Fight (ἀγωνίζομαι)
In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul encourages Timothy to fight the good fight of the faith. Fight (ἀγωνίζομαι) is a word that describes the struggle that an athlete has in striving to be the best in competition, 1 Corinthians 9:25. Unlike in a battle with Satan where we parlay (πάλη) against him by putting on the armor of God and standing firm, this struggle has to do with laying hold of eternal life; therefore, it involves the exercising of our senses to discern what is proper from what is wrong, Hebrews 5:14.
While Jesus was going through the cities and villages teaching on His way to Jerusalem, one of the disciples questioned Him concerning the number that would be saved, Luke 13:21. Jesus tells them that they are to struggle to enter through the narrow gate, not the way many will seek to enter, for those who do not enter through the narrow gate will not be able to find their way into the Kingdom of God, Luke 13:24. He then speaks of a time coming when the Master of the house will shut the door. All who are outside will not be permitted in, even though they claim to have eaten and drank in His presence while He taught. Jesus is the only way, and all those who seek salvation through other means will not find it, John 14:6.
Near the end of Paul’s life, while giving instructions to Timothy regarding the duties of a Pastor, he writes that he has struggled the proper struggle, for he guarded the faith, 2 Timothy 4:7. The faith Paul refers to is the doctrine concerning the good news of the Christ. Through Christ’s death for our sins, burial, and resurrection on the third day, according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, we have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness, 2 Peter 1:3. When we cease from sin, we will struggle because of the suffering that comes upon us, for the world system rejects such a wholesome lifestyle, 1 Peter 4:1. Everyone who struggles is self-controlled in all things. Those who are unbelievers struggle to receive that which is perishable, but we struggle the good fight to receive a victor’s wreath that does not perish. We do not fight as those who beat the air, but through self-control and discipline, we seek to live a life that shows forth our salvation in Christ so that we are not disqualified before all, 1 Corinthians 9:25-26. Therefore, we are to fight the good fight, being diligent to add to our faith virtue, and to our virtue, knowledge, and to our knowledge self-control, and to our self-control patience, and to our patience godliness, and to our godliness brotherly kindness, and to our brotherly kindness love. When these things exist, we will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the full experiential knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 1:5-8. We are not to be among those who are shortsighted and forget they have been cleansed from their old sins; rather, we are to be diligent in doing our firm calling even election so that we do not stumble, 2 Peter 1:9-10, and can say at the end of our lives that we have fought the good struggle and laid hold of the eternal life we have in Christ.
1 Peter Resisting Satan by the Faith
Be sober minded, keep watch, your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking to swallow up, whom you resist steadfast by the faith, intuitively knowing the same sufferings are being accomplished in the world by your brethren.
The Gospel of John The Dwelling Places in the Heavens
In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Simon the Sorcerer
Seeking to Purchase the Gift from God
Simon was a man in Samaria who practiced magic to astonish the people, through which he claimed to be someone great, Acts 8:9. Therefore, the people, great and small, all paid attention to him, saying that what he was doing was the great inherent ability of God, Acts 8:10. Sorcerer (μαγεύω) is one who practices magic (μαγεία). This is the same type of magic that street performers use today to amaze people and gain financially from them as they seek to be well-known for their skills. Simon was not the only one doing magic to obtain notoriety recorded in Scripture. Elymas, a false prophet who was known as a Sorcerer, stood against Saul and Barnabas, preventing them from speaking the Word of God to the proconsul of Paphos, seeking to turn Sergius Paulus from the faith, Acts 13:6-8. These men used magic to persuade the people that their power was from God and procure a position of high regard for themselves, giving them access to substantial wealth.
When Philip the evangelist came to Samaria proclaiming the gospel of the resurrected Christ, Simon the sorcerer was among those who believed. The signs and wonders that Philip was doing intrigued him, so he continued with Philip after being immersed, Acts 8:13. Although the Samaritans believed in the facts of the Gospel, they had not yet received the Holy Spirit because God was using this as an opportunity to show the Jews that He is accepting the Gentiles into the Church. Therefore, it was not until the Apostles sent Peter and John, who laid their hands on those who believed Philip’s message, that they received the Holy Spirit, Acts 8:16. The gospel for salvation, 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, first went to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, Romans 1:16. Today, the Holy Spirit immediately immerses and indwells all who believe the Gospel because this sign is no longer being shown to the Jews due to their rejection of the resurrected Messiah. Although Scripture does not state that the Samaritans spoke in tongues, this was the sign being given to the Jews at this time that God was at work in what they were witnessing. Therefore, at least some of them would have been given this gift as a sign to the Jews, and this likely is how Simon the Sorcerer was able to identify that when Peter or John laid hands upon the Samaritan who believed, they received the Holy Spirit.
Simon was witnessing real power, not the sleight of hand that he had mastered to trick people into considering him to be someone great. Still coming from the mindset of seeking to astonish others to maintain a position of esteem, Simon sought to purchase this ability from the Apostles. This request instigated a rebuke from Peter because it was evident that Simon was poisoned by bitterness and unrighteousness; therefore, Peter stated that Simon is to cry out for help from God to change his mind from this wrong way of thinking so that it is sent away from him, lest he perishes with his money, Acts 8:22. “Repent,” means, “to change the mind.” It does not inherently include sin in its meaning; instead, the context determines what the mind is changing from. Therefore, when Peter instructed Simon to repent, he was not referring to sin, for Simon had not yet sinned, but his request was wrong, which shows an unrighteous mindset. Peter is telling him to change his mind from this incorrect way of thinking. He then directs Simon to seek supplication (help) from the Lord so that this wrong is sent away from him. “Forgive (ἀφίημι)” actually means “to send away”. It is often used regarding sin, for through Christ’s blood, our sins have been forgiven; that is, sent away. However, it is also used for divorce (sending away the woman), 1 Corinthians 7:12, God not leaving Himself without a witness to all humans, Acts 14:17, Christ leaving peace with the disciples, John 14:27, and even the Church leaving her first love, Revelation 2:4. Therefore, the context must determine if ἀφίημι (aphiemi) should be translated as forgive, send away, or leave. In this case, Simon has not sinned; however, his mindset is unrighteous, and therefore, his request lacks in character. Since he was caught in a trespass, with objectivity of mind, Peter mended him, Galatians 6:1. Thus, Peter is instructing Simon to seek that God will help him to send away this mindset, not forgive him of a sin.
Possession (περιποίησις)
Possession (περιποίησις) describes one’s personal property. It is rooted around the concept of what you are doing or making. Therefore, possession is not equivalent to acquiring (κτάομαι) as one who purchases citizenship, Acts 22:28, or has gold and silver, Matthew 10:9.
The Church is a personal possession of God, set apart as a royal priesthood, and chosen to proclaim the praise of the One Who called her out from darkness into His marvelous light, 1 Peter 2:9. Therefore, Christ gave the Church the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of her inheritance until the full redemption of the possession, Ephesians 1:14, for she is called to possess His glory, 2 Thessalonians 2:14.
When Christ ascended, He gave gifts to men. One of these gifts is a Pastor even teacher, who is responsible for the edification of the assembly to bring her to a oneness of the faith until a full experiential knowledge of the Son of God so that she is no longer tossed around by every wind of teaching by the trickery of men seeking to deceive her. Therefore, the Pastor is to take heed to himself so that he oversees and shepherds the assembly, for Christ purchased her through His blood and, consequently, she belongs to Him, Acts 20:28. Pastors who serve well in this duty will possess a good standing and great boldness in the faith, 1 Timothy 3:13.
The tribulation period is a time of judgment. First upon the dispensation of law, then in the latter half judgment upon the Gentiles. The Church will not be upon the earth at this time because God has not appointed her to any wrath but to possess salvation, 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
As possessions (περιποίησις) of God, for He is the One who made us who we are in Christ, we are to know how to acquire (κτάομαι) our own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lusts like the Gentiles, 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5. Therefore, we of the Church are to flee fornication, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, for God has not called us unto uncleanness but to be set apart, 1 Thessalonians 4:7. Those who do not draw back from the grace of God possess their souls so that their emotions are not governing their actions, Hebrews 10:39. In living by faith, we will maintain control over our emotions, overseeing them through the truth rather than the desires from the flesh.
1 Peter: The Crowns for the Saints
and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.