DISCOURSE: 2158
STEADFASTNESS IN GOD
Philippians 4:1. My brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
ST. PAUL was a man of feeling, a man of love. He felt for all: for those whom he saw perishing in sin, he would willingly have endured all that men or devils could inflict, if only it might be instrumental to their salvation [Note: Romans 9:3.]. For those who belonged to Christ, even though they had never seen his face in the flesh, he had great conflicts, striving if by any means he might promote their eternal welfare. But towards those who had been converted by his ministry, he felt as a father towards his children: he could say, “God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ [Note: Philippians 1:8.].” To such is this epistle addressed; as indeed the words of our text clearly evince. Such an accumulation of tender expressions can scarcely be found in the same space in all the Book of God. But what is the drift of them all? Why does he so labour to convince the Philippians of his love, and to conciliate their regards to him? it was, that they might be stirred up to give the more earnest heed to his exhortations, and to “stand fast in the Lord.”
To be “in the Lord” is the character of every believer: he is united unto Christ by faith, and is engrafted into him as a branch of the living vine. But our blessed Lord cautions us again and again to “abide in him,” and warns us against the danger of separation from him [Note: John 15:1-6.]. In like manner we are frequently exhorted to “stand fast in the Lord;” and so to continue in the faith grounded and settled, that we may not be moved away from the hope of the Gospel.”
To you then we would now address the exhortation, and say, Stand fast in,
I. Your allegiance to him—
Many things will conspire to draw you away from Christ—
[The world, with its vanities on the one hand, and its terrors on the other, will assault you continually — — — the flesh also will operate to bring you into subjection to all its basest lusts — — — Nor will Satan be idle: he, with all his confederate hosts, will strive, by innumerable wiles and temptations, either to subvert your principles, or to vitiate your practice — — — It is a warfare into which you are brought, when once you enlist under the banners of Christ; and you must expect all manner of conflicts to your dying hour.]
But you must be steadfast in your adherence to him—
[You must be “good soldiers of Jesus Christ,” and never cease to fight till you have obtained the victory. Neither hopes nor fears, neither joys nor sorrows, must be suffered to alienate you from him, or to damp your zeal in his service. True it is that the Lord gives you many great and precious promises, that he will keep you, and that nothing shall ever separate you from his love [Note: Romans 8:35-39.]. But this is not to encourage supineness; but rather to make you more earnest in your application to him for protection and support. With the example of Demas before you, you should never cease to fear, lest you also should “fall from your own steadfastness [Note: 2 Peter 3:17.],” and “be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ [Note: 2 Corinthians 11:3.].” Aware of your danger, you must “fight the good fight of faith,” and “cleave unto the Lord with full purpose of heart.” “You must be faithful unto death, if ever you would obtain the crown of life.”]
Stand fast also in,
II.
Your dependence on him—
From this also you are in danger of being drawn—
[There is in us a continual proneness to self-confidence and self-dependence. We are ever ready to lean to our own understanding to guide us — — — our own righteousness to justify us — — — our own strength to preserve us — — — It is a great matter to have the soul brought to a simple reliance upon the Lord Jesus Christ for every thing.]
But we must live altogether by faith on Christ—
[He is “Head over all things to his Church,” and has all fulness of blessings treasured up in him for our use [Note: Ephesians 1:22-23.Colossians 1:19.]. “He is made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption;” and from him must we receive them all [Note: John 1:16.], that in, and by, and for all, His name may be glorified [Note: Isaiah 45:24-25.] — — —]
Nor must any thing be suffered to weaken,
III.
Your expectation of his future advent—
To that day there is a particular reference in the preceding context [Note: Philippians 3:20-21.]—
We are apt to lose sight of that awful day—
[This is evident, from the remissness and negligence with which the things of eternity are pursued. Could we be dull and slothful with that day before our eyes? — — — Could the allurements or terrors of the world have any influence upon our hearts, if we knew and saw that the Judge was at the door? — — —]
But we must stand continually in a state of preparation for it—
[To wait for Christ’s second coming is the habit of mind to which every believer is brought [Note: 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10.]: and in proportion as it is formed in the mind, is the progress which we have made in the Divine life [Note: 1 Corinthians 1:7.]. We should not give way to sloth, like the foolish Virgins; but have “our loins girt, and our lamps trimmed, and ourselves as those who wait for the coming of their Lord.” We should look forward with a holy longing for that day, as the termination of all our conflicts, and the consummation of all our joys [Note: Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:12.] — — — and comfort ourselves with the assured expectation that then we shall be ever with the Lord [Note: 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18.]. With that period before our eyes, we shall “be diligent to be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless [Note: 2 Peter 3:14.].”]
Permit me, in conclusion, to urge this matter, after the example of the Apostle in my text — — —