1. Are you up to the fight? Luke 13:22-27

2. Saving faith is obedient Jas. 2:17: Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Heb. 10:36-39: You have need of endurance, that having done the will of God, you may receive the inheritance…those who believe to the saving of the soul. 2

3. Not our own strength! 1 Cor. 10:12: Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 2 Cor. 5:7: For we walk by faith, not by sight. Rom. 8:37: Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 3

4. STRIVE (agōnizomai) STRIVE (agōnizomai) To enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games… to contend with adversaries, fight… metaphorically to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers… 4 to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something

5. STRIVE (agōnizomai) STRIVE (agōnizomai) God condemns strife (quarreling, contentious wrangling), Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:20; Jas. 3:16 God commands of us the struggle of strenuous zeal by which we obtain the eternal prize (2 Tim. 4:7) 5

6. The Fight to be Saved The Fight to be Saved Luke 13:23-24: One of them said, Lord, are there few who are saved? And He said to them, Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 6

7. The Fight to be Saved The Fight to be Saved Struggle to Enter the Kingdom of God 7 Luke 16:16: The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

8. The Fight to be Saved The Fight to be Saved Struggle to Enter the Kingdom of God 8 1) A fight against sin and Satan, Acts 24:24-25; 26:28 2) A fight against self, Lk. 9:23 3) A fight to sacrifice, Phil. 3:7-8 4) A fight against tradition and expectations, Luke 13:25-28, 29-30 1) A fight against sin and Satan, Acts 24:24-25; 26:28 2) A fight against self, Lk. 9:23 3) A fight to sacrifice, Phil. 3:7-8 4) A fight against tradition and expectations, Luke 13:25-28, 29-30

9. The Fight to be Saved The Fight to be Saved A Fight that Values the Goal of Salvation 9 Struggle to do everything the Lord requires of you in order to obtain salvation -Cornelius, Acts 10:4-8, 33 -Saul, Acts 22:16 Contrast: Rich young ruler, Matt. 19:20-22 (Lk. 18:21-22) Struggle to do everything the Lord requires of you in order to obtain salvation -Cornelius, Acts 10:4-8, 33 -Saul, Acts 22:16 Contrast: Rich young ruler, Matt. 19:20-22 (Lk. 18:21-22)

10. The Fight to be Saved The Fight to be Saved A Fight that Values the Goal of Salvation 10 Become a Christian, Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-38, 41, 47 Be faithful (repent and confess), Acts 8:22; 1 Jno. 1:9

11. The Fight to Help Save Others The Fight to Help Save Others Gal. 6:1-2: Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 11

12. A Struggle for the Pure Truth 12 Jude 3-4: Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. The Fight to Help Save Others The Fight to Help Save Others

13. A Struggle for the Pure Truth 13 Acts 15:5-7: And when there had been much dispute… Gal. 2:5: …to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Acts 15:5-7: And when there had been much dispute… Gal. 2:5: …to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. The Fight to Help Save Others The Fight to Help Save Others

14. Strenuous Endeavor to Teach and Help Each Other Mature in Christ 14 Colossians 1:28-29: Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. The Fight to Help Save Others The Fight to Help Save Others

15. Work Tirelessly and Prayerfully through Difficulties and Dangers to Help Secure Souls 15 Colossians 4:12-13: Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. The Fight to Help Save Others The Fight to Help Save Others

16. Work Tirelessly and Prayerfully through Difficulties and Dangers to Help Secure Souls 16 2 Cor. 12:14-15: Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls… The Fight to Help Save Others The Fight to Help Save Others

17. This Fight Values the Souls of Others 17 WE FIGHT: For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt. 16:26) The Fight to Help Save Others The Fight to Help Save Others WE STRUGGLE: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)

18. This Fight Values the Souls of Others 18 WE FIGHT THE DEVIL : Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (Jas. 4:7) Resist him, steadfast in the faith… (1 Pet. 5:9) WE FIGHT THE DEVIL : Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (Jas. 4:7) Resist him, steadfast in the faith… (1 Pet. 5:9) The Fight to Help Save Others The Fight to Help Save Others WE ENGAGE THIS STRUGGLE: My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 Jno. 3:18; cf. Heb. 12:12-14)

19. We Compete to be Victorious! 19 EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL: And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. (1 Cor. 9:25) FIGHT WITH RESOLVE: Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. (1 Cor. 9:26) SUCCESSFUL: But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:27) EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL: And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. (1 Cor. 9:25) FIGHT WITH RESOLVE: Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. (1 Cor. 9:26) SUCCESSFUL: But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:27) The Fight to Remain Saved The Fight to Remain Saved

20. This Fight does not End until We Die 1 Tim. 6:12: 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. The Fight to Remain Saved The Fight to Remain Saved 20

21. This Fight does not End until We Die 2 Tim. 4:7-8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. The Fight to Remain Saved The Fight to Remain Saved 21

22. Are you up to the fight? -Strive for your salvation, Lk. 13:23-24 -Struggle to help save others, Gal. 6:1 -Compete lawfully to finish your contest victoriously, 2 Tim. 2:5 -Strive for your salvation, Lk. 13:23-24 -Struggle to help save others, Gal. 6:1 -Compete lawfully to finish your contest victoriously, 2 Tim. 2:5 22