Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:12-18
Even such “mundane” concerns as his travel plans are part of Paul’s Christianity as he outlined his intent to pass through Macedonia, his sending of Timothy, and his urging of Apollos to journey to Corinth in these last verses of his letter. Paul calls believers to “be watchful, stand firm in the faith.” The use of the definite article “the” is important here, for Paul has in mind something more objective here. We are to stand in “the faith.”, the concrete revelation of God that has been given by the prophets and Apostles and that comes to us today in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Christians are to stand on the doctrine given in Scripture without wavering, to contend, as Jude 3 puts it, “for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” This would include such things as the deity and true humanity of Christ, the doctrine of the Trinity, justification by faith alone, and other truths summarized in the great Protestant creeds and confessions. Paul also tells Christians to “act like men, be strong,” be courageous in the truth. He is calling Christians not to allow cultural pressure to make us change or abandon biblical truth but to bravely stand in the power of the Holy Spirit, who alone can sustain us till the end. And, Paul adds that we must do everything in love. This is an important principle to remember as we stand firm in the faith. Harshness is not the same as firmness, but we can easily confuse the two. Standing for the faith means standing with humility, recognizing that we know Jesus only by grace and ever extending the news that reconciliation with God is for anyone who will trust in Christ. Christians should be careful that love not only reigns in their hearts, but shine out in their lives, even, in their defense of the faith of the gospel. As we seek to stand for the faith, let us do so with wisdom and love, being alert to the many ways the culture tries to undermine the gospel while also showing those who are outside Jesus that we truly want to see them saved. Today, as we worship, let us do so with the love that has bought us in Christ and share it with all who will listen.
Source: S C Ball November 19, 2023
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