Chaplain’s Corner – March
25, 2008
Rev.
Rich Hines
Standing Firm in the Faith and the
Resurrection
This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ
as their own Lord and Savior from sin, and serve as a Chaplain or a gospel
minister in a jail, prison or a follow-up ministry such as a rescue mission –
in the
All Scripture quotes are normally taken from the New King James Version
(NKJV) of the Bible, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When quoting a text, any deviation from the
NKJV text is placed within parenthesis signs (). These usually occur as direct translations
from the original languages, or as notes from the original setting to help
apply the text to today’s culture.
ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
are sometimes used to emphasize words in a text, or to make a comment about a
biblical text, or emphasize a statement
Last month, I
referenced Romans 1:11-13 as part of a message describing Christian fruit. We saw from that passage that helping others
to be strengthened in the Christian faith was considered
"fruit." In verse 11, I
pointed out an important word, "Established."
11 For I (a minister
of God’s gospel) long to see you, (so) that you MAY BE ESTABLISHED (this word
means to set or fix so that a thing stands fast – like to set in concrete) -
This month, I want to
look at some other Scriptures that relate to this very thing and apply it to
your ministry. Be reminded Christian
Chaplains and gospel ministers: God requires you, like Paul, to be involved in
helping to ESTABLISH converts in the Christian faith.
First, I want to
remind you of what being established and made firm in the Christian faith
means. Then, I want to give you what I consider to be the first and most
important thing to teach - so that this can happen. It is the actual physical resurrection of the
body of Jesus Christ, which we celebrated this month, and should celebrate
every day!
There are many New
Testament words that are used somewhat interchangeably on this subject of
making believers firm or steadfast in the faith. To start, here are FOUR of them:
“Steridzo” is the
word that means to fix upright, by use of a prop. It’s used in Romans 1:11 which we’ve already
looked at, “so that you may be ESTABLISHED (really, fixed, and by implication –
in your faith). Luke 9:51 also uses this
word when it speaks of Jesus, who “steadfastly set His face to go to
“Stekete,” a form
of "histemi,” which means to make
to stand as opposed to wavering.
“Stereoo” to make
firm or solid.
There's not really a
big difference between these first three words, but the fourth is more the result
of the first three.
It’s the Greek word
“Bebaiose” which means to confirm or establish.
It’s used in:
Mark 16:20 of confirmation
of the word about Jesus through miracle signs;
in Romans 4:16 of the
surety of God’s promise to believers;
in Romans 15:8 of
Jesus confirming
the promises made to the Jewish forefathers;
in 1 Cor.1:6, of the
testimony of Jesus Christ confirmed in the believers by the work of the Holy Spirit;
and in 1 Cor.1:8, of
the confirmation, establishment and surety of salvation on the day of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Then, in 2 Cor.1:7,
it’s used of the missionaries firm steadfast hope of the believers salvation; and in 2 Cor.1:21,
of God Himself – establishing and making the believers unified in one
body.
In Philippians 1:7,
it speaks of a partnership in establishing the gospel solid in
lives, and in Col. 2:7 we come to a
very important verse, that in the NASB says:
“having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him
and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with
gratitude. “
From this verse, we
learn that constant biblical instruction
IS THE KEY to helping SOLIDIFY God’s truth in believer’s lives.
The writer speaking
for the Holy Spirit in the Book of Hebrews uses “Bebaiose” it a lot.
It was used in
Hebrews 2:2 of the solid, firm, and sure law the angels brought
Moses in the Old Testament, and in Hebrews 2:3 as an intensified form of the greater surety
of the message brought about Christ by the Apostles.
Also, Hebrews 3:6
uses this word of holding fast the faith and confidence we have in Christ firm to the
end. Then in Hebrews 3:14 it is used for
the proof of being a part of Christ’s kingdom by a firm confidence until the end.
In Hebrews 6:16 and
6:19, it’s used of confirming an
oath or promise.
Hebrews 9:17, uses it
of the force of a will after the
one making the will has died.
Hebrews 13:9 uses it
for the establishment and strengthening of a heart by the grace
of God, as opposed to empty rituals.
Finally in 2 Pet 1:10
and 1:19 it’s used of the surety
of God’s written word, the Bible.
So let me say again, you are to be involved in helping those that profess
to follow Christ to be strong and to know what they believe SO THAT THEY WON’T
BE MOVED AWAY FROM THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE.
They are to solidly know
what they believe. They are to be
convinced of it so much so that they resolutely refuse to be taken in another
direction.
This is the reason teaching biblical doctrine and theology even to and
especially for inmates, is so important.
Paul spoke of the maturation process in Christ in the following terms in
Ephesians 4:12b-15,
12 … the equipping (this word includes
the concept of constant teaching) of the saints for the work of ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect (mature) man, to the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of
deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all
things into Him who is the head—Christ—
You know, Colossians is a sister letter to Ephesians. Ephesians 6:16 is most likely a reference to
the Epistle to the Colossians.
In ancient Colosse they had a BIG problem in the professing
So, it’s no
wonder that Colossians 1:23 in the New
American Standard Bible says:
“… if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel
that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of
which I, Paul, was made a minister.”
Or, that Colossians 2:7 in the New American Standard Bible (NASB) says:
“having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were
instructed, and overflowing with
gratitude.”
The following verses (or passages)
relate to the gospel working in the lives of believers.
Galatians
5:1 - in regards to how they are to be
saved, and live saved lives:
“Stand fast therefore
in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again
with a yoke of bondage.”
A more literal
translation would read: “It was for freedom that Christ freed us, THEREFORE
STAND FIRM, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of slavery (to man-made
religion which then and now is in direct opposition to what the Bible has
consistently taught)!
By the way, STAND
FIRM in Galatians 5:1 is a COMMAND to keep on obeying. Teach the inmates that!
2
Thessalonians 2:13-15 - this looks at the scope of salvation from
eternity past to eternity future:
13 … we are bound to give thanks to God always for you,
brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning (eternity past)
chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the
truth,
14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the
obtaining of the glory (the eternal glory) of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore,
brethren, (since you are going to share in Jesus’ eternal glory) stand fast and hold the traditions (the
teachings) which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
Then 1 Peter 5:8-10 in the NASB translation –
speaks of the time in between the reception of Christ’s salvation by faith and
the future eternal glory in heaven. It
says:
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary,
the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
9 But resist him, firm
in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being
accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
Then, this added encouragement:
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God
of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Since this
passage brought up our current enemy, the devil, I want to remind you that many
deceivers and antichrists have entered into the world (and into your
facilities). This is the reason Jude was
inspired by the Holy Spirit to write Christians and warn them to “contend
earnestly for the faith (the body of revealed truth) which was once for all
delivered to the saints.” After all,
false prophets and false teachers are simply Satan’s tools.
The only way to
protect the souls entrusted to your care by God, is to help strengthen them in
the faith relationship with Jesus Christ.
As I said earlier, I believe the best truth to start making believers –
even the ones that are inmates or rescue mission residents, FIRM IN THE FAITH
is the RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
Every gospel fact depends on it.
Note Acts 25:18,19 – an explanation between legislators of one of Paul’s
trials.
18 When the
accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I
supposed,
19 but had some
questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Now
1 Corinthians 15:58, a very well known verse, says:
58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your
labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Those
words, "steadfast" and "immovable" mean SETTLED or SEATED
and FIRM, NOT MOVEABLE or to coin a word, UNSHIFTABLE! When believers are this way they then are
properly prepared and able to be ABOUNDING, even overflowing in the work of the
Lord. But this verse, we so often use to
close letters with or put on greeting cards, begins with another important
word: "Therefore."
What's
the "therefore" there
for? It's there to direct the reader
back to everything that's been said in verses 1-57!
1
Corinthians 15 breaks into six sections, note them:
A.
Verses 1-11, A review and a restatement of gospel facts, note it in verses 3,4
and 11.
3 ... I delivered to
you first of all that which I received: that Christ died for our sins according
to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was
buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, …
11
Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
B.
Verses 12-19, The problem with saying resurrection cannot happen. Note verse 17.
17 ... if Christ is
not risen, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins!
C.
Verses 20-34, What Christ's resurrection guarantees and a call to repent. The NASB helps us see this in verses 20,
33-34
20
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the
first fruits (the sampling and guarantee) of those who are asleep. …
33 Do not be deceived:
"Bad company corrupts good morals." (bad company is bad te
34
Become sober-minded as you ought, and
stop sinning; (i.e. In doubting the resurrection) for some have no
knowledge of God. I speak this to your
shame. (NASB).
D.
Verses 35-49, The nature of believers' future resurrection bodies. Particularly look at verses 42 and 49.
42 So also is the
resurrection of the dead. The body is
sown in corruption (decay-able), it is raised in incorruption (never to
decay). …
49 ... as we have
born the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly
E.
Verses 50-57, The reason for resurrection bodies for believers. It is then seen
in verses 50 and 57.
50 now this I say,
brethren, that flesh and blood (our current physical body) cannot inherit the
57 But thanks be to
God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
F.
The sixth section, verse 58. “THEREFORE”
- on account of all that resurrection truth, verse 58 says:
"my
beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding (overflowing) in
the work of the Lord, KNOWING (because the resurrection of Christ and His
people is a reality) that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
Be
steadfast (from the word SEATED) is also used in Col. 1:23 as “steadfast.” Immovable - firm, not moveable, or
unshiftable, again is used in Col. 1:23 as not
moved away from the hope of the gospel.
So
like Paul did with the Corinthian believers, teach the resurrection of Christ
and all it’s many faceted meanings and guarantees, SO THAT your flock will
begin to become firm in the faith and not easily, or even under extreme
pressure, MOVED AWAY FROM GOD’S GOSPEL TRUTH.
Rich Hines
Minister To Chaplains