KEEPING THE FAITH

By Charles Wages

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim. 4:7)

The apostle Paul lists three major accomplishments in his special ministry for the Lord.

I Have Fought a Good Fight

The "good" fight that the apostle fought was not an athletic contest to receive an earthly reward. He is referring to fighting the good fight of faith. This is the counsel he gave to his son in the faith, Timothy.

"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." (1 Tim. 6:12)

This type of fight involves straining, striving, putting forth every effort to protect and preserve the work of the Lord. This "good" fight demands that the believer be in good spiritual condition because there is strenuous labor involved. Also, we must never forget, we have a strong adversary, the devil.

I Have Finished My Course

This was a tremendous statement that the apostle could truthfully and triumphantly make. He had run a long and hard race, but he had crossed the finish line. The apostle Paul, several years before he finished his course, which involved bonds and afflictions, said, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the grace of God." (Acts 20:24)

The apostle "finished his course" and look at the results! Thirteen, possibly fourteen books of the Scriptures; the revelation of the mystery concerning God's plan for this age of grace; salvation by grace alone; and the blessed hope of our being "caught up" into glory ever to be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17).

I Have Kept the Faith

There is much more to keeping the faith than just living a good, clean, honest life. Every once in a while we hear someone say, "he was a good Christian" or "she was a good Catholic or Protestant." What does this mean? Does it mean they have truly "kept the faith?" Keeping the faith means far more. It means taking a stand and defending the faith. In Jude, verse 3, we read of "earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Contending means more than just fun and games, like some of our modern religious pop songs would lead us to believe. It conveys the idea that we are in a real battle and we must "agonize" as a real combatant.

In Jude, verse 9, it tells us of Michael, the archangel, contending with the devil about "the body of Moses." Shouldn't we contend about "the body of Christ," the Church God is building today? Paul admonished Timothy, "That good thing (deposit of truth) which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in us." (2 Tim. 1:14)

He had earlier written, "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science falsely so called." (1 Tim. 6:20)

It appears that Paul had committed to Timothy the revelation of the mystery which had been given first to him (Eph. 3:1-12).

Keeping the faith is akin to "keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3). We, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, need to be alert and watchful. This isn't a soft, easy task where we can sleep or even snooze. The trouble is that so many "Christians" don't know what "the faith" really is! We hear people talk of the Protestant faith, the Jewish faith, the Catholic faith, or even nondenominational faith, or interdenominational faith. We all need to be reminded that there is only "one faith" (Eph. 4:5) and that faith is stated in Galatians 2:20,

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Certainly, God has and will continue to preserve His Word. However, we as believers, have a very grave, yet wonderful privilege and responsibility of making His truth known, and then to defend and contend for this glorious truth. This is especially important when we see many trying to refute and even outright deny the truth of God's Word. The only true "faith" is that revealed in His Word.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17)

Wouldn't it be wonderful and a good testimony if it could be said of each of us, He/she has Kept the Faith!