The Fight of Faith

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses" (I Timothy 6:12).

Faith which is genuine saving faith in Christ is not characterized simply by a single act of belief, but by a life lived in faith. To illustrate and stress this truth, the Scriptures use many vivid figures to describe such faith.

First of all, it is the door by which men and women enter the family of the redeemed. Paul reported how God "had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27). Then, it becomes a "household of faith" (Galatians 6:10) to all who have entered. "The just shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11).

Faith is also work. "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith" (I Thessalonians 1:3) is vital, because "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). "By grace are ye saved through faith; . . . Not of works," but "created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Furthermore, there is a fight of faith! "Fight the good fight of faith," commands our text for today. The Christian is constantly under attack by the devil, and it is only through faith that he can stand. "Let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love" (I Thessalonians 5:8). In the wonderful words of Ephesians 6:16, our faith becomes an invincible shield, "able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" one. When we take it and actively use it, "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4).

Let us, therefore, like Abraham, be "strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Romans 4:20). Our faith is well placed, for it centers on Christ, the mighty Creator, living Savior, and coming King. There is a door of faith, then a household of faith, followed by the work of faith, and the fight of faith, with the shield of faith, and all of this is in the wonderful "word of faith, which we preach" (Romans 10:8). HMM