Semper Fidelis (3 of 7)
Series: Transferring Truth to the Next generation
Contributor: Keith Krell
2 Timothy 2:1-13
Semper Fi is a Latin phrase meaning, ''Always Faithful.'' It is the motto of the US Marine Corps and reminds Marines to remain faithful to the mission, to each other, to the Corps, and to their country-no matter what. You may remember the Marines used to have a recruiting campaign that said, ''We are looking for a few good men.'' What they meant by ''a few good men'' was they were looking for the kind of men who would be ''always faithful.'' Now, if Marines are bent on being Semper Fi (''Always Faithful'') because they want to protect their country and preserve our freedom, how much more so should we as soldiers for Christ, protect and preserve the gospel? How much more should we diligently train spiritually? The reality is: God is looking for a few faithful followers. In 2 Tim 2:1-13 Paul offers three tips that will help us mature in our faithfulness to Christ.
1. Transfer truth (2:1-2). Paul states that the way to transfer truth is by appropriating God's grace and entrusting it to others. He puts it like this in 2:1: ''You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.'' The command that Paul gives Timothy is translated ''be strong'' in most English versions. However, the Greek verb isn't in the active voice; it's in the passive voice. So a more accurate translation is ''be strengthened'' (ESV). This may seem trivial, but it's actually quite significant. The passive verb means Timothy should receive the verb rather than do it. The difference is akin to the distinction between ''Bob hit the ball'' and ''Bob was hit by the ball.'' Timothy isn't called to stand strong, but rather to receive strength! We too must receive moment-by-moment strengthening because suffering is always right around the corner. We must recognize our own weakness so that we rely completely on Christ's strength. To the extent that we think that w ...
Series: Transferring Truth to the Next generation
Contributor: Keith Krell
2 Timothy 2:1-13
Semper Fi is a Latin phrase meaning, ''Always Faithful.'' It is the motto of the US Marine Corps and reminds Marines to remain faithful to the mission, to each other, to the Corps, and to their country-no matter what. You may remember the Marines used to have a recruiting campaign that said, ''We are looking for a few good men.'' What they meant by ''a few good men'' was they were looking for the kind of men who would be ''always faithful.'' Now, if Marines are bent on being Semper Fi (''Always Faithful'') because they want to protect their country and preserve our freedom, how much more so should we as soldiers for Christ, protect and preserve the gospel? How much more should we diligently train spiritually? The reality is: God is looking for a few faithful followers. In 2 Tim 2:1-13 Paul offers three tips that will help us mature in our faithfulness to Christ.
1. Transfer truth (2:1-2). Paul states that the way to transfer truth is by appropriating God's grace and entrusting it to others. He puts it like this in 2:1: ''You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.'' The command that Paul gives Timothy is translated ''be strong'' in most English versions. However, the Greek verb isn't in the active voice; it's in the passive voice. So a more accurate translation is ''be strengthened'' (ESV). This may seem trivial, but it's actually quite significant. The passive verb means Timothy should receive the verb rather than do it. The difference is akin to the distinction between ''Bob hit the ball'' and ''Bob was hit by the ball.'' Timothy isn't called to stand strong, but rather to receive strength! We too must receive moment-by-moment strengthening because suffering is always right around the corner. We must recognize our own weakness so that we rely completely on Christ's strength. To the extent that we think that w ...
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