Template:Strive
Strive
- Luke 13:24 "Strive [1] to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
He was answering the question about being saved which we see in Luke 13:23 "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them".
While we are saved by Grace through Faith if there is no works the true nature of our Faith comes into question. The same is true of Fruits. Christ constantly is talking about picking up your cross, striving and persevering and just being a Doer of the Word and an attender to the weightier matters.
If we are not doing[2] what He said in His doctines then do we love Him,[3] are we belivievers or true followers.
Christ came to serve and if we are coming in His name no one should have to tell you that you should be a Doer. The Greek word agonizomai translated strive from agon meaning an assembly. This is one reason Christ commanded that His disciples make the people sit down in a network of small intimate companies and link them together in ranks of 100.
Paul told the guard "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Paul was not suggesting that if you think you believe you are saved you are saved. He was saying that you had to actually believe in Christ that your real faith compelled action in accordance with The Way of Christ. Real faith in Christ brings us into conformity with what Christ said to do. We automatically become Doers of the Word striving daily for perfect conformity.
Many Christians believe that all you have to do is believe and you are saved but if you believe Jesus you must believe what He said and he said "strive".
We see the Greek word agonizomai in the text which is also translated fight and labour fervently. Paul could not have meant that you did not have to strive or keep the commandments of God since he preached the Gospel first.
- John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight <75>, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
- 1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery <75> is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
- Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving <75> according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
- Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently <75> for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
- 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight <75> the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
- 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought <75> a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
The word agonizomai is from agon[4] meaning an an assembly but translated conflict 2, fight 2, contention 1, race 1.
It appears in:
- Philippians 1:30 Having the same conflict <73> which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
- Colossians 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict <73> I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention <73>.
- 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight <73> of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
- 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight <73>, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
- Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race <73> that is set before us,
- ↑ 75 ~ἀγωνίζομαι~ agonizomai \@ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee\@ from agon an assembly; v AV-strive 3, fight 3, labour fervently 1; 7
- 1) to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games
- 2) to contend with adversaries, fight
- 3) metaph. to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers
- 4) to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something
- ↑ Doers and not doers
- Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:"
- Matthew 25:11 "Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us." See Foolish virgins and Workers of iniquity.
- Luke 6:46 "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."
- Luke 13:25 "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:" See Workers of iniquity.
- John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." See Born again.
- John 9:31 "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."
- ↑ Love God and neighbor
- Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:... 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
- Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
- John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
- John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
- John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love."
- Luke 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:...49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
- Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it].
- John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
- Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
- James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
- James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
- James 3:13 Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
- Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
- Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
- ↑ 73 ~ἀγών~ agon \@ag-one’\@ from 71;n m AV-conflict 2, fight 2, contention 1, race 1; 6 1) an assembly, 1a) a place of assembly: especially an assembly met to see games 1b) the place of contest, the arena or stadium 2) the assembly of the Greeks at their national games 2a) hence the contest for a prize at their games 2b) generally, any struggle or contest 2c) a battle 2d) an action at law, trial