Between believe and eternal life!
Preface: Between faith and eternal life there is this good fight of the faith which we must win!
A. Apostle Paul has set us the example! 2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will award to me on that day-- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
B. This is how we fight this fight! Eph.6:12-17
1. For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against
the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual (hosts) of wickedness in the heavenly (places).
2. Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and,
having done all, to stand. Eph.6:13
3. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Eph.6:14-15
4. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming
arrows of the evil one. Eph.6:16
5. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph.6:17
6. As we can see, the only attack weapon is the word of God!
7. The rest of weapons are personal virtues!
8. It is a matter of who is able to life a more virtuous life on this earth!
9. My number one item in life to show self-control is on time as promise in all appointments!
By the grace of God, this one thing is enough to scare away most if not all of my enemies!
Try it and see for yourself, it is free!
C. You must grow in the church of Christ! Eph.4:11-13
1. Even if you can grow anywhere else, it would be an utmost disgrace to your own intelligence!
Because you waste all your life long efforts and still be in hell!
Acts of piety not in the New Testament Bible is superstition! Col.2:22
Worship not in the New Testament Bible is heresy! Acts 24:17
Both of the above are destined to perish with use!
2. And he gave some (to be) apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of
the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a full grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Eph.4:11-13
3. Besides the church of Christ in the last 1500 years not one ever grows unto this one!
Is the name of your church in the Bible?
D. This a life long struggle!
1.
2Pe 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
2Pe 1:7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
2Pe 1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 2:20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and
overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the
beginning. (NIV)
2Pe 2:21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs
on the sacred command that was passed on to them. (NIV)
2Pe 2:22 Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and,
"A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."
2Tim 2:24 And the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all,
apt to teach, forbearing, (ASV)
2Tim 2:25 in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if
peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of
the truth, (ASV)
2Tim 2:26 and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil,
having been taken captive by him unto his will. (ASV)
1Pe 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy,
envy, and slander of every kind. (NIV)
1Pe 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you
may grow up in your salvation, (NIV)
1 Pet 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1Tim 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
1Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life
to which you were called when you made your good confession in
the presence of many witnesses. (NIV)
2Tim 1:12 For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed;
for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is
able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that
day. (ASV)
2Tim 1:11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a
teacher. (NIV)
2 Tim 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless
I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (KJV)