HOLD FAST SOUND WORDS

2 Tim 1:13-14 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost, which dwelleth in us.

The mind that is searching for God's plan of eternal salvation, as well as the mind that has already accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, must release from its grasp, and refuse to obey any and all false, ungodly doctrines of men. Every, so called, "religious" doctrine that we are exposed to must be tried, and compared to God's inspired word - that book known as the Holy Bible. This is exactly what the apostle Paul told the Christians, who were members of the church of Christ in Thessalonica. In his first letter to them, he wrote: prove all things; hold fast that which is good (1 Thess. 5:21).

Through the inspiration of the writer of Proverbs, God teaches this truth to all mankind in His own words: let thine heart retain My words: keep My commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of My mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee (Prov. 4:4b-6). Also, the writer of the Hebrew letter gives all Christians this admonition: let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (Heb. 10:23a).

Teachings, which can be proven by God's holy word, we are to accept and hold fast. That is, we must acquire it, remember it, abide by the doctrine it teaches, protect it from all teachings that attempt to alter its true, intended meaning, guard it as your most precious possession, and forever retain it as your own pattern by which you conduct your life here on earth. Once becoming Christians, we should continually thank God, with the same realization as that, which Paul prayed for the Christians of Rome: God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you (Rom. 6:17).

This is the warning Paul gave to Timothy regarding false teachers that attempt to compromise God's word for various self-serving, covetous reasons. He wrote that If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself (1 Tim. 6:3-5).

The truthful, inspired word of God, that was given to him by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul often taught the same to Timothy as a faithful saying (See 1 Tim. 1:15; 4:8-9; 2 Tim. 2:11-13). These are just a few teachings from of the gospel message of salvation offered by God to the world through His Son Jesus Christ. The complete plan of salvation was given to Paul, through Christ Jesus, by God's Holy Spirit. These truths, in their completeness, Paul referred to as the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. The only place that true, lasting faith, and love can ever be found is in Christ Jesus. Here in His body, the church of Christ, faith and love abound, and with it comes the contentment, and peace of mind, in knowing God will welcome into heaven all that hear, believe, and obey all of His commandments. This, God's plan of salvation - the gospel of Christ, Paul had committed to the trust of the young preacher, Timothy.

This sound faith he had just mentioned, was to be exercised by Timothy, and not only was he to teach it to others, but he was to place his unwavering faith in it, preserve it, and keep it as his own. That is, Timothy was to keep it untainted, pure, and free from all influence of worldly, false doctrines of mankind, and never compromise its Holy Spirit-inspired truths (1 Tim. 6:20-21). We can successfully keep, as our own, the true doctrine of God only when we continually and consistently compare the "religious" teachings, to which we are exposed, to that doctrine of God, given to us by inspiration of His Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul committed God's inspired word to the young Christian, fellow laborer, Timothy. But by its providential preservation, the truths taught by all inspired writers of God's Holy Word have been placed in the trust of every Christian today. We have the same responsibility, as did Timothy. We, too, must hold it fast to us, love it, obey it, keep it pure, and, when ever possible, teach it, in word and deed, to all others that we can possibly reach within our realm of influence. The plan of eternal salvation can only be found in the word of God. It was given to us by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, and therein it should dwell - unchanged and in its perfect form forever.