SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29
1 Corinthians 16:10-24
2 Peter 3:18

“Stand fast in the faith.”

WATCH AND STAND FAST

The key exhortation of Paul’s ending words is in 1 Corinthians 16:13: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” These imperatives are a good way to summarise Paul’s desire for the Corinthian church as she wades through her growing pains.

“Watch ye”: This command comes from the Greek word grēgoreite, where we get the English name “Gregory.” It refers to someone who is awake and vigilant. The Corinthian Christians often seemed to be in a spiritual slumber. They were carnal in their ways and had permitted worldly philosophy and practices to enter the church. They had to come out of such drowsiness, for they lived in a perilous world where Satan was like a roaring lion (1 Pet 5:8-9). They had to watch unto the coming of Christ Jesus.

“Stand fast in the faith”: This describes one who is well-grounded and firm in the faith. He will not be swayed easily by every wind of doctrine that blows (Eph 4:14). Note that they are to stand firm on nothing but the faith. The faith here refers to the objective faith, which is the whole body of doctrine in God’s Word.

“Quit you like men”: The word “quit” here does not mean to give up but rather to acquit or conduct oneself like a man (as seen in the Greek word andrizesthe). This brings us back to Paul’s exhortation in 1 Corinthians 14:20: “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” Paul did not want the Corinthian Christians to be presumptuous in their ways, but to be truly mature in the Scriptures. This is very much related to the next command.

“Be strong”: This refers to a moral backbone. When the world beckons us to compromise, we must be brave and have the courage to stand on the Lord’s side.

THOUGHT: Be strong in the Lord.
PRAYER: Father, strengthen me that I may never leave Thy side.