Good Soldiers Serving a Faithful Commander

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  2 Timothy 2:1-13

2 Timothy 2:8-10

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.

(ESV)

Like it or not as Christians, we are at war, but this is not a conventional war fought with conventional weapons and instead, a spiritual war requiring spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:12-18).  However, even the most effective weapon is useless unless it is in the hands of a trained soldier.  Armies at war also need a faithful commander that is not only concerned for the well-being of soldiers but also loves those under his command. 

Everyone professing faith in Jesus as their savior is a soldier in the war against evil and should engage.  Engagement for a good soldier for Christ involves, 

1)      Teaching others to teach (2 Timothy 2:2) – Matthew 28:19 tells us the mission of the church is making disciples.  A disciple is one dedicated to following someone or some ideal.  A disciple for Christ is one who follows Jesus Christ and the Bible.  Making disciples is a call to teach others what one has learned from the Bible so they can become disciples of Jesus as well.  From a group of twelve Disciples obedient to this mission, we have Christianity today which has spread globally.  However, as we see the state of the world, we realize the church has more disciples to make.  Therefore, we must follow the example of the first Disciples and continue making disciples. 

2)      Enduring suffering (2 Timothy 2:3) – Jesus did not promise his disciples a carefree life but instead promised tribulation (John 16:33).  Even though this is not popular in many churches today, it is the truth and something Paul endured and warned Timothy about.  Suffering for Christ is not something a believer should fear or avoid but an indication of a life lived in dedication to Jesus Christ.

3)      Avoiding distractions and staying focused on the mission from Jesus, our faithful commander (2 Timothy 2:4) – Modern society provides many distractions.  We have smartphones, personal computers, hundreds of television stations, and programs to watch.  While most of these things are not inherently sinful, they are time killers that rob us of time with the Lord.  A good soldier aware he or she is at war stays diligent and ready to attack or defend themselves through focusing on the instructions from their commander.  For a soldier for Christ, this involves making time daily to spend studying the Bible and making time with the Lord in prayer.

4)      Remaining obedient and diligent like an athlete or farmer (2 Timothy 2:5-6) – A good soldier for Christ also plays by the rules when competing and works hard.  While Christians should obey man-made laws, unless they violate the Word of God, Paul is not speaking of human laws in the text.  Disobedience to God is sin and gives the enemy a foothold to take down a soldier for Christ.  This stresses the importance of the diligent study of the Word of God, so a soldier knows the rules and serves in obedience to them.  In addition, a soldier for Christ works tirelessly, like a farmer, bringing in the harvest.

5)      Meditating on God’s Word to gain a better understanding (2 Timothy 2:7) – Simply reading the Bible and checking it off our to-do list each day is not enough.  Paul urges Timothy to think over what he has learned so he can receive greater understanding.  This is a call to meditate on the Word of God throughout the day.  This keeps the soldier ready should he or she need to engage in spiritual warfare. 

6)      Remaining centered on Christ and the unstoppable Word of God (2 Timothy 2:8-10) – A good soldier for Christ stays focused on serving their faithful commander and His instructions contained in the Word of God. 

Paul concludes this section with some comparisons.  While our aim in life is to preserve it, God asks us to share in the death of Christ.  This may seem odd but in doing so we open the door to sharing in Jesus’ resurrection and eternal life (2 Timothy 2:11).  Taking up the cross and following Jesus means enduring suffering.  While we do not want to endure suffering it is the path toward reigning with Jesus (Luke 9:23; 2 Timothy 2:12). 

Paul also offers Timothy some contrasts.  To deny Christ leads to Christ denying us (2 Timothy 2:12).  While this seems harsh, when viewed in the context of a soldier serving his or her commander, it illustrates the consequences of being a traitor.  Jesus publicly suffered humiliation and death for us so the least we can do is declare our loyalty to Him by not denying Him.  However, God is also gracious for even when we become faithless, He stays faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).