Faith On The Line - Stress, Stress Go Away Vol 18 | Page 11
cause a person to depart from the living God and be
lost for eternity!
The Remedy for Unbelief
I am so thankful for the incredible sacrifice our loving heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ made in
order that not one of us, if we so choose, need perish in
unbelief. How about you? See John 3:16; 2 Corinthians
5:19-21; and 2 Peter 3:9.
What is the remedy to this vicious malady called
unbelief? It’s the good fight in 1 Timothy 6:12:
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.
Even though unbelief causes a person to waver at
God’s promises, living faith in God strengthens a person
to be fully persuaded that what the Lord promises He
is able also to perform. And this is what gives us the victory over the world’s temptations that lead to unbelief.
What Does it Take to be a Good-Fight Fighter?
Are you interested in knowing a little more about
how to actually get in and stay in the good battle to
believe, the good fight of faith that will protect you from
the devil’s devices to ensnare you?
The foundational ingredient for experiencing victory
over unbelief is found by integrating two Bible texts.
Here’s the first one:
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 (1 Timothy 6:12).
According to the words in this verse, what comprises
the good fight of faith? Taking hold of eternal life!
So here’s the Biblical equation:
good battle to believe =
fight of faith
In the Bible, the word “believe” and the word “faith”
are synonymous, coming from the same root word.
So the “good fight of faith” can be understood as the
“good battle to believe.” This battle is what gives people
victory over unbelief and the tarnishing worldly effects
it has upon spiritual health. John speaks of the victory
this fight of faith brings: “and this is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
We see this faith victory revealed in Abraham’s
experience:
He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God
through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to
God (Romans 4:20).
As you read that verse, did you see what kept Abraham from staggering at God’s Word? “He was strong in
faith, giving glory to God!”
Now focus on verse 21. Notice what Abraham’s faith
empowered him to experience:
And being fully persuaded that, what He (the Lord) had
promised, He was able also to perform.
Now notice the second text:
And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the
only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent
(John 17:3).
According to the words in this verse, what is eternal
life centered on? Knowing God and Jesus Christ!
Now let’s put it together: If the good fight of faith
consists of laying hold of eternal life, and eternal life
is centered in knowing God and Jesus Christ, then the
good fight of faith that overcomes unbelief is actually
the good fight of getting to know God and His Son
Jesus Christ.
Consider the emphasis the apostle Paul put on this
concept in Philippians 3:7-10:
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss
for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do
count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found
in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of
the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know
Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death
(emphasis added).
continued on page 26
11
Spring-2012-Magazine-April_4.indd 11
4/4/2012 1:08:26 PM