II Timothy 4:7, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

This morning, our mind is still upon the contrast between individual and group activity. As the Bible speaks of personal talents, gifts, and abilities, so it also speaks of common things that are applicable to the whole human race (according to nature) or the elect family of God (according to the promise and security of God). Jude referred to the common salvation (Jude 3) that applies the same way to God's children every time. The way one of His little ones is regenerated is the way all of them are regenerated. (John 3:8) The death of Christ is for all of them identically, and the purpose of God loves and keeps us all through the merits of His Son the same way every time. However, our fellowship with God does vary from man to man and as individuals from season to season, but even in our walk, there are some things that we need to understand as being applicable to all with others being applicable to us personally. In our path of fellowship with our Redeemer in walking with Him, we need to understand that some things are the same across the board (do not vary based on the individual) while others are particular to us.

As Paul is concluding his second epistle to beloved Timothy, he seems to understand that he is nearing the end of his natural life. Although Paul was not positively sure when his life might end (look at verses 9 and 13), he understood the possibility of his life's end. Looking at these three phrases, we can easily see a distinction between them based solely upon the article or pronoun use for each one: 1. a good fight, 2. my course, and 3. the faith. Each of these leading pronouns or particles shows that Paul understood the commonality he had with his brethren as well as the individuality he had in his person. Let us look at each phrase to discover how they apply to us today and further our knowledge to serve Christ better with this application centered in mind.

Paul describes his life as a fight or battle. He exhorted Timothy many times to war a good warfare and try to consistently win in his daily struggles of the new against the old. The admonishment is to keep the armour firmly strapped about us, ready for use, and ably utilized in warfare. Still, Paul was inspired to say that he (Paul) had fought "a good fight." The article "a" means that there is more than one. If I said, "I ate a pizza," it is understood that there is more than one pizza out there. Simply put, mine was similar to others but unique to my situation. Paul fought a good fight, but his fight may have been different than ours. As a younger man, I enjoyed watching boxing prize fighting (although that passion has waned over time). As each fight progressed, there would be a growing mood of whether it was a good fight or not. If there was not much action or the person we wanted to win was losing, we might call it a bad fight. If there was a lot of penalization for fouls and low blows, the crowd recognized the badness of the fight with their interaction. Finally, if the fight went to the cards, a bad decision might make one say, "That was a bad fight."

However, there were many possible outcomes that made for a good fight. A lot of action leading to a close, intense struggle was many times deemed a good fight. One fighter being knocked out (my favourite ending) was considered worthy of a good fight, provided it happened in a late round. So, it is easily seen that a good fight may have varying characteristics all within the framework of "a good fight." Brethren, each of us fight in different ways about different things. Our particular struggles make for a fight that we have with the old flesh that is one of many fights and battles. Paul said his was a good fight. Granted, he made mistakes and would have easily admitted of the litter of problems along his path, but at the end of the day, his fight is described as a good one. His particular fight may not quite be like ours. I have not been lashed across my back 195 times, beaten with rods, been stoned and left for dead, or spent a night and a day in the deep. Paul experienced all these things in his fight. My fight has had some portion of Paul's last statement from that list in II Corinthians 11, "the care of all the churches." I have not had the care for as many as he had, but I have some experience with that in my fight.

May our lives be such that we can say we have fought a good fight. Perhaps it is not just like our parents had to fight (mine is already vastly different from theirs), but may it be a good one. My children will have different problems to face than I do, but may they fight a good one. Our fight, like our race, is fought and run according to our several abilities and characteristics. Two men may have the same time in a race, but neither of them are identical in the steps or the way they were paced.

The next statement is also particular to Paul in that he finished his own course. Paul's course was nearing its end at this statement (secular history tells us that Paul was beheaded by Nero shortly after this epistle was penned), but notice that Paul said "my course" and not "the course." Just like he did not try to declare his fighting "the good fight," he also did not ascribe his course as "the course." Paul said it was his course. What the Lord called upon him to do was complete and over. Had Paul attributed the finishing of "the course" instead of "my course," then you and I would have Scriptural grounds not to do anything. Christ has finished a particular course that we should rest in (the redemption of His people to grace and glory). We need not try to walk, run, or fight that course, for Christ has finished it. However, Christ did not (upon His first advent) finish our daily, experiential struggles. Rather, He grants sufficient grace to deal with daily, experiential struggles. That course of ours to chart and run may have different obstacles, difficulties, and responsibilities than others' do. My family is part of my responsibility to look after and provide for, not another man's. My labour of pastorship is my responsibility to tend and oversee, not another man's.

My life will end (should the Lord not return first) at a different time and place than yours perhaps. Certainly our lives will end at a different time and place than Paul's did. However, the end of our lives does not signal the end of life's race in general. Rather, it signals the end of life's race for us. We must run with patience the race (life's journey) according to our talents and ability to run. The way we run it makes it our race and our course. Paul finished his, and may we have the courage to face our final hour with the comfort he had of knowing that the end is simply the beginning of continual fellowship and presence with our Lord.

The last phrase that Paul uses here shows a great distinction from the other two. While the first was one of many and the second particular to Paul, Paul describes this last as common to us. "I have kept the faith." The term "the faith" shows that there is singularity and commonality to it. There are not many different kinds of faith, but rather, there is one, and we can find common ground in it. Like as the other gospels are just a perversion of the one true gospel (Galatians 1:6-8), so also other faiths are perversions of the one true faith. (Ephesians 4:4-6) What faith is Paul describing here? What had he kept? Obviously, he cannot be referring to the faith implanted in regeneration, for God alone keeps it and thereby preserves us. (I Peter 1:6) The faith He gives in the new birth is not kept by us, for should it be, then none of us would keep it and all would be lost. However, there is an aspect of faith (an extension of what God puts within) that we can keep and contend for. Jude exhorted the brethren to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)

The faith once delivered unto the saints is the same faith that Paul kept during his ministry until the end of his life. He was grounded, rooted, and settled in it. His mind was not shaken from it, and his dying hour was filled with the praise of it. The story we so love to tell of Christ coming to die for us, establish His church, and deliver that sweet gospel message through the mouth of His servants was something that Paul wanted to keep and contend for. While Paul's efforts could not deliver one single, solitary soul to heaven and immortal glory, he dearly desired to deliver a salvation (through preaching) that the elect might have along with their eternal glory. (II Timothy 2:10) The faith meant that much to Paul that he was willing to suffer the things he did, not recant his beliefs in the face of persecution, and eventually be put to death for this one true faith.

Let us not be found trying to compromise this faith and declare, "It does not really matter what you believe." Today, people like their "buddy Jesus" and cringe at lines of fellowship based on essential beliefs and principles. Paul adamantly fought for ground that was essential to the faith, and our keeping of this same faith must come with adamant opposition to similar things that encroach upon this ground. The word "kept" has reference to watching, observing, and guarding. Paul watched and guarded the principles of faith as a diligent watchman over Zion. He was jealous over Zion with a Godly jealousy. (II Corinthians 11:2) This was something Paul was both willing to live and die for, and beloved, these principles are still the same today as they were in Paul's day. The reason that the principles of "the faith" are the same is because the Author and Finisher of them is still the same today as yesterday and will be the same tomorrow as He is today. (Hebrews 11:8)

Therefore, may we press toward "the" mark of Jesus Christ keeping "the faith" according to "our" individual course. May we take inventory of each day's struggles and battles and be able to say, "I fought a good fight today." Maybe some of our techniques of fighting change with time the way a good fighter sizes up his opponent and makes game day alterations. As we learn more, may our techniques of fighting become more honed, and may our race and course become more efficient and straight. But, may our eyes never lose sight of the principles of the faith that never change as they are founded upon the Rock of our salvation. By being found in these things, we will not only find better seasons of fellowship with Him, but our course, fight, and life will better reflect His glory and grace that has been bestowed upon us.

In Hope,

Bro Philip