… as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Summary: Paul’s words about THE “word of life” lead us to wonder about our connection with Jesus and his Word, the Bible.
As Paul continues his thought, he finally brings us to the crux of the matter. In our passage for this meditation, he tells us to “hold firmly to the word of life.”
Why?
What is the “word of life” that he is talking about?
In the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, we see him explaining the parables to his disciples again and again. Readers are left wondering if they would ever “get it.” They didn’t, at least not until they received the Holy Spirit.
Because everything is in parables, we have to look with the eyes of the Holy Spirit to understand what Paul is saying. For example, the Apostle John begins his Gospel account with these words:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5)
To those without faith, these words may seem mysterious. How can this “Word” be God and at the same time be “with” God? How can this “Word” be the source of all life? How is all of this related to “light?”
John’s Gospel continues with the claim that this “Word” became flesh and lived “among us” (John 1:14). Not until verse seventeen does John specifically name Jesus as the one he is talking about.
Jesus is God and with God. His Spirit is God’s Spirit. We call it the “Holy Spirit.” His Word is written in the book we call the Bible, and at the same time, his Word is life itself.
There may be many ways to look at Paul’s meaning, but one certainly is that we must hold firmly to our Lord Jesus Christ. We must cling to his Words and cleave to him, the Word.
Application: Spend time with the Word every day.
Food for Thought: How would you explain to a new believer what it means to “hold firmly to the word of life?”
How would you explain to a new believer what it means to “hold firmly to the word of life?”
The word of life is that God loves us, loves us so much that he sent Jesus to pay our ransom, that we may be counted as righteous through Jesus, so that we may be reconciled to Him. The word of life is love, and Jesus is God and the love of God incarnate. When we abide in Christ, we abide in love. The opposite to this are words that say we are abandoned, forsaken, and we must look out for ourselves. These are words of destruction.
1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The love of God is unadulterated, His love is rooted in pure truth. We as people lack this kind of love in ourselves. To hold to the word of life means understanding the truth as God knows truth. We must search the Bible, God’s Word, to understand His truth. We must ask the Holy Spirit to give us understanding on His truth.
John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
If we have love and we have truth, we must exercise our will to obey. This is the “holding” part of holding fast. By acting in faith we are holding onto His word.
Proverbs 6:20-23
20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Exercising our will in love and truth requires us to reject evil and hold onto what is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
I believe every person knows in their heart what is honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.
Romans 2:15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Thank you, Chris.
Very well said.
It seems obvious, but I have never seen it stated as clearly as you said it when you wrote that any words opposing Christ are “words of destruction.” True!
Here are a few other verses I would share with a new believer about God’s word:
Colossians 3: 16a: Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.
Psalm 119: 9 – 11: How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
10I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Matthew 5: 17 – 18: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished
Matthew 7: 24 – 27: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
2 Timothy 3: 14 – 17: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1: 20 – 21: Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 4: 12: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Thank you, Rich!
Excellent verses!! 🙂
How would you explain to a new believer what it means to “hold firmly to the word of life?”
Jesus Christ is fully united with His Father and speaks the Words of God to mankind.!
John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 10:30, I and the Father are one.
1.) Jesus is the living Word of God, His life on earth is a spoken and visual affirmation/revelation of the written word of God. He will come into and reside in the hearts of all who believe and invite Him in.
John 1:14, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 6:63, It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 16:8, And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:
Matthew 4:4, But he answered, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
2.) Jesus in all His glory is being revealed to all but will only come into the hearts of those who humbly receive Him.
Revelation 3:20, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Matthew 5:17, Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Luke 14:7-35. Verse 34,“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? 35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
3.) Jesus will teach and guide each of His people as we receive His word which has been recorded in the Bible, or is being taught in the words and deeds of mature believers.
John 15:6, Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 6:27, Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
Ron,
Thank you! I like how you point out the critical areas of humbly accepting Christ and humbly obeying him.