What the Preachers WON'T tell you
The Bible frequently uses the Word 'Hold Fast' or 'Hold On!' In many places the word is translated; 'Keep' or 'Observe' or 'Hold Fast!' In each case the Word means literally to: 'Attend carefully, take care of, Guard & keep, and carefully watch' In other words the Scripture is commanding you to "Hold fast, watch carefully, guard and take care of' your profession of faith. Now apply that to the following passages using this word:
"IF you Love ME, 'Keep' My Commandments!" John14:15 (watch, attend to them carefully, guard them!)
"He who has My commandments and 'Keeps' them, it is he who loves Me!" John14:21 (same meaning)
"If anyone loves Me, he will 'Keep' My Word!" John14:23 (Do you love Him?)
These passages are only a few of many that use this important word. As you can see merely being told to 'believe' on Jesus as your means of salvation without a fuller explanation of exactly what HE taught, is a 'deadly' error indeed. It is any wonder why MOST professing Christians today have the 'faith of devils' (James2:19) Rather than the Faith that saves the soul. (James1:21-27)
This same word is used throughout the New Testament by various writers to define the true meaning of biblical faith. Here are a few more examples:
"KEEP yourself Pure!" 1Tim5:22 (It it your responsibility to carefully watch & attend carefully to His commands in order to keep yourself from sharing in the sins of others & becoming defiled)
"I have 'Kept' the Faith!" 2Tim4:17 (It doesn't mean he merely knew about Christ, but he HELD FAST to the end!)
"By this we know that we know Him, IF we 'KEEP' His Commandments!" 1John2:3 (Used MANY times in 1John)
"But he who has been born of God 'KEEPS Himself' and the wicked one touches him not!" 1John5:18
Next time you hear a preacher proclaim that God HOLDS you and will never let go, refer to these passages and find out whose telling you the truth! By His Grace you are Commanded to HOLD FAST until the end, Guard, Keep and attend carefully to the Words Christ taught. Here's another passage they CAN'T Bear:
"Teach them to 'OBSERVE' ALL things that I have commanded you!" Matt28:20 (The great commission passage uses this same Word in order to show that you are not merely to tell people to 'believe' in Jesus, but also INSTRUCT them in every facet of His Doctrine!)
Surprisingly the actual word translated: 'Hold Fast' in scripture has a slightly different meaning than above. It means literally to: 'Hold Securely, have a firm possession of and Take possession of' The action of this Verb focuses on the participant, as we shall see in the following passages:
"By this Gospel you are saved, IF you HOLD FAST that Word I preached!" (the responsibility to hold fast rests flatly on the person being addressed. You cannot be saved in another manner, unless you take firm possession of the truth!)
"For we have become partakers of Christ IF we HOLD the beginning of our confidence Steadfast to the end!" Heb3:14 (Here we have a DOUBLE command. You remain in Christ ONLY on the condition that you Hold Securely to your confidence with STEADFAST ENDURANCE to the end! How anyone could miss this is beyond me.)
"Seeing then we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us HOLD FAST our confession!" Heb4:14 (Here again the responsibility rests firmly on the person addressed)
"Hold Fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith & love which are in Christ Jesus." 2Tim1:13-14 (another passage showing the importance of holding to sound doctrine given by the Lord. In the very next verse it also says to 'KEEP' by the Holy Spirit that good thing which was committed to you!)
"GUARD what was committed to your trust!" 1Tim6:20 (Here again the similarity between the two words is shown. You are to guard the purity of the Word in your heart, protect it, while at the same time you HOLD firmly to the end!)
Jesus Said: "More blessed are those who hear the Word of God and KEEP it!" Luke11:28
According to the Bible they:
1) Attend carefully to and Watch over it
2) They Guard & Keep it pure
3) They Hold it Securely as a firm possession
4) They TAKE possession of it by faith
5) And they CONTINUE with Steadfast endurance to the end
THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO 'KEEP IT'! Now ask yourself, am I Keeping His Word? Or have I been duped by the modern preachers into believing that I can make a profession of faith and inherit the kingdom without putting forth any effort whatsoever? MOST professing Christians today are under this very fatal & deadly impression, are you?