WHAT IS, THE "GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH"??? 2

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

BUT YOU, MAN OF GOD, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF THE FAITH. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. 1Timothy

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “Fight” as:  A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; it is to strive or contend for victory, in battle or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms.

So, we find several elements to this militaristic directive: an actual engagement of contestants; an actual striving for victory over an actual enemy; a strategy to defeat the enemy; and a use of weapons to accomplish total victory.

SO, HOW DOES ONE “KEEP THIS COMMAND” TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.

What and where are the battlegrounds?

What are we fighting for? Why fight at all? What’s to be gained?

Who or What are we to strive against?

What are the strategies for attaining victory?

What weapons are available to defeat the enemy?

How do we prepare and train for battle?

How do we deal with the losses we suffer in “combat”?

How do we deal with the victories gained in “combat”?

The immediate context of the Apostle Paul’s words of exhortation to Timothy, and to all who count themselves to be a man or woman of God, addresses several areas of conflict.

1. One’s relationship to wealth. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  Remember Lot’s Wife, Judas and Demas all loved this present evil age!

2. One’s confession of faith. “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,…”  Remember the apostle Peter’s warning. “…just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 1 Pet 2:1 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” 1 Cor 10:13

And what about “the good confession” that Christ Jesus made before Pilate?

“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” John 18

 So, what constitutes a “good confession”?

The public confession that you serve the Lord Jesus Christ who is the King of the Kingdom of Truth that derives its power and authority not from men but from God who rules in the affairs of this world according to His will.

WHAT’S IN YOUR CONFESSION?

Next: The Battleground


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