Fight the Good Fight (1 Timothy 6:11-16)

Transcription

1 CFCW- 12/08/2013 Fight the Good Fight (1 Timothy 6:11-16) Introduction On October 8 th, 2001 the War on Terror began with an air bombardment by the USA and UK against Afghanistan. As we know, this was in response to 9/11, the worst terrorist attack in the history of the United States. In 2003, the US and its allies also invaded Iraq. America has been at war now for more than 13 years. However, we must admit that this war has been different than any other war America has ever fought. The enemy is not a nation or group of nations, but is rather a generic terrorism. Unlike World War II, there have been no victory gardens or wide-spread rationing of supplies across the country. Unlike, Vietnam, there has been no draft. Really, other than for military members and their families, life in America has gone on very much like normal as if there is no war occurring at all. In his writings, the Apostle Paul often pictures the Christian life in terms of a spiritual war (see 2 Tim. 2:3-4, Eph. 6: 11-18, 2 Cor. 10:4-6). His imagery is appropriate because there really is a great and cosmic war raging all around us. It has been this way since Satan and the angels who followed him were kicked out of heaven for their rebellion against God (cf. Isa. 14:12-15, Ezek. 28:12-17, see also Rev. 12:7-10). God wars against Satan and Satan against God and in the middle is Man. Although Man was made in the image of God, Man sinned and rejected God s rule. As a result, all men and women are born alienated from God and under the power of Satan. But God, through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, has established a new Humanity, which consists of Christians--those who have trusted in Christ. Christians have been transferred from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God. Listen to how Paul puts this in Colossians 1:13-14: Colossians 1: He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Christians are a part of God s Kingdom, and because that is the case, Satan seeks to destroy them. Satan is at war with us even as we gather together this morning: Satan aims to defame God s glory, distort God s gospel, and destroy God s people. He wants to wreck your marriage, destroy your relationships, abolish your purity, attack your integrity, and at all costs keep you from knowing the glory of God and spreading the gospel of God. 1 -David Platt But many Christians in America don t live like they believe we are engaged in a vast spiritual conflict. Just as most Americans live without ever seriously considering that America is still at war with Terrorism, many Christians in America live as if they are not at war with Satan and his demons. Instead, they live as though achieving success and a comfortable life in this world is what really matters. How about you? Have you been planting victory gardens and rationing supplies to promote the cause of Christ this week? Or have you been living as though there is no cosmic war between God 1 David Platt, Daniel L Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1&2 Timothy (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2013),

2 and Satan of which you are a part? My prayer as we study our passage today is that God would remind us that God has called us of us to fight the good fight of the faith! Background As a new church plant, we have been studying 1 Timothy because 1 Timothy is a book that was written to teach Christians how to live life-together in the local church. This morning, as we look at 1 Timothy 6:11-16, we are nearing the end of this letter. This passage contains some of Paul s final exhortations to Timothy, his spiritual son in the faith. Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus to care for a church which was under attack by false teachers. As we have studied 1 Timothy, we have seen that these false teachers were ignorant and arrogant (1:3-7). Their doctrine was demonic (4:1-2). They caused division in the church in order to gain a following of people who would support them financially (6:3-5). And, above all, they were motivated by the love of money (6:9-10). Paul had written this letter (1 Timothy) to encourage Timothy to confront these false teachers. But now Paul is, as it were, signing off and leaving Timothy alone in Ephesus to battle these false teachers and to restore order to the church of Ephesus. How will he encourage Timothy? What is Paul s heart desire for his spiritual son in the Faith? We see these things in our passage this morning. As we begin our time together this morning, I am going to be orienting this sermon around Paul s command to Timothy in 6:12, fight the good fight of the faith, because this is Paul s central point in the passage. Earlier in the letter, Paul had begun his instructions to Timothy by urging him to wage the good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18). Now, as he concludes this letter to Timothy, Paul returns to this theme of warfare and expands on the idea demonstrating what it looks like to fight the good fight of the faith. The word fight is the Greek word from which we get the English word agonize. It refers to a great struggle. [T]he faith here refers to doctrine of Christianity summarized in the Gospel (see Jude 3). In this life, every believer is to be engaged in the spiritual struggle against Satan and his forces. Satan is trying to hinder the spread of the Gospel (the Christian Faith). Christians are fighting to defend and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations. How are Christians to do this? MIM: Christians are to fight the good fight of the Faith by faith. I. Christians are to fight the good fight of the Faith (6:11-14) 1 Timothy 6: But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ From these verses we see four aspects of what the good fight looks like: A. The good fight looks like fleeing worldliness (6:11a) 1. In his final exhortations to Timothy, Paul begins by encouraging Timothy to flee. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. When Paul calls Timothy a man of God, the significance would not have been lost on Timothy. Timothy was a student of the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15). Man of God was a title reserved for men like Moses (Deut. 33:1), Samuel (1 Sam. 9:6), and Elijah (1 Kings 17:18). These 2

3 were men to whom God spoke and these were men for whom this passing world held no attraction. They were like Moses who rejected the riches of Egypt because Christ was better treasure (Heb. 11:24-26). 2. Because as a minister of the Gospel, Timothy is a man of God, Paul commands him to flee these things (v.11a). These things refers back to behavior and motivation of the false teachers in 6:3-10. The false teachers loved word battles and causing division in the church (6:4-5a). They thought religion was a means of making money (6:5b). They wanted the best that this world had to offer their best life now. But Timothy was flee the love of money and its bitter fruits. And this was to be a life of fleeing. If he was to fight the good fight of the Faith, Timothy could not give in to the love of money to worldliness. As Jesus warned, you cannot serve God and Money (Matthew 6:24). You cannot live for God and live for this world. The good fight looks like fleeing worldliness. B. The good fight looks like pursuing holiness and eternal life (6:11b-12) 1 Timothy 6:11b-12- Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. a. In verses 11 and 12, we see that fleeing the love of money and worldliness isn t enough. Christians are commanded to put off sin and put on holiness (cf. Col. 3:9-10). Here Paul commands Timothy to engage in a life-long pursuit of two things: Holiness and eternal life. i. Holiness (6:11b)-In verse 11, Paul gives a list of six spiritual virtues that Timothy is to pursue: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Taken together, these six virtues are a picture of holiness that the man of God is to pursue. 1. Righteousness is a commitment to do what is right before God and men. 2 A righteous man is the kind of man who keeps a promise even when it is costs him to do so (Psalm 15:4). 2. Godliness is Paul s favorite virtue in 1 Timothy. He talks about godliness and being godly eight times in this letter. A godly man is a man who lives his life in light of the fact that God is His Father who is ever present. A godly man wants to bring a smile to God s face. 3. faith -is a trust in God and His word that leads one to obey God. Press, 1995), John MacArthur, 1 Timothy in The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series (Chicago: Moody 3

4 4. love - This is the Greek word agape which speaks of a selfless love that is committed to serving others. 5. steadfastness -this really means endurance the ability to persevere in obedience to God despite adversity. 6. Gentleness is an attitude of kindness. It is kindness towards all people. But gentleness is especially seen in how the Christian treats people who are troublesome and difficult. 3 Illustration: While the men of the world pursue money and power, Christians are to flee from worldliness and pursue holiness. But this is difficult because worldliness can be so subtle. Consider the issue of education. Education is a good thing. It is good and right to study in order to think God s thoughts after Him. But education is often pursued in order to achieve status, success, and riches. The man of God is to flee from every wrong motivation and insure that, in all he does (education, work, family-life), he is pursuing holiness. Christian parent, why do you want your children to get a good education? Really. Think about it. Is it so that they can live comfortable lives in this world? That would be a worldly motivation. Or is it so that they will be equipped to make much of Jesus in whatever sphere of life to which God calls them? On February 22, 1947, 19 year old Jim Elliot wrote this to his father concerning his grades: My grades came through this week, and were, as expected, lower than last semester. However, I make no apologies, and admit that I ve let them drag a bit for study of the Bible, in which I seek the degree A.U.G., approved unto God. 4 As you know, Jim Elliot was later martyred at the age of 29 by the Auca Indians. But God has used his short, consecrated life to inspire thousands of men and women to go into missionary service overseas. Why is holiness so important for Christian who is engaged in Spiritual warfare? Because as evidenced in the lives of men like Jim Elliot, God uses holy men and women to accomplish great things for His glory! If you want to be useless to God in this life, be an unholy man or woman. But if you would be useful to God, you must be holy. 2 Timothy 2: Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. b. Eternal life (6:12) In addition to pursuing holiness, Paul encourages Timothy in verse 12 to Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Eternal life is the salvation that is ours in the Gospel. Eternal life is a restored 3 David Platt, Daniel L Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1&2, Elisabeth Elliot, Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot (1989 reprint; San Francisco: HarperCollins Publishers, 1958), 43. 4

5 relationship with God through Christ (cf. John 17:3). Timothy was called by God to receive eternal life. Salvation is God s gracious act of bringing sinful sinners to Himself and then giving them spiritual life that will last forever. And Timothy had made the good confession of faith in Christ probably at his baptism. i. When Paul encourages Timothy to take hold of eternal life, he isn t telling Timothy to get saved. Timothy was a believer already. He was calling Timothy to live this earthly life in light of the fact that He already possessed eternal life. Application: From this we see that while every true believer already possesses eternal life and will experience the fullness of that life in Heaven, it is possible for a believer to live this life as if heaven and salvation were not real. Christians do this all the time. This is one reason why we worry so much. In kind of a momentary, spiritual amnesia, we forget that God is faithful and that His promises are true. So we don t look to Him to give us peace and help us in our difficulties. Instead, we turn inwards and try to get ourselves out of the problem. But this only leads to worry and despair, or worse self-reliance. Other Christians give into the love of money as if they could find lasting happiness in this life. They invest heavily in this world even though God has commanded us to be rich toward Him (Luke 12:21) and lay up treasures in heaven (Matt 6:20). These are the God-tippers who give 2.5% of their income to God and spend the rest on themselves. But here, Paul urges us to experience in this present life the eternal life we have been given. Enjoy God. Trust God. Spend time with God in prayer. Invest in heaven. Remember there is a real spiritual war going on and that you are responsible to live lightly in this life in order to promote the Gospel. Illustration: It is the conviction that we possess eternal life that will enable us to live for God in this life. You won t throw away your life in this world in the cause of God and Christ unless you are convinced that you will gain something better eternal life. Hear Jim Elliot s famous words: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Application: So Christian parent, if eternal life is real, what is keeping you from encouraging your believing children to consider whether God would have them pursue the work of missions in difficult places around this world? They cannot keep this world. Pray with them and encourage them to consider that God might want them to take hold of eternal life by laying down their life (worldly ambitions and even their physical lives) for the cause of the Gospel. It is through laying down our lives in this world for the sake of Christ that we will take hold of eternal life forever. Matthew 16: Then Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? The good fight looks like pursuing holiness and eternal life. 5

6 C. The good fight is focused on others as well (6:13-14a) 1 Timothy 6:13-14a- I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach a. In 6:13-14a, Paul continues to urge Timothy to fight the good fight. He does so by commanding him in the presence of God of Christ Jesus, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach The commandment Paul is referring to here is really the all the instructions that he has just given to Timothy in this letter from his first charge to Timothy in 1:18 to this present passage. 5 But as he seeks to carry out the commandments of this letter, Paul wants him to be sure that he keeps himself pure from sin. As a minister of the Gospel, Timothy was to live a life that was above reproach so that the Gospel would not be discredited (cf. 1 Tim. 6:1). b. But do see that in fighting the good fight one has to be concerned about others as well? I get this from Paul telling Timothy to keep the commandment (6:14). In effect, the commandment for Timothy in this letter was to love the church of Ephesus by protecting them from false teachers and helping them become a healthy, God-honoring church. If we are to fight the good fight of the faith, we must realize that we are fighting for more than ourselves. We are fighting for our families and our church. We are fighting our lost neighbors and co-workers. We are fighting to see Christ formed in other believers (Gal. 4:19) so that God would be glorified in them as well. Application: If our Christian life is only focused on ourselves our growth in the knowledge of the Bible and our increased comfort and peace in the Gospel then we are missing the bigger picture God intends for us to see. God hasn t called us to eternal life so that we get to go to heaven without a care that many of our family members, co-workers, and friends are on their way to a Christ-less eternity. Christian, God wants you engaged with others (both believers and non-believers), sharing Christ with them, serving them, teaching them, praying for them, and helping them become fully-functioning disciples of Jesus Christ. [T]here is a God over this world who wants all people to be saved, and there is a god in this world who wants all people to burn in hell. There is a battle raging for your friends, coworkers, neighbors, and for all the peoples of the world. How we fight this battle has eternal implications. Satan does not want us to believe, live out, or spread this gospel. Is he succeeding in your life? Are you even aware that you are at war? 6 -David Platt See John Calvin, The Epistles to Timothy, Titus and Philemon (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2003 reprint), 6 David Platt, Daniel L Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1&2,

7 Application: At the same time, as we seek to plant a healthy church here in Williamsburg, we need to realize that we are called to fight the good fight together. I am to be fighting for your spiritual good and growth in Christ-likeness. It should trouble me if I don t see you becoming more and more like Jesus and I should do everything I can to help you. And you should be doing the same thing in my life. If you see sin in my life, you should love me enough to pull me aside and rebuke and correct me and help me. This mentality puts to death the idea that all you need to do to be a good church member is come in, watch the show, and leave. We are called to fight for one another in this life. May God help us do it! We fight the good fight for others as well. D. The good fight doesn t end until Christ returns (6:13-14) 1 Timothy 6:14b- until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. a. Finally, at the end of 6:14, we see how long Timothy is to continue to fight until Christ returns. The appearing Paul mentions here is the second coming of Christ. Christ came the first time to live and die as a Servant so that His people would be saved from their sins. But He is coming again as Judge to gather His people from the four corners of the world and to punish those who have rejected Him. That will be a day of glory and fury! Revelation 19: Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. b. Many generations of Christians have lived with the hope that Christ is soon to come. We are called to live with that same hope today. Christ could come at any moment. Let that sink in. We wait for His return. But until He comes, the responsibility of Christians is to fight the good fight of the Faith. Application: Some of you here this morning are retired. You have worked many years and now you are free from the need to work for a living. Can I encourage you this morning to consider that you never retire from fighting the good fight of the faith? Christ has not come back and you are not dead so fill your days with service to Jesus! Older men, disciple and encourage younger men. Older women, disciple and encourage younger women. Make much of Jesus Christ for as many years as God gives you. Pray, pray, pray. Pray for me as pastor and pray for Christ Fellowship. And when your strength fails you so that all you can do is lie in bed and await death continue to fight the good fight through prayer. So this morning we have seen four aspects of what it looks like to fight the good fight of the faith. As we wrap up our time this morning, I want us to quickly see four realities that will motivate us to fight the good fight of the faith. 7

8 II. Christians are to fight the good fight by faith (6:13-16) As Paul concludes this section, the reality that Christ will surely return (vv.13-14) leads Paul to break into a doxology (vv.15-16) praise to God. Sound doctrine (theology) leads to joyful doxology (praise). And it is faith in what God has told us (about His character and His purposes for us in Christ) that empowers us to live for God in this life. A. Reality #1--Our lives are being observed by God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord (6:13) Matthew 6:13- I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession. a. In 6:13, Paul reminds Timothy of the reality that he is living out his life in the presence of God (coram deo). This is true for us as well. God who is our Father and Jesus who is our elder brother are both watching us as we fight the good fight of the faith. Our goal each day is to fight in such a way as to honor Christ and bring a smile to our Heavenly Father s face. B. Reality #2-Christ will return (6:14) 1 Timothy 6:14- to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. a. This is a reality that we need to always keep before us. Realizing that Christ is soon to return and set up His Kingdom should motivate us to live for God in this life! Our hope isn t that we will finally defeat Satan and his demons in this life. No, Christ will defeat all his enemies when he returns. Because this is true, we have no reason to be afraid and every reason to fight hard. If earthly soldiers do not hesitate to fight, when the outcome is in doubt, and when there is a risk of being killed, how much more bravely ought we to do battle and the guidance and banner of Christ, when we are certain of victory? 7 C. Reality #3- God is Sovereign(6:15) -John Calvin 1 Timothy 6:15- which he will display at the proper time he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords a. Here Paul tells us that God is the One who has appointed the day of Christ s return and will surely bring it about. God is the blessed sovereign. The decline in the morality (abortion, gay marriage) in our culture might distress us and steal our peace but it does NOT shake God (see Psalm 2:1-4). God is the King of kings and Lord of Lords. 7 John Calvin, The Epistles to Timothy, Titus and Philemon,

9 D. Reality #4- The Glory of God (6:15-16) 1 Timothy 6:16- who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. a. God not only will live forever, He is the One who possesses life. He dwells in unapproachable light. These are deep expressions of the glory of God. Who else is worth living and dying for? Illustration: Student Volunteer Movement missionaries who packed their belongings in coffins when travelling to lands where tropical diseases were common. They will willing to die because they longed for the glory of God to be known among the nations! Gospel The good confession Did you notice in verse 13 that Paul described Jesus Christ as the One who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession? Do you know what that confession was? Matthew 27: Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said, You have said so. 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. When Pilate asked if Jesus was a King and Jesus answered Yes. He was a king. And Jesus is the King. If you are not a Christian this morning, we are glad that you have joined us. I have been addressing followers of Jesus a lot this morning. What does this sermon mean for you? This sermon is a summons to follow King Jesus! Like us, you also have rebelled against God by living for yourself rather than God and his Kingdom. We call this rebellion sin. But God is merciful and sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and rise from the dead so that all who turn from their rebellion can be saved. If you turn from your sin this morning and put your trust in Jesus alone, God will save you. He will treat you like you lived Jesus life. And all the punishment that you deserve for your sin will have been paid in full by Jesus death on the cross. Jesus rose from the dead so that you might have eternal life. So how does someone turn to Christ? You must do what Timothy did. You must make the good confession of faith in Christ alone. Romans 10:9-10- because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. If you would like to talk with someone about that, I would love to talk with you after the service this morning during our fellowship time. Conclusion Christ Fellowship, there is a vast spiritual conflict raging all around us in this life. We must not forget this as we seek to live for God in this coming week. And if we would be good soldiers of Christ Jesus, we cannot ignore it. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called. Our final victory is certain! I love these words of Charles Spurgeon 9

10 There is no room for fear; at least, I see none while we hold fast to the truth. You never met an old salt, down by the sea, who was in trouble because the tide had been ebbing out for hours. No! He waits confidently for the turn of the tide, and it comes in due time. Yonder rock has been uncovered during the last half-hour, and if the sea continues to ebb out for weeks, there will be no water in the English Channel, and the French will walk over from Cherbourg. Nobody talks in that childish way, for such an ebb will never come. Nor will we speak as though the gospel would be routed, and eternal truth driven out of the land. We serve an almighty Master if our Lord does but stamp His foot, He can win for Himself all the nations of the earth against heathenism, and Mohammedanism, and Agnosticism, and Modern-thought, and every other foul error. Who is he that can harm us if we follow Jesus? How can His cause be defeated? At His will, converts will flock to His truth as numerous as the sands of the sea Wherefore, be of good courage, and go on your way singing,-- The winds of hell have blown, The world its hate hath shown, Yet it is not o erthrown. Hallelujah for the Cross! It shall never suffer loss! The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge Charles Spurgeon, The Minister in These Times in The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon. Kindle edition (GLH Publishing, LLC) loc 4461 of