We have an indication of what it means in chapter one: 2 Timothy 1:9 “who has saved us and called us to a holy life—because of his own purpose and grace.” And other bible verses that speak of God's grace reveal what it means:

Weak in Grace:

Being weak in grace can be shown by:

Spreading bitterness:

- Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Law and Works

To focus on the law and our deeds to try to justify ourselves:

- Galatians 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

- Romans 3:24, [we are] justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Self-concern and indulgence

To abuse God’s grace by responding with self-concern, even self-worship, using grace as a licence for liberty:

- Isaiah 26:10 Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; … they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the LORD.

 

Strong in Grace

To be strong in grace refers to how we live in God’s grace, in our thoughts and actions.

What God does

It’s not about what we do in our strength, it’s what God does with our weakness:

- 2 Cor 12:9, ‘And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”’

His purpose

We are to use the gifts and blessings God gives for His good purpose:

- Romans 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

- John 1:16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

Holiness and sincerity

To conduct ourselves in the world in the holiness and sincerity that are from God.

- 2 Corinthians 1:12 Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, … in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. … not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.

Serve others

To serve others, in our speech and what we do:

- 1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

Upright lives

To live self-controlled and upright lives:

- Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

Good works

To abound in every good work, working harder than otherwise:

- 2 Corinthians 9:8, God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

- 1 Corinthians 15:10 … his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Facing difficulties

We remain upright in God’s power when facing the sufferings of life:

- Romans 5:2 this grace in which we now stand … we also rejoice in our sufferings

 

Praise God for His grace in Jesus, and how He transforms our lives.