Present Yourself Approved

2 Timothy 2

​“Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.” Jonathan Edwards
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God’s grace strengthens us and enables us to be faithful teachers, soldiers, athletes, farmers, workers, vessels, and servants. The world looks on us as evildoers; but we are God’s chosen people, willing to live and die for Jesus Christ.

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:8–13 (ESV)

If we die with Him, we will also live with Him refers to our union or relationship with Christ. Through trusting in him as Savior, we have died with Christ—died to our old self—and are also raised with Him. Your and my eternal future is secure through your connection to and identification with Jesus.

If we endure, we will also reign with Him means that if we live a consistent Christian life, we will be rewarded with reigning with Christ in His millennial kingdom.

If we deny Him, He will also deny us means that if our Christian lives are more covert than public, if we seek to please ourselves more than to please our Lord, we will lose the opportunity to partake in his millennial reign. This does not involve loss of salvation but loss of rewards and privileges.

If we are faithless, he remains faithful. When our faith grows weak or even fails; and it can and will, God remains true to His promise to save us through Christ alone. To fail to keep His promise would be for Him to deny Himself, and that he cannot ever do.
Here we see that God’s grace enables us to overcome our three great enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him... So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart... and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:4; 22; 26 (ESV)

Warren Weirsbe concludes his commentary stating, “God’s grace enables us to endure hardship as we fight the Lord’s battles, so that we do not deny the Lord. It helps us do work of which we are not ashamed and deal with problem people of whom we are not afraid."

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:15–19 (ESV)

Dr. Tony Evans writes, “In the same way that federal agents identify counterfeit currency through their intimate knowledge of the real thing, it is believers’ knowledge of the truth that will enable them to identify error. Local churches need pastors who know the Word and help God’s people know and apply it. Not only do believers need to avoid unbiblical teaching, but they must also avoid irreverent and empty speech.”

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

Dr. Evans continues, “God is intimately acquainted with his children. Therefore, anyone who calls on God’s name should pursue him and turn away from wickedness. Calling on God’s name is the special privilege given to believers to invoke his supernatural intervention into the circumstances of life for his divine deliverance.”

“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (ESV)
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Are you presenting yourself approved by God? Are you living above reproach? Are you serving with the right attitude and motives? Are you living a grace-filled life and sharing the truth of God’s Word with those in your circle of influence?

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