In what ways can we ensure we "keep the faith" today? Verse in Focus “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7 What “keep the faith” means • Guard the gospel’s purity (2 Timothy 1:13–14) • Persevere in obedience and trust (Hebrews 12:1–2) • Finish well, not merely start well (1 Corinthians 9:24) Practical ways to keep the faith today 1. Stay anchored in Scripture • Daily reading and meditation (Psalm 119:11) • Examine teachings like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) • Memorize key passages to wield truth against error (Ephesians 6:17) 2. Hold to sound doctrine • “Stand firm and hold to the traditions” handed down (2 Thessalonians 2:15) • Reject ideas that contradict the plain meaning of the text (Galatians 1:8) • Study with reliable commentaries and teachers who honor biblical authority (Titus 1:9) 3. Cultivate a prayer-saturated life • Pray for endurance and boldness (Ephesians 6:18–19) • Confess sin quickly to keep fellowship unbroken (1 John 1:9) • Intercede for fellow believers, strengthening the whole body (Colossians 4:12) 4. Commit to the local church • Regular worship and preaching fortify faith (Hebrews 10:24–25) • Accountability and discipline guard against drifting (Matthew 18:15–17) • Serving others exercises spiritual gifts and keeps love active (1 Peter 4:10) 5. Contend earnestly, yet graciously • “Contend earnestly for the faith once for all entrusted” (Jude 1:3) • Speak the truth in love to correct error (Ephesians 4:15) • Live a consistent, godly testimony that adorns the gospel (Philippians 1:27) 6. Fix your eyes on the finish line • Keep the promise of “the crown of righteousness” before you (2 Timothy 4:8) • Remember that suffering refines and proves faith (1 Peter 1:6–7) • Encourage yourself with the certainty of Christ’s return (Titus 2:13) Encouragement to persist • “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) • “Run with endurance the race set out for us” (Hebrews 12:1) • “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13) Keep practicing these rhythms—Scripture, prayer, fellowship, doctrinal fidelity, gracious defense, and forward-looking hope—and you, too, will finish the course and keep the faith. |
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