Wage The Good Warfare Series

1 Timothy 1:18-20 Wage the Good Warfare

1 Tim 1:18-20

“This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

Many are fighting today for their rights, freedom, their land and their country. Wars are bad because they are driven by selfish motives and goals.

• But Paul uses a unique phrase here when he tells Timothy to “wage the good warfare”.

• There is a GOOD warfare. He said it again in 6:12, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

• This is the FIGHT Timothy was called to fight - the fight of faith. Holding on to the TRUTH God has revealed in Jesus Christ.

Paul said in his second letter - 2 Tim 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” - laying for Timothy a living example to follow.

It’s a charge Paul needs to give Timothy because false teachers are telling a different message and promoting “myths and endless genealogies” (1:4).

• Such unsound or unhealthy doctrine is leading people astray, away from the truth of the Gospel that truly saves.

• God reveals salvation through Jesus Christ, and true life-change can only come through the Gospel.

It’s the truth crystallised over time by the testimonies of believers.

• 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

• “I’ve experienced it and it has been authenticated by believers all over.”

This is the true Gospel. “What the Law cannot do, the Gospel did in changing a sinner like me.” And that’s what we are proclaiming.

• We contend for the truth because it has been proven to be true in doctrine and life.

• That’s Paul’s fight, and now Timothy’s fight, being his “true child in the faith”1:2.

• And that’s our fight today! It’s a spiritual fight of faith, proclaiming what is true so that people will not be confused by speculations and falsehoods.

SPEAK OUT FOR THE TRUTH

Paul reminded Timothy of his call to this ministry as pastor of the church.

• He said, “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you…” (1:18)

• We do not know the specifics of these prophecies, but God led the church to ordain Timothy to lead the church.

• 4:14 “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”

• The body of elders affirmed God’s calling by laying their hands on Timothy and ordained him for ministry.

Since he was set apart for this, Paul reminded Timothy to honour that call and “wage the good warfare” 1:18 NASB: “Fight the good fight.”

• He did not explain what this “warfare” means. We can read it from the context - about false teachings, sound doctrine, and the life-changing message of the Gospel.

• Timothy would know. It is a call to defend the Gospel against all the false teachings; to defend what God has revealed against those who deny or distort it.

This was a needed and timely encouragement for the young and newly ordained Timothy (written AD 62-67).

• It is also a reminder to all of us as believers entrusted with the Gospel – to contend for what God has revealed.

• Both Jude and Peter issued the same call to believers, written around the same time.

• Jude 1:3-4 “3Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

• 4For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (AD 65-75)

• 2 Peter 2:1-3 “1But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

2And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”