Part X5.1 - The Faith
TheFaith As we have seen, Paul and Barnabas strengthened the souls of the disciples that they had taught by encouraging them to continue in the faith (Acts 14:21-22). Throughout the New Testament, the apostles wrote of a very specific type of faith, the faith, which speaks of the coming Kingdom of God. Believers are to hold to the fundamental truths that are the foundation of the Christian faith; however, the faith encompasses all that is contained in the Word of the Kingdom and entering into the Reign of the Heavens. We need to understand the faith and come into all that it stands for in order to continue in it. The faith is essential and vital to pressing on toward the goal for the prize (Php 3:14). However, to understand the faith, we need to start with the Way.
TheWay In the early church, the believers were identified as belonging to the Way (Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9; Acts 19:23; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14; Acts 24:22), even before they were actually called Christians (Acts 11:26) by the world in Antioch. Starting with Pentecost, the church was made up of believing Jews who were identified as the Way because they were following a different way from the rest of the nation of Israel. In fact, the Jewish leaders looked upon the Way as a heretical way (a sect) that needed to be destroyed.
There was a zealous young Jew named Saul who set out to destroy the Way. He sought out Christians, bound them and brought them to Jerusalem. It is recorded that he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison (Acts 8:3). He even stood by and watched as Stephen, a man full of the Holy Spirit, who was of the Way, was stoned to death (Acts 7:58-59; Acts 8:1).
Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1-2) As he was on the road to Damascus to search out Christians, seeking to destroy the Way, Saul met his match. On the road, he was blinded by a bright light from heaven and heard the Lord Jesus speak to him: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Saul was persecuting the Body of Christ which was on earth with the Head, the Lord Jesus, in heaven. On that day, Saul ceased being a persecutor of the Way, changed course and began to follow a different way. Saul became Paul the apostle, a bondservant of Jesus Christ.
It is important to understand what was the central message of the Way and whom the Way was trying to reach with this message. When He came to this earth, the Lord Jesus came to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. His primary mission was to offer the Kingdom of Heaven to the nation of Israel. However, they rejected the offer and the nation was excluded from receiving the Kingdom, even though Messiah was standing in their midst. Instead of receiving Him, the Jewish leaders rejected Him; they accused Him of doing acts by the power of Satan, which was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; and they concluded their rejection by demanding that He be crucified. Ultimately, because of their unbelief, they were cut off from the Kingdom. On the other hand, those of the Way believed the message of Messiah. They received the offer of the Kingdom. Although the nation had rejected the offer, those of the Way continued to preach to the nation of Israel in hope of them accepting the message. They knew that Israel will be restored one day and that the Lord’s return to this earth will be connected with their restoration. The Kingdom is the central message of the book of Acts, for it starts with the Lord Jesus speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3); and it ends with Paul under house arrest in Rome, preaching the Kingdom of God (Acts 28:16; Acts 28:30-31). At least in part, the Lord’s message on the Kingdom pertained to Israel being restored at a much later time. As He was about to ascend to heaven, the disciples whom Jesus taught asked Him, "Lord, will You at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?" Jesus answered, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority" (Acts 1:6-7NKJ). There was a clear understanding that a day would come when the Kingdom would be restored to the nation of Israel that had rejected the offer of the Kingdom when their Messiah stood in their midst.
We must understand that the message was about the Kingdom, not about eternal salvation. In other words, those of the Way continued to offer the Kingdom to Israel, just as Jesus had offered it to them. After a time, it was evident that Israel was not going to accept the offer, so the offer was made to Christians who were mostly of Gentile background, although there was a remnant who were of Jewish background (Romans 11:5). At the end of Acts, Paul tried to reason with the Jews, but many would not listen. Finally, he declared: "For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I should heal them. Let it be known to you therefore, that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen." [And when he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.] (Acts 28:27-29). From then on, Paul took the message entrusted to him by the Lord to the Gentiles.
It is very important that we understand that the message Paul preached was more than eternal salvation; it was about the Kingdom. And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters, and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. (Acts 28:30-31)
Once the lost were saved (Jews or Gentiles), the message to them turned from the gospel of the grace of God (eternal salvation) to the central message of the New Testament, the Kingdom of Heaven. Contrary to the method used in the church today (continual messages which relate to and expand upon the gospel of the grace of God), the early church preached to get people saved (eternal destiny) and then preached to them on the Kingdom (millennial Kingdom Age) to prepare them to enter into the coming Kingdom of their Lord and Savior. They lived with an expectation that the Lord truly was coming back at any time.
If there is one message that needs to be recovered today, it is this one message of the coming Kingdom. We need hearts prepared and longing for the return of our beloved Lord!
PreachingTheFaith And I was {still} unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy." And they were glorifying God because of me. (Galatians 1:22-24{ea}) In his epistles to the churches, Paul used a very specific term, that is, the faith. Saul who persecuted the Way became Paul who began to preach the faith (e.g., Romans 1:5NKJ; Ephesians 4:13; Php 1:27; Colossians 1:23; Colossians 2:7NKJ; 1 Timothy 3:9; 1 Timothy 3:13; 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 3:8; 2 Timothy 4:7). As we will see, it was not just faith but the faith, a particular kind of faith associated with a specific message.
Now, many Christians probably view the faith as merely a set of fundamental doctrines held by most believers, such as the virgin birth, the atonement, justification by faith, etc. Some might call these doctrines the mainstream doctrines of most fundamental Christian churches which are readily accepted and widely taught and held in Christendom today. The faith does refer to a particular set of Biblical truths but not to the fundamental doctrines (which are correct and true) so widely taught and held. When faith is preceded by the article "the," it means that this is a particular type of faith. It has a specific meaning. It is more than believing in Jesus as Savior, resulting in eternal salvation. The faith is not separate from the gospel of the grace of God, for a Christian’s new life begins at this point. However, the faith deals with growing up with a view to what is coming; with going from immaturity to maturity, from milk to meat.
It deals with the goal of our salvation, the purpose for God creating us and then saving us. It deals with God’s eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus. It is a mystery revealed (1 Timothy 3:9). It is something of which we are to lay hold; for which we are to fight (2 Timothy 4:7), to strive (Php 1:27) and to contend (Jude 1:3). It is something which we are to enter (Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 13:5); it is something we can reject or deny (1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 5:8); it is something from which we can fall away, wander, fall or stray (1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:21). A search of the Scriptures using a Greek text will reveal that the term the faith is used at least fifty times. Unfortunately, some of the translators of the modern Bibles in use today dropped the from the faith.
Then, what is the faith? Thefaith was Paul’s expression for the Way. Just as those of the Way were looking toward the coming Kingdom, so are those who hold thefaith. Thus, the two expressions have the same thing in view-the coming Kingdom and all that is associated with the Kingdom. But it is more than merely accepting that the Lord Jesus will return one day. Many Christians, when questioned, acknowledge that He will return. The real issue is whether we are looking for and longing for the return of the Lord and living with a view to the coming Kingdom; holding fast to the faith; not being moved from the faith, even if the rest of the church has fallen away from the faith. Another way of explaining this is that the faith is firmly believing in the Word of the Kingdom and walking in a manner worthy of the God who calls us into His own Kingdom and Glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12). In other words, the faith is holding to a view of the King and His coming Kingdom and walking in a way that reflects this view. In the letter to the Hebrews, we discover an excellent example of saints of old who held to the faith by holding to a view of the heavenly city, even a better country, a heavenly one. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign {land} dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised; therefore, also, there was born of one man, and him as good as dead at that, {as many descendants} as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that {country} from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better {country} that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:8-16{ea})
Those who are looking for what lies ahead are ones who are walking by faith and believing in God’s future promises. Nothing, absolutely nothing, will distract one who sees himself as an alien (sojourner, pilgrim) on this earth. Why? Because he sees the goal that is set before him and he presses on toward this goal, and this goal is the millennial Kingdom of our Lord. This is what the faith is all about. Will He FindTheFaith When He Returns?
Paul was not alone in the use of the faith. In the book of Acts, Luke wrote of priests being obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7). Peter exhorted the sojourners and pilgrims to be steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:9NKJ). Jude exhorted the called ones to contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 1:3). But most importantly, the Lord Jesus used the term Himself.
"I say to you, that He will execute the justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, shall He find the faith upon the earth?" (Luke 18:8YLT {ea}) [In many translations, the article "the" is left out; but in the original Greek text, it reads "the faith."] The Lord Jesus looked ahead to a time 2,000 years in the future and asked this question in reference to the faith. The Son of Man is His Messianic title, so it refers to His coming to take the scepter of the Kingdom of this world (Revelation 11:15). In other words, when He comes to sit upon His throne, will His people, the people of the Way, be holding to the faith? Will their way truly be different? Will they be holding fast to a particular belief? Will they be longing for and eagerly waiting for His appearing? Will they be living with a view toward His coming Kingdom? Will they have grown up to be placed as sons in His Kingdom and be found worthy to be His Bride to reign with Him? The manner in which the Greek is worded in this question demands a negative answer to the question. Jesus was saying that when He returns as the Son of Man, He will not find the faith being taught or held by most Christians. The leaven that the woman placed in the three measures of meal will have done its work completely by the time He returns. The teaching and understanding of the Word of the Kingdom will be leavened (Matthew 13:33). Although many might not state so outwardly, there will be many who in their hearts will be saying: "Where is the promise of His coming? My Master delays, so I will live as I want."
We are living in the last of the last days right before the return of our beloved Lord. Midnight is almost upon us when the judgment of the Church begins, followed by the judgment of Israel and the Gentile nations. The leaves of the fig tree have come out (rebirth of the nation of Israel) and this generation will not pass away until they see the Son of Man return (Matthew 24:32-35). The Son of Man will not be looking for a general faith in reference to holding a general belief in Him or holding to sound Biblical doctrine pertaining to the fundamentals. The Lord is coming back when the faith is not being held. This is not to imply in any manner that holding to the fundamentals is wrong. Quite the contrary; Christians must hold to the basic beliefs surrounding the gospel of grace. They are essential. But the Lord is after maturity in His people. Christians are not to remain babes in Christ but are to grow up and be readied for His Kingdom. There are Biblical truths that a Christian must be taught that deal with themature knowledge of Christ; this leads the individual to live in such a manner that he will be counted worthy to enter the Kingdom and reign with Christ as His Bride. The Lord knew what was ahead for His people; and He knew that as His return approaches, there will be many Christians who will not be ready and waiting for His return. He will not find the faith amongst His people in the last days. Oh, in many respects, they might be holding on to correct Biblical doctrine, but are they truly holding to the faith in reference to His return and the coming Kingdom?
Now, some people might protest that the holding of the fundamentals is all that is needed. The fundamentals are good for babes in Christ; however, we are encouraged in the Word to grow up, to be spiritual men (1 Corinthians 3:1); to be partakers of solid food and not to remain on milk (1 Corinthians 3:2); to be complete in Christ (Colossians 1:28). Growing up pertains to the mature knowledge of the Word of God and this speaks loudly of the Reign of the Heavens. The writer to the Hebrews exhorted the brethren in Christ to grow up.
Concerning him we have much to say, and {it is} hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes {only} of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity. (Hebrews 5:11-14; Hebrews 6:1 a) The Hebrew letter was written as an exhortation, a warning to the holy brethren, the partakers of the heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1). They were being warned not to neglect so great a salvation, which refers not to eternal salvation but to entering the age to come as one of the many sons who will be brought to glory (Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 2:5). They were in great danger of not attaining the goal of the prize. They were being encouraged to press on to maturity for we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28), for here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking {the city} which is to come (Hebrews 13:14). The Lord is coming back for a people who are holding to the mature truth. He is coming for a mature bride, not a baby.
There is another most serious danger if we are holding to the fundamentals alone and not growing up with the meat of the Word. Most Christians know something of the Kingdom; however, it is often joined with the fundamentals. The problem is that the Word of the Kingdom can become so mixed and entangled with the fundamentals that the true message of the Kingdom is lost, even leavened or corrupted, resulting in a corruption of the fundamentals, as well. The fact of the matter is that this has occurred. For example, eternal salvation (a present possession, salvation of the spirit) is confused with inheriting the Kingdom (a future inheritance based on faithfulness, salvation of the soul). The result is that people are led to believe that they must work out their eternal salvation or else they will lose it. This is a most serious matter. The Scriptures warn that before the Lord returns, there will be a general apostasy in reference to the faith and this will lead to errors on many different fronts.
Apostasy
Throughout the Scriptures, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, apostasy is a major issue. Even Israel faced apostasy from false prophets that rose from among the Israelites. The early church was faced with false prophets and teachers; and we are warned that there will be a great falling away prior to the return of the Lord (Matthew 13:33; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Revelation 3:14-18).
First, what does apostasy mean? The English word apostasy comes from two Greek words apo which means "from" and stasis which means "stand" or "standing." Putting the two words together, the Greek word apostasia is formed which means "standing away from." This implies that a person once stood on some particular ground and left that ground. Spiritually speaking, it means that a Christian moves away from a position once held. The person believed in some truth and turned from it to follow (and teach) something which is false. In Matthew 5:31-32, the Lord Jesus spoke about divorce. In the Greek, divorce comes from the same word apostasia (apostasion). In other words, divorce is "standing away from another person." A marriage is required for a divorce or a standing away to occur. In like manner, a person who stands away from the faith must have been associated with the faith in the first place; otherwise, the person would have nothing from which to fall away. The person must divorce himself from some previously held position or belief. A lost person is not on any ground from which to move, so the only people who can fall into apostasy are Christians. Only Christians can divorce themselves from the truth. We need to be absolutely clear on this point. When we speak of apostasy or the great falling away, we are speaking of something that occurs within Christendom and applies to Christians. The world has nothing to do with apostasy, for they are already on the wrong ground. In fact, the New Testament is filled with warnings to us today regarding this matter of apostasy. Let us begin with Paul, who for three years labored night and day with tears on behalf of the church in Ephesus. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (Acts 20:29-31NKJ) The Holy Spirit must have revealed to Paul that, in spite of his best efforts, wolves would come in among them, not sparing the flock. Even worse, some of those that Paul had taught and who were standing before him were going to rise up, speaking perverse things (twisting, distorting the truth), drawing away the disciples to follow them. No wonder Paul continued to warn them night and day. He cried over them that they would be built up and come into the inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:32). Paul did not shun to declare to them the whole counsel of God, starting with the gospel of the grace of God and proceeding to the Kingdom of God (Acts 20:24-27). Paul’s exhortation was to watch (for the apostasy) and remember what he had taught (the faith). As he was about to depart this life, Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith. Again, the Holy Spirit had expressly revealed to him that there would be apostasy in the latter times.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. (1 Timothy 4:1NKJ {ea}) The word depart comes from the Greek word apostasia. In other words, some Christians will fall away from the faith. How will this happen? They will be seduced by deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. They will no longer listen to the truth of the gospel but will turn to that which is false. Oh, the doctrines may have some measure of light in them, but they have been twisted and perverted in some manner. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) who takes a little bit of truth and perverts it in subtle ways to lead the unsuspecting Christian into something that is dark. It may sound good and even tickle the ear (2 Timothy 4:3), but don’t be deceived; it is deception. In his day, Paul saw Christians falling away from the faith and he warned Timothy. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away fromthe faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang. (1 Timothy 6:10{ea})
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly {and} empty chatter {and} the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"-which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. (1 Timothy 6:20-21{ea}) But avoid worldly {and} empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, {men} who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some. (2 Timothy 2:16-18{ea}) Even Peter, at the end of his life, warned of the apostasy. But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. (2 Peter 2:1-2NKJ)
These false teachers will introduce destructive heresies that will lead others to follow their destructive ways. Peter went on to exhort the saints that in the last days, these apostates will deny the coming of the Lord (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Let us be clear that apostasy began early in church history and will continue until the Lord returns. The Lord warned that leaven would come into the teaching of the church, specifically in reference to the Word of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:33), which also refers to the faith. Leaven does its best work when the temperature is lukewarm, which is the condition of the church of the Laodiceans which represents the church on earth at the return of the Lord (Revelation 3:15-16).
What are we to do in these last days? How are we to live and to deal with the apostasy?
Continue InTheFaith And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue inthe faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:21-22{ea})
These verses were reviewed briefly in the last chapter; however, they are so fundamental to our understanding of the faith that it is important to elaborate on them.
While in Lystra, Paul created quite a stir amongst the people. The Jews, who consistently pursued Paul, came and persuaded the multitudes to stone him. Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city and left, for they supposed him to be dead. The disciples gathered around him; Paul rose up; and he and Barnabas left for Derbe where they preached the gospel and made many disciples. What a testimony! After this, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch and strengthened the souls of the disciples. Paul, along with those who worked with him, fought the good fight. They kept pressing on, not being derailed by the many challenges and persecutions that they faced. Paul literally faced death every day (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).
However, consider how Paul and the others encouraged the new disciples of Christ. They strengthened their souls by encouraging them to continue in the faith. The faith meant that there was something in view, and it was the Kingdom. Please notice how Paul joined the faith with the Kingdom: "Encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying." What did Paul say to encourage them? He said that they would encounter much tribulation, but this was the only way to enter the Kingdom. Paul knew firsthand that there are many tribulations awaiting those who continue in the faith, but only through these many tribulations do we enter the Kingdom. Thus, Paul’s view through the faith was the coming Kingdom. Notice how Paul was not encouraging the disciples to hold on to some basic set of doctrines. No; Paul’s whole being was set on being found worthy of the Kingdom and Glory (our hope), and on running the race of life in such a way so as to enter the Kingdom in the Day of Christ. Has this word changed nearly two millennia later? Absolutely not! Anyone who sees the Kingdom and has set his heart on entering the Kingdom will testify that there are many tribulations that will come. Why? First of all, because our Lord Jesus has told us so: "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). But He also encourages us: "Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27). Second, because the battle that rages with the unseen realm of the powers of darkness is over who will rule in the heavenly places in the coming Kingdom. The Word of the Kingdom will be contested by the powers of darkness for anyone who is serious about attaining unto the coming Age of Glory. Continuing in the faith requires perseverance to reach the end and receive a crown, which always speaks of reigning in the coming Kingdom. James joins the two thoughts: Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which {the Lord} has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). If you continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast, then the Lord will present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach (Colossians 1:22-23). In these last days, we must encourage one another to continue in the faith and not be moved away from this faith by the many trials and tribulations that will be encountered by every child of God who has set his heart on entering the Kingdom.
Fight The Good Fight OfTheFaith
Paul saw the entrance into the Kingdom as a battle or a competition. In writing his letters, Paul used terms to describe fighting a battle or competing in a contest to win the prize. In each case, he encouraged others to keep pressing on toward the goal and to allow nothing, absolutely nothing to stop them from reaching the goal. This goal is directly related to the faith, which speaks of the coming Kingdom and receiving the reward or prize of entering into glory and reigning with Christ in His millennial Kingdom. Paul sought for the crown. In several places, Paul used the Greek word agonizomai which means "to labor fervently, to strive, to struggle, to fight" (1 Corinthians 9:25; Colossians 1:29; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7). It is from this Greek word that we get our English word agonize.
Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they (do it) to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27ASV)
Paul saw himself in a race to be won with a crown awaiting him at the finish line. He was agonizing to run in such a way so as to attain to the goal and not be rejected or disqualified. He even buffeted his body like a boxer. He was contending as a boxer to bring his body into subjection to do the will of God. He agonized to exercise self-control in all things. Paul did not run with uncertainty because he knew, without any doubt, that there was a prize, an incorruptible crown. He was not wasting his time, for he knew that God is a rewarder. At the end of his life, Paul encouraged Timothy to fight the good fight.
Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12ASV {ea}) This verse is better translated: "Strive (agonizomai or agonize) in the good contest (agon which is the noun form of agonizomai) of the faith, lay hold on life for the age (to come)." In like fashion to what he wrote to the Corinthians, Paul saw himself in a contest that had to be fought and won, and this contest was in reference to the faith. Life eternal in this case refers to the life that is to come in the Kingdom Age. Thus, the faith, once again, is in reference to the millennial Kingdom. As his days drew to a close, Paul could testify that he had run the race and completed the course.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have keptthe faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8NKJ {ea})
These verses are very similar to 1 Timothy 6:12. Paul had agonized to win the good contest or fight. He testified that in spite of many trials, tribulations and persecutions, he had finished the race. He had kept the faith. In other words, he never lost sight of the finish line. He had done all that he needed to do to run the race so as to win and to receive the crown. Please note that the faith that Paul kept was in reference to the coming of the Lord on that Day, the day in which He will receive His people in the air and set up His judgment seat (2 Corinthians 5:10). The crown is in reference to reigning in the coming Kingdom when the Lord will reward His faithful servants with positions in the Kingdom. This is what the faith is all about.
Stand Firm InTheFaith Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)
We must stand firm in the faith, no matter how many trials and tribulations we encounter. The goal that is set before every Christian is a goal that is worth fighting for. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-58, Paul unveiled great kingdom truths about Christ, His coming, the Kingdom of God and the resurrection of the saints. Paul presented the basis for the hope of every Christian-Christ who was raised from the dead. If He was not raised from the dead, then we have no hope. Praise God that the grave could not hold Him and He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. "Death is swallowed up in victory." Hallelujah! The body is sown in dishonor, but it will be raised in glory. When will this occur? At the coming of our beloved Lord Jesus. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then {comes} the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. (1 Corinthians 15:22-26)
What a tremendous future is set before every Christian as an encouragement to run the race. As he concluded this letter to the Corinthians, Paul gave them this exhortation to be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Another way of stating this exhortation is: "Watch! Keep awake; do not sleep as the world sleeps. Stand fast with your feet firmly planted on the Word and persevere through the trials and tribulations. Put on the whole armor of God. Stand firm in the faith, for He is coming and you do not know when because He comes suddenly. So be brave; act manly, as a soldier fighting in a battle or an athlete competing in a contest. Contend to win the fight and receive the incorruptible prize. Be strong; increase in your vigor so that you can reach the finish line."
Dear brethren, have you seen the glory that awaits us at the finish line? The Lord of Glory is standing at the finish line with His nail-scarred hands outstretched to receive us to Himself and to bring us into His Kingdom. But it takes holding to the faith, standing firm in the faith, contending for the faith. Let us not give up, but let us press on toward the goal. Be Steadfast InTheFaith
Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (1 Peter 5:9NKJ {ea}) In both of Peter’s epistles, the Kingdom is in view (1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Peter 5:1; 1 Peter 5:4; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Peter 1:10-11; 2 Peter 1:16-17; 2 Peter 3:3-12). At the end of his first epistle, Peter exhorted the saints to be sober in respect to the devil who is like a roaring lion who seeks to devour. He exhorted the pilgrims of the Dispersion to resist the devil and be steadfast in the faith. Why? Because he saw that through suffering and the fiery trials, we will enter into glory: But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory (age-lasting glory or glory to be revealed in the age to come, the Kingdom Age) by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:10-11NKJ).
Peter saw what lies ahead for Christians, and he was encouraging them (and us) to be steadfast or to be fixed on a purpose. What is the purpose? To enter the glory of Christ after a time of trial and suffering. When does this glory come? It comes when our Lord comes in the day of His Kingdom and Glory. Why are we exhorted to resist the devil? Because he is the ruler of this world system and is occupying the place of rulership in the heavenly places that is destined for the Bride of Christ to occupy in the Kingdom Age. The devil seeks to devour and disqualify Christians from ascending the throne with the Lord as His Bride. For this reason, Peter sets the Kingdom and Glory before us and encourages us to be steadfast in the faith. In these days of trials, our souls need to be strengthened and encouraged to keep the faith and to run the race of the faith.
Contend Earnestly ForTheFaith
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly forthe faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3{ea})
Jude, along with Paul, Peter, James, John and the writer of Hebrews, saw the great danger that Christians face as the day of our Lord’s return nears. The message related to the Kingdom will be leavened and a general apostasy will exist in the Christian world. Early in church history, the leaven was planted in the teachings of the church. The book of Jude is about contending earnestly for the faith during the day of apostasy. When Jude began to write his letter, it seems that the Holy Spirit led him to change the subject matter of the letter from "the common salvation" (salvation by grace through faith that all Christians possess) to this matter of contending for the faith.
Jude saw the apostasy and it exercised his heart. As he began to write a letter to those who are called, loved and kept, he changed the theme of his letter. He made every effort to write to them about their common salvation (the fundamentals) but felt the necessity to write to them appealing that they contend for the faith. In other words, it was more than the common beliefs of every Christian. It was about contending (agonizing, striving) for something that exceeds eternal salvation. What was Jude’s view? It was the seventh day (vs. 14), the Lord’s Day, the Kingdom Age. It was the day of His glory (vs. 24). The phrase "contend earnestly" comes from the Greek word epagonizomai which is an intense form of the word agonizomai. Jude exhorts us to earnestly strive or agonize for the faith. This is the same thought that Paul expressed-"striving in the good contest of the faith." This faith has been delivered to all the saints. In other words, the faith has been given to all Christians; and we are exhorted to keep it and not be persuaded by the doctrines of demons spoken through apostates. The faith is more than our common salvation; it is about running the race in such a way to reach the goal of the Kingdom and Glory. This is what has been delivered to Christians, and this is what is in view for those who contend earnestly for the faith and fight the good fight of the faith.
Dear brethren, the faith is so tremendous because it speaks of all that is coming when our beloved Lord Jesus returns in the air for His people. In that day, He will be looking for those who have contended earnestly for the faith. These are the ones who will enter the Reign of the Heavens.
What are we to do in these last days? We need the eyes of our heart opened to see how vital is the faith. Then we need to do as the Scriptures exhort-continue in the faith, fight the good fight of the faith, stand firm in the faith, be steadfast in the faith, and finally, contend earnestly for the faith!
Let us press on to maturity!