1 Timothy 6:12-16 – Fight the Good Fight

At the end of last week, we read of Paul’s admonishing Timothy to pursue godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness. Today, he encourages the young pastor to “fight the good fight of the faith.” This is similar to his command in chapter one that Timothy “wage the good warfare,” but, this time, Paul uses the word from which we get our English words “agony” and “agonize” to speak of the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged. Obedience to God is always good, because God is good and His commands are good. However, in a fallen world, obedience is an agony – a struggle. It is a struggle against sin within ourselves, against the sinfulness of the world and against Satan and all his servants. Therefore, although Timothy has been granted eternal life by no merit of his own, but only by the free gift of God based on the merits of Jesus Christ, Paul tells him to “lay hold of eternal life,” that is grasp it and cling to it (much as Jacob held fast to God in Genesis 32). Timothy is to make the good confession of Christ’s Lordship even as Jesus, Himself, did before Pontius Pilate, even as He faced great suffering and His impending death (John 18:33-38).

In a world that is against Christ, being Christ-like, growing in righteousness, and serving Him will be a struggle; it will be agony, and it may bring us great suffering before we receive the glory God has promised for all who are in Christ. Fight the good fight of faith. Struggle; agonize to lay hold of the things that are consistent with one who is born again and who has made the good confession that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10:9).

Questions
1. Why is obedience to God good?
2. Why is obedience to God a struggle?

Prayer Points
1. Pray for strength to fight the good fight of faith.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.