One of the most interesting and affecting scenes recorded in the Holy Scriptures is that given in Acts 20:17-38. Since the Spirit of God penned these words, the hearts of His people have often been uplifted, as they contemplated therein the zeal and devotion of God's honoured servant Paul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles. Notwithstanding the fact that the Holy Ghost had witnessed that bonds and afflictions awaited him, he triumphantly pursued his course, for none of these things moved him, neither counted he his life dear to him, so that he might finish his course. But a heavy burden lay on his heart, for he knew that "grievous wolves" were awaiting the opportunity, on his departure, to scatter the flock on which he had bestowed so much care and affection. How touchingly he reminds the elders of Ephesus that for three years, night and day, he ceased not to warn every one with tears. Calling upon them to watch and remember, he commends them to God and the word of His grace and finally prays for them all.
Now let us take our thoughts from Paul and those first century Christians, and crossing the intervening centuries of the church's chequered career — fix them on the saints in their present condition. Who will venture to claim that spiritual progress has been a marked feature of her long history? Has the Bride been loyal to her heavenly Bridegroom? Has the church truly manifested to a lost and perishing world her heavenly character in holy separation? Alas! we must hang our heads in shame, and confess that her whole course has been marked by failure. But God has always had His chosen witnesses, who, like beacons, have illumined the darkness in their own day and generation, and it is even so today, while the professing church approaches that solemn hour when, Christ, whom she professes to serve and honour, will spue her out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16).
Many Christians await, with daily expectation, their Lord's return, anxiously waiting to hear their heavenly Bridegroom say, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away" (Song of Songs 2:10). Not a doubt have they that they are in the "perilous times" of the last days, predicted by Paul. They are "perilous times" because iniquity abounds under a fair Christian show, a form of godliness with the denial of its power: "perilous" too, because "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). But their hearts beat high in anticipation of the soon-coming compensation, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Tim. 2:12); a rallying call that must have cheered the persecuted saints in that distant day. Great would be our loss if we regarded the apostle's exhortations as having no message for us today; and may the Lord preserve us from turning a deaf ear to them.
A favourite exhortation of Paul's was "Hold fast." In 1 Thessalonians 5:21 he calls upon the saints to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." How much sorrowful strife and division would have been avoided if saints had heeded this brief word of exhortation. In Acts 20:30 we have this warning to the Elders of Ephesus, "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Often has the need of this warning been evident. How often, in a time crisis, have leaders, on some plausible pretext, persuaded whole companies of Christians to follow them in a path not according to the truth of God. But the blame lies not only with the leaders, but also with those who give blind submission to them, and who thus shirk their responsibility to judge matters for themselves in the Lord's presence, as the Bereans of old, who searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so (Acts 17:11).
Never was there a day when the messengers of Satan were more active, pouring out from pulpit and platform their evil teachings in the form of "good words and fair speeches "to deceive the hearts of the simple. What need for the solemn warning of the Lord in Matthew 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Such men seek to impress their hearers by their scholarship and knowledge, but under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the youngest believer can prove all things, and hold fast that which is good. Let us value the truth, and hold it at all costs.
A second "Hold fast" is in Paul's second epistle to the Thessalonians, "So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye have been taught" (2 Thess. 2:15). Those conversant with the two epistles to the Thessalonians will have noticed a marked difference between them. The first rings with a joyful note. Paul commends them for their work of faith, their labour of love, and their patience of hope. Although suffering terrible persecution, their joy was in the Lord and in the glad expectation of His coming; and the heart of the apostle was filled with delight, so that he speaks of them as his glory and joy. Turning to the second letter, we are conscious that evil bas been working among them. Like some blight that settles on a beautiful flower garden, the emissaries of Satan had cast their blight of unbelief on this fair garden of the Lord. Paul again commends, as in his first letter, their faith and love, but makes no mention of their patience of hope or their joy in the Holy Ghost. Evidently their hope of the Lord's coming had become dimmed, and consequently their joy had waned, so well had these false teachers done their deceitful work. The apostle had taught them that the Lord Himself was coming, and that they would be caught up to be for ever with Him; but the false teachers had persuaded them that the day of the Lord had already come, and that the trials and tribulations through which they were passing were the proof of it. No wonder they were troubled and shaken in mind. Assuring them of the error, Paul seems to say, Do you not know that Christ is coming for you, and the first object and effect of His coming will be to gather you together to meet Him in the air? In view of this working of error, it is not surprising that the apostle, in his second letter, as in his first, exhorts the saints to "hold fast." His second appeal appears to be even more emphatic than the first, "Stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye have been taught (2 Thess. 2:15). May this firmness and tenacity be more characteristic of all true believers in these last days!
Turning now to 2 Timothy 1:13 we find another of Paul's hold fasts: "Hold fast the form of sound words." On reading Paul's two letters to his beloved Timothy, one is struck with his frequent references to what is the opposite of sound words. Timothy was not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies; some had turned aside to vain jangling, understanding not what they said. Timothy was to refuse profane and old wives' fables, and withdraw himself from men occupied with questions and disputes of words. But these false guides are not alone in guilt, as the apostle shows; "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:3-4). No enlightened saint would deny the fulfilment of this solemn prophecy in this our day. It is because there are itching ears that the insidious poison in imbibed. But while many are being carried away by the torrent of evil teaching, the grace of God has provided a sure "hold fast," and a firm foundation for all who desire them.
Just as Timothy was exhorted to "Hold fast the form of sound words," so it is the inestimable privilege of every man to plant his foot firmly on, what one of Britain's most famous Prime Ministers called, "The impregnable rock of Holy Scripture." Oh that men would realize that in their search for light and life they are entirely dependent on the living word of the living God. In Isaiah's day men had lost the knowledge of God, and were seeking light by resorting to familiar spirits. This sorely distressed the great Evangelical prophet, and caused him to utter that pleading cry, "Shall not a people seek unto their God? Will they go for the living unto the dead? To the law and the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, for them there is no daybreak." "No daybreak!" unspeakably solemn words! They remind us of Peter's reference to the false teachers, in which he designates them as "wells without water … to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever" (2 Peter 2:17).
"My power and might are thine faint heart:
Say, why art thou cast down?
Stand, holding fast what grace thou hast,
That no man take thy crown."
Hold Fast. No. 2.
We read in the Epistle to the Hebrews 3:6, "But Christ, as Son over His house, whose house are we, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end." Students of Holy Scripture need not to be reminded that one of the objects of this most important Epistle was, to detach the hearts and minds of the Hebrew Christians from an earthly system of religion that was temporary, and to direct them to what was heavenly in origin and character, and eternal in duration. A close study of the writer's statements, wherein he sought to accomplish his purpose, would afford a rich spiritual feast to all who undertook the soul-edifying task.
It is evident that the epistle is addressed to converted Jews who were passing through a period of trial and persecution. They would be thoroughly conversant with the Jewish religion; and all the prominent personages, places and practices pertaining to the earthly system would be well known to them; and the fact that the system was instituted by God Himself would undoubtedly ensure its veneration by them. But the whole system had been set aside by God, for it had not been able to procure blessing for men; and in it God had been dishonoured by the wickedness of Israel.
Many Scriptures could be quoted to show the solemnity of the people's failure in the holy things of God. Read Isaiah 1:10-15, wherein God says, "Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting." Another prophet states that the priests had polluted God's sanctuary (Zephaniah 3:4); and the last prophet of the Old Testament presents things at a very low ebb. Malachi reveals that the people had no heart for God and His things; although there was the outward show of religion, there was no reality. They brought the lame and the blind for sacrifice to God, thus despising His holy Name. Coming to the New Testament there is no evidence of recovery on the part of the people. Their beautiful Temple which our Lord had at the beginning of His public ministry acknowledged as His Father's house, He afterwards speaks of as "Your house," left desolate, for God had forsaken it (See Matt. 23:38). The condition of things that met God's holy eye could scarcely be worse than it was; but the darkest hour of night is just before the dawn. A new order of things was about to be ushered in; Christ was about to build His assembly of LIVING STONES; but before the church could be brought into being, Christ the Son of the living God must suffer death on the cross and rise again. Blessed indeed is the portion of those who can sing:
On Christ salvation rests secure;
The Rock of Ages must endure;
Nor can that faith be overthrown
Which rests upon the "Living Stone."
In Him, it is ordained to raise
A temple to Jehovah's praise,
Composed of all the saints, who own
No Saviour but the "Living Stone."
View the vast building, see it rise;
The work how great! the plan how wise
O wondrous fabric! power unknown!
That rears it on the "Living Stone."
These words recall to our memories our Lord's words to His servant Peter in Matthew 16:13-18, "On this rock I will build my assembly, and hades' gates shall not prevail against it." How very solemn and foolish the notion of those who maintain that this rock was Peter, rather than the truth confessed by Peter that Christ was the Son of the living God. Multitudes are seeking rest for their souls in Popery, where this notion is held; in a system which is but a revival of Judaism, a human and formal religion whose approaching end is definitely stated in Rev. 18. What a contrast to this is the glorious future of the true church, portrayed in Rev. 21.
Reverting now to the text at the beginning of this paper, we note that the writer finds it necessary to warn the Hebrew believers that their being God's house depended on their HOLDING FAST the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. This shows that the truth of the building in Scripture contemplates on the one hand the sovereign, divine workmanship, where the gates of hades can not prevail; and on the other hand, that aspect where man builds, and where failure and ruin enter. Popery has confused these two, vainly imagining that the powers of evil cannot prevail against that which man builds, be he ever so evil. Of the danger the Hebrews were in another has said, "The Hebrew Christians were in danger — being attracted by their former habits, and by a law and ceremonies which God Himself had established — of forsaking a Christianity, in which Christ was not visible, for things that were visible and palpable. The Christ of Christians, far from being a crown of glory to the people, was only an object for faith, so that if faith failed, He was deprived of all importance to them." (J. N. Darby.)
How very solemn and yet lamentably true are these soul-stirring words. How many there are in this day who revere the things that are "visible and palpable," be they beautiful buildings of finest architecture, charming and impressive music, or earthly priests clad in richest vestments: things that appeal to man after the flesh. Others, though not attracted by such things may get their eyes fixed on men rather than on Christ, and be affected by chosen leaders, companions, or friends with whom they have enjoyed Christian fellowship. God will have us occupied with Christ in the glory, not with visible things down here, be they naturally attractive or appealing to the emotions. May these words not apply to us. "Faith has failed, Christ is deprived of all importance to him." Oh! let us ever "HOLD FAST the precious truth that belongs to God's House, over which Christ is SON; let us "hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end." As called with a heavenly calling the saints do not belong to this scene, they belong to heaven whither they are bound, for heaven is their glorious destiny. The church does not belong to the earth; Israel is an earthly company, but the church belongs to heaven. If the church does not hold fast its true character and hope it entirely falsifies what it is as the House of God, hence the exhortation to hold fast the boldness and the boast of our heavenly hope. Anything that tends to weaken in the soul our true heavenly character tends to give a false impression of the God Who has called us to be for Him in testimony in the present moment. May we not become feeble or cowardly; may it be constantly the joy and boast of our hearts that we belong to heaven and are going to heaven, so that our feet may tread the heavenly way that leads to where our fore-runner has gone, within the veil. Till that blessed hope is realised in the coming of the Lord, may the prayer of our hearts ever be
"O, keep us, love divine, near Thee.
That we our nothingness may know,
And ever to Thy glory be
Walking in faith while here below."
Hold Fast. No. 3.
In a previous paper we were reminded of the precious truth that all true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ constitute the house of God. Confirmation of this wonderful fact is found in 1 Peter 2:4-5, where we read of the saints being built up "A spiritual house;" and in Ephesians 2:20-22, where they are spoken of as "Built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit." It is well to note the prominence given to Jesus Christ in these important Scriptures. Truly His glory far outshines that of Moses, who was faithful as a "servant" in the house of God; but Christ as "Builder" of the house, and as "Son" over it, has been counted worthy of greater glory (Hebrews 3:3).
What visions of glory do these precious Scriptures reveal to us! In presence of the greatness of the light they afford, we do well to search our hearts. Do we, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, realize or appreciate, as we ought, the dignity that God places upon us, in calling us to be living stones in the formation of His house? Psalm 29:9, referring to an earthly temple, says "Every whit of it uttereth glory" (margin); and another Psalm, 96:6, says that strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Knowing that these features characterized God's earthly house, we conclude that it must be His desire that these same features, in a spiritual way, should be manifested in His house at the present time. May it ever be, dear fellow believer, our desire and prayer for grace to enable us, in this world of darkness and unbelief, to show forth, as living stones, some rays of the glory, some manifestation of the strength, and some traits of the beauty, of the church's living Head. Thus shall we give pleasure to the heart of our God.
In this same chapter, Hebrews 3:14, there is another exhortation, to HOLD STEADFAST. Here we are reminded that believers are become companions of the Christ, if indeed they hold the beginning of the assurance firm to the end. In using the word "partakers" instead of "companions" in this verse, the authorised version has missed the true meaning; it is not our blessing in Christ but rather our place with Christ that is spoken of. It is the same word as "fellows" in Heb. 1:9, where we read of Christ being anointed with the oil of gladness above His companions. Companions of Christ! Companions of Him, whose glories are unsearchable, whose power is illimitable, and whose love is unfathomable! The question may well be asked, "Who are these highly favoured ones, whose privilege it is to enjoy such intimacy with the mighty Son of God?" Are they a select company of glorious angelic beings? Are they chosen from the records of the patriarchs, prophets and kings in the Old Testament? Are their names emblazoned on the renowned pages of this world's history? No! none of these! They are those to whom our Lord referred when, on the morning of resurrection, He said to Mary, "Go to my brethren. and say unto them, I ascend to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." They are those referred to in Hebrews 2:11, "For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." Yes! they are those found on earth today, who, as true believers, are not ashamed to confess Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. They may suffer scorn and rejection by the world, but as companions of their rejected Lord they pursue their happy way to the longed-for goal:
To be with Him in life's eternal home,
Where sin, nor want, nor woe, nor death can come.
Having spoken briefly on these two wonderful truths in Hebrews 3; firstly that believers form the house of God, secondly, that they are become companions of the Christ; our earnest attention must be drawn to the fact that the possession and enjoyment of these great blessings are rendered conditional by the word "if." "Whose house are we if we hold fast" (Heb. 3:6); "Companions of Christ if we hold … stedfast" (Heb. 3:14). These ifs are intended to produce soul exercise, and we will thank God for them if this happy result is achieved. They are certainly not there on account of any change in God's attitude of grace, nor any withdrawal of His purposes of blessing for men. They were introduced because some of the Hebrews were only professors. When they heard the glorious message of salvation, "the word of the report did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard" (Heb. 4:2). They were like the stony-ground hearers, there was no root in them, and when tribulation and persecution came, they were offended, (Matt. 13:21). Some also longed for the material things pertaining to an earthly religious system, things which aforetime they had given up. It is remarkable that after each of these conditional promises, a most solemn warning is given by the devoted writer of the epistle (See verses, 7, 8; 15). He knew the irreparable and eternal loss which the Hebrews would suffer if they left the path of faith for the weak and beggarly elements of Judaism. How earnestly he reminds them of the deplorable conduct of their forefathers in their wilderness wanderings; their continual murmurings, notwithstanding God's goodness and mercy; their crying for bread, and God sending the manna: their crying for water, and God's bountiful supply from the smitten rock; their crying for meat, and God sending the quails. God, in pity, delivered them from Egypt's dread bondage, saying, "I bare you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself;" His mighty works, watchful care, and invincible power they had known and proved for forty years; yet they tempted Him by saying "Is the Lord among us or not?" (Exodus 17:7). Could there be worse ingratitude? Could there be greater sin?
Solemnly indeed do the warning appeals of Hebrews 3 and 4 sound in our ears, "Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." But alas! we know the warnings were unheeded, the evil heart of unbelief prevailed, the dire result being their departure from the living God and the perishing of that mighty host in the wilderness, with the exception of two invincible men of faith, Caleb and Joshua.
Most probably these timely and solemn warnings, given to the Hebrews in the first century of the Christian era, produced in many of them that state of soul exercise which resulted in their eternal salvation. But we are living in the twentieth century. Have these warnings any voice for us? Does the solemn responsibility rest on us to take heed, lest there be in any of us an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God? There are many false teachers who would seek to persuade us that we are quite free from such responsibility because the warnings in Hebrews were for Jews only. We would be well advised to turn a deaf ear to such, knowing that God will deal in judgment with those who corrupt His word. No! we can claim no exemption, nor do we wish to do so. These solemn heart-searching, God-given warnings are meant for every twentieth century believer, and woe betide us if we neglect them.
We are in the midst of a Christendom whose heart is one of unbelief. Departure from God, as a consequence, marks its sad and downward course; and its predicted doom is rapidly drawing near. Let us, dear fellow-believer, hold fast to the precious truths we have been considering, for we can only prove that we are God's house, and companions of the Christ by holding fast our assurance of hope firm to the end.
R. B. Wilson.