Pastoral Epistles
Dr. John Cook / General
Pastoral Epistles / 1 Timothy 6:12–13
Lesson 6/Part 5
Part 5
We consider today:
• Our battle
• Our orders
• Our Commander
1 Timothy 6:12 KJV 1900
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
“Fight the good fight of faith…”
Call for Action
2 Timothy 2:3 KJV 1900
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Words That Show Control of Action
Fighting the Right Battle
1 Timothy 1:18 KJV 1900
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
Not a Self-Serving Battle
1 Corinthians 9:25–26 KJV 1900
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Requires Right Weapons of Warfare
2 Corinthians 6:7 KJV 1900
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Worthless Weapons
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 KJV 1900
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Needed Weapon
Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Ends Only When Its Over
2 Timothy 4:7 KJV 1900
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
“…lay hold on eternal life…”
Now by Faith; Then Real
Philippians 1:21 KJV 1900
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Living and Waring for a Guaranteed Future
Ephesians 1:13 KJV 1900
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Assured of Guaranteed Future Keeps us in the Battle
1 John 5:12 KJV 1900
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Key is Assurance
2 Timothy 1:12 KJV 1900
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
More Than Conquerors
Romans 8:37 KJV 1900
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1 Corinthians 15:57 KJV 1900
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“…whereunto thou art also called…”
We are called
Romans 1:6 KJV 1900
Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 5:10 KJV 1900
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
“…called according to his purpose…”
Romans 8:28–30 KJV 1900
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
We have a Holy Calling
2 Timothy 1:9 KJV 1900
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
We are to “walk worthy”
Ephesians 4:1 KJV 1900
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
“…hast professed a good profession…”
Surrendered to Jesus
Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Good Profession Assured:
Titus 1:16 KJV 1900
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
1 Timothy 6:13 KJV 1900
I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
“I give thee in the sight of God…”
Ordered Conduct
1 Timothy 5:21 KJV 1900
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Paul gives Timothy orders of conduct
1 Timothy 5:21 KJV 1900
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
God-Given Orders
Galatians 1:12 KJV 1900
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Know our Authority Comes from God
Psalm 12:6–7 KJV 1900
The words of the Lord are pure words: As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Like a Father to His Children
1 Thessalonians 2:11 KJV 1900
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
“…who quickeneth all things…”
Our Lord is a Quickening Spirit
1 Corinthians 15:45 KJV 1900
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Life and Death is in His Hands
Deuteronomy 32:39 KJV 1900
See now that I, even I, am he, And there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: Neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
“…and before Christ Jesus…”
Life is in Jesus Our Savior
John 5:21 KJV 1900
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
John 5:26 KJV 1900
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
Our Service is Before the Savior and Shall be Tried of the Savior
Romans 14:10–12 KJV 1900
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
“..who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession…”
Matthew 27:11 KJV 1900
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.
John 18:36–37 KJV 1900
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
John 19:11 KJV 1900
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
Follow God
Ephesians 5:1 KJV 1900
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Followers of the Savior
1 Thessalonians 1:6 KJV 1900
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
Having seen these three facts, let us faithfully follow the Savior!