March 29th, 2026
by John Cole
by John Cole
Read below what John Cole wrote as his manuscript for this sermon. Watch or listen to this sermon on our website and app or YouTube channel. The sermon post on the website and app includes a brief outline to help you follow along and discuss with others.
WHAT MAKES A “GOOD” FIGHT?
It’s not what most think. It’s...
Fighting evil to do good—as defined by God.
Our text calls Christians into a good fight.
It’s not a call to fight people. It’s a call to fight sin.
Our passage is about fighting evil sin as we pursue good godliness by faith in the gospel. It’s about persevering in the fight every day with the return of Christ in view.
The text stresses the need to struggle. To fight. To be steadfast in living out the gospel amidst the remaining presence of sin. In a way that is distinct from those who instead pursue evil. Let’s read it…
1 Timothy 6:11–12 KJV
But thou [Timothy], O man of God,
flee these things [love of money & accompanying evils]; and
follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight of [the] faith,
lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto thou art also called, and
hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Brothers and sisters, we are called into a fight. Every Christian is.
If you’re not yet a follower of Christ, you’re in a fight too. But you’re on the losing side. Until you gladly receive the gospel, turn from sin, and trust in the crucified and risen Christ, you are sided against God and His good kingdom. Please trust in Christ today. Join the fight against sin.
The eternal Son of God came as the God-man—Jesus—to defeat sin, Satan, and death through His sinless life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection. All who repent from sin and trust in Christ are forgiven of sins and redeemed from death into eternal life.
Come have victory in Jesus. Follow Christ in the fight against sin until He returns to judge sin and remove it from earth. But know this, the fight demands perseverance. It is not easy. It is endless until we see Jesus face to face.
The only alternative? Being on the losing side of sin. And being judged with it. Instead, follow Christ. Fight the sin He has defeated. Live the eternal life God alone gives.
Eternal life is a gift of God. Living it out is a fight. A fight won by Christ .
God’s gift of eternal life contains within it the ability to persevere. To fight as Jesus. We are called to follow Jesus in enduring temptation, crushing sin, and pleasing the Father,
What does this look like? Paul urges Timothy to live out this call of life and ministry with four imperatives: flee, follow, fight, and lay hold—or fasten.
1) FLEE WHAT PIERCES YOU.
Speaking of piercing, how many of us here can’t stand getting shots? I searched and found this account from one nurse on Reddit:
“Had a family come in for their kid's flu shot. Kid was about 4 or so. I was about to give the shot and her parents were getting her to look away from the shot so she wouldn't be scared. Right as I got the needle in, she whipped her head around and stone cold stared at her shoulder. No fear.”
Fearless girl. But you don’t want to do that with temptation. Staring at it leads to entertaining it. That leads to being overtaken by it. Soon, you’re piercing yourself through with many sorrows—like we saw in the text before this.
Paul says to run from it.
1 Timothy 6:10–11 KJV
10 For the love of money is the [a] root of all evil[s]: which while some coveted [aspired] after, they have erred [been misled] from the faith [the gospel], and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things…
Flee! “But thou.” That’s not you! Instead Timothy, you’re what God called Moses, David, Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha—a man of God!
Men of God are not to entertain sin. Represent God instead. Aspiring after sin will mislead you away from the gospel—at least for a time. Time spent away from the faith.
We spent more time on this warning in last Sunday’s sermon. You can listen to it on rhbaptist.com or our app. But for now, let’s ask ourselves…
Q: From what do you need to flee? What must you stop entertaining?
Remember that brave little girl who stared down her flu shot? That’s all fine. But don’t down stare down sin.
Sin that leads to death starts with giving it attention. The moment sinful thoughts, sights, or circumstances come your way, dart! Or it will pursue you.
Literally, get up. Look away. Bury your mind in scripture. Call and confess to a godly friend. Go for a walk and pray. Ask God for the strength to flee. To forgive and cleanse you. To renew your mind.
Run as soon as sin enters your mind, sight, ears, or proximity.
•Stop entertaining envious thoughts. Pray for her good!
•Forget the idea of going back to that addictive sin. That’s not you anymore!
•Don’t encourage that person to immodestly show off his or her body. Look away!
•Quit daydreaming about self indulgence. Look for a way to give and serve!
•Quiet that gossip! Stop and pray for the person.
•Overcome anxieties. Cast your care on the Lord!
•Halt Satan’s false accusations. Believe the gospel!
2) FOLLOW AFTER THE GOAL .
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Wheelbarrows
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev used to tell of a time when there was a wave of petty theft in the Soviet Union. So they put up guards around the factories. At one timber works in Leningrad, the guard knew the workers in the factory very well. The first evening, out came Pyotr Petrovich with a wheelbarrow and, on the wheelbarrow, a great bulky sack with a suspicious-looking object inside.
“All right, Petrovich,” said the guard, “what have you got there?”
“Oh, just sawdust and shavings,” Petrovich replied.
“Come on,” the guard said, “I wasn’t born yesterday. Tip it out.” And out came nothing but sawdust and shavings. So he was allowed to put it all back again and go home. When the same thing happened every night of the week the guard became frustrated. Finally, his curiosity overcame his frustration.
“Petrovich,” he said, “I know you. Tell me what you’re smuggling out of here, and I’ll let you go.”
“Wheelbarrows, my friend, “ said Petrovich, “wheelbarrows.”
Quoted in The Devil’s Gauntlet, Os Guiness
The guard was distracted by the saw dust and missed the obvious wheelbarrow. We must not lose sight of the obvious goal of the Christian: Christ.
Paul says, Flee sin and follow after Christlikeness.
1 Timothy 6:11 KJV
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Being a follower of Christ is more than fleeing sin. It’s following Christ.
While Christ is far greater than a list of virtues, these virtues are given for us to pursue as we follow Christ. Knowing, obeying, and imaging Christ is the goal. These virtues are part of what it looks like to live it out. Let’s consider each one.
• righteousness—uprightness & justice
When we follow Christ, we pursue upright living—not just what we can get by with.
No rigged scales to cheat payments. Be just in all your dealings.
To follow Christ is to follow after uprightness before God and justice with others.
• godliness—a proper response to God & His word
Chapter three said Godliness is believing and following Jesus—God’s great plan for heaven and earth. It’s a response of faith.
• faith—trust in God & His gospel
Faith is believing God and what He has said. It’s necessary for godliness.
Faith is more than an acceptance of God. It is dependence on Him. Allegiance to Him. It’s a new heart that lives for God and His gospel.
• love—deeds & affections that put God & others first
True love worships God and helps others do the same. It doesn’t affirm sin that destroys or exalt idols that defile. It doesn’t put self first or God last. You don’t fall in and out of it.
Let the Bible renovate your definition of love! And this calls for…
• patience—perseverance and steadfast endurance
Patience? Who has time for that! The Bible is filled with calls to patience. Perseverance. Endurance. Waiting. Continuing. Abiding. We’re to grow in it through Christian experience and maturity.
Why is patience so unnatural? It relinquishes control to God. It endures hardship when you can’t see how long you have to.
We’re called to persevere in following after Christlikeness—even though we can’t control much of the road along the way.
• meekness—gentleness, humility, & controlled strength
Blessed are the meek. The meek don’t have to prove themselves. They don’t have to one-up others. Their confidence and value is in Christ, not self.
When Jesus described His heart, He said He is meek or gentle and lowly (Mt 11:29). The One who spoke into existence photons, atoms, energy, and all the universe. All the energy the greatest minds of our day are trying to harness. It all came from Him. And yet, He stepped into history in obscurity before changing it for all eternity.
God the Son became the God-man. He served the humanity He created to image Him. He let them falsely accuse Him. Beat Him. Scoff and crucify Him. And He prayed on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Jesus called the “common sinner” to repentance and faith in the gospel with gentleness, humility, and meekness. He touched the leper. Held the child. Talked with the adulterous woman. Rescued the demoniac. And taught multitudes of sinners about the gospel of His kingdom.
Jesus’ half-brother caught it. James wrote this in his punchy letter to show meekness that comes from God’s wisdom.
•Are you strong? Good, be gentle!
•Knowledgable? Great, listen.
•Upright? Wonderful, don’t act shocked when someone confesses sin.
•Did something good? Praise God! Let it go unnoticed unless God chooses to make it known.
•Bothered by someone? Breathe. Pray. And remember how God is slow to wrath .
How humbly do you follow Christ?
Don’t be like that guard who missed the obvious wheelbarrow. Follow after the obvious calling of the Christian life: Christ!
Q: Have you lost sight of the goal? What are your eyes fixed on?
We don’t become more Christlike by staring at the world! Christ is the goal. Fix your eyes on Him! Follow after Him! Preach Him. Reflect Him. Love Him. Be more and more like Him.
Like the husband and wife who mirror each other. They’ve stared at one another so long, it’s as if they started copying each other in how they age.
Let’s flee what pierces us—sin.
And follow after the goal—Christ.
As we do, we…
3) FIGHT THE GOSPEL FIGHT.
Not every fight is worth fighting. Not every fight is a good fight.
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Penalty Box
Stan Mikita, a professional hockey star, used to get into a lot of fights during games. He stopped when his eight-year-old daughter asked a very grown-up question: “How can you score goals when you’re always in the penalty box, Daddy?”
Bits and Pieces, July, 1990, p. 19
What’s something good you have fought hard for? Christians fight the good fight of faith.
1 Timothy 6:12 KJV
Fight the good fight of [the] faith…
You might consider yourself a “draftee”. Instead of Uncle Sam, you’ve been called by God. Into a good fight.
Brothers and sisters, it is vital we understand this. Otherwise, we may think “real” Christians don’t struggle at living according to the gospel. They have no sin to flee. They always perfectly follow. It’s a breeze.
That’s not how it works. Yes, Christians have new desires from the indwelling Holy Spirit. But also, they have old desires from the remaining indwelling sin. Day by day, the Christian must consider as dead those old sinful ways and “put on” Christ. We must fight.
I like the old hymn, “Am I a Solider of the Cross”.
Am I a soldier of the cross A foll'wer of the Lamb
And shall I fear to own His cause Or blush to speak His Name
Must I be carried to the skies On flow'ry beds of ease
While others fought to win the prize And sailed through bloody seas
Sure I must fight if I would reign Increase my courage Lord
I'll bear the toil endure the pain Supported by Thy Word
Q: Do you think you’re the only one who struggles with following Jesus? Are you trying to do it alone?
There’s some fights that aren’t worth fighting. Some just keep you in the penalty box.
But fighting to live out the gospel is a good fight. It’s one we are called to do together. That’s so much of what it means to be a member of a local church. Fight the good fight of the faith together!
It’s like we are in one army that fills heaven and earth. God has assigned us to a particular company and unit—our local church.
We help, protect, and support the brothers and sisters next to us. We confess and flee sin together. We follow after Christ and Christlikeness together. We fight the good fight together. And we hold on together.
4) FASTEN ONTO YOUR ETERNAL CALL & PROFESSION .
A few years back, I pulled the family around on a tube with a pontoon boat. Martha was on a tube. She held on to that tube with all her might—and we hadn’t even moved yet!
In an attempt to be gentle, I pulled forward very slowly. Bad idea. The slow pull failed to tug the rope up high, so the front of the tube went down. Water flowed into the tube. And Martha went down…
Thankfully, all she had to do was put her feet down and stand in the water. But she instead just held on to her life jacket with all her life!
Paul said finally,
1 Timothy 6:12 KJV
…lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
“Lay hold” here includes the idea of grabbing with violence. Grab what? What you already have. The eternal life that God has called you into according to your profession.
Eternal life is a gift of God. It was paid for by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. It is given through the Holy Spirit’s internal call as the external call of the gospel is preached. And those who receive the call through faith profess this profession.
Christians make our profession before many witnesses. Specifically, we make this profession before the witness of the church. We do this through baptism.
Elements of this verse and the following verses are found in many of the confessions made at baptisms in the early church. Paul says to Timothy: fasten on. Lay hold onto the eternal life you have. The eternal live you have professed among the church. Back when you were baptized.
But don’t just profess it. Live it! Live out your profession! Follow after the good of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Know you are forgiven of sins through Christ’s substitutionary work. Rejoice in your calling to salvation and Christlikeness! Give yourself to it wholly.
Brother and sisters, we must remember that eternal life begins at conversion, not death or the resurrection! Once you hear and respond to the gospel call with repentance from sin and faith in Christ, you have eternal life!
True, eternal life will be more fully realized at the resurrection. But if you are truly a Christian, you have eternal life now. And you are called to lay hold of it. Give witness of it. Live according to it. Enjoy it now.
It’s like Martha on the tube out in the middle of the bay. It was her tube! We were not taking it away. If she fell off, we would stop for her to get back on. We would not let Martha lose the tube. But she still had to lay hold of the tube to enjoy the ride!
Or, she could lay hold of what she really enjoyed… driving! Look at that beautiful smile. Driving is her happy place.
From that seat, she gave opportunity for others to lay hold and fasten onto the tube! And that she did.
Just look at David having a blast holding on to that tube. That little guy was loving it. He was fastened on.
Q: Are you holding fast to your calling in Christ? Are you enjoying eternal life now?
Remember—Becoming a Christian is a gift of God’s grace. Being a Christian is living out God’s gift of grace.
The fight of the faith is not just a fight. It’s a good fight! It’s a fight to be in. Not just a fight to escape. The good fight is a part of the eternal life into which every Christian is called.
So lay hold to it. Fasten on to your eternal call and profession. You have no greater calling in this life.
Fight and hold on, knowing you will give account to the Lord Jesus Christ at His return. As Christ was faithful in His witness, you too must follow in His faithful witness. This is your calling. Persevere in it. Hold on.
Paul makes this point in the verses where we will be next week—Easter Sunday. It’s about the resurrected Lord who will return.
1 Timothy 6:14 KJV
…keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
SERMON IN A SENTENCE: God’s call to faith in the gospel is a call to continually flee evil and pursue good until you see Jesus face-to-face.
•It’s a good fight.
•It demands fleeing what pierces you—sin.
•It requires following after the goal—Christ and Christlikeness.
•It’s a fight of the faith—the gospel.
•So fasten onto your eternal calling according to the profession you have made.
And if you have never responded to the gospel with repentance from sin and faith in Jesus… if you have never made a profession of receiving eternal life before the church through baptism… what is preventing you?
Remember, don’t be on the losing side. The side of sin, Satan, and death. Receive Christ as your Savior and Lord. Be saved! And be changed. Join Christ’s church in this good, victorious fight.
God’s call to faith in the gospel is a call to continually flee evil and pursue good until you see Jesus face-to-face.
WHAT MAKES A “GOOD” FIGHT?
It’s not what most think. It’s...
Fighting evil to do good—as defined by God.
Our text calls Christians into a good fight.
It’s not a call to fight people. It’s a call to fight sin.
Our passage is about fighting evil sin as we pursue good godliness by faith in the gospel. It’s about persevering in the fight every day with the return of Christ in view.
The text stresses the need to struggle. To fight. To be steadfast in living out the gospel amidst the remaining presence of sin. In a way that is distinct from those who instead pursue evil. Let’s read it…
1 Timothy 6:11–12 KJV
But thou [Timothy], O man of God,
flee these things [love of money & accompanying evils]; and
follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight of [the] faith,
lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto thou art also called, and
hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Brothers and sisters, we are called into a fight. Every Christian is.
If you’re not yet a follower of Christ, you’re in a fight too. But you’re on the losing side. Until you gladly receive the gospel, turn from sin, and trust in the crucified and risen Christ, you are sided against God and His good kingdom. Please trust in Christ today. Join the fight against sin.
The eternal Son of God came as the God-man—Jesus—to defeat sin, Satan, and death through His sinless life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection. All who repent from sin and trust in Christ are forgiven of sins and redeemed from death into eternal life.
Come have victory in Jesus. Follow Christ in the fight against sin until He returns to judge sin and remove it from earth. But know this, the fight demands perseverance. It is not easy. It is endless until we see Jesus face to face.
The only alternative? Being on the losing side of sin. And being judged with it. Instead, follow Christ. Fight the sin He has defeated. Live the eternal life God alone gives.
Eternal life is a gift of God. Living it out is a fight. A fight won by Christ .
God’s gift of eternal life contains within it the ability to persevere. To fight as Jesus. We are called to follow Jesus in enduring temptation, crushing sin, and pleasing the Father,
What does this look like? Paul urges Timothy to live out this call of life and ministry with four imperatives: flee, follow, fight, and lay hold—or fasten.
1) FLEE WHAT PIERCES YOU.
Speaking of piercing, how many of us here can’t stand getting shots? I searched and found this account from one nurse on Reddit:
“Had a family come in for their kid's flu shot. Kid was about 4 or so. I was about to give the shot and her parents were getting her to look away from the shot so she wouldn't be scared. Right as I got the needle in, she whipped her head around and stone cold stared at her shoulder. No fear.”
Fearless girl. But you don’t want to do that with temptation. Staring at it leads to entertaining it. That leads to being overtaken by it. Soon, you’re piercing yourself through with many sorrows—like we saw in the text before this.
Paul says to run from it.
1 Timothy 6:10–11 KJV
10 For the love of money is the [a] root of all evil[s]: which while some coveted [aspired] after, they have erred [been misled] from the faith [the gospel], and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things…
Flee! “But thou.” That’s not you! Instead Timothy, you’re what God called Moses, David, Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha—a man of God!
Men of God are not to entertain sin. Represent God instead. Aspiring after sin will mislead you away from the gospel—at least for a time. Time spent away from the faith.
We spent more time on this warning in last Sunday’s sermon. You can listen to it on rhbaptist.com or our app. But for now, let’s ask ourselves…
Q: From what do you need to flee? What must you stop entertaining?
Remember that brave little girl who stared down her flu shot? That’s all fine. But don’t down stare down sin.
Sin that leads to death starts with giving it attention. The moment sinful thoughts, sights, or circumstances come your way, dart! Or it will pursue you.
Literally, get up. Look away. Bury your mind in scripture. Call and confess to a godly friend. Go for a walk and pray. Ask God for the strength to flee. To forgive and cleanse you. To renew your mind.
Run as soon as sin enters your mind, sight, ears, or proximity.
•Stop entertaining envious thoughts. Pray for her good!
•Forget the idea of going back to that addictive sin. That’s not you anymore!
•Don’t encourage that person to immodestly show off his or her body. Look away!
•Quit daydreaming about self indulgence. Look for a way to give and serve!
•Quiet that gossip! Stop and pray for the person.
•Overcome anxieties. Cast your care on the Lord!
•Halt Satan’s false accusations. Believe the gospel!
2) FOLLOW AFTER THE GOAL .
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Wheelbarrows
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev used to tell of a time when there was a wave of petty theft in the Soviet Union. So they put up guards around the factories. At one timber works in Leningrad, the guard knew the workers in the factory very well. The first evening, out came Pyotr Petrovich with a wheelbarrow and, on the wheelbarrow, a great bulky sack with a suspicious-looking object inside.
“All right, Petrovich,” said the guard, “what have you got there?”
“Oh, just sawdust and shavings,” Petrovich replied.
“Come on,” the guard said, “I wasn’t born yesterday. Tip it out.” And out came nothing but sawdust and shavings. So he was allowed to put it all back again and go home. When the same thing happened every night of the week the guard became frustrated. Finally, his curiosity overcame his frustration.
“Petrovich,” he said, “I know you. Tell me what you’re smuggling out of here, and I’ll let you go.”
“Wheelbarrows, my friend, “ said Petrovich, “wheelbarrows.”
Quoted in The Devil’s Gauntlet, Os Guiness
The guard was distracted by the saw dust and missed the obvious wheelbarrow. We must not lose sight of the obvious goal of the Christian: Christ.
Paul says, Flee sin and follow after Christlikeness.
1 Timothy 6:11 KJV
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Being a follower of Christ is more than fleeing sin. It’s following Christ.
While Christ is far greater than a list of virtues, these virtues are given for us to pursue as we follow Christ. Knowing, obeying, and imaging Christ is the goal. These virtues are part of what it looks like to live it out. Let’s consider each one.
• righteousness—uprightness & justice
When we follow Christ, we pursue upright living—not just what we can get by with.
No rigged scales to cheat payments. Be just in all your dealings.
To follow Christ is to follow after uprightness before God and justice with others.
• godliness—a proper response to God & His word
Chapter three said Godliness is believing and following Jesus—God’s great plan for heaven and earth. It’s a response of faith.
• faith—trust in God & His gospel
Faith is believing God and what He has said. It’s necessary for godliness.
Faith is more than an acceptance of God. It is dependence on Him. Allegiance to Him. It’s a new heart that lives for God and His gospel.
• love—deeds & affections that put God & others first
True love worships God and helps others do the same. It doesn’t affirm sin that destroys or exalt idols that defile. It doesn’t put self first or God last. You don’t fall in and out of it.
Let the Bible renovate your definition of love! And this calls for…
• patience—perseverance and steadfast endurance
Patience? Who has time for that! The Bible is filled with calls to patience. Perseverance. Endurance. Waiting. Continuing. Abiding. We’re to grow in it through Christian experience and maturity.
Why is patience so unnatural? It relinquishes control to God. It endures hardship when you can’t see how long you have to.
We’re called to persevere in following after Christlikeness—even though we can’t control much of the road along the way.
• meekness—gentleness, humility, & controlled strength
Blessed are the meek. The meek don’t have to prove themselves. They don’t have to one-up others. Their confidence and value is in Christ, not self.
When Jesus described His heart, He said He is meek or gentle and lowly (Mt 11:29). The One who spoke into existence photons, atoms, energy, and all the universe. All the energy the greatest minds of our day are trying to harness. It all came from Him. And yet, He stepped into history in obscurity before changing it for all eternity.
God the Son became the God-man. He served the humanity He created to image Him. He let them falsely accuse Him. Beat Him. Scoff and crucify Him. And He prayed on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Jesus called the “common sinner” to repentance and faith in the gospel with gentleness, humility, and meekness. He touched the leper. Held the child. Talked with the adulterous woman. Rescued the demoniac. And taught multitudes of sinners about the gospel of His kingdom.
Jesus’ half-brother caught it. James wrote this in his punchy letter to show meekness that comes from God’s wisdom.
•Are you strong? Good, be gentle!
•Knowledgable? Great, listen.
•Upright? Wonderful, don’t act shocked when someone confesses sin.
•Did something good? Praise God! Let it go unnoticed unless God chooses to make it known.
•Bothered by someone? Breathe. Pray. And remember how God is slow to wrath .
How humbly do you follow Christ?
Don’t be like that guard who missed the obvious wheelbarrow. Follow after the obvious calling of the Christian life: Christ!
Q: Have you lost sight of the goal? What are your eyes fixed on?
We don’t become more Christlike by staring at the world! Christ is the goal. Fix your eyes on Him! Follow after Him! Preach Him. Reflect Him. Love Him. Be more and more like Him.
Like the husband and wife who mirror each other. They’ve stared at one another so long, it’s as if they started copying each other in how they age.
Let’s flee what pierces us—sin.
And follow after the goal—Christ.
As we do, we…
3) FIGHT THE GOSPEL FIGHT.
Not every fight is worth fighting. Not every fight is a good fight.
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Penalty Box
Stan Mikita, a professional hockey star, used to get into a lot of fights during games. He stopped when his eight-year-old daughter asked a very grown-up question: “How can you score goals when you’re always in the penalty box, Daddy?”
Bits and Pieces, July, 1990, p. 19
What’s something good you have fought hard for? Christians fight the good fight of faith.
1 Timothy 6:12 KJV
Fight the good fight of [the] faith…
You might consider yourself a “draftee”. Instead of Uncle Sam, you’ve been called by God. Into a good fight.
Brothers and sisters, it is vital we understand this. Otherwise, we may think “real” Christians don’t struggle at living according to the gospel. They have no sin to flee. They always perfectly follow. It’s a breeze.
That’s not how it works. Yes, Christians have new desires from the indwelling Holy Spirit. But also, they have old desires from the remaining indwelling sin. Day by day, the Christian must consider as dead those old sinful ways and “put on” Christ. We must fight.
I like the old hymn, “Am I a Solider of the Cross”.
Am I a soldier of the cross A foll'wer of the Lamb
And shall I fear to own His cause Or blush to speak His Name
Must I be carried to the skies On flow'ry beds of ease
While others fought to win the prize And sailed through bloody seas
Sure I must fight if I would reign Increase my courage Lord
I'll bear the toil endure the pain Supported by Thy Word
Q: Do you think you’re the only one who struggles with following Jesus? Are you trying to do it alone?
There’s some fights that aren’t worth fighting. Some just keep you in the penalty box.
But fighting to live out the gospel is a good fight. It’s one we are called to do together. That’s so much of what it means to be a member of a local church. Fight the good fight of the faith together!
It’s like we are in one army that fills heaven and earth. God has assigned us to a particular company and unit—our local church.
We help, protect, and support the brothers and sisters next to us. We confess and flee sin together. We follow after Christ and Christlikeness together. We fight the good fight together. And we hold on together.
4) FASTEN ONTO YOUR ETERNAL CALL & PROFESSION .
A few years back, I pulled the family around on a tube with a pontoon boat. Martha was on a tube. She held on to that tube with all her might—and we hadn’t even moved yet!
In an attempt to be gentle, I pulled forward very slowly. Bad idea. The slow pull failed to tug the rope up high, so the front of the tube went down. Water flowed into the tube. And Martha went down…
Thankfully, all she had to do was put her feet down and stand in the water. But she instead just held on to her life jacket with all her life!
Paul said finally,
1 Timothy 6:12 KJV
…lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
“Lay hold” here includes the idea of grabbing with violence. Grab what? What you already have. The eternal life that God has called you into according to your profession.
Eternal life is a gift of God. It was paid for by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. It is given through the Holy Spirit’s internal call as the external call of the gospel is preached. And those who receive the call through faith profess this profession.
Christians make our profession before many witnesses. Specifically, we make this profession before the witness of the church. We do this through baptism.
Elements of this verse and the following verses are found in many of the confessions made at baptisms in the early church. Paul says to Timothy: fasten on. Lay hold onto the eternal life you have. The eternal live you have professed among the church. Back when you were baptized.
But don’t just profess it. Live it! Live out your profession! Follow after the good of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Know you are forgiven of sins through Christ’s substitutionary work. Rejoice in your calling to salvation and Christlikeness! Give yourself to it wholly.
Brother and sisters, we must remember that eternal life begins at conversion, not death or the resurrection! Once you hear and respond to the gospel call with repentance from sin and faith in Christ, you have eternal life!
True, eternal life will be more fully realized at the resurrection. But if you are truly a Christian, you have eternal life now. And you are called to lay hold of it. Give witness of it. Live according to it. Enjoy it now.
It’s like Martha on the tube out in the middle of the bay. It was her tube! We were not taking it away. If she fell off, we would stop for her to get back on. We would not let Martha lose the tube. But she still had to lay hold of the tube to enjoy the ride!
Or, she could lay hold of what she really enjoyed… driving! Look at that beautiful smile. Driving is her happy place.
From that seat, she gave opportunity for others to lay hold and fasten onto the tube! And that she did.
Just look at David having a blast holding on to that tube. That little guy was loving it. He was fastened on.
Q: Are you holding fast to your calling in Christ? Are you enjoying eternal life now?
Remember—Becoming a Christian is a gift of God’s grace. Being a Christian is living out God’s gift of grace.
The fight of the faith is not just a fight. It’s a good fight! It’s a fight to be in. Not just a fight to escape. The good fight is a part of the eternal life into which every Christian is called.
So lay hold to it. Fasten on to your eternal call and profession. You have no greater calling in this life.
Fight and hold on, knowing you will give account to the Lord Jesus Christ at His return. As Christ was faithful in His witness, you too must follow in His faithful witness. This is your calling. Persevere in it. Hold on.
Paul makes this point in the verses where we will be next week—Easter Sunday. It’s about the resurrected Lord who will return.
1 Timothy 6:14 KJV
…keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
SERMON IN A SENTENCE: God’s call to faith in the gospel is a call to continually flee evil and pursue good until you see Jesus face-to-face.
•It’s a good fight.
•It demands fleeing what pierces you—sin.
•It requires following after the goal—Christ and Christlikeness.
•It’s a fight of the faith—the gospel.
•So fasten onto your eternal calling according to the profession you have made.
And if you have never responded to the gospel with repentance from sin and faith in Jesus… if you have never made a profession of receiving eternal life before the church through baptism… what is preventing you?
Remember, don’t be on the losing side. The side of sin, Satan, and death. Receive Christ as your Savior and Lord. Be saved! And be changed. Join Christ’s church in this good, victorious fight.
God’s call to faith in the gospel is a call to continually flee evil and pursue good until you see Jesus face-to-face.
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