Fighting the Good Fight
Enduring in Ministry • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
I remember how I first sensed my calling to gospel ministry [Individual prodding by mature believers] [licensing at Oakwood] [Ordained at Calvary]. Remembering these testimonies has helped to preserve me through difficult seasons.
Context
Context
This charge
· Recalls the initial instructions given by Paul to Timothy in verses 3-5.
· 1 Timothy 1:3 (ESV) —To oppose different doctrines at Ephesus and the false teachers who forward them.
3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
· 1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) — With the aim of forwarding the cause of love
5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
· In verses 6-11, Paul explains the problems Timothy faces [false teachers].
· In verses 12-17, He reminds Paul about the resources available to surmounting those problems [the gospel].
· Paul lays a responsibility on Timothy to confront false teachers.
o He wants Timothy to be fortified for the battles to come.
· 1 Timothy 1:18–20 (ESV)
18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Authoritative Orders
Authoritative Orders
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
· Paul’s first order of business will be to remind Timothy of the many authoritative signs that Timothy is God’s man for the job.
I entrust to you, Timothy, my child,
· He has Paul’s personal support.
· Acts 16:3 (ESV)– Timothy was the Apostle’s chosen protégé.
3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
o He took a very important step to demonstrate his agreement and commitment to that work.
In accordance with the prophecies previously made about you
· In the early church, the call to ministry was sometimes confirmed by prophecy.
· Acts 13:1–3 (ESV)—Paul and Barnabas were set apart as missionaries.
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
· Acts 16:1–2 (ESV) — Timothy had demonstrated the gifts and character necessary in view of the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
· Timothy had received important recognition from other mature believers.
o Confronting false teachers is a part of that calling.
· Finally, Timothy is included as a named contributor to many of Paul’s letters the churches.
o The Holy Spirit has made His voice heard.
· Timothy had many prophetic signs that he had been set apart for pastoral ministry.
o Part of the responsibility of pastors is confronting false teaching and those who teach it.
· 2 Timothy 2:24–25 (ESV)
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
· Titus 1:9 (ESV)
9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
That by them you may wage the good warfare
· Paul’s reminder to Timothy serves an important purpose at the outset of his pastoral ministry.
o It reminds him that God has indeed called him and set him apart for ministry.
§ This calling was recognized by the church.
§ This is powerful encouragement to endure and continue ministry.
§ Not to be discouraged by opposition.
o Recalling all these testimonies will remind Timothy of the truthfulness of his calling.
The calling of the Lord is not dependent upon how I feel about myself at the moment. It depends on the purposes of the Lord.
· Romans 11:29 (ESV)
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
· Paul has described the Christian life in terms of warfare before (Ephesians 6).
o Ministry can be described in terms of military service.
o Paul wants Timothy to pe prepared for the conflicts that he will meet.
· Modern American culture is steeped in conflict; it’s the water we swim in.
o Parts of the church seem to have an allergy to conflict.
o Others seem to revel in it.
· What is a good fight?
· 1 Timothy 1:4 (ESV) — Paul warned against issues that served only to promote controversy.
4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
o Most of the fights we tend to get in are civil wars, and the only casualties are friendly fire.
· Any fight over a non-essential doctrine is usually a bad fight.
o We have to engage in theological triage [show triage slide].
o Every biblical truth needs to be taught, discussed, believed, and practiced.
§ But not every truth needs to be defended to the last man in every situation.
§ And the way we contend for the truth is as important as the truth we contend for it.
· Fights over church tradition make for bad fights as well.
o Some questions we can ask:
1. Will this matter in a year?
2. Do I have a morbid enjoyment for this fight?
3. Who am I fighting for? Myself? Or others?
4. Am I trying to justify myself?
· Nevertheless, conflict is not always a bad thing.
o This kind of conflict (contending for the truth) is worthwhile.
o Fighting in defense of the central doctrines of the Christian faith is a worthy fight.
· Romans 1:16 (ESV) — The gospel is the power of God for salvation.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
o Defending the doctrines that are essential to the gospel is a worthy fight.
§ The Trinity
§ The Deity of Christ
§ The Necessity of the Atonement
§ The Sufficiency of Christ’s Work
§ Justification by grace alone through faith alone
§ The inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture.
o Sound doctrine shouldn’t be taken for granted; it must be defended.
§ Biblical history is full of this fight:
· Moses and the Golden Calf (Exodus 32)
· Joshua’s Charge (Joshua 24)
· Elijah and the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18)
· Jesus and the Pharisees
· Paul and the Judaizers
§ Church history is also full of these fights:
· The Councils (Nicaea [Trinity], Ephesus [Pelagianism], Constantinople, Chalcedon [Christ])
· The Reformation: 5 Solas (Sola Gratia, Sola Fidei, Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria)
§ In the modern age, we still have fights:
· Fundamentalism vs. Modernism
· Conservative vs. Progressive
o Emerging Christianity
· Dipped or sprinkled? (Paedo vs. Credo Baptism) (Original or Extra Crispy?)
There will always be a battle for the truth and a danger of falling in to error.
· After all, what we are contending for is so very precious, human souls.
· In light of the objective, opposing false teaching isn’t a necessary evil, but a necessary good
· The Christian faith is not just defended against the pagan hordes outside the church; it is also threatened by heresy inside the church.
o While persecution usually leads to growth in the church, heresy always harms the church and its ministry.
Winning Strategies (19a)
Winning Strategies (19a)
holding faith and a good conscience.
· How does a pastor keep up the good fight?
Holding faith and good conscience
· This encompasses both the motive power and the means with which we endure in Christian life.
· Paul is reminding Timothy that he must practice what he preaches.
· Faith is that confidence in Christ which we possess. (Objective)
o It isn’t a feeling we muster up, but a truth we hold on to.
· Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) — Faith is the substance of what we confess and believe to be true about Jesus Christ.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
o Today many Christians suffer from evangelical ignorance.
§ We know what the Ten Commandments are, but we couldn’t tell you what any of them are.
o If we love God, we ought to want to know more about Him.
· Conscience is that moral uprightness that we demonstrate in our everyday lives. (Subjective)
o Christlike character that is developed in us through obedience to His Word.
o We don’t just fight with sound doctrine; we fight with sound practice.
· Faith and conscience are closely linked. Our theology informs our biography.
o False doctrine leads to moral failure.
§ Wrong views about God inevitably lead to wrong practices.
· Catholicism, Prosperity, etc. — Lead to manipulating God in self-interest.
o In the same way, a bad conscience corrupts good doctrine.
A bad conscience is the mother of all heresies — John Calvin
§ Sinful people often try and justify their sins with false doctrine.
Maintaining Readiness (19b-20)
Maintaining Readiness (19b-20)
By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
By rejecting this
o Those who stopped trusting in His word and stopped obeying it have departed from the Christian path. Apostacized.
· Hymenaeus and Alexander are listed as examples, not of enemies but as cautionary tales of what happens if you fail to keep the faith and good conscience.
· 2 Timothy 2:16–18 (ESV) – Hymenaeus was one who had an overrealized eschatology.
16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
· 2 Timothy 4:14–15 (ESV) — Alexander was likely one who had a desire for power and influence in the church.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.
· Their failure is not simply a failure of truth but of character and heart.
· They made a deliberate and conscious choice to depart from the Christian faith.
Made shipwreck of their faith
· They departed from the gospel and righteous living.
Handed over to Satan
· This is the language of church discipline
· God takes the purity of His church very seriously, and so should we.
o An impure church is an impure witness of Christ.
· Matthew 18:15–20 (ESV) — Jesus reminds us that the church is the body of Christ and it must be kept free of impurity.
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
· 1 Corinthians 5:4–5 (ESV) — It is the work of the gathered church to preserve its unity by guarding its membership.
4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
· 1 Corinthians 5:12–13 (ESV) — Paul’s command is clear.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
o If someone perseveres in their error and endangers the unity of the church and its witness, they are rightly to be removed from fellowship.
That they may learn not to blaspheme
· Shipwreck isn’t necessarily the end.
o Paul was three times shipwrecked and lived to tell about it.
o Forgiveness and restoration is still possible.
· The goal of discipline is always love aimed at the person’s repentance and restoration.
· When the church expels someone from its membership, it is spiritually subjecting that person to the immanent destruction that comes from being under the power of Satan and the judgment of God.
o Though it is hard, the practice of excommunication serves an important purpose in the life of the church.
§ It maintains the glory of God and the purity of His church.
· It sets the example before the world.
o Rebuking offenses
o Removing scandal
o Vindicating Christ’s honor
o Promoting the purity and building up of the church.
o Doing good to the offenders themselves.
· “Be killing sin or it will be killing you” John Owen
· The need to do battle against sin is for the church as well as the individual.
· But we must make sure not to be trigger-happy when it comes to something as important as church discipline.
o We must be patient with each other as we grow in maturity.
o We must bear with one another in love as we strive towards the truth.
o Ongoing personal repentance is normal for the Christian.
§ Expecting sinless perfection is unrealistic and unhelpful.
§ We all have an obligation to turn from sin each day.
Conclusion
Conclusion
· Defending the faith is the ongoing work of the church.
· We rest in Christ, but not on our laurels.
· There will always be a need to stand and fight for the faith.
