Fought—Finished—Kept 2 Timothy 4:6-8. Introduction “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” –Paul was describing.

Fought—Finished—Kept

2 Timothy 4:6-8

Introduction

• “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”– Paul was describing his life as he

neared the end of his earthly pilgrimage.

– Will we be able to describe our lives as he did his?

Fought—Finished—Kept

• “I have fought a good fight.”

• What does it take to fight a “good fight”?– Choosing to fight against sin

and for faith• Jude 3• Romans 6:12-16

– Win a victory over past sins• Ephesians 1:7

Fought—Finished—Kept

• “I have fought a good fight.”– Be vigilant against Satan.– He is on the prowl.

• 1 Peter 5:8

– Do not be ignorant of his devices.

• 2 Corinthians 2:11

– Watch and pray continually.• Matthew 26:41

Fought—Finished—Kept

• “I have fought a good fight.”– Practice self-discipline and self-denial as a

good soldier does.• 2 Timothy 2:3• 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

– Be properly outfitted to stand against the devil and wickedness.

• Ephesians 6:13-18• 2 Timothy 2:15

Fought—Finished—Kept

• “I have finished my course.”– What is a course?– John finished his course.

• Acts 13:25

– God assigned him work to do.• Luke 1:14-17

– God also gave Paul a work to do.

• Acts 9:15,16

Fought—Finished—Kept

• “I have finished my course.”– Each of us must also run a course.

• Hebrews 12:1– Will you finish your course before

your life nears its end?– Not if you are NOT OBEYING the Lord.

• Hebrews 5:9– Not if you have wasted opportunities.

• Galatians 6:10

– Not if you have grown weary.• Galatians 6:9 • Hebrews 12:3-5

Fought—Finished—Kept

• “I have kept the faith.”– Here, the “faith” is the sum total of all that

God teaches, warns against, requires, and instructs, in His word.

– Have we kept the faith?

– Are we doing spiritual work according to the apostles’ doctrine?

• Acts 2:42

Fought—Finished—Kept

• “I have kept the faith.”– Nothing less will do.

• Galatians 1:6-9

– Transgressing against the doctrine of Christ will break fellowship with God.

• 2 John 9-11

– I must remain faithful until my last breath.

• Revelation 2:10

Fought—Finished—Kept

• Some have the misguided notion that keeping the faith is nothing more than:– Teaching what is right on a few issues.– Or believing Christ is God’s Son.

• John 3:16

– Or being a member of the church• Matthew 7:21

– Or being a good moral person.• Acts 10

Fought—Finished—Kept

• Keeping the “faith” is doing ALL that God’s word reveals.– Worshipping right, wearing the right name,

doing the right work, having the right attitude, right conduct, right living, etc.

• John 4:24• Acts 11:26• Ephesians 4:11,12• Proverbs 23:7• Titus 2:11,12

Conclusion

• Notice what Paul says about those who follow his example.– 2 Timothy 4:8

• They will receive a crown of righteousness.

• They will love Christ’s appearing.

• Our time for FIGHTING, FINISHING, and KEEPING is NOW!