1. Fought—Finished—Kept 2 Timothy 4:6-8

2. Introduction “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” –Paul was describing his life as he neared the end of his earthly pilgrimage. –Will we be able to describe our lives as he did his?

3. Fought—Finished—Kept “I have fought a good fight.” What does it take to fight a “good fight”? –Choosing to fight against sin and for faith Jude 3 Romans 6:12-16 –Win a victory over past sins Ephesians 1:7

4. Fought—Finished—Kept “I have fought a good fight.” –Be vigilant against Satan. –He is on the prowl. 1 Peter 5:8 –Do not be ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11 –Watch and pray continually. Matthew 26:41

5. Fought—Finished—Kept “I have fought a good fight.” –Practice self-discipline and self-denial as a good soldier does. 2 Timothy 2:3 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 –Be properly outfitted to stand against the devil and wickedness. Ephesians 6:13-18 2 Timothy 2:15

6. Fought—Finished—Kept “I have finished my course.” –What is a course? –John finished his course. Acts 13:25 –God assigned him work to do. Luke 1:14-17 –God also gave Paul a work to do. Acts 9:15,16

7. Fought—Finished—Kept “I have finished my course.” –Each of us must also run a course. Hebrews 12:1 –Will you finish your course before your life nears its end? –Not if you are NOT OBEYING the Lord. Hebrews 5:9 –Not if you have wasted opportunities. Galatians 6:10 –Not if you have grown weary. Galatians 6:9 Hebrews 12:3-5

8. Fought—Finished—Kept “I have kept the faith.” –Here, the “faith” is the sum total of all that God teaches, warns against, requires, and instructs, in His word. –Have we kept the faith? –Are we doing spiritual work according to the apostles’ doctrine? Acts 2:42

9. Fought—Finished—Kept “I have kept the faith.” –Nothing less will do. Galatians 1:6-9 –Transgressing against the doctrine of Christ will break fellowship with God. 2 John 9-11 –I must remain faithful until my last breath. Revelation 2:10

10. Fought—Finished—Kept Some have the misguided notion that keeping the faith is nothing more than: –Teaching what is right on a few issues. –Or believing Christ is God’s Son. John 3:16 –Or being a member of the church Matthew 7:21 –Or being a good moral person. Acts 10

11. Fought—Finished—Kept Keeping the “faith” is doing ALL that God’s word reveals. –Worshipping right, wearing the right name, doing the right work, having the right attitude, right conduct, right living, etc. John 4:24 Acts 11:26 Ephesians 4:11,12 Proverbs 23:7 Titus 2:11,12

12. Conclusion Notice what Paul says about those who follow his example. –2 Timothy 4:8 They will receive a crown of righteousness. They will love Christ’s appearing. Our time for FIGHTING, FINISHING, and KEEPING is NOW!