Don Fredenburg
Jim Tucker
H.E. 'Hub' Bowen
Mike Coble
Ron Bowen1/8/2018
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be
strong. Do everything in love." (I
Corinthians 16:13-14)
Paul gives five commands. Phillips translation separates verses 13-14 into a paragraph of their own, giving it a sub-heading that says, "A little sermon in a nutshell!" He translates the verses as follows: "Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, live like men, be strong! Let everything that you do be done in love." Paul's commands sound much like the advice in the book of Joshua: "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go" (Joshua 1:6-7).
First, Paul said to "be alert or be on your guard." The Christian life must be a life of alertness; we have to understand what's going on, to evaluate and to be aware of what the adversary is doing. Paul is saying we can't live the Christian life in a state of stupor; we must be alert (I Peter 5:8). If we are not alert to Satan, we will not be alert to temptation (Mark 14:38), and we will not be alert to our needs or the needs of others (Galatians 6:10). This was the problem of the Corinthian church, they were guilty of so many things because they were not awake and on guard.
Second, Paul said to stand firm in the faith. Stand fast in the Gospel, the faith. The faith Jude says was "once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). This is the Word of God. In the Greek (I Timothy 6:12) says "fight the good fight of the faith." Many think that human wisdom is on the same level with divine wisdom, God's Revelation, the Bible. Paul said Epaphras, "is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" (Colossians 4:12). We must not allow someone to sway us from our being firm in the Scriptures.
Third, Paul commanded "be courageous or act like men." Commentator Albert Barnes says in his Notes that Paul means a man is not "a coward, or timid, or alarmed at enemies, but [is] to be bold and brave." This applies to all Christians, no matter the age or gender. The idea is summed up in the word "courage." We can be courageous because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
Fourth, Paul stresses we must "be strong." The word Paul uses for "be strong" means "be strengthened." Our part is to submit ourselves to Him.
Fifth, Paul's final command in this passage is the glue that holds the other four together; "Let all that you do be done in love." As one writer expressed it, "This love involves both love for the Lord (16:22) and love for one another (16:24). Paul earlier challenged his readers with the fact that "knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies" (8:1). Love is the greatest motivating force for ethical behavior.
"With All I Am"
by Hillsong
Into Your hand I commit again
With All I am For You Lord
You hold my world in the palm of Your hand
And I'm Yours forever
Jesus I believe in You
Jesus I belong to You
You're the reason that I live
The reason that I sing with all I am
I'll walk with You wherever You go
Through tears and joy I'll trust in You
And I will live in all of Your ways
Your promises forever
Jesus I believe in You
Jesus I belong to You
You're the reason that I live
The reason that I sing
Jesus I believe in You
Jesus I belong to You
You're the reason that I live
The reason that I sing with all I am
I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship, I will worship You
Jesus I believe in You
Jesus I belong to You
You're the reason that I live
The reason that I sing
Jesus I believe in You
Jesus I belong to You
You're the reason that I live
The reason that I sing
Jesus I believe in You
Jesus I belong to You
You're the reason that I live
The reason that I sing with all I am
I will worship, I will worship You
I will worship and I will worship You
"Daily Devotions by Guy Roberson"
Walnut Street Church of Christ
