2. Old Time Religion
2 Timothy 4:1-5

3. Fight The Good Fight Of Faith
The old time religion tells us about a good fight to be fought (1 Tim. 6:12)
Not against flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12)
Not a carnal fight (2 Cor. 10:4-5)
It is a fight for the soul!
Is the fight gone?

4. Christians are soldiers
Not called to be generals, but as foot soldiers (2 Tim. 2:3-4)
While there are many soldiers, there is but one captain (Heb. 2:10)
Soldiers are to be equipped and ready at all times
Every necessary piece of battle wear is provided (Eph. 6:10-17)
This armor is to be “put on” (Eph. 6:11)
Nowhere is there an order to remove it or sheath the sword!

5. A prepared soldier will be able to “…stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11)
1 Peter 5:8 identifies the devil as our adversary
“Adversary” means “an opponent” [like in a lawsuit] (Vine, p. 36)
“Devil” means “an accuser, slanderer…{from a word meaning } to accuse, to malign” (Vine, p. 308)

6. Sin is presented as a virtue
The vileness of sin is disguised under excuses, such as youth, old age, strong temptation, necessity to keep one’s job, or to provide for one’s family
The hypocrisy of church members
God’s love and mercy is stressed and obedience to Him is ignored
The individual is caused to think he is strong enough to stand alone against sin

7. Christ is presented as saving us from sin’s consequences rather than from sin itself
We are told that the majority must be right, and that the saints are few in number and misfits in society
We are lulled by the idea that we shall be accepted because of good deeds and offerings, and not because of our relationship to Christ