Fight the Good Fight of Godliness
Dana emphasizes the importance of "fighting the good fight" of faith, as Paul instructs Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18-19. This fight involves maintaining a good conscience and faith, which are interconnected. A clear conscience allows believers to serve God without fear of condemnation, while faith must be actively fought for, especially in a skeptical world. Dana highlights that faith is not passive; it requires action and aggression, as seen in Hebrews 11, where faith is defined as believing in the unseen. He stresses that true faith manifests in actions, not just beliefs, and that Christians must live up to their confessions of faith. The fight for faith also involves resisting societal pressures and standing firm in one's beliefs, particularly in challenging environments like school. Dana encourages Christians to move beyond a negative definition of faith—simply avoiding sin—and to actively engage in serving God and contributing to their communities. Ultimately, he calls for believers to take risks in their faith journey, asserting that God rewards those who seek Him and that the fight for faith is essential for spiritual growth and fulfillment.
- Exhortation to Timothy about fighting the good fight of faith.
- Importance of maintaining a good conscience linked to faith.
- Faith requires active engagement and is not passive.
- Believers must live up to their confessions of faith.
- Challenges of maintaining faith in a skeptical society.
- Encouragement to serve God positively, beyond avoiding sin.
- God rewards those who actively seek Him.
18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
