1. Keeping Faith
1 Tim 1:18-20

2. Keeping Faith 1 Tim 1:18-20 Implies we could lose faith
Implies that we must make some effort to retain it
Implies that retaining faith does not come
automatically, or by chance or accident
Consequence of not keeping faith = shipwreck

3. seen by comparing ways we come to accept something as true
Keeping Faith 1 Tim 1:18-20
Definition of Faith:
seen by comparing ways we come to accept something as true
Direct Proof (1st hand evidence; 5 senses) = Knowledge
Indirect Proof (2nd hand evidence; testimony of others)= Faith
No Proof (no evidence) = Gullibility
not just religious concept- courts, Abraham Lincoln, China
faith does not = gullibility

4. Keeping Faith 1 Tim 1:18-20 Indirect Evidence for Faith in God
arguments mentioned in the Bible that you can see w/o reading
Every house has a builder- Heb 3:4
Every design has a designer- Ps 19:1-6
What is made shows Makers’ eternal power & divine nature
Rom 1:20
to accept God is rational and reasonable;
to reject God is irrational and unreasonable

5. Keeping Faith 1 Tim 1:18-20
Indirect Evidence for Faith that God Wrote the Bible
It’s claim (2 Tim 3:16), etc. proves nothing
Does it’s content show that men had to have God’s help to write it?
Evidence from verifiable, fulfilled predictions:
Babylon: never rebuilt, desolate, no flocks Isa 13:20
Nineveh: desolate; flocks lie down there Zeph 2:14
Tyre: desolate; fisherman spread nets there Eze 26:5
Edom: nations drink until they become like never existed Ob 16
Egypt: Nile dry up; would become lowly nation Eze 30:12; 29:15

6. Keeping Faith 1 Tim 1:18-20
Indirect Evidence for Faith in Jesus as Christ, Son of God
evidence comes from Book I have come to trust as inspired
Jesus rose from the dead
Eyewitnesses- Acts 10:40-41; 1:3; 1 Cor 15:6
Empty tomb- cp. alternate story Mt 28:11-15
Conversion of Saul- how do you explain his sudden change?
Acts 9:1-2; 20-22; Gal 1:23

7. What About Your Personal Effort to Keep the Faith?
Keeping Faith 1 Tim 1:18-20
What About Your Personal Effort to Keep the Faith?
Jude 20; Col 2:5-7
Through study of the evidence in the word Rom 10:17
Through exercise of your faith: Faith
Speak 2 Cor 4:13
Worship Heb 11:21
Acts of love Gal 5: Speak, Worship, Show Love

8. Keeping Faith 1 Tim 1:18-20 remains constant
When you have doubts and questions…
(as you surely will; the Devil will make sure of it!)
Remember what cannot be doubted and cannot be questioned
the indirect evidence that is the basis of your faith
remains constant

9. Keeping Faith 1 Tim 1:18-20 remains constant
When temptations and trials come calling…
(as they surely will; the Devil will make sure of it!)
Remember that the basis of your faith,
the indirect evidence,
remains constant
no matter how enticing sin looks or how difficult your test is;
no matter your circumstance, no matter how you feel

10. Keeping Faith 1 Tim 1:18-20
If you keep the faith, you will not shipwreck, but you will receive the crown of righteousness 2 Tim 4:7-8