Back to
Bible Study Index |
Fight the Good Fight
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life..." I Timothy 6:12
It is through Faith that you are saved ("For by grace are ye saved through faith..." Ephesians 2:8), it is through Faith that you are kept ("Who are kept by the power of God through faith..." I Peter 1:5), and it is through Faith that you are saved to the end ("Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." I Peter 1:9 But herein is the truth of Faith, "he that shall endure unto the end [In the profession of faith in Christ,], the same shall be saved." Matthew 24:13). Faith must endure until the end.
Strongs Greek definition for endure is #5278 hupomeno: to stay under, that is to bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere. It means to abide. Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:4. Faith is to abide in Christ, that is the Word (John 1:14) continually through obedience. "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love..." John 15:10 This requires of us a great fight.
Fight the good fight of faith,... The apostle suggests to Timothy, that he had other business to do than to mind the things of this world; his life was a state of warfare; he was a soldier, and was not to entangle himself with the things of this life; he had many enemies to engage with, as Satan, and his principalities and powers; sin, and the lusts of the flesh; the world, and the men of it, and a great fight of afflictions to endure with them; as also false teachers, with, whom particularly he was to fight the good fight of faith, that so the truth of the Gospel, which they resisted, might continue with the saints. This fight is called "the fight of faith"; partly in opposition to the law, and to "the fight", or "war of the law" the Jews so much talk of; and in which the false teachers, in the apostle's time, were so much engaged, and against whom the apostles set themselves; and partly because the doctrine of faith, the faith of the Gospel, the faith once delivered to the saints, is what they earnestly contended, strove, and fought for; and because the grace of faith, as conversant with the Scriptures of truth, was the weapon they fought with: and this may be called a "good fight", because it is in a good cause, the cause of God and truth; and under a good Captain, Jesus Christ the Captain of our salvation; for which good weapons are provided, even the whole armour of God, and which are not carnal, but spiritual and mighty; to which may be added, that those who are engaged in this fight may be sure of victory, and the crown of glory, life, and righteousness: so that when they have done fighting they have nothing else to do but to — John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible |
If your eyes could see in the spirit realm, you would be overwhelmed by a tremendous battle being waged against humanity, and no battle would be more intense than that which surrounds a soul being birthed into the kingdom of God. "Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail... there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies." Micah 4:10. It was through a great fight of faith that you were brought forth, it is through a great fight of faith that you will be kept, and it will a great fight of faith that you will endure to the end that you may lay hold of eternal life.
Lay hold on eternal life; as Timothy for his encouragement is here bid to do. Eternal life is the prize of the high calling of God, which is held up, and held forth to those who are fighting the Lord's battles; and this they should look unto as the recompense of reward; and this they may lay hold upon, even now by faith, believing their interest in it, their right unto it, and that they shall enjoy it; of which they may be the more assured, because of their effectual calling: — John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible |
Fight the good fight of faith. Those who will get to heaven must fight their way thither. There must be a conflict with corruption and temptations, and the opposition of the powers of darkness. Observe, It is a good fight, it is a good cause, and it will have a good issue. It is the fight of faith; we do not war after the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, 2Co_10:3, 2Co_10:4. He exhorts him to lay hold on eternal life. Observe,
(1.) Eternal life is the crown proposed to us, for our encouragement to war, and to fight the good fight of faith, the good warfare.
(2.) This we must lay hold on, as those that are afraid of coming short of it and losing it. Lay hold, and take heed of losing your hold. Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown, Rev_3:11.
(3.) We are called to the fight, and to lay hold on eternal life.
(4.) The profession Timothy and all faithful ministers make before many witnesses is a good profession; for they profess and engage to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold on eternal life; their calling and their own profession oblige them to this. — Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible |
In John Bunyan's classic book "The Pilgrims Progress", Interpreter shows Christian a very dramatic battle scene wherein the man did fight a good fight, and laid hold on eternal life.
"Then the Interpreter took him, and led him up towards the door of the palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not. There also sat a man at a little distance from the door, at a table-side, with a book and his inkhorn before him, to take the names of them that should enter therein; he saw also that in the doorway stood many men in armor to keep it, being resolved to do to the men that would enter, what hurt and mischief they could.
"Now was Christian somewhat in amaze. At last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, "Set down my name, sir;" the which when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put a helmet on his head, and rush towards the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at all discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely.
"So after he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, Matt. 11:12; Acts 14:22; he cut his way through them all, and pressed forward into the palace; at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the palace, saying,
"‘Come in, come in, Eternal glory thou shalt win.’
So he went in, and was clothed with such garments as they. Then Christian smiled, and said, I think verily I know the meaning of this." From John Bunyan's "The Pilgrims Progress" |
"For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14
Beloved, don't let the TV preacher deceive you, if you are to win eternal life, you must fight the good fight, you must lay hold on eternal life. "Fight, conquer, and seize upon the prize; carry off the crown of eternal life!" Adam Clarke's Commentary "As the crown of victory that is held out to you. Seize this as eagerly as the competitors at the Grecian games laid hold on the prize... he agonizes, that is he engages in the exercise." Albert Barnes' Notes
Other scriptures that support an aggresive fight of faith. Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 11:12; Luke 13:24; Luke 16:16; Luke 21:36; I Corinthians 9:25-27; II Corinthians 6:7; II Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephsians 6:10-18; Philippians 2:12; I Timothy 1:18; I Thessalonians 5:8; II Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 4:11; II Peter 1:10; II Peter 3:17; I Corinthians 10:14; I Timothy 2:3-4.
— by Randy Munter Editor
"The Fight of Faith"
by A. W. Pink
There are some who teach that those Christians who engage in spiritual fighting are living below their privileges. They insist that God is willing to do all our fighting for us. Their pet slogan is, "Let go, and let God." They say that the Christian should turn the battle over to Christ. There is a half truth in this, yet only a half truth, and carried to extremes it becomes error.
The half truth is that the child of God has no inherent strength of his own: says Christ to His disciples, "Without me, ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Yet this does not mean that we are to be merely passive, or that the ideal state in this life is simply to be galvanized automations. There is also a positive, an active, aggressive side to the Christian life, which calls for the putting forth of our utmost endeavors, the use of every faculty, a personal and intelligent co-operation with Christ.
There is not a little of what is known as "the victorious life" teaching which is virtually a denial of the Christian's responsibility. It is lopsided. While emphasizing one aspect of truth, it sadly ignores other aspects equally necessary and important to be kept before us. God's Word declares that "every man shall bear his own burden" (Galatians 6:5), which means, that he must discharge his personal obligation.
Saints are bidden to "Cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit" (2 Cor. 7:1) and to "keep themselves unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). We are exhorted to "overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21). The apostle Paul declared, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection" (1 Cor. 9:27). Thus, to deny that a Christian is called upon to engage in a ceaseless warfare with the flesh, the world, and the Devil, is to fly in the face of many plain Scriptures.
There is a very real twofoldness to the Christian life and every aspect of Divine truth is balanced by its counterpart. Practical godliness is a mysterious paradox, which is incomprehensible to the natural man. The Christian is strongest when he is weakest, wealthiest when he is poorest, happiest when most wretched. Though unknown (1 John 3:1); yet he is well known (Gal. 4:9). Though dying daily (1 Cor. 15:31), yea, dead; yet, behold, he lives (Col. 3:3-4).
Though having nothing, yet he possesses all things (2 Cor. 6:10). Though persecuted, he is not forsaken; cast down, he is not destroyed. He is called upon to "rejoice with trembling" (Psalm 2:11) and is assured: "Happy are ye that weep now" (Luke 6:21). Though the Lord makes him to lie down in green pastures and leads him beside still waters, he is yet in the wilderness, and "in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is" (Psalm 63:1). Though followers of the Prince of Peace, Christians are to endure "hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3); and though "more than conquerors," they are often defeated.
"Fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim. 6:12). We are called upon to engage in a ceaseless warfare. The Christian life is to be lived out on the battlefield. We may not like it, we may wish that it were otherwise, but so has God ordained. And our worst foe, our most dangerous enemy, is self, that "old man" which ever wants his way, which rebels against the "yoke" of Christ, which hates the "cross"; that "old man" which opposes every desire of the "new man," which dislikes God's Word and ever wants to substitute man's word. But self has to be "denied" (Matt. 16:24), his "affections and lusts crucified" (Gal. 5:24). Yet that is by no means an easy task.
Message Continued 
Are You Fighting?
by J. C. Ryle
"Fight the good fight of faith." I Timothy 6:12
It is a curious fact that there is no subject about which most people feel such deep interest as 'fighting.' Young men and maidens, old men and little children, high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, all feel a deep interest in wars, battles, and fighting.
This is a simple fact, whatever way we may try to explain it. We should call that Englishman a dull fellow who cared nothing about the story of Waterloo, or Inkermann, or Balaclava, or Lucknow. We should think that heart cold and stupid which was not moved and thrilled by the events at Sedan, and Strasburg, and Metz, and Paris.
But, reader, there is another warfare of far greater importance than any war that was ever waged by man. It is a warfare which concerns not two or three nations only, but every Christian man and woman born into the world. The warfare I speak of is the spiritual warfare. It is the fight which every one who would be saved must fight about his soul.
This warfare, I am aware, is a thing of which many know nothing. Talk to them about it, and they are ready to set you down as a madman, an enthusiast, or a fool. And yet it is as real and true as any war the world has ever seen. It has its hand-to-hand conflicts and its wounds. It has his watchings and fatigues. It has its sieges and assaults. It has its victories and its defeats. Above all, it has consequences which are awful, tremendous, and most peculiar. In earthly warfare the consequences to nations are often temporary and remediable. In the spiritual warfare it is very different. Of that warfare, the consequences, when the fight is over, are unchangeable and eternal.
Reader, it is of this warfare that St. Paul spake to Timothy, when he wrote those burning words: 'Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life.' It is of this warfare that I want to speak to you today. We meet each other at a critical period of the world's history. Men's minds are full of 'wars and rumors of wars.' Men's hearts are full of fear while they look at the things which seem coming on the earth. On every side the horizon looks black and gloomy. Who can tell when the storm will burst? Give me your attention for a few moments, while I try to impress on you the solemn words which the Holy Ghost taught St. Paul to write down: 'Fight the good fight of faith.'
Continued
|
• 
Andrew Murray