“Hold fast the word.” This statement, or one similar to it, is found several times in the New Testament. The “word” to which we are to “hold fast” is the word of God. But why are we to hold fast to it? We can answer that question by examining the passages that contain this admonition. There are several reasons why we must continue to “hold fast the word.” Let us notice the reasons presented to us in the Scriptures.
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While Paul was in Athens waiting for Silas and Timothy to meet up with him, he spent his time talking with the people of the city about Jesus and the resurrection. Some of the philosophers with whom he spoke took him to the Aeropagus (Mars Hill) in order to hear more about this new teaching. Luke explains why this was done:
“Now the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21).
We can surely relate to the people of Athens. They wanted to learn more about what Paul was teaching. When we hear of something that interests us, it piques our curiosity, and we want to learn more. What constitutes an interesting subject will vary from person to person. Regardless, we see that humans are naturally curious. There is a reason for this – God made us this way. Paul explains this in his address at the Aeropagus:
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Any hope that we have to be saved is by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8). God’s grace is offered to all (Titus 2:11); however, it is not received by all. How do we receive God’s grace? James explained:
“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:6-10).
James’ explanation is very different from what a denominational preacher would give. Yet his explanation is “inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). So let us take a closer look at what James had to say on the subject of receiving God’s grace.
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We live in a materialistic society. So apparent is this reality that I believe examples need not be given. As Christians we must be careful that we do not follow after the world in this regard. Paul gives us a sobering warning about having a materialistic attitude:
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“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
Paul warned the saints in Rome that they were not to be conformed to the world. Why was such a warning necessary? What is it that makes conformity to the world such a temptation for Christians? And why does the world want Christians to conform? We will consider these questions in this article.
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Our culture has long promoted the “instant gratification” mindset. We do not want to wait, we want to have our desires realized now. We have credit cards to buy things for which we have yet to earn the money to pay for them. No down payment home loans allow us to move into our own house before we save enough money for a down payment. We can cook our food with microwaves, pay for our gas at the pump, and instantly download music, books, and movies from the internet.
It is not always wrong to receive what we want instantly, but we must guard ourselves against becoming accustomed to that mindset. Expecting the things we want immediately, rather than having to patiently wait for some things, can lead to sin.
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Peer pressure can be a very strong influence for sin. School-aged children are taught to overcome peer pressure and to not follow the crowd when their friends are doing things that they should not do. But despite the continual admonitions, many children ignore these warnings and do what is wrong so that they can fit in. The Proverb writer warned against this very thing.
“My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent” (Proverbs 1:10).
While these warnings are good and necessary for our children, we should not limit our instruction about this to that specific age group. All people, regardless of age, can be tempted in this way. Paul warns the brethren in Corinth about this.
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What does “propitiation” mean? How is “justification” connected to salvation? What does “sanctification” look like in our day-to-day lives? The Bible uses some powerful words to describe God’s plan to save mankind. However, these words are not always easy to understand, especially when they are not part of our everyday vocabulary. This book explores key Bible terms that unlock the message of the gospel.
Big Words in the Bible examines five important words – Propitiation, Reconciliation, Sanctification, Justification, and Resurrection – using plain language to see how the Scriptures describe these concepts and how the apostle Paul employs them in his letter to the Romans. This book also contains an appendix with eleven additional articles to explore these topics further.
Whether you are new to the Bible and want to grow in your understanding or want a simple way to explain these core gospel doctrines to others, this book will be helpful. With a focus on the Scriptures, Big Words in the Bible helps break down these fundamental topics to shed light on the life-changing message of the gospel and the salvation found in it.
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