

5:17 I just I don't really fit in. I think at the conclusion of this entire challenge that we've done for twenty twenty four is after listening to all of these sermons for the sermon the sermon's two point oh app sermon challenge is I just don't fit in very well. So and I guess it's kind of discouraging because we have just seen over and over how pastors take scripture and just they do crazy things with it. So I guess that's a maybe that's a good lesson to learn. I don't know, but that's kind of the negative. But the point is here, we are faster. We've got just a little over a month and this year is over.

5:58 I know, it's hard to believe we're going to The one thing we are going to do is we're going to bring this Sermons two point oh app Sermon Challenge for twenty twenty four to hopefully some type of dramatic conclusion, and by just reviewing as many sermons as we can, maybe before we get there. I don't know. I don't know if I don't know if I have any specific plans on how to bring it to a conclusion, but I'm going to bring it to some kind of conclusion and hopefully it's beneficial. So in the spirit of that, we're going to be reviewing at least a part of a sermon here in just a minute now. If you've been paying attention to the Sermon's two point oh app or the Sermon Audio website today, you should if you've been looking at the new sermons tab, which I think you should just keep that open all day and just constantly refresh it new sermons because you'll just get a sense of how many sermons are added every single day.

6:50 When they add five to six seven thousand sermons per week, that's just it just will show you the how much is available to you twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Now, again it may lead you to being discouraged, but it's still there, all right. So I don't know how many sermons you've listened to, but just if you'll just keep looking at that. But I've been looking at that tab today and I noticed a couple of things. Number One, Way of Life, Way of Life Literature. That's a website. I've referenced it numerous times. They are adding a lot of content today. Now they've been a part of Sermonadio I think since two thousand and one, but I think there was a long time they weren't adding any content. But David Cloud from Way of Life, they've been adding a lot of messages today, a lot.

7:39 And they've gone an entire series on biblical prophecy, and we've been dealing with eschatology. We need to finish that series as well, so a lot of it would be very much connected to that, and you would hear his perspective. Now his perspective is going to be different than a lot of people on Sermonadio. Cermonadio has a lot of more amillennial hype eschatology, and he'll be coming out much more from a dispensational perspective. So you may want to look up all of those messages today. But there's one I've got my eye on. It was added thirty minutes ago, twenty minutes ago. There's no audio as of right now, but it is called Internet Theologians. Internet Theologians. I've got to find the when that audio is added, I have to listen to it, and I don't know which direction you're going to go. But whenever I see a pastor or a church say anything about Internet theologians, typically it's very negative. Pastors, the institutionalized church, they have criticized. This has been happening forever. They used to criticize all the time.

8:47 The bloggers. Oh, everyone's got a blog and they think they're a theologian, and they criticize, criticize, and then they will criticize podcasters. All these podcasters just out there saying whatever. Pastors and the institutionalized church are not fans of the blogger or the podcaster, and they have a tendency to minimize them, speak down to them, be dismissive of them. And to me, it's very it's very Catholic, like, very Catholic like. Let me explain, within the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church sees itself as we have the authority, We have the magisterial authority. We're the one that gives the authoritative interpretation. You have to go with us. Well, for all of us who are not Catholics, we come from a tradition that rejects that. Say no, no, no, no, no, no no, there is no magisteral authority. The church doesn't have the authority is supposed to be scripture. Well, we say that, but then pastors get very ticked off when a quote unquote blogger or podcaster or internet theologian offers some criticism. They don't like it, well because they want to be seen as they should be the one speaking the truth. Well wait a minute, why? And I feel like in some ways the institutionalized church gets mad at those like me who has a podcast, who may offer criticism.

10:17 They don't necessarily like that. But I think I think sometimes those maybe on a podcast or in a blog, can speak more freely and I think sometimes maybe hearing that maybe kind of an outsider perspective, right, Maybe the institutionalized churches sometimes hear that sometimes maybe the criticism. Maybe sometimes the criticism isn't fair. Maybe sometimes it's more fair than you want to hear because the pastors can there's only so much they can say, or they they end up losing their job, they'll be forced out of the institutionalized church. You got to give the people what they want. You got to give them their song and dance because you got to keep them happy. Well, if you're not, if you've got a podcast that's not connected to that, whether you can say whatever you want, fire me, what do you what are you gonna I may lose support, per se, but I don't get that. I don't get that much anyway. So you know, like ultimately it's like okay, well the end, you know, it's not like my entire livelihood is connected to it. You always have more freedom when you can do that. So it'll be interesting. It's called internet theologians. I don't know what take they're going to give. Typically it's gonna be negative. I can't wait to hear it. And if you find it first, well, oh you let me know. But all right, I say all of that to say, well, what we're getting ready to do is a part of our sermon's two point oh app sermon challenge. So get your notebook ready. We're gonna be listening to another sermon. This one is called the Seven must Haves. I think of the Christian life,

11:50 the seven must haves of the Christian life, or for the Christian life, the seven must haves. Here here are seven things we must have in our Christian lives. But let me just go ahead and just you know, let you know right here from the beginning, we're not gonna look at We're only gonna look at one of them. We're not gonna look at all seven. Right. The sermon is forty one minutes long, so we know if we do a full review that'll turn into about four three to four hours. I don't want to do that. We're just gonna look at the first must have, and it seems to be based off a phrase and Second Timothy, chapter two, verse one. Second Timothy, chapter two, verse one.

12:36 Here is the phrase you're ready thou therefore, my son. Now here's the phrase be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, be strong in the grace, that is in Christ, Jesus, be strong and grace. Be strong in grace. Now, if we were at church, if we were in a hermaeututs class, if I was a teacher in any way, shit, performing you were in my classroom, I would tell everyone, well, use pencil, grab your notebook and write down that phrase, be strong in the grace or be strong and grace. So I would tell you to write it down, be strong in grace. I would look around the classroom. Does everyone have it written down?

13:27 Let me see, let me see do you have it written down? Be strong in grace? Okay, here we go. You got thirty minutes, go write down what it means. I'll be back. Then I'd go get me a drink and a snack, walk around for a little bit, walk back in the classroom, and like, okay, here we go. Not you, what does it mean to be strong in grace? Okay, what does it mean to be strong? Now? I want. I would want to see how much agreement there was two I would then once it would be clear that there's very little agreement, then I would be like, why is it so complicated for us to interpret a phrase, be strong and Grace. Well, if you look at two thousand years of church history, I know this is gonna come as a shock. Nobody seems to agree on what that means. So we're going to listen to these seven must haves because the first one that they give is be strong and the Grace. Okay, well, then I want to know what it means. So are you ready to figure out what it means. I've got a lot of notes.

14:32 We're gonna figure it out. But we're gonna go to the sermon again. This is a new sermon that was added maybe an hour ago, maybe two hours ago, the seven must haves in the Christian life. We're not gonna listen to all seven. We're just gonna see how he handles be Strong and the Grace. We're gonna start the sermon at the beginning, so we'll get the introduction, probably opening prayer, and then we'll then when he gets to this first pu, this first must have, we're gonna listen for his interpretation of what it means, and then I'm going to spend my time while probably challenge it. I don't maybe I will agree. There's a high probability I'm not going to agree in any way, shape or form.

15:16 But we will see. So are you ready? Are you ready? Here we go. I know I'm just an Internet theologian, so what I say probably doesn't matter, right, But here I'm just one of those, you know, irritating podcasters. But we're still gonna look at the text and we're still gonna try to figure it out. Here we. Go to the Book of Second Timothy, Second Timothy, chapter two, and we're gonna begin there in verse one, Second Timothy chapter two, there in verse one. All right, Second Timothy chapter two. There in verse one, And when you find your place, you can stand with me if you would and want to read the Word of God here together tonight, Second Timothy chapter two. There in verse one, have entitled this message seven must haves, seven must haves the Christian today.

16:22 All right, let's begin there. In verse one, Bible says, thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses. The same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others. Also Thou, therefore, in der hardness, is a good soldier of Jesus Christ, another man that warreth entangle himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for the masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully? The husbandman that labor must first be partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Let's pray. Follow we come to the seating. We thank you, Lord for your goodness here tonight. Lord, just praise you'd help us as we go through your word. I pray God, you help me tonight as I preach, And Lord that you would just just fill my mind, my heart, Lord, my mouth, God, with your words not my own. Lord me to help me, Lord, to speak that which you would need me to speak here tonight. And Lord to help us all to receive your word to hear this evening, that it would help us to be encouraged and help us to be better equipped in our life. For you help us God to grow here tonight in our spiritual lives. And Lord, we just ask for your helping all these things. Well. I praach you to help me tonight as I preach, Lord,

17:52 just give me strength, and this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. All right, we could we could do an entire podcast series on opening prayers for sermons. All right? You know how I get so irritated by opening prayers for sermons. I really really really do. Look. Either one, pastors just use the opening prayer to start preaching, to kind of start giving their introduction, meaning you're not really talking to God, You're still talking to the congregation. Or number two, these kinds of things are said, and I just I don't understand the way Christians think. Now again, this may be the podcast or the internet theologian offering critique, but when I watch churches do this, it's just becomes standardized language.

18:37 And I don't think anyone in the church ever stops to go, well, wait, what are the implications of this? He basically said, God, let my words be your words. Well, if the pastor is only speaking the words God is giving him, that would make his sermon infallible. That would make his sermons basically inspired word of God. Hey, the pastor at that church, God speaks through him. His words are the words of God. That makes them infallible. That makes them authoritative. That means you cannot criticize them. That means you cannot judge them. You cannot, You have to just listen to them. His words are absolutely true. Now I have heard sermon after sermon after sermon after sermon where this kind of prayer is given. Look that God gave me this, This is what God I mean, we've even heard that. Look, Sermonadio is the non charismatic part of Christianity. If you look at the statement of faith that any pastor has to sign in order to have sermons on Sermonadio, you're supposed to be completely opposed to the charismatic movement. But this kind of this kind of speaking to me is right in the will house of charismatic theology. But we heard a sermon on Sermonadio already this year with that said, this is what God told me to tell you. Well, that is that is then God gave him the very exact words to say. That is God speaking to that pastor outside of scripture. Well, this one wants God my words to be the words

20:08 of God. Well, then that means God is speaking directly through him outside of scripture. This is God giving revelation, speaking outside of the Bible. This is not sola scriptorra. It's the opposite of it. And I don't understand how non charismatic pastors fall into charismatic theology. Either God speaks to the Word alone, or he's speaking through this pastor or this pastor. And if he's speaking through the pastor, then that means those words are authoritative. If I'd turn on this microphone and said I'm going to give you what God gave me, you can't email me and criticize it. You can't question it, you can't disagree it came from God.

20:51 If God speaks through me, well then you can't say a word. And that's contrary to it. Now, how many times have we heard pastors pray this and then they go on In some cases within five minutes, ten minutes, we'll say something that's absolutely provable false. They'll say something about this about the text or this about the texts, and you'll say, that's not true, that's not true, that's not true, that's not true. In some cases it's things that are easily provable, it's just fraudulent or false. Well, then that's not God. Now you're claiming God just spoke through you fraudulent things. How dare you use the name of God to say that what you're saying is from God when it's not from God. That's an essence taking his name in vain. There's just so many theological issues with it. And I know that when I criticize that, I know most of you are like, what is the big deal? This is just the way we talk in church.

21:54 This is just church talk. You know, it's just locker room talk. We always see to justify it's just, Oh, it's just the way we talk. I don't care if it's the way the church talks. If the church talks in a way that is fundamentally thiologically flawed, that we need to change the way we talk. If God is speaking directly, giving the very words a pastor says, then then you need to be writing those words. You need the transcript. And in fact, this sermon right here, I've got the entire transcript from So maybe I should just print out the transcript and tape it to the back of my Bible. What's this? Oh, this is another book in the Bible. Because well, the pastor said, God, you know, hey, God give me the words. Now, either God is going to do that or not going to do that. I'm saying God is not going to do that. He's giving us his word. So if you're gonna pray, pray for something, God will actually do. I know Christians love that idea.

22:52 Oh I pray and God gives me understanding. What that means you're understanding comes from God. That means in your understanding is infallible. Don't you understand the implications of that drives me crazy. Opening prayers I almost like whenever and some podcast apps you can like skip the intro. I wish there was, like on sermon audio that would give us a feature skip the opening prayer, skip the just a feature like skip skip the opening prayer skip because the opening prayers almost almost inevitably lead me to the liquor store because I'm like, what is going on? And I know that people in the who listen don't care, but to me, it's so manipulative. This is what God told me to say. God gave me this message, God speak through me. Well, if God is doing any of that, well, then ladies and gentlemen, my sermons, my teaching is untouchable because it comes from God. Now is God about to speak through him while he's getting ready to give us an interpretation of be strong in the grace. What do you think the chances are that I'm going to disagree with his interpretation of being strong in the grace? What do you think the chances are? I think the chances are probably fifty to one hundred percent. Well, then guess what if God told him what be strong and the grace is? Well, then I can't disagree with it. But what if I was to turn on the microphone, I said,

24:22 God speaking through me is telling me this is what be strong in the grace? Well, then what do you do in the pew? Well, this one says God he wanted God to speak through him, and this one says this is God is speaking through him. And they gave me different interpretations. God can't be speaking through them both. What does it not bother anybody? Does it just bother me? I think I'm the only one bothered by it. This is why I cannot stand the charismatic world. I can't stand the charismatic world. Ooh, God spoke through me. God showed me the just stop it right, I can't stand it. Well, what drives me crazy? Is Okay, I've escaped planet charismatic. Right, I've escaped that planet, thank goodness. Oh wait, here's a website.

25:09 It's called Sermonadio. Everyone has to sign a statement saying that they're basically opposed to the charismatic movement. And then you listen and they start talking like they're charismatics. Oh they may not be speaking in tongues. They may not. But if you're still believing God is speaking to you outside of scripture in any meaningful way, then that's continued revelation outside of the Bible, and that is a constant thing in the charismatic world. Oh it drives me crazy. All right, now, twenty five minutes, we haven't gotten very far. Let's see where we can go here. It may it may be seated seven must have the Christian life for tonight. In verses one to seven, we see the apostle Paul talking to young Timothy, the preacher here, and as he's talking to him and mentioned sim several things that we have course read. They're in verse six he says the husband that labor must be partakers of the first fruits. And so as I was looking through this, I thought, you know what, these are actually things that all of these sayings, not just in verse six. All of above are things we really must have in our Christian life. And so the seven must haves I believe today that are good for us in our Christian life.

26:25 And there are some things in life that you must have that you can't. Okay. So to summarize his basic premise is that Paul in two Timothy chapter two is speaking to Timothy. I mean, it says thou therefore, my son. So Paul is speaking to Timothy, and he mentions, we'll just go with the number seven things that Timothy must have. His argument is this is transferable, not just to Timothy, to all of us. We all must have these things Paul says Timothy needs. Now we could argue is it transferable? Is this prescriptive or is this descriptive? Is it simply describing what Paul thinks Timothy needs or is it prescribing what we all need?

27:12 His argument is this prescribes what we all need? All right, Well, we're going to go along with that idea. I'm focusing on the phrase be strong and the grace. That's what I want to focus on. But so let's see how he establishes this that there are things we must have in the Christian life. He believes there are seven of them, and two Timothy Chapter two, verses one through seven. All right, we only want to focus on the first one. Let's let him get to the first one. Can't do without or is it very difficult to be without these things? And I think in our Christian life it would be very difficult for us to function as well without some of these things also. And so as we take a look at it here this evening there in verse one, notice what he says. He says, Now, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Now, the very first truth there is, the very first must is is that we must have strength.

28:08 We must have strength. But no, all right, so we must have strength is the must have for the Christian life. We must have strength, all right. Now, this gets into the weird world of Christian Christianity. All right. Christianity, on one hand, seems to typically imply that we already have strength. We're empowered by the Holy Spirit, so we already have it. So do we already have it? Or do we have some? But we have to continue to pursue to get more. Because he's telling him, my son, be strong in the grace. Hey find strength here? Right? Be strong? Now what is the phrase be strong? Well, we can get into the idea.

28:53 So do we already have power or do we need to get power? Do we have strength or do we have to constantly strength? Which is it? Do we have it? Do we need to get it? And when we say strength, what does that mean? See? Christians love this idea. Oh, now that we have power, we have strength, and typically it goes like this, This power, this strength enables us to be able to say notice in yes to God. So then the logical question would be, oh, we are receiving supernatural strength so that we can obey God. So then obviously we should be able to be perfect. Well no, no, no, no, no, you can't be perfect. So wait a minute. So I receive strength from God, but the strength from God is not good enough to get me to perfection. Well, the strength of God is good enough to get you to perfection.

29:44 But you can overcome the strength of God and keep yourself from getting to perfection. So then I can get to perfection. But I stop the strength of God, so I'm stronger than the strength of God. Then it gets all confounding, confusing, convoluted, it just because maddening listening to Christians talk in circles. You have strength, Oh, so I can be perfect? Well you can't be perfect? Well I thought I had strength. Well you do have strength, but so I have strength to be fifty percent better? Well wait a minute, how do I measure better? How do I measure? Oh? Now it becomes it becomes really confusing. Let's see how he's going to handle this. We need strength, all right, So what is the strength? How do I obtain this strength?

30:30 What does it look like? What does it do? What does it not? I mean, look if I tell you, hey, you need strength, and you'd be like, you're right, I need strength. Okay, how do I get it? You're gonna be asking questions, how do I get it? What do what does it do? What does it not do? You're gonna want to understand everything about it, right, Or let's see if we get some answers. Just where our strength is? He says, be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ. So grace exactly what is that? Well, grace is unmerited favor. We also understand that in this unmerited favor that God has given Uh. We see this grace as we would see also as the Bible would say, let us grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. And so and so we grow, and we grow in grace, we grow in knowledge, we gow an understanding, UH, we grow in strength and power.

31:19 We grow in these things. And so in essence the Bible really showing us there in verse one that as we live our Christian life. And as the apostle Paul is talking to Timothy, he tells him that one of the things that he needs to make sure that he does is that he is that he UH, and that he is strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, strong in his knowledge, strong in his love, strong in his favor, strong in the the the inner man really within himself, that he is walking with the Lord. All these things kind of coupled together, UH with the grace of God, with the grace that is in Jesus Christ. Now, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, the that which God gives to the inner man.

32:02 There that that spirit, that power, that that help that we need, the knowledge that we know of Him that helps us to be the best men and women of the Lord that we can be. Uh. And so he says. One of the things that you're definitely gonna need in these days, he says, and as it's my son, Timothy, is that you are going to need strength, and you're gonna need that strength in the Lord Jesus Christ. Have the mind of Christ and need us. You're gonna need this power. You're gonna need us wisdom. Uh. You're gonna need the inner man to grow day by day to be more conformed into the image of your Savior. Every single day. You're gonna have to do everything you can uh to to grow as strong as possible. Uh in the Lord in his word, right.

32:48 So you have to do everything possible to be strong. Right, I've got to do everything to be strong. So is it strength given to me? Or is it strength? I have to do everything possible in order to get Now, if I got to do things in order to get the strength, then by what strength am I doing those things in order to get the strength. I've got to do things to get the strength. Am I doing those things without the strength? So if I can do those things in order to get the strength, then what do I get once I get the strength, because I've got to do all this stuff to be strong. Well, then what happens when I become strong. I've got to do this in order to be strong. So once I've become strong, then can I even do more? I still don't really understand what the strength is, do you? I don't. Let's say if he explains it anymore.

33:51 Because listen, we even understand. We look around today, we see ourselves. There's lots of things. We need to make sure that we are growing every day in that we are growing in strength in the Lord, because so that we can be prepared for the things that we face out here in the world today. So we have to grow in strength. So we got to do everything in our power to get it. Then I guess when we get it, we have to grow in it. So is it like you get the strength, but then you've got to grow in it? How do I grow in strength? Does that become I grow? I become stronger? So do I get the strength? Is it kind of like you're getting super It's like you're getting superpowers, but then you've got to grow in those superpowers, learning to understand them, learning to understand what they can do and what they can't. Okay, can I fly? Can I run fast? Do I have heat vision? Do I have X ray vision? Do I have Is it like, Ooh, I've got the power. Now I've got to grow in it.

34:48 I got to learn how the power works. Right. A lot of times you'll have some you know, in a comic book or a superhero movie, the person obtains the power and at first I don't know what to do. That don't understand it, and it can be somewhat at first as they try to figure it out. Right, Oh, well, is that it is? I get the power and I gotta kind of I gotta grow in it, like I need. Look, if this is a must have in my Christian life, then I must understand what it means. Let's see if we get some better explanation. There's so much that's going on in society that it's very it's very needful for God's people to make sure that we are prepared and that we are strong in the Lord spiritually in our lives, to be able to handle, to be able to take the things that are coming our way. And so Timothy, he tells him that one of the things that you need to make sure that you do is that you're growing in the strength in the Lord, that you are growing in, that you are growing in His grace, that you're growing, as I said, in essence and the wisdom, the knowledge, that you are walking in His steps. You know that you are walking in the spirits, so to speak, that you are become and being the man that God needs you to be in your life. Because in these days in which you live, and in the things that you face, the paganism and UH, in this in a sinful society, one of the things that you're gonna have to have is uh is uh is strength in the Lord. Because listen, if we don't have strength in the Lord, it could be very easy

36:19 for us to be tossed to and fro like the sands of the sea, or the uh or the or the chaff uh. If we're not strong in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, if for not growing in the spirit of God, it can be very easy for us to be whipped around with every with every doctrine of men. I'm gonna be very easy for folks to come and and to suaar us from the truth, be very easy for us to get out into the world and uh, and for sake that which we have growed up in and that which we know. Uh. The Bible says there in verse one, he says, Now, therefore, my son be strong and the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And of course he tells us where this grace is found. It is found in Christ Jesus, this grace that you need, this strength that you're going to find, this wisdom that you're going to, this wisdom that you're gonna need in your life. This uh, this this growth that you're going that you're that you really need. It's not gonna come from anything else, not from the world or even self help books, so to speak. But it's going to be found that which is in Jesus himself.

37:20 And so our grace and our strength is founded in Christ. Did not God say the Lord Jesus say, and we've quoted all the time, Jesus said, without me, ye cannot do nothing. And so our strength is found in Christ. Our grace of course given to us by the Lord Jesus. And we want to grow every single day, to walk more in His steps, as I said, to be more conformed into His image, to grow in the grace and strength and so in these days and in the days of Tember that he told in one of the things that you need to do is is to be strong, is to be strong, strong in what the Bible says, strong in the wisdom of God. They're in verse two. The Bible says, and the thing that has heard among me, oh, I'm sorry, and the things that THO has heard of me among many witnesses. The same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others. Also, it's not only as a must have that we be strong in the grace of the Lord, but that we also must surrender our knowledge.

38:20 Okay, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. The first must have is be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Now I would again if we were in a Hermoneutics class, if we were in church, I would stop everyone and say, okay, all right, you wrote down what you thought it means to be strong in grace, in the grace, or be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. You wrote down what you thought. Now summarize what he just taught. I really want you to try summarize what he just taught. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. What does it mean? Sounds like I gotta do something. I gotta sounds like a lot of what I have to do. It didn't really explain I got to grow in it, didn't really explain what that means. I mean, I don't really under I mean, look, I'm just being honest. I don't even know.

39:11 I don't even know what I would write down. I think what I would do. I think I would probably say, hey, AI, can you can you review this and tell me what it means and see if AI could break it down. I don't know if I have. I don't know if I have. I don't know if I can even summarize that. Can you summarize it? It sounds like I got to do everything in my power to get it, and then when I get it, I got to be strong in it or got to grow in it. But there was no explanation of exactly what it is. There's no really explanation of what it does. There's no real explanation of what I get how to obtain it. It does sound like if I don't have it, then all these bad things will happen. So it sounds like it maybe could even be something I could lose. I get the strength I got to grow in it, but I could lose it.

39:58 I like, I I'm a little perplexed by this. I don't know exactly what it means. So I was like, well, how do we understand how do we understand this? About to drop my iPad there? How do we understand this? Well? I think I know this is going to come as a shock. But this phrase that be strong and the grace that is in Christ Jesus. I know you probably already are aware of this. It has been interpreted in various ways throughout Christian history. Are you shocked by that? Are you shocked by that it's been interpreted in different ways? Of course you're not, because we don't agree on anything. So I had you write down what you thought. I don't know what he just said. I really don't. There was a lot of words there. I don't know what it means. So let's go through this. There is one view through in church history that to be strong and the grace that is in Christ Jesus. There is a view out there that says this refers to empowerment through divine grace. Here's grace and it empowers us. The interpretation of this would go like this, Paul is calling Timothy to draw his strength not from his own ability, but from the grace provided through Christ. The grace then is seen as something that empowers believers to endure challenges. So

41:31 the idea is, here's this thing called grace right now, what I need to do. I've gotta I've gotta, I gotta draw all strength from grace. So grace empowers me. So grace is the power supply I go to grace, which that will empower me. Again, I don't know exactly what that looks like. How much power do I get? What is what does this power enable me to do? How do I exactly draw from it? It sounds very theoretical. I don't know what it really means. Now. Philologically, anyone who would go with this view, they would argue something like this, that grace is unmerited favor. God's grace is the source of spiritual strength. So grace is God's unmerited favor and it's the source of spiritual strength. Okay, So the emphasis then would be on dependence on God rather than non human effort. So now, remember he says in the sermon you've got to do everything you can. Well, all right, this seems to go No, no, I don't do everything I can. I have to go to grace and not rely on my ability, and then this is going to give me power. So this would often kind of take the idea of a reminder for believers to trust in God's provision and sustain it, especially during trials.

42:56 That's so theoretical. I don't even know what that means. Here's grace, Now go to it. You get empowerment. Hey, don't rely on yourself, don't rely on your ability, rely on God, his provision, his strength. Okay, great, So what do I do? Now? What do I do? What do I do? I don't know what do I do? Hey? What was the sermon about? Oh, I've got some good news. We have a source for strength. It's grace in Christ Jesus. We just go to that and we get strength. Okay, what does the strength do? Well? I don't really know. Well does it make you perfect? Well? No, does it make you well? I don't really How do you get it? I don't really know. How do you know you got it?

43:37 I don't really know. It's just cause any does anyone even understand that this view. Kind of the sermon kind of went with the empowerment view, but he didn't really articulate it either, right, but he focused on a lot of what I have to do. I've got to do everything in my power to obtain it. I've got to then grow in it. I've got to do everything to keep it. But we really weren't giving any specifics. So that's kind of view number one, empowerment through Divine grace. View number two spiritual maturity and growth. Now he kind of borrowed from He kind of utilized a little bit of this as well. This interpretation would go something like, being strong in grace refers to growing spiritually by depending on one's understanding of God's grace and applying it in life.

44:30 So this idea is, if you want to be strong in grace, then this means you grow spiritually by depending and understanding God's grace. So they would go this view. This spiritual maturity and growth would say that grace is being is transformative, not just for salvation but even in sanctification. So grace trans forms us not just positionally but practically. I don't know exactly what that how that even works. This interpretation would encourage a dynamic relationship with Christ where believers are continually strengthen through study, prayer, and obedience. So I guess what I have to do if I want the strength? I don't even know how this works. I gotta study, I gotta pray, and I gotta obey. But am I studying obeying and praying in order to get the strength? Or my study obeying and praying because I've got the strength. If the strength? If if grace is transformative, well then do I not have the grace? I don't?

45:41 Do I get it? Do I have it? None of these views make literally any sense to me? Right? So view number one empowers through divine grace. View number two spiritual maturity and growth. I don't know how that's even really different than number one. But all of these ideas is get the grace and it will change. I don't really understand. A third view is living out grace. According to this interpretation, Paul is urging Timothy to embody grace in his interaction, ministry and leadership. This would include showing kindness, forgiveness, patience. So this the idea is be strong in grace so that you can live it out. So basically, or Paul is telling Timothy live out grace, show grace to everyone.

46:32 So this would be the idea that grace is a lifestyle, it reflects the character of Christ. To others. It would have been a call to exemplify grace and relationship. So this is more about This view would be like, hey, demonstrate grace, show grace. Now you notice that in all three of these ideas, even though there don't really make a lot of sense, it's about do this, do this, do this, do this, do this, be strong in grace. It's all about do something, do something, do something, do something, do something that SAME's contrary to grace, does it not? A fourth view sees it as strength and adversity. I don't even realize. I don't know what any of these interpretations actually mean. They're so theoretical that it's just like you can sit there, go to church and like, oh, I'm supposed to be strong in grace, and you stand in the parking lot and you're like, what does that mean?

47:27 Nobody in church can tell you. They all said amen and the sermon, but I have no clue what it means. So strength and adversity, how would this work? The command emphasizes resilience. Resilience and the focus of suffering and opposition, trusting in Christ's grace to preserve. So the idea is that this is a command. Hey, when you are facing difficulty, be strong, show that you are resilient in the face of adversity. Trust in Christ's grace. So this idea is that grace is a sustaining power, and it sees in Paul's own experience of relying on grace and weakness. So they I don't know exactly how this would work. So what is this you need to be strong amidst persecution?

48:26 How does it? I don't know how I get it. I don't I don't know what any of this means. A fifth one empowered in ministry. None of these make any sense to me. Paul is preparing Timothy to rely on God's grace as the foundation for his ministry to others, passing on the Gospel and teaching faithful men. This idea is that grace is equipping. It enables the believer to serve effectively. It's a reminder that Christian service must depend on Christ's strength and not personal ability. All of these are saying the same thing that this somehow empowers it, equipped said, transforms, it changes, but you gotta get it. How do I get it? Nobody can really tell me, And if I gotta, I don't know what any of these mean. Some say another view number six as union with Christ. Be strong and grace is to live in the reality of union with Christ, where grace flows from being in Him. This is the idea that grace is identity.

49:28 Believers are seated with Christ and share in his resources. Strength comes from an abiding relationship. This encourages believers to anchor their identity and efforts and their connection with Christ. Hey, while you're trying, make sure you anchor yourself and identify yourself with Christ. I don't know what any of this means. I really don't know what any of this means, Ladies and gentlemen. These are the most theoretical vague. It's like reading a horoscope where it's so vague that it could fit anybody. It's like, hey, today things will happen, maybe good, maybe bad. Who the horoscope was very accurate because things happened and well, some things were good and some things were bad. None of it, I don't know. None of this has any definitive answer. A seventh view is a contrast between law and grace. So what does this mean? Well, Paul contrasts relying on legalistic works withdrawing strength from grace.

50:30 Timothy is encouraging to reject self reliance and to embrace God's sufficiency. All right, I don't know what that even means. This idea grace is a freedom from law. Believers live in the power of Christ's finished work. Paul is opposing a works based approach to ministry. I don't know what any of that means. So if we go through the summary of interpretations here, right, I've got a little chart here, the idea would be Number one, empowerment through grace, the strength from Christ's provision. Trust in God's power, not personal effort.

51:13 But I don't know what any of that means. Number two spiritual growth, maturing and understanding and application. Pursue growth through study and prayer, living out grace, reflect Christ's grace in daily life, show grace to others another one's strength and adversity, endurance and suffering. Remain faithful during trials and opposition. Empowered ministry Grace is equipping for service, depend on God's power and ministry union with Christ, identify and strength from being in Christ. Live out the reality of your union. Contrast grace, law and grace. Reject legalism and embrace grace, avoid self reliance, and embrace God's work. I don't know what any of that. I literally don't know what any of that means. That is some of the most vague, confusing, confounding, convoluted stuff I've ever heard. Nobody would have anything tangible, Like, what am I to do? How do I get it?

52:16 What does it do for me? What does this mean? You're left with nothingness, meaningless, meaningless, meaningless, All is meaningless, vanity of vanities to me, that's all this. I don't know what any of that means. So I'm like, there's a problem. So I'm like, okay, So, could there be a way that would be consistent with the text, that would be consistent with the context, would be consistent with the language and the rest of the Bible to interpret this not as giving us some kind of power, not as being some kind of transformation, since reality would call both of those into question. Instead, Could it mean being strong in the truth of grace, being strong in the reality of grace, and being strong and what it means is that even possible? So I started trying to work this out, trying to think this through, right, So you know what I did. I started asking AI about some possible interpretations. I'm like, well, what about this? What about this?

53:33 Just started having you know, one of my normal hermeneutical arguments with AI, trying to figure this out. AI finally responded, after a lot of back and forth, your perspective offers a compelling and philologically rich interpretation of being strong and the grace that is in Christ's Jesus. Your interpretation seems to align well with the text, with the contact next and the broader biblical narrative. This view focuses on understanding and standing firm and the truth of grace, rather than seeing it as a source of supernatural power or transformation that might be called into question by observable reality. Right, observable reality would be like, wait, so we have power, but all of these things that kind of talk about it being powerful or transformative, none of them really explained exactly what this means. Even that sermon did not help us.

54:33 So how could I then develop this interpretation? How could I build this? Well, let's look at the possible idea of this being consistent with the immediate context. Let's see if this would work right. Paul is writing to Timothy, a young minister. Everyone agrees on that he seems to be encouraging him to remain faithful even amidst trials. I think everyone seems to be in agreement with that he wants him to pass on the truth of the gospel to others. We see that in Second Timothy, Chapter two, verse two, and the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses. The same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others. Also thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

55:25 So past this on endure with you know. Okay, we got this idea. So what is it in this context? It would what would it mean to be strong in the grace? Well, then, maybe instead of seeing this as talking about some infusion of power or some kind of personal transformation, could it be understood that grace be strong in the grace, be strong in the core truth of the gospel, message be wrong, and the truth of God's unmerited favor given through Christ. Maybe Paul is urging Timothy to hold firmly to the truth, especially as he faces challenges from false teaching and societal pressures. Hey, Timothy, be strong in the grace, in the truth of grace. Be strong in the concept that we are saved by Grace alone, through faith alone, and Christ alone. Be strong in the idea that we are saved not by what we do or or could do or should do, but we're saved in what Christ has done. Maybe he just wants them to be strong in the truth of it and the concept of it. And this doesn't mean like dun dun du du uh, now you can do fifty push ups spiritually.

56:40 Maybe this is just we've got to maintain being strong in this truth. We cannot allow this truth to slip out of our hands. So is it consistent with the immediate context? I think that makes sense in the immediate content text, I think it does. How about is it consistent with the larger context of Two Timothy? Well, A major theme in Two Timothy seems to be the safeguarding of sound doctrine. In Two Timothy, Chapter one, verses thirteen through fourteen, Paul tells Timothy to hold fast the pattern of sound words and to guard the good deposit and trusted to him. Being strong and the grace could parallel these instructions. Standing firmly in the doctrine doctrinal truth of grace. Hey, be strong in grace, protect this concept of grace. Don't let it get because there are those who will come in with their legalistic ideas. There will come who will destroy grace by imposing law. Don't let this happen. I think this is consistent with the broader theme. So being faithful amidst hardship, Paul would be emphasizing endurance and reliance on the truth of the Gospel even when outward circumstances seem discouraging. This would suggest that being strong may refer to confidence in the reality of grace, rather than expecting some dramatic personal empowerment. It's not like chu, I got

58:11 some bionic power now, No, it's the idea that, Hey, when things go wrong, rely be strong in grace. In grace, you are saved by grace. And if you struggle, if you fall, if you become discouraged. I stay strong in grace, not performance, not works, not law. Hey, as a minister, you can get ticked off about things. You can try to then go from a more legalistic idea of telling people to do this and do that, and do this, and threatening stay strong in grace, rely on that grace, Believe on that grace, rest in that grace. So I think it's consistent with the immediate context. I think it's consistent with the larger context. Is it consistent with the language, with the language of the text. Now, the idea is that word be strong, that phrase be strong, be strong. Now, if we look at the Greek, the verb seems to be able to imply empowerment. I think that that is true.

59:27 But I think it can convey the idea of being steadfast or standing firm. In this context, it can mean holding firmly to the reality of grace as the foundation of Timothy's ministry and life. So be strong is to be steadfast or stand firm in the concept of the truth of grace. Now, if we look at the phrase be strong, I'm going to open up. We may have to do more. I may not be able to get to everything here. We're already at an hour. I no, as usual, we're out of time here. But it's okay. Let's look at be strong, be strong. It's this Greek uh one Greek word that goes that. It's translated be strong.

1:00:12 All right, here we go. It's this Greek word strong ge seventeen forty three and into the moo, into the motoh. The idea is to be strong, endoor with strength, to receive strength, be strength, and increase in strength, and a bad sense be bold or headstrong. So it can mean basically to increase strength or give strength, but it can also just be the idea of be bold, be headstrong, stay firm in this, don't back down when it comes to the concept of grace. Now, if we go back to this idea to say, does this work, let's see here, let's let's let's go back to so it can it can mean empowerment, but can convey the idea of being steadfaster, standing firm. So it could mean hold firm to the reality of grace as the foundation. Now in the grace, be strong in the grace. The preposition in could slight can signify the sphere of realm in which one operates.

1:01:22 Timothy is called to live and minister within the truth of grace, not outside of it or in opposition to it. So be strong in the grace, stand in the grace, stay committed to the grace. We could even say be strong, And I think we could even say be empowered in the sense of be strong in the concept of grace. Don't back down from grace, don't leave it, don't replace it, don't change it, don't water it down, stay true, stay committed to grace. So I think the language, I think it's consistent with the context. I think it's considered with the book. I think it's consistent with the language. Is it consistent consistent with the rest of the Bible. I think so. Throughout scripture, grace is presented as the central truth of the Gospel. Is it not Ephesians two eight through nine. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works.

1:02:27 And remember Paul wrote Ephesians, so grace is the central message. Titus two describes Grace as a teacher, instructing us to deny unguidlingless and live righteously. Grace teaches us that right not the law. The law condemns us for not doing it. Grace encourages us to do it out of just gratitude Romans five to two. I think we read about standing in grace. This suggests an established, unshakable position rather than an infusion of power. Stand in grace. It's not about you getting power. Stand in it, Stay strong, and don't back down from grace. The Bible calls believers to stand firm and truth. We see that in Ephesian six and one Corinthians sixteen. So be strong and grace could be synonymous with being strong and the truth of the gospel. Hey, Timothy, be strong and the truth of the Gospel, which is grace not law. Don't back down from it. Don't no matter what happens. And then what do you do? You take this truth and you pass it on to other people? Now, what would be the practical implications from my approach? Again, which is going to be different than everybody else's, but I don't understand anybody else's. Well, once again, it removes

1:04:00 any unrealistic expectations. My view would avoid suggesting that grace provides observable or measurable power, which leads to what disillusionment, discouragement, despondency, depression, deconstruction, trips to the liquor store. Because reality will not align with oh, you get power. It doesn't align with that. So I think it would remove unrealistic expectations. I think it focuses on assurance in a way, instead of seeking transformation or strength outside oneself. Believers are reminded to rest and the objective truth of grace. Hey, hey, Timothy, stand strong and grace. In other words, rest in it, stand in it. That's what sometimes when people talk about some kind of struggle's just rest in grace. If you're struggling with sin, rest and grace. If you're struggling with failure, rest in grace. I constantly would say something along those lines.

1:05:14 Couldn't this be a call of confidence in doctrine or confidence in grace. Timothy is encouraged to remain steadfast and proclaiming and teaching the truth of grace. Hey, there's gonna be false teachers. There's gonna be people who come. There may even be those within the church who will bring law, law, law law. You stand strong and grace. So what would happen if then, if we go with my interpretation, well, Paul would be urging Timothy to be strong in grace by rooting himself firmly in the truth and reality of grace in Christ. So this would mean an understanding grace as a foundation of the Gospel, which I think is true standing and its implications, justification, forgiveness, and the sufficiency of Christ's work. Stand true, stand strong and justification by faith, Stand strong and forgiveness by faith through grace. Stand strong in the sufficiency of christ work. He did it all for you, and then you live and teach and alignment with this reality. You don't add you, don't dilute you stand strong in it. Don't add to it, don't dilute it.

1:06:28 Don't let anyone change you from it. So I think this aligns with poles intent to remind Timothy of the sufficiency in Christ. I think he this stands. I think this aligns with Paul trying to basically show Timothy the centrality of grace in the Christian life. It shifts the focus from subjective experience to objective truth. All these other things is okay, I get power? Is it's subjective? How much power? How do I obtain it? How do I keep? It's all subjective, it's works based. Nobody really knows what they're talking about. I think be strong in grace, as for you and I to be strong in the truth of grace, God's unmerited favor given to us. Be in Christ, Jesus Christ Jesus kept the law for us. He does it all for us. We are saved by grace, We are kept by grace, we are preserved by grace. Everything's by grace. But there's a temptation for a young minister to maybe become more law focused. There's a temptation, there's a danger in the church for law to remove grace and become law based instead of grace based. I think

1:08:02 be strong in grace is to be strong in the idea, the reality, the truth of grace itself. I don't think this is the idea that somehow I got to be strong by getting strength, or I think all of these other interpretations fall to the wayside. Now, once again I've simply offered my hypotheses of what this is. I always say that now, if you want a little bit of an assignment today, you know what to do. You've got the sermon's two point. Oh app go to town, start looking up sermons on two Timothy chapter two, verse one, and what do you listen for. Don't worry about the rest of the verse. Just how do they interpret be strong?

1:08:45 Look at the phrase be strong, be strong in the grace that is in Christ, Jesus be strong that is in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Be strong that is in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Write that phrase down, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. But it's everywhere, refrigerator, wherever, and just make just all day just to say, what does that mean? Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. What does that mean? What does that mean? What does that mean? How does that apply something? I want to mean something practical. Now you may argue that I haven't given you anything practical. I think I'm giving you something practical. Now sixty nine minutes, I get mad at myself, say I could have made it shorter. I kind of went longer in my intro, but the intro really was to kind of talk about where we have been and where we're going. And I think it was good.

1:09:44 I think it was good, but I don't know. I kick myself when I go long, but it's hard to do any review and not go long. But there we go. Now the seven must haves of the Christian life. I agree that one of the must haves we need to s stand strong and grace. I just disagree with I think what everyone else thinks that means. What do you think it means? I think some of those interpretations throughout church history are just ridiculous. They're a ludicrous I don't even none of them make any tangible sense. At least I think mine makes some kind of tangible sense. Right. I think I know this, what I'm giving you will not lead you to disillusionment and discouragement, despondency, deconstruction, depression, and a trip to the liquor store, because it's not making some promise that denies reality. But everybody within Christian dem it's always about we get this, we get this.

1:10:43 We basically Christianity sells it like hey call now and you can become a superhero. You will have superpowers, you have supernatural ability. God will speak directly to you. Yeah, you will. And it's just it's all just us. It's like a bad info commerce, that's a scam. All right. There we have it. Another message in our sermon's two point oh ap sermon challenge. We only listen to just a few minutes and we have done over an hour of discussing it. It just shows you one sermon literally gives you enough content that you could spend months studying just one sermon. If you really will are willing to break it down and dig into it, we've got plenty of spiritual food. There is no famine in hearing the word of God in twenty twenty four. Now there may be a famine hearing it being handled correctly, but there's plenty of it being discussed. What you do with it is really what matters, all right, Thanks for listening. I wish I could say something rather profound here. I got more notes, but we're out of time. Thanks for listening, everyone, have a great day. God bless