Fight the good fight… (7 points)

• The man of God… vs. 11
  • Paul will finish up the fourth section – and the book today…
  • He does so by giving a contrast – what we MUST do rather than chasing money…
  • He gives us SEVEN commands that define THE MAN (anthropos) of GOD (Theos)!

• 1^st – Flee these things… vs. 11
  • FLEE (present / imperative) – to run the opposite direction in fear of your life…
    • There are a number of sins that we are commanded to FLEE from…
    • I Corinthians 6:18 – “FLEE sexual immorality…”
    • I Corinthians 10:14 – “My beloved, FLEE from idolatry [putting anything before God] …”
    • II Timothy 2:22 – “FLEE youthful lusts…”
    • And HERE – we are to constantly / daily to run from the DESIRE for MONEY!
    • The DESIRE for MONEY as dangerous as IMMORALITY / IDOLITRY / LUST!
  • 1^st – Because of two things – TIME and DIRECTION…
    • TIME – we ONLY have so much TIME – 24 hours in a day / 7 days in a week…
    • If we are using all of our TIME running after MONEY – we have none left for GOD…
    • What do we talk the most about – where are our treasures…
    • It is not hard to see where our priorities lie – just look where we spend our TIME!
  • 2^nd – DIRECTION – we are running after something…
    • But we also cannot go in two DIRECTIONS at once – GOD and MONEY are opposites…
    • If we are chasing after MONEY – we are in effect FLEEING from GOD…
    • But – if we are PURSUING God – then practically we will be FLEEING from MONEY!

• 2^nd – PURSUE after GOD… vs. 11
  • PURSUE (present / imperative) – to seek after eagerly / work hard to acquire…
    • We MUST spend our TIME running after / PURSING God…
    • Paul give us 6 NOUNS to describe exactly what that looks like practically!
  • 1^st – RIGHTEOSNESS (noun) – 92x in NT – to have a right relationship with God…
  • 2^nd – GODLINESS (noun) – compound word – DEVOTED to what is GOOD – to be devoted to God…
  • 3^rd – FAITH (noun) – a good synonym for faith is TRUST – putting our TRUST in God…
    • Romans 12:3 – “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
    • The problems we have never come from a lack of faith – we all have faith…
    • But just because I have faith I could fly to the moon – that does not mean I can…
    • If we put our faith in something that does not have the power – it does not work!
    • Matthew 8:10 Jesus talked about great FAITH – Matthew 8:26 little FAITH…
    • That would lead us to believe FAITH is measurable – strong / great or little / weak…
    • But Jesus would clarify in Luke 17:5-6 when the disciples asked to INCREASE our FAITH!
    • Luke 17:6 – “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree…”
    • FAITH is not about quantity or quality – it is about WHO we put our trust in…
    • We have great FAITH when Jesus is the ONE – we are putting our trust in!
  • 4^th – LOVE (noun) – agapē – 117x in NT – perfect LOVE – in context the here the LOVE of God…
  • 5^th – PATIENCE (noun) – hypomone – compound word – hupo and meno…
    • John 15:4 – we are told that apart from Jesus we can do nothing!
    • We must abide – meno – in Him in order for us to be able to have ANY fruit!
    • Abide is one of those funny Biblical words – we never use it in our daily speech…
    • It would be better interpreted endure / or stubbornly refuse to let go!
    • Because we cannot make ourselves be Godly – only Jesus can!
  • 6^th – MEEKNESS (noun) – can also be translated as HUMBLE – Titus 3:2
    • Meekness is not a lack of power – instead it is defined as power under control…
    • Jesus was MEEK – not that He lacked power – but He chooses to depend on the Father…
    • And it is when we depend on Jesus – not MONEY – we find He is everything we NEED!

• 3^rd – FIGHT the good FIGHT… vs. 12
  • 1^st – FIGHT (present / imperative) – agōnizomai – to agonize – struggle…
    • Good (kalos) FIGHT – the good FIGHT – is to live a life of FAITH – on the narrow path!
      • Luke 13:24 – “Strive [FIGHT] to enter through the narrow gate…”
      • Living by FAITH in the narrow path – means daily going to WAR…
      • Who are we are WAR with – Satan / Sin / and the world around us!
    • As a believer in Jesus – we are forgiven – but that does not mean we cannot still sin…
      • Our spirit has been reborn – but we are still dwell in our fallen sinful bodies!
      • Hebrews 12:1 – “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…”
      • We still face temptations – struggle with our desires – we can still choose to sin…
      • We are tempted by the things in this world – to seek the pleasures of this world…
      • If we give into sin – we harden towards God – we stumble in our walk…
      • There is a very real danger of us giving up – dropping out of the fight…
      • We need to FIGHT – work hard to live a life of FAITH – dedicated to Jesus!
      • Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
  • 2^nd – Often as believers we start off well – but we do not finish well…
    • We treat our FIGHT like a sprint – but after a while we get tired and give up…
    • The Christian life is a not a sprint – it is a marathon…
    • We need to FIGHT to avoid the sin that weights us down – wears us out…
    • So we can finish the race with joy – receive the prize waiting for us at the end!
    • II Timothy 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

• 4^th – LAY HOLD of eternal life… vs. 12
  • LAY HOLD (aorist / imperative) – to take possession of – grab hold of – ETEARNAL life…
    • Speaking of our SALVATION – we took possession of ETERNAL life…
    • This command differs from the first three – not something we constantly do (present) …
    • It is a ONE time action (aorist) – ETERNAL life began the moment we were SAVED!
    • Two things HAD to take place to be SAVED!
  • 1^st – we were CALLED (aorist / passive) – we would say CHOSEN…
    • A hard concept for us to comprehend – God chooses those who go to heaven…
      • John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…”
      • It might not seem fair to us that God chooses who gets to go to heaven…
      • When we got / or will get married – who chose the person we married…
      • We would NOT have liked it if someone else made the choice for us!
      • It seems fair that God would also get to choose whom He spends eternity with!
    • God chooses based on His foreknowledge…
      • Romans 8:29 – “Whom He foreknew, He also predestined…” 
      • God is eternal – which means He has no beginning or end – Revelation 1:8
      • God does not have an endless amount of time – God is outside of time!
      • God sees all of time – from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 all at once!
      • Ephesians 1:4 – “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…”
      • In a sense God CHEATS – He knows every choice before they every make it…
      • God sees EVERYTHING – He knows exactly who will believe in/receive Jesus…
      • So He chose those who He knows will choose Him!
      • If we do NOT choose God – then we will not be CALLED to ETERNAL life with Him…
      • If we choose to believe in Jesus – we will find out – God had already CALLED us!
  • 2^nd – We CONFESSED – a good confession…
    • CONFESS (aorist / active) – homologeō – to say a word in the presence of others…
    • Do not think of a booth where we tell others our sin – confessing sin…
    • This speaks of PROFESSING our FAITH in Jesus – this is OUR part (active)!
    • What is a GOOD CONFESSION – before many WITNESSES – NOT just the sinners prayer!
    • Romans 10:9-10 – “If you confess [homologeō] with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes [FAITH] unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession [homologeō] is made unto salvation…”
    • Righteousness comes by FAITH – Ephesians 2:8-9 – believing (present) Jesus died for sin!
    • Salvation comes by confession (present) – Luke 12:8 – telling others we believe in Jesus!
    • That is ONE reason why we BAPTIZE people after they BELIEVE in Jesus…
    • We like to BAPTIZE at public beaches – with LOTS of people / witnesses…
    • Baptisms are a VERY public way of CONFESSING our FAITH!

• 5^th – Keep the COMMANDMENT… vs. 13-16
  • I URGE you – parangellō – from an angel – or we would say a message from GOD…
    • A COMMAND given in the SIGHT of God – who gives LIFE to all things (created everything) …
      • This is NOT a COMMAND from Paul – this is a COMMAND from God our CREATOR!
      • AND Jesus Christ – who witnessed a good CONFESSION before Pontius Pilate!
    • An interesting statement – because Jesus did not say much to Pilate – John 19:9
      • Isaiah 53:7 – “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth…”
      • His witness was not so much in His words – as in His actions!
      • Meaning the man of God does not just CONFESS Jesus with his words – but with his life!
      • As believers in Jesus – we are not to be known by just our WORDS…
      • We are to be known by our FRUIT – how we live our lives – showing our FAITH!
      • Luke 6:44 – “Every [person] is known by [their] own fruit.”
    • KEEP (aorist / active) – to guard or take care of something important…
      • THE (definite) COMMANDMENT – no doubt referring to – LAY HOLD of ETERNAL life…
      • In other words the COMMAND is GUARD our SALVATION – in three ways!
  • 1^st – Without SPOT – we might say without being dirty…
    • We pick up dirt on our feet as we walk / sweat / get dirt on our hands…
    • The way to clean yourself when you are dirty – is to wash up with a bar of soap!
    • In the same way when we get dirty spiritually from being in the world…
    • Perhaps an image we see on TV – or something we hear someone say…
    • It gets in our head – perhaps temps our heart – and makes us unclean…
    • So we obey the command and repent – come back to the Lord and be clean!
    • I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
  • 2^nd – BLAMELESS – 3x in NT – does not mean perfect – but that we cannot be accused!
  • 3^rd – UNTIL the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ…
    • When he will be MANIFEST – to be revealed so He can be seen…
      • The BLESSED and only PONTENTATE (dynastēs) – where we get the word DYNASTY…
      • KING (noun) of kings (verb) – He ALONE rules over all those who think they are rulers…
      • LORD (noun) of lords (verb) – He ALONE owns all those who think they own something…
      • Who ALONE is IMMORTAL – meaning He has no beginning or end – He is GOD…
      • Dwelling in unapproachable light – speaking of the presence of the FATHER…
      • Whom no man has seen (known) – or can see (to stare at) – Exodus 33:20
      • To whom be HONOR and everlasting POWER (control) – AMEN!
    • This is not talking about the RAPTURE – Jesus does not APPEAR then…
      • In the RAPTUE we go UP – He does NOT come down – I Thessalonians 4:14-17
      • This is a reference to the RETURN of Jesus – Revelation 19:16
      • II Peter 3:14 – “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things [appearing of Jesus], be diligent to be found by Him… without SPOT and BLAMLESS [same words] …”
      • THEREFORE – look back to what Peter said in – II Peter 3:10
      • The heaven and earth will pass away with a great noise – MELT with FERVENT HEAT…
      • And all the works that are in it will be burned up – it is all fuel for the fire!
      • Then God will create a prefect NEW heaven / NEW earth – Revelation 21-22
      • Where those who believe in Jesus will live with Him forever!
      • People strive their whole lives to find success – but what is success worth apart from God…
      • We might end up rich – but all we really get is a lot of NICE FIREWOOD!
      • THEREFORE – since our STUFF / everything we STRIVE for in this life is destined to burn…
      • How much better to invest our time and efforts into a Kingdom that will never fade!
      • Invest in the ONE thing we can take with us to heaven – people we share Jesus with!

• 6^th – Command those who are RICH… vs. 17-19
  • Command – parangellō… vs. 17
    • The command is for those who are RICH in this present age – WORDLY wealth…
    • Paul gives FOUR aspects of the command for those who have MONEY!
  • 1^st – NOT to be HAUGHTY… vs. 17
    • HAUGHTY – 2x in NT – can also be translated as HIGH minded / or arrogant…
      • People who have money often assume they have EARNED their riches…
      • They boast how they went to college – got a good education…
      • Worked hard so they would be successful in their career…
      • And now as a result of all THEIR hard work – they have wealth to show for it!
    • There is nothing wrong with having a good work ethic – we should work hard…
      • But we do not get the credit for anything we accomplish in life!
        
      • Everything we have we received from God – so it is not ours to glory over…
      • Our intellect / our race / our family / our country – all were given to us!
      • We have nothing – which we have not received – so all the credit goes to God!
      • I Corinthians 4:7 – “What do you have that God has not given you? If all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?”
  • 2^nd – Nor TRUST in uncertain riches… vs. 17
    • TRUST – 32x in NT carries the idea of expectation – we would say HOPE…
      • UNCERTAIN – only here NT – to be unclear or untrustworthy…
      • There is nothing wrong with having money – just do not put our trust in money!
      • So many people strive their whole life to find – financial security….
      • Thinking if I can only have enough in the bank / land / possessions – I will be OK…
      • But money is here today and gone tomorrow – economies rise and fall in a day…
      • The only real guarantee we have in life – is found in trusting in God!
    • Instead put our HOPE in the living GOD…
      • Who gives us RICHLY [same word as riches] ALL things to ENJOY!
      • Luke 12:32 – “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
      • Our Father does not want to give us just what we need…
      • He wants to give us His whole kingdom – bless us beyond imagination!
      • In Christ we have become heirs to all that God has – joint heirs with Jesus – Romans 8:17
      • To the extent we will even sit on Jesus throne with Him – Revelation 3:21
      • Often times we are left to wonder if God can / will take care of our needs…
      • Our HOPE is God does not just provide for our needs – He will give us EVERYTHING!
  • 3^rd – Let them do GOOD… vs. 18
    • GOOD – only here NT – compound of agathos (moral goodness) and works…
      • Those who have MONEY – should use their MONEY – out of a GOOD motive / heart…
      • In others words they are not been philanthropic for selfish reasons – their own glory…
      • The desire to help should be genuine – flowing from a GOOD heart!
    • So they become RICH in GOOD (kalos) works – external works!
      • ALWAYS ready (infinite) to GIVE – ready to SHARE – koinōnikos…
      • We have two option when it comes to the resources God has given to us…
      • We can spend them all on ourselves – and enjoy them for a moment…
      • Our we can use them to bless others – and receive an eternal reward!
      • Psalm 112:9 – “They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
  • 4^th – STORING up a good foundation… vs. 19
    • That in the time to come – they may (subjunctive) lay hold of eternal life…
    • Matthew 6:20-21 – “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…”
    • We tend to think we invest in the things that are important to us – on our heart…
    • But the truth is our heart follows our investments – our choices dictate what our heart wants!
    • That is why we should never follow our heart – it is deceptive – Jeremiah 17:9
    • Instead we need to be wise were we choose to invest our time and treasures!
    • If we are spending all of our time focused on the things of this world – heart for the world…
    • In contrast if we are investing in the things of God – we will find we have a heart for God!

The First to Timothy was written from Laodicea which is the chief city of Phrygia Pacatiana

7^th – GUARD what has been entrusted… vs. 20-21

GUARD (aorist / imperative) – what was committed to your trust… vs. 20

What was Timothy to protect – the Gospel of Jesus Christ…

There were TWO things he was to GUARD the GOSPEL from…

1^st – PROFANE (worldly) and idle BABBLINGS – literally empty sounds…

The foolish nonsense people in the world come up with – EMTPY words!

Including false religions / cults / all the lies that are contrary to the Word of God!

2^nd – Contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge…

CONTRADICTIONS – only here NT – antithesis – literally the OPPOSITE…

FALSELY called knowledge – those who falsely claim they have KNOLEDGE!

The common convention today is – if you want to be wise then go to college…

Yet more often than not today – universities are turning out fools!

Because they are not teaching the Bible / about the consequences of sin…

Instead the students are told there is no right or wrong – it is all relative…

There is no sin – as long as you think it is ok – it is good!

Judges 21:25 – “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Do not mistake knowledge for wisdom – universities might give LOTS of knowledge…

But the knowledge of men – if we listen – can blind us to our need for Jesus…

That is not wisdom – that is foolishness – because it keeps us from God!

3^rd –Why we GUARD… vs. 21

Some have professed – false religions / false knowledge…

As a result they have STRAYED – to miss the mark – from THE FAITH!

We guard the Gospel – because the consequences are ETERNAL…

Rather than let twisted versions of the Gospel go unchecked…

We stand up for the ONE TRUE Gospel – because we want people to go to HEAVEN!

Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”

THE Grace (of our Lord Jesus Christ) be with you – AMEN!

The additional phrase is included at the end in the TR – but not included in MGNT…