(1) В¶ Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2) And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (3) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) 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. (5) And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (6) The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. (7) Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
I beg. the Reader, at the entrance on this Chapter, to observe, the manner of expression made use of, concerning grace. Paul calls upon Timothy to be strong in grace. What grace? Not the grace in him, and which by regeneration he had received. But the grace that is in Christ Jesus. A very precious distinction. The grace that is in me, given by the Lord, is from the Lord, and depends, both for continuance, and to be kept alive, wholly upon the unceasing supplies issuing from Jesus; similar to those streams which are only kept running, as long as the fountain sends forth, to their continuance. If this was well observed, and well understood, we should learn a most important truth, for daily use There is no living upon past attainments. The grace I had from Christ the first day, I need every day, and to the last day. My spiritual strength, is in Christ: not in what I feel, nor in what I have; but wholly in Him. And this life is kept up, in the constant receiving of fresh communications from Him, and living to Him, and living upon Him. This is to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. There is no other strength. No inherent, no progressive holiness!
And the conflicts to which Paul tells Timothy he will be called, while committing the glorious Truths of the Gospel to faithful men; plainly show the necessity of the measure, to bear him up, in a suited strength, which cannot be derived from himself, but from the Lord. The hardness of the soldier, and the enterprise of those, who contend in races; and the unwearied labor of the husbandmen: all imply the earnestness, which attend a life of faith in Christ. But these descriptions are very sweetly accompanied, with assurances, that the Lord will give his servants to be first partakers of the grace which they bring to his people. They shall eat of the bread they minister in his name to others. They shall drink of the river, whose streams make glad the city of God. 1 John 1:1-2; Psalms 46:4. I hope the Reader will not pass away from this view of the subject, before that he hath duly pondered it, and considered the vast importance of it. All grace is from Christ. And all the grace we receive from Christ, is fed and maintained by continued supplies in Christ. And faith is but one, and the same unceasing act, in receiving of his fullness, and grace for grace. John 1:16 None but those who perform every act of faith upon Christ, and his grace, know the blessedness of it.