The Church at War

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We turn now to Paul's final words in this letter to Timothy and the church at Ephesus. Consider some of the subjects covered by the apostle thus far: false teaching, the importance of prayer, the role of women in the church, the qualifications for church leaders, instructions about widows and slaves, and the dangers of materialism. You may wonder what is utmost in Paul's mind as he brings this letter to a close. This passage contains his final exhortations.

I believe the statement that best sums up Paul's final word to Timothy is found in verse 12: "Fight the good fight for the faith." This is similar to the language Paul used in chapter 1 when he told Timothy to "strongly engage in battle" (1:18). So at the beginning and end of this letter, Paul was reminding Timothy of the battle and the struggle involved in the Christian's life. Timothy needed to realize that he was in a battle for his faith and for the faith—the gospel. As followers of Christ, this is precisely the realization we need to come to today.122

Recognize the Global Reality

Recognize the Global Reality

If we profess to follow Christ, then we are involved in a spiritual war, whether we realize it or not. The Bible is clear on this: we are in wartime, not peacetime. This truth can be found all over Scripture: Hebrews 12:4 says that we are at war against sin; 1 Peter 2:11 talks about war taking place within our souls; Jude 3 speaks of the struggle for our faith; 2 Timothy 2:3 refers to Timothy as a soldier for the gospel; 2 Corinthians 6:7 and 10:4 mention the weapons that believers possess; finally, Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that "our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens."

Every Christian is involved in a spiritual war, and his or her faith may be under attack in any number of ways. Sometimes the battle is for a marriage. Sometimes the battle is between a parent and a child. For many men today, their mind is a battleground for purity. As we saw in the previous section of 1 Timothy 6, there's a battle to be fought against materialism in our consumer-driven culture. And, of course, there's always the battle with unbelief and doubting God. Worry and despair seem to be unrelenting for some people. Needless to say, the Christian life is not an exercise in simply coasting along. And don't think this struggle doesn't apply to non-Christians. A spiritual battle is raging for their souls as well.

Followers of Christ should not take this spiritual battle lightly, for the enemy in this spiritual war is formidable. Martin Luther, in his well-known hymn "A Mighty Fortress," said of Satan, the prince of darkness, "on earth is not his equal." Satan aims to defame God's glory, distort God's gospel, and destroy God's people. He wants to wreck your marriage, destroy your relationships, abolish your purity, attack your integrity, and at all costs keep you from knowing the glory of God and spreading the gospel of God. First Peter 5:8 describes the Devil as "a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour." While it's true, Christian, that your foe is not all powerful, you are still no match for him, regardless of how strong or smart you are. This enemy cannot be taken lightly.

We not only need to see that the enemy in this spiritual war is formidable but also that the scope of this spiritual war is universal. This battle is cosmic. It involves every language, every people, every nation, every tribe, every family, and every life, which means that involvement in this spiritual war is inevitable. You do not choose whether to be involved in it; your involvement began the day you were born. So you can't just123 ignore it and hope to make it out alive. The Bible doesn't say, "Ignore the Devil, and he will flee from you." No, it says, "Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you" (Jas 4:7). If you try to avoid this war, pretending there is no struggle to be had, then you will not stand. Spiritual retreat only leads to spiritual defeat. Don't let that be you.

This war is universal and inevitable, and it's critical that we prepare for it because the stakes in this spiritual war are eternal. The casualties are so much more than merely losing an arm or a leg; a casualty in this war means losing everything, even your own soul. It's not too extreme to say that casualties of this war plunge into a hell of everlasting torment. That may sound overdramatic, but consider these realties: there is a God over this world who wants all people to be saved, and there is a god in this world who wants all people to burn in hell. There is a battle raging for your friends, coworkers, neighbors, and for all the peoples of the world. How we fight this battle has eternal implications. Satan does not want us to believe, live out, or spread this gospel. Is he succeeding in your life? Are you even aware that you're at war?

Fight the Good Fight

Fight the Good Fight

1 Timothy 6:11-21

In light of the battle that is waging all around us, Paul tells us in verse 12 to "fight the good fight for the faith." This is a good fight, and the fight is for eternal life. It's a fight for peace, confidence, and hope—not just for you but so that others too will escape everlasting torment and receive eternal life. This is a good fight, but that doesn't mean it's easy.

Recently I agreed to join two men in my church for a workout program. The program only lasted for 12 minutes, so I thought to myself, "How hard could this be?" Ironically, they were inviting me on "Friend Day," which was a complete misnomer. I experienced the longest 12 minutes of my life, running and doing ball tosses, squats, and push-ups. After it was over, I was lying on the floor with my legs threatening to explode, unable to move, and I could hear the hushed tones of people walking around me saying, "Is that guy OK?" Friend Day had clearly gone awry. The next day, looking back on my workout, even though I was extremely sore, I thought, "That was good; my body clearly needed that." The benefits of getting in shape require effort, even painful effort. Our spiritual life is a lot like that—it's not an easy fight, but it's a good124 fight. And the reward, which God has secured for us, is more than worth the effort to continue fighting.

Think about where the battle is raging in your life—whether it's your marriage, your parenting, your relationships, or your emotions—and be encouraged from our text to persevere. Let the Word comfort and strengthen you in this fight of faith. Peacetime is coming, be assured of that, but it is not now. So Paul tells us that we must fight, and he begins with this exhortation: "But you, man of God, run from these things" (v. 11). Flee evil that pulls you from God. In this instance we fight by fleeing. Now that may sound more like running from a fight than fighting, but let me remind you that running is sometimes the best way to avoid defeat. If I meet a three hundred-pound football player in the street who wants to demolish me, hand-to-hand combat is not going to be my best strategy. Running is.15 This is why Paul says we should "flee," or run away from, "these things." By "these things" he probably means things like materialism, quarreling, slander, and arrogance, the things he's just mentioned in verses 3-10. Consider three different ways in which we should run from evil.

First, run from sinful actions. Run from every temptation to sin. Beware: sin usually starts slowly and subtly, with just a glance or a thought or a kiss or a purchase. Don't flirt with the danger—run! But remember, sin goes deeper than actions. We should also run from sinful desires. In verses 9-10 Paul talks about sinful desires, such as the desire for riches and the love of money, cravings that pull you away from God. But there's an even deeper step to take: Run from sinful thoughts. This is the good fight of faith! The Bible is telling us to fight in order to believe God. Why is it that we run after materialism and earthly possessions? Because we do not believe God is enough for us. Paul is telling us to fight the desire for more stuff with the belief that God is enough for us. Our spiritual struggles with sin are, at the core, struggles to believe God. Consider the following questions:

• Why do you lie? Because you believe things will go better for you if you do. You believe yourself more than you believe the God who said, "Do not lie" (Col 3:9; Exod 20:16).125
• Why do you give in to sexual impurity? Because you don't believe that purity is the best thing for you. You don't believe God's plans are best in this area of your life.
• Why do you struggle with doubt and despair? Because you don't believe God will take care of you, He is good, and His promises are true.

Follower of Christ, God's Word is your weapon in this fight of faith. If you are struggling to believe God is with you, fight unbelief with verses like Joshua 1:5 and Matthew 28:20, where God promises us His presence. Think, "He has promised to be with me; He is with me." Believe it. Bank on it. If you're struggling to believe that God is in control, meditate on Psalm 31:15, "The course of my life is in Your power," or Romans 8:28, "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose." Be confident in God's promise.

The fight of faith is a fight to believe. Therefore, run from sinful thoughts, which produce sinful desires, which lead to sinful actions. But don't just run from these things; run to something. Paul said to "pursue" six different (but related) things in verse 11: "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness." "Righteousness" here refers to righteous thinking and living. "Godliness," one of Paul's favorite terms in 1 Timothy, refers to godly belief and behavior. Next, Paul said to pursue faith, which is to say we should seek a deeper trust in God. Malcolm Muggeridge talks about how afflictions have played a part in this process of seeking to rely on God:

Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful, with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my seventy-five years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence, has been through affliction and not through happiness, whether pursued or attained. (Muggeridge, Homemade, July 1990)

Muggeridge expresses well the truth of Romans 5:3-4: "We rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope."

It's no surprise that Paul also mentions love, or greater affection for God, as something we should strive after. In John 15:9 Jesus said to126 "abide" in His love. Christian, have you considered the wonder of God's love for you? Does it not make you want to dwell in such an infinitely sweet love? When you do, you'll find that you are also growing in love for others, your wife, your kids, and everyone around you. After love Paul mentions endurance, which we might refer to as patience amidst difficult circumstances. The words steadfastness and perseverance come to mind when we think about endurance. We press on even when times are tough and it seems as if the end is nowhere in sight. Scripture speaks repeatedly of faith as a battle of endurance. After Jesus warns His disciples in Matthew 24 that difficult times are coming, He promises that "the one who endures to the end will be delivered" (v. 13). Likewise, Hebrews 3:14 says, "For we have become companions of the Messiah if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start." Finally, Paul exhorts us to pursue gentleness. We might think of this as kindness toward difficult people. What an interesting way to put this—we fight the fight of faith with gentleness. So, yes, we must have strength, but gentle strength, humble strength that overflows in kindness.

Although we pursue holiness and fight the good fight, don't get the impression that followers of Christ gain their own righteousness merely through self-effort. Our initial righteousness as well as the godliness, faith, and every other aspect of our ongoing sanctification have been bought for us by Christ. Only as we are in Christ do these things become a reality for us by the power of the Spirit (Phil 1:6; 2 Pet 1:3). Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:12, "Take hold of eternal life that you were called to and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses." Eternal life is freely given, for God has "called" us to it, but we fight to take hold of it by faith. In effect, Paul instructs believers to experience the life you have been given. Timothy had already received eternal life when Christ called him, but that wasn't the end of the story. This is true for all followers of Christ. You are in Christ and you have His life in you, but you struggle on a daily basis to experience the fullness of this supernatural life. Until that day in the future when you are completely free from sin and the spiritual battles of this life are over, you must continue in this day-to-day battle to experience the life Christ has bought for you.

To every brother or sister in Christ who feels as if the battle of the Christian life is too daunting, Paul offers a number of encouragements and exhortations. First, He has called your name. You are His child. You are not fighting against God; He is fighting for you. Second, you have confessed your faith. You have taken your stand with the Lord Jesus,127 and this has been demonstrated most notably in your baptism, when you stood before witnesses and said, "My life is in Jesus; I have died to sin, and I have been raised to new life" (see Rom 6:3-4). In view of these truths, live in light of God's presence. Paul charged Timothy "in the presence of God" (1 Tim 6:13). He is with you, Christian, so fight this battle knowing that the Creator of all things is on your side.

As believers, we should also live in view of Christ's faithfulness. Paul said that Christ "gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate" (v. 13). When the life of the Son of God was on the line before Pontius Pilate, He made the good confession. Jesus confessed His kingship, and it cost Him His life. He is the Savior who died for you, and He stands beside you in battle. So what do you have to fear? Moreover, He is the King who is coming for you. Verse 14 says we are to walk in obedience "until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." We fight with our eyes on the sky, looking and longing for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pursue godliness because we know Christ is returning. He is coming back for the faithful, not the faithless.

And when you feel overwhelmed, live in awe of God's greatness. In verses 15-16 Paul erupted into one of the most majestic and glorious hymns of praise to God in all of Scripture. Consider what Paul tells us about God here:

• His rule is universal: God is sovereign over everything.
• His reign is invincible: He is the King of kings. No one can match Him.
• He is immortal: He is beyond time, from everlasting to everlasting.
• He is unapproachable: God lives in an atmosphere of blinding holiness.
• He is inconceivable: No one can fathom His greatness. He is utterly transcendent.
• He possesses all power: Eternal, omnipotent might is His.
• He deserves all praise: To God belongs honor and glory.

In verses 17-19 Paul returned to the issue of materialism, the very thing he addressed earlier in verses 5-10. So why did Paul talk about materialism, then fighting the fight of faith, and then return to materialism again? I think there is a method to what Paul was doing here. Follow Paul's reasoning: the contentment that comes along with godliness (v. 6) is something that we must fight for (vv. 11-14), and one way in which we128 fight for contentment is to give away what we have (vv. 17-19). After all, God is gain, so we have no reason to crave the passing pleasures of this world. Maybe you're wondering, "But what do I do with the stuff I already have?" Paul answers this question in verses 17-19 as he addressed the rich in Ephesus. And don't think he is simply referring to the upper-income bracket in America. The large majority of us, in comparison to the rest of the world and to the rest of humans who have ever lived, could be considered a part of the "rich" Paul is addressing. He urged them, and he urges us to give for eternal gain.

We live for eternal gain by fleeing certain things. First, Paul tells us to flee self-confidence. In verse 17 he says to Timothy, "Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth." It should come as no surprise that possessions produce pride. We like to think our security is not based on our stuff, but as soon as we think about giving our stuff away, our insecurities quickly surface. Second, Paul says we are to flee self-centeredness. Riches not only lead you to be haughty, but they can also cause you to hope in yourself. You begin to look at all you've acquired, and you get a certain sense of self-worth based on your accomplishments. Don't be deceived: That kind of thinking will kill you! Flee self-confidence and self-centeredness.

The third thing Paul tells us to do is to focus on God. We need more of the Giver, not more gifts. In the second half of verse 17, Paul says that we are to set our hope on God, the One who "richly provides us with all things to enjoy." Did you catch that? He gives good things for our enjoyment. Things in and of themselves are not bad. They were created to be enjoyed as God's good gifts. In turn, we should use God's gifts to do good, for He commands us "to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share" (v. 18). In response to God's goodness, we give good things for others' enjoyment. If you want to be rich in something, be rich in giving! The biblical antidote to materialism is extravagant giving. We invest good things in our and others' eternity. We set our sights on giving, not hoarding; on sacrificing, not indulging. We store up treasure for ourselves as a good foundation "for the age to come," so that we "may take hold of life that is real" (v. 19). One way we lay hold on eternal life is by the way we use our money.

In verses 20 and 21, Paul gives his closing charge to Timothy. As one who was helping to shepherd the church at Ephesus, Timothy must guard all spiritual truth. Paul is direct: "Timothy, guard what has been129 entrusted to you." That which had been entrusted to Timothy was the whole of the Christian faith, at the center of which is the gospel, the good news of Christ's death and resurrection. These foundational truths were under attack in Ephesus, and they have continued to be under attack throughout the church's history at all times and in all places. In light of such attacks, we fight to be faithful to the gospel. Paul returns to the exhortation he began with, and the theme he had touched on throughout the letter—hold fast to the truth of the gospel. Consider some of the ways in which this theme has been woven throughout these six chapters. Timothy had been instructed in the following ways:

• Stop others from teaching "different doctrine" (1:3).
• Hold on to faith and a good conscience (1:19).
• Appoint elders who can teach the Word (3:2).
• Devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, exhortation, and teaching (4:13).
• Keep watch on himself and his teaching (4:16).
• Fight the good fight and keep the commandment without fault or failure (6:12, 14).

So why is it so important to hold on to the gospel and not waver? What's at stake? First, for our sake we must remain in the truth. Paul talked about those who had wandered from the truth; some had been delivered to Satan (1:20), while others had been pierced with many pains for departing from the faith (6:10). We should not be so arrogant as to think that this could never happen to us. We will be tempted every day to let go of this gospel. No one is immune from Satan's attacks. That's why Paul referred to the Christian life as a fight (6:12).

The second reason we must hold fast to this gospel is for others' sake. We might think of this on two levels: we remain faithful for those outside the church and for those inside the church. For those outside the church, individuals who are separated from God, we must preach and share the true gospel. We must fight fear and timidity and distractions in order to make this good news known so that people will be saved. For those inside the church, clinging to the truth is essential. If we don't, we can easily become like so many churches in our day, churches that have ceased to exist as true New Testament churches. The church landscape in Western Europe and across the United States is littered with churches that once used to preach the gospel but have since left that gospel behind. These churches have doubted the glory of God,130 questioned the character of God, and either diminished or altogether ignored the Word of God. There are scores of churches where the truth of God has, at best, a minimal role. These are churches filled with man-pleasing sermons and ideas that appeal to the world, all the while ignoring God's Word. If a pastor rejects the authority of God's Word or departs from the truth of the gospel, the church should remove him from his role. If anyone, Paul said, even an angel, preaches another gospel, then that person stands under God's judgment (Gal 1:8-9). We must hold tightly to the Word of God.

If all of this talk about fighting has you feeling weak, there's good news. Paul's final words in verse 21 were, "Grace be with all of you." Fellow believer, we fight as we're filled with God's grace. Paul knew Timothy was not able to do this on his own, and the same holds true for us. In Colossians 1:28-29 Paul talks about working hard in his ministry, and he says, "I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me." Notice that Paul strived, but God was the one who provided the strength. It is reassuring to know that we are never alone in this war. Now this may sound like old news to some Christians, but consider how the closing to this letter communicates this point. When Paul says, "Grace be with all of you," he is speaking to a plural "you." This seems odd at first, considering that Timothy was addressed in the book's opening greeting (1:2). The entire letter had, in one sense, been aimed at Timothy as the pastor of the church at Ephesus. Yet, when Paul closed the letter, he had the entire church in mind. It is comforting to know that as we read 1 Timothy and any other book of Scripture that God has us in mind. He is with us, and we are never alone in the fight of faith.

If you have put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, be encouraged in this spiritual battle: we do not fight this war for victory; we fight this war from victory. Our ultimate triumph in this battle is assured because Christ Himself has conquered sin and death. The second verse of Luther's hymn "A Mighty Fortress" serves as a fitting conclusion to Paul's letter:

Did we in our own strength confide,

our striving would be losing;

Were not the right Man on our side,

the Man of God's own choosing:

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is He;

Lord Sabbaoth, His Name,131

from age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

Reflect and Discuss