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New Defender's Study Bible Notes
6:12 the good fight of faith. Faith is not just some kind of passive belief. It involves a lifelong “fight of faith.” There is also the “work of faith” (I Thessalonians 1:3), and the “shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16) as well as the “breastplate of faith” (I Thessalonians 5:8), and finally the “word of faith, which we preach” (Romans 10:8).
6:13 good confession. This “good confession” made by Christ in front of Pilate was equivalent to the “good profession” (I Timothy 6:12—same Greek word) made by Timothy before many hostile witnesses. So with our own profession of faith (compare Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9; I John 4:15).
6:16 immortality. Jesus Christ is God and, therefore, is the only one who has intrinsic immortality. However, He assumed human flesh, in order to die as man’s substitute for sin. “I am He that liveth, and was dead;” He says; “and, behold I am alive for evermore” (Revelation 1:18). Now He “hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (II Timothy 1:10). Now we can say, with Him: “This mortal must put on immortality” (I Corinthians 15:53).
6:16 no man can approach. No man can see God in His essential glory and live (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18). But we shall see Jesus Christ, the Man, in the glory, and live forever (Revelation 21:23; 22:4-5).