The Good Confession

I Timothy 6:11-16

When I was in high school, I watched through a window as the weight training coach paddled another student. The boy was every bit as big as I was (240 lbs.), and he picked him up off the ground. I made up my mind right then that I was not going to get in trouble in weight training. Horseplaying would not go on in weight training! I learned a valuable lesson from someone else's mistake. This is one of the best ways to learn. When we do not have to learn from the school of hard knocks as a student, but rather as an observer, one might call this wisdom.

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“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

I Timothy 6:11-16

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Paul called out men who were using the office of pastor as a means of financial gain. They caused confusion among Christians by their arguing and false teachings. Now, Paul tells Timothy, flee those things. Instead, chase after the fruit of the spirit. This is how the Christian fights their battles. When the world does evil, we are to be righteous. When the world acts godless, we are to be Godly. When the world is filled with fear and doubt, we are to live by faith. When the world hates, we love. When the world is rushing into confusion, we are to be patient. When the world is harsh, we are to be gentle. Simply put, we are to be the opposite of that which comes natural to us.

When we learn to live in the Spirit, rather than after our natural sinful nature, we fight the good fight and take hold of our salvation. This does not mean that we earn our salvation. The Bible is clear, it is by grace through faith that we are saved, and not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, when we start living like we are redeemed, we have grasped our salvation, or rather it has grasped us. Salvation’s work is being accomplished in us through the process of sanctification. We are not waiting until we get to heaven to be made like Jesus, the process is beginning here in this life. This is what we confess when we take the name of Christ as Christians. It is a good confession, but it needs to be more than just words.

Paul then enters into a rather long statement in which he tells Timothy that he is charging him to live a holy life before God. This charge becomes an act of praise. He tells Timothy to remain righteous because God the Father and Jesus are worthy of our faithfulness. God is worthy because He is God. Jesus is worthy because He set the example for us during His life on earth. He professed a good confession when on trial. Jesus is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. He is God, and thereby worthy of our faithfulness and service.

Father, thank You that we have been called into faithful service to You. May we live Godly lives so that Your name is exalted. We ask that our lives be a testimony of Your faithfulness and glory. Amen