DOCTRINE: The Christian life is war, therefore you and I must be watchful, stand firm, act like men, and, being strengthened by Christ, we must wage war out of love for God and love for neighbor.

I. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR, THEREFORE BE WATCHFUL (v. 13a)

J.C. Ryle, in his little book, “Thoughts for Young Men,” outlines 5 special dangers men need to be warned against:

I) You and I must watch out for pride.

II) You and I must watch out for the love of pleasure.

III) You and I must watch out for thoughtlessness and inconsideration.

IV) You and I must watch out for contempt of spiritual disciplines.

V) You and I must watch out for fear of man’s opinion.

II. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR, THEREFORE STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH (v. 13b)

I) You must stand firm in the faith by devoting yourself to Private Worship.

II) You must devote yourself to Family Worship if you would stand firm in the faith.

III) You must devote yourself to Christian Fellowship if you would stand firm in the faith.

IV) You must stand firm in the faith by devoting yourself to Public Worship in the assembly of the saints.

III. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR, THEREFORE ACT LIKE MEN (v. 13c)

I) You and I must act like men by refusing to act like women (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NASB95).

(I) Women are the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7); Men must be strong.

(II) Women are softer (1 Peter 3:7), Men must be firm.

(III) Women are designed and commanded to follow and submit; Men are designed and commanded to exercise authority and lead (Ephesians 5:22-25).

II) You and I must act like men by refusing to act like children (1 Corinthians 13:11).

III) You and I must act like men by fleeing from temptations to sin (1 Corinthians 10:13-14).

IV) You and I must act like men by fleeing from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:8).

V) You and I must act like men by providing for our families both physically and spiritually (1 Timothy 5:8).

(I) Men physically provide (1 Timothy 5:8).

(II) Men spiritually provide (Wives in Ephesians 5; Children in Ephesians 6 and Deuteronomy 6).

VI) You and I must act like men by protecting our families, our church, and our neighbors (Genesis 2:15; Numbers 1:2-3; Ephesians 5:25).

(I) It was Adam that was to protect Eve in the garden (Genesis 2:15).

(II) It was men who were go to war in Israel (Numbers 1:2-3).

(III) It is husbands who are to lay down their lives for their wives (Ephesians 5:25).

VII) You and I must act like men together (1 Corinthians 16:13).

IV. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR, THEREFORE GET STRENGTH FROM CHRIST BY FAITH AND PRAYER (1 Corinthians 16:13d; Ephesians 6:10; 1 Samuel 30:6)

V. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS WAR, AND ALL THE WARFARE WE WAGE MUST BE DONE IN LOVE (1 Corinthians 16:14)

I) Question 1. What if you and I are faithful to “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men,” and “be strong” but we have not love?

A. If we do not have love, everything else is useless (1 Corinthians 13:1-3

II) Question 2. What does love look like in general?

A. God defines what love looks like in general in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

III) Question 3. What does love look like in specific in regard to 1 Corinthians 16:13?

A. God defines what love looks like in specific in 1 John 3:16.

The good news is that though we fight in these battles, Christ has already won the war. We are engaged in conflicts that will one day be over!

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).