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“Fight The Good Fight – Part 3”
Fight The Good Fight – Part 3
Wade Webster
In the first two installments of this study, we examined the contrast between Timothy, a man of God, and other men, we designated as men of gain. Timothy was different in what he followed after, fled from, and fought for. This week we will see two more points about fighting the good fight (1 Tim. 6:11-16).
The Commission
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:12). Please note that Paul spoke of Timothy’s call and confession. You might think of this in terms of an officer’s commission and oath. Like all Christians, Timothy had been called by the gospel. To the saints at Thessalonica, Paul wrote, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (2 Thess. 2:13-15). Timothy had been commissioned by Christ, the Commander in Chief, to be a soldier (Eph. 6:10-17). He had taken the oath or made the good confession (Matt. 10:32-33; Acts 8:37). He was determined to keep that confession even if it cost him his life (Rev. 2:10; Heb. 10:23). Timothy was determined to please the one who had chosen him to be a soldier. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul wrote, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Tim. 2:3-4).
The Charge
“I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing” (1 Tim. 6:13-14). Please note that Paul was urging or charging Timothy in the sight of God to keep the commandments of God. He was to keep them without spot until the coming of Christ. No doubt, the language reminds us of the meticulous care that the soldier takes in preparing his boots and uniform for inspection. Everything has to be just right. Jesus had made the good confession before Pilate. It had cost Him His life. We read, “And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest” (Matt. 27:11). Jesus was perfectly without spot or blame. Peter wrote, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Pet. 1:18-20). Though Timothy would never be as spotless or blameless as Christ, he could pass inspection. Jesus had done all things to please His Father. We read, “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” (John 8:28-29). He had performed all that had been asked of Him. He had kept the Father’s commandments. We read, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:9-10). Now, Timothy was charged to do the same. He was to walk as Jesus walked. John wrote, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:3-6; cf. 1 Tim. 4:16; 6:20). Timothy was to strive to keep the commandments of God without blemish. We might think of the elite military guard that serves at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington cemetery. These soldiers spend hours preparing their uniforms and shoes for their guard duty which lasts only 30 minutes to 1 hour. These soldiers make a life-long commitment not to drink alcohol or swear in public. In like manner, we as Christians have made a commitment to live our lives in holiness.
