Gospel Reflections

Did you know when you gave your heart to Jesus, you became a faith fighter?

Paul wrote:

“Fight for the true faith” (1 Timothy 6:12, NLT).

Paul himself was one when he said:

“I have fought the good fight” of faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

The Greek for fight is agon. It literally means to engage in conflict. It was used in the context of military conflict or competing in athletic sports.

Let’s ask some questions about our faith, who we fight with, weapons we fight with and the outcome of our conflict.

We fight for the faith in whom?

Paul is not talking about faith in ourselves, but faith in Christ.

What does it mean to have faith in Christ?

Faith is trusting in Jesus’s finished work on the cross to save us, and change us. It is also trusting Him daily to do what is right in your life.

When Paul says I have fought for the faith, he is saying he has kept on trusting Jesus’ finished work to save and change him, and God to do what is right in his life to the very end.

Why is keeping our faith in Jesus like a fight?

It’s because it is possible for us to stop trusting God completely, and rely on self. We also have another enemy, Satan, who challenges our faith in Christ, His word, and what God says about us.

We need to know about our enemy

To overcome the enemy, we need to know about the enemy. “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, ….but against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Our battle is not physical. It is spiritual.

What do we know about Satan and His forces?

His life purpose is to “be like God Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). He is “the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God” (Ephesians 2:2). His job is to accuse us before God. (Revelation 12:10). Now the devil “has little time” (Revelation 12:12) so, “he prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

What can Satan do?

Satan can’t take away your salvation, but he can take away your joy. He can’t force you to do anything, but he can put negative thoughts in your mind. He battles with us in at least three ways: through influencing our old sinful nature (Romans 7:23), the influence of people and the world’s value system (1 John 2:16).

How do we fight him?

Satan can accuse us, but he doesn’t have the last word, because Jesus rose for our defence. When Jesus rose, He broke “the power of the devil, who had the power of death” (Hebrews 2:14). Satan can disturb us but he can’t defeat us because, “the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world” (I John 4:4).

The first thing you need to fight him is you must be born again. You were born again, when God chose you, made you aware of your sins, and the moment you repented and believed in Jesus as your Savior and Lord. “When you believed [in Christ] you were sealed with the Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13).

When you were born again, God gave you spiritual weapons to fight.

“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons” (2 Corinthians 10:4). We also suit up. “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

God has many spiritual weapons in the Bible, but His built-in weapons suit lists the key weapons He gives us:

Truth belt: “Wear a belt of truth around your body” (Ephesians 6:14a, NLV).

Right with God chest guard: “Wear a piece of iron over your chest which is being right with God” (Ephesians 6:14b).

Peace giving Gospel shoes: “Wear shoes on your feet which are the Good News of peace” (Ephesians 6:15a).

Faith shield: “You need a covering of faith in front of you. This is to put out the fire-arrows of the devil” (Ephesians 6:15b).

Salvation helmet: “The covering for your head is that you have been saved from the punishment of sin” (Ephesians 6:17a).

Bible sword: “Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17b).

God gives us spiritual weapons like faith, God’s word, right with God status, truth found in Jesus, peace that comes from the gospel, saved and empowered by grace assurance to stand against Satan’s and his minions.

Not only that, you are also connected with the commander Himself, Jesus Christ, through the spiritual weapon called Prayer, while His Spirit, who lives in you, directs you and empowers you through the battle field of life. “You must pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads you..” (Ephesians 6:18).

You are more than conquerors through Christ

Just like Paul, you can one day say I have fought the good fight of faith. You know why? Because not only are you saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8), seated with Christ in heaven (Ephesians 2:6), transferred to His kingdom (Colossians 1:13), guaranteed of salvation (Ephesians 1:14), you are also more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37), and we conquer through Jesus and His weapons. No matter what the devil throws at you this side of heaven, you have a promise. “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith” (1 John 5:4).