Scripture ReadingScripture Reading

2 Timothy 4:6-82 Timothy 4:6-8

IntroductionIntroduction

““I have fought a good fight, I have I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the finished my course, I have kept the faith”.faith”.

Paul is describing his life as he is Paul is describing his life as he is nearing the end of his earthly nearing the end of his earthly pilgrimage.pilgrimage.

Will we be able to describe our life as Will we be able to describe our life as he did his?he did his?

FoughtFought-Finished-Kept-Finished-Kept““I have fought a good fight”I have fought a good fight”

What does it take to fight a good What does it take to fight a good fight?fight?

Choose to make a fight against sin Choose to make a fight against sin and for the faith (Jude 3).and for the faith (Jude 3).

Rm. 6:12-16Rm. 6:12-16

Win a victory over past sins (Eph.1:7).Win a victory over past sins (Eph.1:7).

Be vigilant against Satan.Be vigilant against Satan.

1 Pe. 5:8; Mt. 26:41; 2 Cor. 2:11; Mk. 1 Pe. 5:8; Mt. 26:41; 2 Cor. 2:11; Mk. 13:3713:37

FoughtFought-Finished-Kept-Finished-Kept

Practice self discipline and self denial Practice self discipline and self denial as a good soldier.as a good soldier.

2 Tim. 2:3; 1 Cor. 9:25-272 Tim. 2:3; 1 Cor. 9:25-27

Being properly outfitted to stand Being properly outfitted to stand against the devil and wickedness.against the devil and wickedness.

Eph. 6:13-18; 2 Tim. 2:15.Eph. 6:13-18; 2 Tim. 2:15.

Fought-Fought-FinishedFinished-Kept-Kept

““I have finished my course”I have finished my course”

What is a course?What is a course?

Acts 13:25-John “fulfilled his course”.Acts 13:25-John “fulfilled his course”.

God had assigned him a work to do God had assigned him a work to do (Lk. 1:14-17).(Lk. 1:14-17).

God had given a Paul a work to do God had given a Paul a work to do (Acts 9:15-16).(Acts 9:15-16).

Fought-Fought-FinishedFinished-Kept-Kept

We also have a course to do We also have a course to do (Mk.16:15-16).(Mk.16:15-16).

Will we have finished our course Will we have finished our course when our life nears its end?when our life nears its end?

Not if we have wasted opportunities.Not if we have wasted opportunities.

Not if we have grown weary (Gal. Not if we have grown weary (Gal. 6:9; He. 12:3-5; 10:35-36).6:9; He. 12:3-5; 10:35-36).

Not if we are NOT OBEYING the Lord.Not if we are NOT OBEYING the Lord.

Fought-Finished-Fought-Finished-KeptKept

““I have kept the faith”.I have kept the faith”.

The “faith” here is the “sum total of The “faith” here is the “sum total of all that the Lord teaches, warns, all that the Lord teaches, warns, requires, instructs, in His word”.requires, instructs, in His word”.

Have we kept the faith?Have we kept the faith?

Are we doing our spiritual work Are we doing our spiritual work according to the Apostles’ doctrine according to the Apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42)?(Acts 2:42)?

Fought-Finished-Fought-Finished-KeptKept

Nothing else will do (Gal. 1:6-9).Nothing else will do (Gal. 1:6-9).

Transgressing the doctrine of Christ Transgressing the doctrine of Christ will cause us to be without God (2 Jn. will cause us to be without God (2 Jn. 9-11).9-11).

Some have the misguided notion that Some have the misguided notion that keeping the faith is nothing more keeping the faith is nothing more than:than:

““teaching what is right on just a few teaching what is right on just a few issues”.issues”.

Fought-Finished-Fought-Finished-KeptKept

To “just believing Christ is God’s son”.To “just believing Christ is God’s son”.

To “To “justjust being a member of the being a member of the church”.church”.

To “being a good moral person”.To “being a good moral person”.

Keeping the “faith” is doing all that is Keeping the “faith” is doing all that is revealed for us to do.revealed for us to do.

Worshipping right, right name, right Worshipping right, right name, right work, right attitudes, right conduct, work, right attitudes, right conduct, right living, etc.right living, etc.

ConclusionConclusionNotice what Paul says about those Notice what Paul says about those who follow his example.who follow his example.

They would receive a crown of They would receive a crown of righteousness.righteousness.

They would love HIS (Christ’s) They would love HIS (Christ’s) appearing.appearing.

Our time for fighting, finishing and Our time for fighting, finishing and keeping is now.keeping is now.