“Be Ye Stedfast”

by Glendol McClure

When the apostle Paul wrote to the saints in Corinth, he said, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58). Paul exhorted the saints to stand firm, “stedfast” and to be “unmovable.” The word “stedfast” is from the Greek word “hedraios.” According to Strong it means “sedentary, i.e. (by impl.) immovable: – settled, stedfast.” Every saint from the first century to the twenty-first century needs this exhortation. But, what should the nature of our standing or steadfastness be as Christians? Please consider the following:

Christians must stand fast in the faith! Paul wrote, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (I Corinthians 16:13). In order to “stand fast,” one must “stand” or be stationary and firmly fixed in the proper location. The location of our stand (abode) is of utmost importance; we must stand in “THE FAITH” – the revealed Truth of God. John taught that we are to abide in the doctrine of Christ (II John 9-11). Paul wrote, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain” (I Corinthians 15:1-2).

Many are deceived and do not firmly stand when faced with trial and persecutions and are thus tossed “to and fro” by evil men and the devil and his forces. Paul gave the remedy for this problem, it being edification in Truth and wrote, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). Paul also said, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians. 6:13). Paul appealed to the necessity of the WHOLE ARMOR of God in order to stand against the devil and his wiles!

Christians must stand fast in the liberty of Christ! Paul exhorted the Galatians by saying, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). In this passage Paul is specifically referring to the fact that the Galatians were going back to the ordinances of the Old Law, circumcision. In Acts 15, we have record of the trouble caused by false teachers from Judea who taught, “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1). As a result, there was much contending and disputing, but, this matter was set straight when Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas were sent to Antioch. The text says, “And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment [TGM]” (Acts 15:23-24).

In like manner, some brethren who were once free from sin, have returned to sin, or as Paul put it, “fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). They are no longer standing fast in the Gospel, that which will keep one free from sin. Peter spoke of those who were “again entangled” when he wrote, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (II Peter 2:20-22).

Christians must stand fast in one spirit, with one mind! Paul wrote, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). With many brethren, strife and compromise are the order. This is the product of a disregard for the Truth of the Gospel! The apostles Paul and Peter commanded brethren to be of “one mind” or the “same mind” (Romans 12:16; 15:6; I Corinthians 1:10; II Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 2:2; 4:2; I Peter 3:8; 4:1). On the other hand, Paul commanded first century brethren to NOT fellowship sin and error (I Corinthians 10:20-21; II Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:11). Therefore, “unity in diversity” or “agreeing to disagree” to make “peace,” which many brethren teach and practice, is the product of a weak faith and a compromising spirit and souls will be lost! Those involved in hateful strife and compromise of truth are NOT standing fast with one mind and one spirit!

Christians must stand fast in the traditions of the Gospel! Paul wrote, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (II Thessalonians 2:15). The “traditions” refers to the doctrines or precepts which were received from the apostles, as opposed to the traditions of men. Of traditions or commandments of men Jesus said, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:7-9). In I Timothy 1:9-10, Paul warned Timothy of those who would practice things contrary to “sound doctrine.” Paul said that “sound doctrine” was, “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust” (verse 11). Paul, in writing to Timothy and Titus mentioned “sound doctrine,” which was to be spoken and which some would reject (II Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1)! Paul told Titus, “In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you” (Titus 2:7-8). Therefore, when one remains in the “traditions” of the Gospel, they are living by the “pattern” of Truth, according to “sound words” or “sound doctrine.”

Friend, are you standing “stedfast”? Are you standing according to the Truth of the Gospel? Have you “done all to stand” (Ephesians 6:13)? If not, remember the words of the apostle John, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12-15).