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Some of the dangers are expressed in Paul's letter to Timothy and we quote three
references:
"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned: from which some having swerved have turned aside
unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they
say, nor whereof they affirm" (I Tim. 1: 5-7).
"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain
babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have
erred concerning the faith" (I Tim. 6: 20, 21).
"Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the
resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some" (II Tim. 2: 17, 18).
Seeing that there are so many dangers to the honest seeker after truth, how important it
is to prove all things and to hold fast that which is good (I Thess. 5: 21). As Paul wrote to
Titus, we should hold fast the faithful word (Titus 1: 9) and his advice to Timothy is even
more appropriate today "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me,
in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (II Tim. 1: 13).
We need to hold fast and to stand fast:
(1)
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (I Cor. 16: 13).
(2)
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not
entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Gal. 5: 1).
(3)
". . . . . stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the
gospel" (Phil. 1: 27).
(4)
". . . . . so stand fast in the Lord . . . . ." (Phil. 4: 1).
To be steadfast, we need to hold fast and to stand fast and we need to be established
in the faith, for it is through the power of God that we are so established. "Now to Him
that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus
Christ . . . . ." (Rom. 16: 25).
The need for stability is expressed in Paul's letter to the Colossians. Again we quote
from the R.S.V.: "provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not
shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard . . . . ." (Colossians 1: 23). See also
Stuart Allen's comments on page 132 of Letters from Prison.
We must have a sure foundation and our faith must rest squarely on the Word of God,
which leads us to the Living Word, our Lord Jesus Christ. We do need the help of
teachers who are sound in the faith and how fortunate are those who have such sound
teachers!
Before we conclude, let us remember Eph. 6: 13-18. We need to put on the whole
armour of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil for we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and other enemies. Three
times we are told that we are "to stand". The description of the armour is given in this
passage.