2 Timothy 2:1 – Strong in Grace in Christ

2 Timothy 2:1 (NASB)
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

If you haven’t heard, there is a new resurgence of grace teaching in the world. I say new because Paul started it and many of the old theologians taught it. It’s just getting back to where it should be. We are saved by grace through faith. And we live by grace through faith.

Be strong is not the Greek word usually associated with strength. It is the word associated with power—dynamite power. It is the word, endynamoō, which is a combination of the word en or in and dynamoō. We get our word dynamo or dynamite. It’s God’s explosive power. Paul is saying be in powered with grace.

Peter says in 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace”. Our understanding of grace doesn’t come all at once. It’s in our renewed spirit, but we have to get it out of there, into our heart, and then into our daily walk. We are stronger in grace as we become more intimately acquainted with Jesus. The grace is in Christ. We are in Christ. We have full access to that empowering grace. (Hebrews 4:16)

Grace is empowering. God told Paul that His grace was sufficient. Look at 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he [God] said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. Grace is allowing God to enable you. Grace isn’t something you can work for or deserve. It’s unmerited. It is available in your weakness. Your weakness is when you realize you can’t do it on your own. You need God’s enabling grace to empower you to do what you can’t do.

When you face a tough situation, it’s not your clever thinking, or your physical strength that will get you through the problem. It’s God’s grace. The more you know Jesus, the more you know grace. “¹⁶ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ“ (John 1:16-17). Therefore be strong in the grace in Jesus.