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Fight the Good Fight

1 Timothy 1:18-20

This is the message I set alongside you, child Timothy, according to the the prophecies having gone before upon you, in order that you should fight the good fight by them, holding faith and a good conscience, which some rejecting have shipwrecked concerning the faith,  of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, who I hand over to Satan in order that they should be child trained not to blaspheme.

The Message Paul set alongside Timothy, 1 Timothy 1:18-20

  1. According to the prophecies that have gone before him
    1. Timothy has a spiritual gift given to him through prophecy, 1 Timothy 4:14
    2. Prophecy is not by the desirous will of man nor of a single person’s interpretation, 2 Peter 1:20, 21
    3. Prophecy is not active today within the Church, 1 Corinthians 13:8
  2. He should fight a good fight
    1. Our fight is not a physical fight, 2 Corinthians 10:3
    2. We do not fight of our own accord, 1 Corinthians 9:7
    3. Getting oneself caught up in daily life, 2 Timothy 2:4
  3. Holding faith in a good conscience
    1. A quality of faith
    2. A quality of a good conscience
  4. Some reject a good conscience and shipwreck the faith
    1. Israel rejected God in the wilderness, Acts 7:39
    2. The Jews reject the salvation, Act 13:46
    3. God did not nor has rejected the Jewish nation, Romans 11:1, 2
    4. Their faith is shipwrecked
      1. Used metaphorically for something or someone that has been brought to ruin.
      2. Predominate example of its use outside of Scripture in the common language.
      3. Two of which Paul turned over to Satan
        1. So they should be taught (child trained) not to blasphemy
        2. They did not lose their salvation
        3. Hymenaeus and Alexander were falsely attributing things to God
Fight the Good Fight2023-12-14T11:14:13-08:00

Fighting the Good Fight

Fighting the Good Fight

Near the end of his life the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy encouraging and instructing him to guard the faith, fighting the good fight. The agony that Paul speaks of is the struggle that arises when we stand for, defend, and live by the faith. Fight1 the good2 fight of the faith, take hold of eternal life into which you have been called, and you verbally agreed the good confession before many witnesses, 1 Timothy 6:12.

“The faith” is the body of doctrine that Christians are to live by. As saints in Christ we are not under any quality of law, yet, today so many want to put arbitrary, restrictive, and un-Scriptural rules on the saints on how they are to live and please God, taking the Old Testament and miss applying it to Christians while denying in practice that the Church is under a different covenant based upon different promises. (But now He has obtained a different religious service, by as much as also He is a mediator of a better covenant which was legislated upon better promises, Hebrews 8:6).

Let us fight the proper fight. Let us stand up for the faith. Lets us take God at His Word and live out from faith, not out from law. We all have a course to run that God has set before us. Let us run it properly, not allowing those who would pervert the faith to hinder us. In doing so, perhaps at the end of our lives here on earth we can say, “I have fought the proper fight. I have finished the course. I have guarded the faith.3”

1. Struggling, contending, striving – used of competing in […]

Fighting the Good Fight2018-11-11T22:54:34-08:00

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 […]

Fight (ἀγωνίζομαι)2023-12-14T07:53:43-08:00

Laying Hold of Eternal Life

Godliness with contentment is great gain. Yet, some seek to deceive the saints by teaching that financial gain is a means of godliness. This false doctrine is also known as the prosperity gospel. The fondness of money is a root of all wrong, and those who follow after it will stray from the faith in their greed, 1 Timothy 6:3-10. Therefore, we are to put away the fondness of money and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and objectivity of mind, 1 Timothy 6:11, for in doing so, we will take hold of eternal life, 1 Timothy 6:12. Those who are rich in this present age are not to be high minded, trusting in uncertain riches; rather, they are to do good works, being rich in proper works, generous, fellowshipping, so that they store up for themselves a proper foundation for the time to come, taking hold of eternal life, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, for those who determine to be wealthy fall into temptation and a snare, leading them into many harmful and foolish desires, 1 Timothy 6:5.

A person who continues a lifestyle of sin after being saved is not taking hold of eternal life. We are to lay aside the things of the old man and put on the new, Colossians 3:9-10, while abstaining from fleshly desires that war against our soul (emotions), 1 Peter 2:11. Although sin does not take away the salvation of the one who is saved, for nothing can separate us from the love of God, Romans 8:39, it still needs to be dealt with. One who is clean only needs to wash his feet, John 13:10. Unfortunately, many saints walk around with filthy feet because they continue to walk in […]

Laying Hold of Eternal Life2023-12-14T07:52:56-08:00

Acts – Selection of Deacons

Acts

The selection of Deacons

After being released from the council rather than being put to death, due to Gamaliel persuading the council to not be hasty in their action, grumbling rises up among the disciples over the distribution of daily needs. Rather than leaving the Word of God, the Apostles have the disciples select seven men who are placed in the position to oversee the need. These men had to have a good witness, be filled by the Holy Spirit, and be wise.

Paul later gives specific instruction on the requirements for a Deacon in 1 Timothy.

Acts 5:26 – 6:6

5.26 Then departing, the captain with his officers lead them, not with force for they feared the people in order that they should be stoned. 5.27 And after leading them to stand in the council, also the high priest questioned them 5.28 saying, “Did we not instruct with instructing you to not teach upon the basis of this name? And behold you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and you determine to bring upon us the blood of this man.” 5.29 And Peter and the apostles answered saying, “It is necessary to obey God rather than men” 5.30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, Whom you took in hand. hung upon a cross. 5.31 The God lifted up this Prince and Savior to His right hand to give a change of mind to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  5.32 And we are His witnesses concerning these utterances. And also the Holy Spirit, Whom the God gave to the ones obeying Him. 5.33 And the ones hearing were cut to the quick and took […]

Acts – Selection of Deacons2018-11-20T04:47:15-08:00
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