(Part 3/3 – A summary of the Sunday morning teaching on 22-Mar-15, in AFT Church, English service. From the series The Law of Faith)
DOUBLE EDGED SWORD – JESUS’ WEAPON
13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate – 1 Timothy 6:13
Paul urges Timothy to fight the good faith –
- In the sight of God who gives life to all things
- Before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate
Let’s look at the second point. What is the relation between Jesus’ confession before Pontius Pilate and fighting the good fight of faith?
When Jesus faced Pilate, He didn’t waver in His confession. He spoke boldly and confidently about who He was and what He was born for. Paul is asking Timothy to follow Jesus’ example.
He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. – Revelation 1:16
Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. – Revelation 2:16
These passages describe Jesus. The two edged sword is the powerful Word. Jesus, the Son of God and our forerunner, fights His battle with words. His words have power like a weapon. In the end, He will destroy the armies with a sword that comes out of His mouth.
JESUS’ CLEVER ANSWERS TO PILATE
33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” – John 18:33-37
Pilate is a cruel man. He is the governor of the area. When some people were offering sacrifices, Pilate had them killed and mingled their blood with the blood of the animals. Now, he is trying to intimidate Jesus by flaunting his power. He asks, ‘Are you the king of Jews?’ Jesus counters with another question ‘Are you asking me yourself or did someone tell you that?’ Jesus confesses saying that He is a king but His kingdom is not of this world. He tells Pilate that He was born to bear witness to the truth. Even though, Pilate was a worldly powerful man, Jesus did not waver or even give him an inch. He didn’t allow a single negative word to come out of His mouth. Paul urges Timothy about making this good confession that Jesus modeled.
WHAT KIND OF CHRIST?
The Message version of 1 Timothy 6:14, says, ‘I’m charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn’t give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don’t slack off.’
He is Jesus Christ, who stood before Pontius Pilate and yet didn’t give an inch. Paul is encouraging Timothy saying, ‘You have confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior, healer and deliverer. You have also confessed your call, mission and anointing. You have made a good confession. So, when doubts arise and difficulties come, do not be tempted or lured. Do not give even an inch to the devil with your doubtful words. Be like Jesus.’
We must be like Jesus too. The devil needs only a small place. We must model Jesus and not give in to the temptations and discouragements that the devil brings.
Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”
11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” – John 19:10-11
After seeing Jesus in a dream, Pilate’s wife warned him to do not do anything to Jesus. So Pilate actually wanted to let Jesus go. The Jews however threatened him that if he did, they would report him to the Roman emperor as an enemy. He is in a fix. So, when he questions Jesus again, Jesus doesn’t respond. Pilate tells Him that he has the power to kill Him or release Him. But Jesus tells Pilate that he has no power to kill or release Him. It was God the Father’s will that would be done. Only if the Father wanted Him to be hung would He be hung.
Paul is telling Timothy to look at his fears and doubts and tell them that they have no power over him. He was asking Timothy to tell the confusion and temptations that only his Heavenly Father’s will would be done in his life. When he begins to speak to the challenges in his life, he would be able to hold fast to his confession of faith. When he does that, he would hold on to his eternal life, which had come through the redemptive wok of Christ Jesus on the Cross.
