heading towards the finish line
Contents
Chan 392 In the name of Jesus
Life of faith is like a marathon. The life of faith is like a good fight. Athletes running a marathon must run a distance of 42.195 km towards the finish line. You have to persevere to the end and outrun your opponent to win. I don't have time to look around. The same goes for fighting in war. I have to win to live. If I lose, I die.
Many people give up halfway in their beliefs. I don't know how many people believe in Jesus well at first but give up halfway through. In the race of faith, salvation of souls is completed when we stand before the Lord. Until then, we must run with the incision of faith to the end. It is also the last Sunday of 2010. Congratulations to all of you who have worked hard until today.
Paul, who had been arrested by the Roman authorities, sent this letter to his disciple Timothy while he was imprisoned a second time in Rome. Foreseeing the death of his martyrdom to his beloved disciple Timothy, Paul sends a letter with a testamentary command. What is its content? It is an important content that suggests how we should live a life of faith today. The finish line of faith is keeping your faith until the day you stand before the Lord. How do we get the final victory by running from faith in Jesus Christ to the day we stand before the Lord at our destination?
1. We must live by the Word (1-2)
Strict orders before Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead before God.
You always have to work hard whether you have time or not. It was a time of persecution for Christians. At that time, preaching the gospel must be prepared for martyrdom. All the disciples were martyred. Whether it is a good time to spread the gospel or a very difficult time to spread the gospel, we should always strive. Pastors must preach the Word.
And in all things, long-suffering, teaching, rebuking (rebuking to keep one's mind), warning, and exhortation.
① Because there are those who turn from the truth
2 Timothy 4:3 The time is coming when people will not be taught sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate many teachers to suit their own desires.
2 Timothy 4:4 And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and listen to myths.
② Because there are those who go on to ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:16 Put away vain and vain speech, for they go further and further in ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:17 Their words are like the decay of poisonous spears, among which are Hymenaeus and Philetus.
2 Timothy 2:18 As to the truth, they are wrong, because they say that the Resurrection has already passed, thus destroying the faith of some.
③ Because there are those who seduce women
2 Timothy 3:6 There are some among them who enter into strangers' houses and entice foolish women;
2 Timothy 3:7 Always learning, never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so they also oppose the truth; these are corrupt in heart and forsaken as to the faith.
④ Because someone loved the world and left
2 Timothy 4:10 Demas, because he loved this world, left me and went to Thessalonica, Cresche to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
■ These people started as Jesus and turned away in the middle. They are people who have betrayed the Lord because of personal selfishness, ungodliness, the doctrine that the resurrection has already passed through the Second Coming, fornication, and love of the world. There are people who change even when we preach the word, but by discerning the truth of the gospel, all we have to do is to spread the word in time or out of time. That is why the way to heaven is narrow.
Matthew 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many who enter by it
Matthew 7:14 For narrow is the gate and stray is the way that leads to life, and few find it.
2. A goal must be scored at the finish line.
2 Timothy 4:6 I have already been poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2 Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith
Control is the premise in the Old Testament sacrificial law. Drinking drink refers to the ceremony of pouring wine or strong alcohol symbolizing blood (Ex. 29:40, Lev 23:13).
I confess that I have been poured out as blood is poured out as wine is poured out, and the time of my departure is near. He has a foreboding that he has become a sacrifice for martyrdom.
Just as only those who have won battles survive on the battlefield, they have fought and won the battles against Satan, spiritual battles, heresy, evangelism, poverty, and life-threatening battles.
My Running Path After I finished the race of faith, I kept my faith and gained victory.
■ However, those who shipwrecked in the above faith stumbled in the middle.
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish that you began with the Spirit and now finish with the flesh?
Matthew 13:22 Those that were sown among thorns are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it does not bear fruit.
2 Timothy 4:3 The time is coming when people will not be taught sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate many teachers to suit their own desires.
2 Timothy 4:4 And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and listen to myths.
1) They do not receive proper instruction.
2) He has itchy ears, so he has many teachers to follow his own interests.
3) They betray the truth and follow false stories.
■ Fall into the temptations of worldly lusts and pleasures.
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:17 The world and its lusts pass away, but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:38 Before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark.
Matthew 24:39 They did not understand until the flood came and destroyed them all; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
■ We must resist these temptations and follow our faith to the end. For this, you must live a life filled with the Holy Spirit. What are the blessings of living like that?
3) You must race while looking at the crown of righteousness.
2 Timothy 4:8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
■ Salvation and reward have been prepared. It is a reward given to those who have kept their faith until the end by obeying the Word without failing midway, fouling, or expediency.
2 Timothy 2:5 If a competitor does not compete according to the law, he will not receive a crown.
2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will deliver me from all evil and will save me to enter his kingdom of heaven. To him be glory forever and ever, Amen.
1 Corinthians 9:23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may share
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that all runners in the field run, but only one wins the prize? Run in the same way that you may win.
1 Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who strives for victory is temperate in all things, for they want a corruptible crown, but we want the incorruptible.
1 Corinthians 9:26 Therefore I do not run as though I was aimless, and I do not fight as if I was striking the air.
9:27 I beat my body into subjection, lest after I preach to others, I myself will be rejected.
This year, I ran with all my faith. Of course, it will be different for each individual, but the final point of faith must be scored.
This is Paul's confession and command. Jesus also obeyed the Father's will until the end, and he won the victory of atonement. As we run towards the finish line of faith until the day we stand before our Lord, the Lord will comfort each of us with salvation and reward according to our faith.