Followers of Christ are labeled exclusive today. The world means it as a cut-down. They think we are archaic in our beliefs and therefore hate on people. I would concede that there are some that do. In fact I would admit that there are number of whole sects that do. For me, and the doctrinal body I belong to, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Am I exclusive? Yes. That is to say, I believe that Jesus is the only way to eternal life with our Creator God. I am also inclusive. All believers are to be inclusive in our invitation to believe in, submit, and subsequently follow Jesus Christ, who is God. He is the only true God and He is not like us in any way.
This thought of exclusivity trends in the Holy Scripture we call the Bible. It is exclusive in that God said there is a right way; and a wrong way. His is the right way. Humans tend to compare themselves with themselves and others. This would be the wrong way. We are to measure ourselves against Christ as a standard— “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (Ephesians 4.13). We are to look to Him as our example in everything, including perseverance and struggles— “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12.2). He is the standard. It’s the pursuit of Christ the spirit-filled life is all about. There is only one way and Jesus is that way.
In our last post titled: “Receive Grace” explained Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to “be strong” and to do so in the power of the Grace of Christ, and not his own wisdom or power (2 Timothy 2.1). He then clarified the function of a disciples life—multiply! What you have been given, share and multiply into others (2.2). All else are forms of selfishness. But this idea of comparing ourselves to the infinite standard of Jesus can seem daunting to say the least. So naturally the apostle Paul gives some examples to look to; some imprints to compare to. In this, he is explaining the different functions we resemble as we walk the spirit-filled christian life: The Soldier; The Athlete; The Farmer; The Christ; The Worker; The Vessel; The Slave.
Let’s begin with the Soldier— “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2.3-4). the word— “endure”, indicates it’s going to be difficult. In fact, it will be hard (hardness). We’re told not to just be a soldier, but to be a—“good soldier”. This isn’t a mediocre soldier is it? It’s a soldier that takes his calling seriously, and executes it with precision. He is not to be—“entangled” which means ‘attached’. If you are at war, you detach yourself mentally and physically from the previous life you lived before being Spirit-filled. That means the things of life now too. Say you were saved as an adult out of a pit of life… that is no different than the person saved as a child and still playing in the pit! Why is the good soldier not to entangle himself? He said, “…that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Your number one job in this life is to please the One who called you to be a soldier. Mom, Dad, friend, co-worker, your kids, nor your mate called you…Jesus did! None of them saved you…He did. You were “chosen” by God to be His embassage in this life. You are to war a warfare that you can’t escape. There are no non-combatants in this fight. You can chose to not suit up, but you will be taken under by the enemy.
Yes an enemy. Modern churchanity lies about the paranoia of true followers and their so-called over exaggeration of a mystical enemy. That sounds just like our enemy, doesn’t it? It is not paranoia to trust Jesus when He said our enemy is Satan (who is real by the way) and the world He is operating. It is a real war, with a real enemy, with real casualties. 2 Corinthians 10.4 says— “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” Notice this is parenthetical. But to what? The context tells us in 2 Corinthians 10.3-5— “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” So the real issue is—do you accept that you are a soldier of Christ? Do you believe you are at war? Do you recognize who the enemy really is? Last but certainly not least—are you being traitorous by fraternizing with, even helping, the enemy?
I’ve had a family member who was in 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was also a qualified jump specialist and an elite Ranger specializing in joint forcible entry operations. In 82nd Airborne they are asked: “how far” the response is always: “all the way”. Stopping short, to the Airborne, is dereliction of duty, cowardice, and not worthy to have the patch on your uniform.
Or as the Apostle Paul said—“…as a good soldier of Jesus…” You are a soldier fellow disciple. You are in a war. You have an enemy. You have a standard set. The question is… are you a good one? By His standard?
Next post will continue with “the Athlete and the Farmer” from 2 Timothy 2.5-7.