NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the MasterWork curriculum.
Bible Passages: 1 Timothy 6:12
Discussion Questions:
— When you hear the word “fight,” what image comes to mind?
— Are you drawn to a fight or repelled by one? Why? Does personal preference affect whether warfare is part of our walk of faith?
Food for thought:
Many may feel a deep interest in wars, battles and fighting. But there is another warfare of far greater importance than any war that was ever waged by man. It is a warfare which concerns not two or three nations only, but every Christian man and woman in the world. I speak of spiritual warfare, the fight which everyone who would be saved must fight regarding his soul.
It is of this warfare that Paul spoke to Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life.” It is of this warfare I speak in this session. I hold the subject to be connected closely with that of sanctification and holiness. He that would understand the nature of true holiness must know that the Christian is “a man of war.” If we would be holy, we must fight.
The true Christian is called to be a soldier and must behave as such from the day of his conversion to the day of his death. He is not meant to live a life of religious ease. If the Bible is the rule of his faith and practice, he will find his course laid down very plainly in this matter. He must “fight.”
The true Christian must fight the flesh. Even after conversion he carries within him a nature prone to evil. That heart will never be free from imperfection in this world, and it is a miserable delusion to expect it. To keep that heart from going astray, the Lord Jesus bids us “stay awake and pray.” The spirit may be ready, but the flesh is weak. There is a daily struggle. “I discipline my body and bring it under strict control.” “Put to death in you whatever is worldly.” (Mark 14:38; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Colossians 3:5 CSB).
The true Christian must fight the world. The subtle influence of that mighty enemy must be resisted daily. The love of the world’s good things, the fear of the world’s laughter or blame, the desire to do as others do, and not to run into extremes. All these are spiritual foes which beset the Christian continually and must be conquered (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15).
The true Christian must fight the devil. That old enemy is not dead. He has been “roaming through the earth … and walking around on it,” and striving to compass one great end — the ruin of man’s soul. Never slumbering and never sleeping, he is always “like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” An unseen enemy, he is always near us, about our path and about our bed, and spying out all our ways (Job 1:7; 1 Peter 5:8 CSB).
Masterwork
MasterWork is an ongoing Bible study curriculum based on works from a variety of renowned authors and offers pertinent, practical messages that adults will find uplifting and enriching. The list of authors and their books to be studied in upcoming months can be found at Lifeway.com/masterwork.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by Lifeway can be found at Lifeway.com/SundaySchool and Lifeway.com.
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