Rev. Don Campbell

Thought for Today: Standing Firm

Six times in the English Standard Version of the New Testament, believers are exhorted to “stand firm.” The exhortation comes from the pen of the apostle Paul five times and once from the apostle Peter. There are some things we are to stand firmly for and some things we are to stand firmly against. We cannot stand for the right things without standing against the wrong things.

Paul teaches us that we are to stand against the wiles of the devil, and against legalism. Peter puts it positively by saying that we are to stand firmly in the true grace of God. Our stand is made possible when we understand and hold to apostolic doctrine. All of this means we stand firm in the Lord. Having summarized the passages, let’s now read them in order of their occurrence:

• “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Cor 16:13)

• For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1).

• “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Eph 6:13).

• “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved” (Phil 4:1).

• “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter” (2 Thess 2:15).

• “I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it” (1 Pet 5:12).

Standing firm in the Lord is not the same being pigheaded about opinions.