I will say of the Lord, he is my God, in Him I will trust

The generation in which we are living is in turmoil as the basic structures of society are breaking down. Politically we are bankrupt, family life is crumbling, financial systems are collapsing and religiously there is confusion. Our motto text for 2009 is I trust a continual reminder that we are not to put our trust in anyone or anything other than our God. He alone will keep and uphold us as we look to Him for all that we need.

A couple of other phrases have also lodged in my mind since our studies in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. They are short and memorable and if kept in the forefront of our mind alongside our motto will be of immense help as we face the challenges ahead. Both are military terms and as Christian soldiers apply to us.

STAND FAST …

Good soldiers do not give up their hard won position but would sooner die than capitulate to the enemy. In Paul’s letters he explicitly tells his readers to stand fast.

Stand fast in the faith 1 Corinthians 16:13

In the context of this letter the faith is succinctly summed up for us in a couple of verses in chapter 15. It consists basically in three things, each of which has tremendous additional implications. The first is that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1Corinthians 15:3). The penal, substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ is an essential which must not be abandoned at any cost or in any degree. There is no other way of deliverance from sin and its consequences. Then “Christ was buried” (1Corinthians 15:4). The death of our Lord was actual and real as He entered the realms of the dead on our behalf. However we rejoice that “Christ rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1Corinthinas 15:4). Another essential element of the faith that we dare not move away from is the physical resurrection of our Saviour. Without that there is no hope, victory or heaven. We must also:

Stand fast in Gospel liberty Galatians 5:1

The Biblical balance is so glorious. While there are the great disciplines of the Gospel and of grace that same Gospel and grace liberate us into a glorious freedom. As with the Galatian churches there is an inate tendency in us all to revert to legal bondage. However we have been freed from it and must not exchange one form of bondage for another. That bondage will come unless we avoid the spiritual ‘e numbers’. Avoid at all costs any ‘Extras to grace’. How soon we add to the Gospel our traditions, legalism and ritualism. On the other hand we must also avoid ‘exceptions to grace’. By these I mean any other way to God outside of Jesus Christ alone. These all put us back into the legal bondage from which we have been set free in Christ.

Stand fast in one spirit Philippians 1:27

We praise God that we do not stand alone but as one in the body of Christ. Christians, with all their differences, are of one mind for as Paul says “we have the mind of Christ” (Philippians 2:5). That mind is a humble, serving and obedient mind. We also have a common confession which the Reformation summarised so powerfully and effectively in the words “saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone according to Scripture alone to the glory of God alone”. Since we are serving the same Lord and preaching the same Gospel we must stand fast in one spirit for these things. We must then:

Stand fast in the Lord Philippians 4:1

Our hope for time and eternity is in the one coming Lord who died, was buried and rose again. He is one day coming for our final and perfect relief. He has sent His Spirit to enable us in the battles of life and is coming in person to give us the ultimate victory.

To trust in the Lord and stand fast in these things is the only way to keep going today. Standing fast in the faith is the only hope for society; standing fast in Gospel liberty is the ultimate source of our joy; standing fast in one spirit brings glory to our Lord; standing fast in the Lord is our only hope.

BE STRONG …

Only a fit soldier is a good soldier and if he is to stand fast he must be strong. Paul gives us three things to strengthen us.

Be strong in the Lord Ephesians 6:10

We must be constantly in touch with our Lord for we are only strong when we are so close to Him that we are, like the branches of a vine, drawing all our strength from Him. We must also:

Be strong in the power of His might Ephesians 6:10

The word ‘power’ indicates authority. Christian our authority, our commission, is from the Lord Himself and is found in those great words of Matthew 28:20. Think about what those words tell us:

We are soldiers by His command

The sphere of battle is of His choosing

Our task in the battle is of His appointing

Our strength is the fact of His presence

Our success is all for His glory

Here is our authority. Let us be strong in Him. Then we derive strength as we are:

Strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Timothy 2:1

I think of John’s words in John 1:12 when he told those listening to him that with his fellow apostles they beheld the glory of Christ as a glory full of grace and truth. Thus in Him is found grace to help in every time of need (Hebrews 4:16); grace sufficient for every situation (2Corinthians 12:9) and grace that saves (Ephesians 2:8).

In order to stand fast then brethren let us be strong in the Lord for He is the only source of it; be strong in the power of His might for we have no other authority; be strong in the grace that is in Christ for we shall fall otherwise.