Fight the good fight
Life as the church: Book of 1Timothy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:15:16
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A godly example
A godly example
We have talked about the value of good godly examples in our lives. Paul offers himself up to Timothy as a good godly example in our passage using his history then gives good godly instructions.
(Insert Bible Study picture here)
Did you respond to the gospel the first time you heard it?
Did you respond even the first time someone sat down and did a bible study with you? - the answer for most is “no”
Struggles in surrender
Cannot /will not forgive
I need to get right first
There are just too many people talking too many ways to come to God.
Or if I surrender I have to change my entire life
Paul in our passage today, in one of many places he offers himself up as an example of
God’s grace and mercy extended to Paul is available to all
The results of God’s grace and mercy, faith, love able to be extended to all
(Transition) Paul, formally Saul, describes his conversion as a pattern for would be believers.
Look how Paul looks at the gospel
11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
It’s the glorious gospel. The glorious gospel of the blessed God. The gospel entrusted to him, that compelled him, urged him, made him eager to share
15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
(Scriptures referenced in this section: 1Tim1:11; Rom1:15)
So this morning we are going to look at two things:
Demonstrating the gospel (1Tim1:12-17)
Defending the faith (1Tim1:18-20)
This is only a part of Paul’s testimony to show the mercy and grace that worked in him by the gospel entrusted to him, you can find more in other portions of scripture too (Act9:1-22, 22:1-21; 26:9-18) and some of that we may bring into this today.
Demonstrating the gospel
Demonstrating the gospel
Demonstration: the action or process of showing the existence or truth of something by giving proof or evidence. Paul is the demonstration of life before and life after the gospel.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
God called, God equipped, God entrusted, God sent (v.12; ref: Act9; Gal1; Act22)
A reminder
How God called Paul - on the road
What God told Paul to do
Why God called Paul - to suffer much
God equipped Paul (Arabia)
God sent Paul (to Gentiles)
(Transition) All of this in light of who Paul was formerly.
Who Paul was a blasphemer, persecutor, violent aggressor (v.13; Act7:58, 8:1-3, 9:1-2, 22:4, 26:9-11)
He was a blasphemer because he denied the deity of Jesus Christ and was a persecutor of those who did believe.
He was there and consented of the stoning of Stephen (Act7:58) and I have to go from there some
1 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
He did this to the point of imprisonment and death of people of the Way (ref: Act22:4)
Even in his days of blasphemy, in his days as a persecutor and violent aggressor God was using Paul, to disburse the church.
Goal to destroy the church (Gal1:13)
13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;
Paul in retelling his conversion as an encouragement to Timothy reminds him while he was all these things he in hindsight sees himself a chief of sinners (1Tim1:15).
God’s demonstration of love (1Tim1:14-16; Eph2:8-9, 2:4, 2:7)
God’s grace is available to all, even the chief or worst of sinners. God’s mercy and grace is a demonstration of God’s love.
14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
It is God’s grace through faith that saves us (Eph2:8-9) because He is rich in mercy and grace (Eph2;4, 2:7)
and then
16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Oh, wait, I need to go back and point out one more thing, look back at (v.13)
13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.
See the word ignorance? So this is about the gospel right? so how did ignorance have to do with Paul and Paul demonstrating the gospel?
Everything that Paul did, he did with a clear conscience (1Cor4:4) a good conscience (Act23:1) but it was done in ignorance before Damascus.
When Paul uses the word ignorance as a Jew he is reflecting back on Jewish law, tradition that there were sins that were done in ignorance (not realizing at the time) that then could be forgiven by offering the right sacrifice, other sins done willingly would have you cut off from Israel.
Jesus on the cross spoke of the peoples ignorance
34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
Their ignorance did not save them, Jesus prayer did not save them, but it did postpone God’s judgment until they could be saved by God’s exceedingly abundant grace (v.14). This same grace made available to all (v.15) as mentioned before
So, Paul went from persecutor to a preacher, a murderer to a minister and a missionary. Called by Christ, taught by Christ, commissioned by Christ and compelled by Christ to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.
Stop, let’s stop just for a minute or two for some reflection.
Look at your life.
Do you remember you are a sinner who falls short (Rom3:23- quote it; Jm2:10- not on screen)
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Maybe you think you are good, good and moral like the Eunuch (Act8), Dorcas (Act9) or even Cornelius (Act10). None of them were saved by their good deeds, good nature, moral behavior.
May we remember 1Tim1:15; that Jesus came into the world to save sinners like you a me, from our past, from our ignorance, from our sins of today and our sins of tomorrow
For God is all longsuffering for us
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
Who Paul became, a demonstration of the power of the gospel (vv.12, 16, 14; Act26:16)
The Lord put Paul into ministry (v.12)
Ministry to bear witness of all he had scene
16 ‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;
so to turn people from ignorance or disobedience. From the power of Satan to the the power of God
18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
That helped to make Paul the pattern of faith and love that is possible in Christ Jesus (1Tim1:14) why?
Because he cooperated with the grace of God to be all God wanted him to be (1Cor15:9-10; Php3:12-15, 4:11-13)
Even as the chief of sinners and as he identified himself as the least of the apostles, a persecutor of the church, Gods grace toward him was not in vain. He preached with purpose so that you may believe.
He strove to be the best
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
and learning to be content in and through all things (Php4:11-13)
God not only entrusted, God enabled Paul, and when God calls, God equips you to accomplish what He desires for you. From entrusted, enabled, equipped, Paul because the example.
16 But I was given mercy so that in me, the worst of all sinners, Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. His patience with me made me an example for those who would believe in him and have life forever.
Paul a demonstration of the gospel, an example of God’s mercy and grace available to all who would believe and have life with Jesus forever.
(Transition) So far in our life as the church series we have seen the importance of sound doctrine, protecting sound doctrine and teaching it, to the proclaiming the gospel, now to our next point, defending the faith, fighting the good fight!
Defending the faith
Defending the faith
Has the gospel impacted you? Has it given you purpose? Does it concern you that you need to be able to properly defend your faith? Paul commands Timothy to defend, to fight the good fight of faith.
18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
Paul’s command is to wage a good warfare (v.18; 1Tim6:12)
12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
The charge to Timothy is like a military command , an urgent command (i.e. 1Tim1:3). Like Paul, Timothy was chosen by God for the task. It was by divine appointment!
So, if you are called, and you are, then stay the course, fight the good fight from faith and for faith.
Reason to fight the good fight of faith is some have shipwrecked their faith and demonstrate destruction of faith (1Tim1:19-20)
19 Continue to have faith and do what you know is right. Some people have rejected this, and their faith has been shipwrecked. 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander have done that, and I have given them to Satan so they will learn not to speak against God.
So keep fighting the fight, the good fight keeping in mind it is a spiritual fight
A reminder that it is spiritual warfare (Eph6:10-12)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
This is a fight for your very soul, but also for the souls of others that need the sound doctrine to fight the spiritual battle against the spiritual forces of wickedness.
It is warfare for the faith (Jude3)
Jude puts it like this, having wanted to write about their common faith said this:
3 Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.
And it requires a good conscience on our part (1Tim1:19)
A good conscience is to the good warfare and a good ministry of the gospel.
H.L. Mencken a magazine editor said this regarding a good conscience, defines it as:
“the inner voice which warns us that somebody may be looking, but a man with a good conscience will do the will of God in spite of who is watching or what people may say.”
People who make shipwreck of their faith violate their conscience. Bad conduct oftentimes comes with bad company, or even bad doctrine that is used to defend bad conduct.
We can learn about shipwrecked faith in Hymenaeus
16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.
He was saying the resurrection had already happened, and if that is true, what are we holding onto, what is our faith based on now? Bad doctrine shipwrecks faith.
Paul did not literally deliver them to Satan, but surrendered so that his prayer would be they would learn and return not to blaspheme. That is what church discipline is about not putting out, but handing over so can learn and return.
We need to be ready to fight the good fight for there are many false teachers and proclaiming false Christs, and false prophets all trying to infiltrate the church, some have crept in unnoticed (Jude4).
The church needs to know the truth (have sound doctrine) so can defend the truth and expose the lies and and liars that oppose the truth
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
As the church we need to have the balance of preaching the gospel and equipping to defend the gospel, the sound doctrine. Can you see why it is a spiritual battle that takes our effort to fight the good fight?
Timothy was called to task, to win the lost, to teach the saved and to defend and teach others to defend the faith
I think I want to finish this morning with some words of encouragement and direction
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
Oh I can’t stop there, though you have the commission, the command here is the promise
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
(Invitation/encouragement- Am I a servant of God?) (Song) (Prayer)