GOOD FIGHT? SEIZING THE LIFE OF GOD WHICH HAS AN ETERNAL NATURE by Gale Maiden
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. (1 Tim 6:12, NAS)
I Timothy 6:12 explains the nature of the good fight of faith and the whole purpose of faith.
NATURE OF A GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH
First the Apostle Paul writes to Apostle Timothy and says, “Fight the GOOD fight of faith.” If it is a good fight (Is there such a thing?) God must be doing it. Jesus clearly defines that which is good.
And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and {began} asking Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? NO ONE IS GOOD EXCEPT GOD ALONE. (Mark 10:17-18, NAS, emphasis added)
I must conclude that my GOOD fight of faith is not my fight at all. If the only one who is good is God then it has to be God who is doing my fighting. Glory to God! My war is over. As an old song says, “I ain’t goin study war no more!”
PURPOSE OF GOD OR GODLY FIGHT IS TO FULFILL OUR CALLING WHICH IS TO SEIZE THE LIFE OF GOD, ETERNAL IN NATURE
Secondly Paul writes to Timothy, “Take hold of eternal life to which you are called.” The clarion trumpet call of God is to choose and lay hold of life eternal. Timothy of course would be resurrected from the dead (A Mary and Martha diminished understanding of a present tense resurrection). So why was the Apostle Paul asking the Apostle Timothy to presently lay hold of eternal life?
Philippians 3 says the same thing concerning the now resurrection from the dead. Paul describes the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Paul says that he is pressing towards resurrection (present tense) which he describes as the PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST.
If resurrection from the dead were not available without physical death then there would be no need to fight the good fight of faith. Paul says that if we don’t believe for a present tense resurrection then our faith is in vain (I Corinthians 15). God desires to convince and demonstrate to us His life which He fought for and won being apprehended through Jesus’ death on the cross, burial and resurrection from the dead. Glory to God! Satan, who before had the power of death, now has been defeated setting all free from the fear of death (Hebrews 2).
IN CONCLUSION
In true resurrection by God there is no more death. Let us walk in and through God’s GOOD fight of faith by laying hold (simply believing) for life eternal. In the resurrection we are true priest’s of God (Melchizedek Priesthood) being able to advocate the full package of heaven i.e. life eternal.
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. (1 Tim 6:12, NAS)
I Timothy 6:12 explains the nature of the good fight of faith and the whole purpose of faith.
NATURE OF A GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH
First the Apostle Paul writes to Apostle Timothy and says, “Fight the GOOD fight of faith.” If it is a good fight (Is there such a thing?) God must be doing it. Jesus clearly defines that which is good.
And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and {began} asking Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? NO ONE IS GOOD EXCEPT GOD ALONE. (Mark 10:17-18, NAS, emphasis added)
I must conclude that my GOOD fight of faith is not my fight at all. If the only one who is good is God then it has to be God who is doing my fighting. Glory to God! My war is over. As an old song says, “I ain’t goin study war no more!”
PURPOSE OF GOD OR GODLY FIGHT IS TO FULFILL OUR CALLING WHICH IS TO SEIZE THE LIFE OF GOD, ETERNAL IN NATURE
Secondly Paul writes to Timothy, “Take hold of eternal life to which you are called.” The clarion trumpet call of God is to choose and lay hold of life eternal. Timothy of course would be resurrected from the dead (A Mary and Martha diminished understanding of a present tense resurrection). So why was the Apostle Paul asking the Apostle Timothy to presently lay hold of eternal life?
Philippians 3 says the same thing concerning the now resurrection from the dead. Paul describes the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Paul says that he is pressing towards resurrection (present tense) which he describes as the PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST.
If resurrection from the dead were not available without physical death then there would be no need to fight the good fight of faith. Paul says that if we don’t believe for a present tense resurrection then our faith is in vain (I Corinthians 15). God desires to convince and demonstrate to us His life which He fought for and won being apprehended through Jesus’ death on the cross, burial and resurrection from the dead. Glory to God! Satan, who before had the power of death, now has been defeated setting all free from the fear of death (Hebrews 2).
IN CONCLUSION
In true resurrection by God there is no more death. Let us walk in and through God’s GOOD fight of faith by laying hold (simply believing) for life eternal. In the resurrection we are true priest’s of God (Melchizedek Priesthood) being able to advocate the full package of heaven i.e. life eternal.
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