HOLD ON for Eternal Life! 1 Timothy 6:11-19 Fairlane Church of Christ Rich Howell – January 14, 2018

Timothy was CALLED to eternal life … CHECK YOUR GRIP Timothy was CALLED to eternal life … Now he’s told to TAKE HOLD of it! “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6.12 (ESV)

ETERNAL LIFE is … CHECK YOUR GRIP A NEED “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV)

ETERNAL LIFE is … CHECK YOUR GRIP A NEED A GIFT “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (ESV)

ETERNAL LIFE is … CHECK YOUR GRIP A NEED A GIFT A RELATIONSHIP “And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (ESV)

ETERNAL LIFE is … CHECK YOUR GRIP A NEED A GIFT A RELATIONSHIP OUR GOAL “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 (ESV) “To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” Romans 2:7 (ESV)

ETERNAL LIFE is … CHECK YOUR GRIP A NEED A GIFT A RELATIONSHIP OUR GOAL Something we tend to take too lightly

PURSUE! Bold, assertive steps STRENGTHEN YOUR GRIP The things we should be running after “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” 1 Tim 6.11 (ESV) “… and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Tim 2:22 (ESV)

FLEE! Bold, assertive steps STRENGTHEN YOUR GRIP The things we should be running from! “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation … For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils … But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. 1 Tim 6:11a (ESV) “So flee youthful passions …” 2 Tim 2:22 (ESV) “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge.’” 1 Tim 6:20 (ESV)

FIGHT! Bold, assertive steps STRENGTHEN YOUR GRIP The Christian walk is not a cake-walk, it’s a WAR! “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called …” 1 Tim 6:12a “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness …” Ephesians 6:12 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim 4:7

INVEST! Bold, assertive steps STRENGTHEN YOUR GRIP To take hold, we have to do some letting go “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, not to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly ‘life.’” 1 Tim 6:17-19 (ESV)

GREAT NEWS: Eternal life is OURS for the TAKING!