Holding Fast the Faith

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Revelation 2:12-17

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things said he which has the sharp sword with two edges;…

I. CONSIDER THIS FACT.

1. The name of Christ is here made to be identical with the faith of Christ. "Thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith." The faith of Scripture has Christ for its centre, Christ for its circumference, and Christ for its substance. The name — that is, the person, the character, the work, the teaching of Christ — this is the faith of Christians. The great doctrines of the gospel are all intimately connected with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; they are the rays, and He is the Sun.

2. But how may the faith be denied?

(1) Some deny the faith, and let go the name of Jesus by never confessing, it.

(2) Christ is also denied by false doctrine.

(3) By unholy living. Christ is to be obeyed as a Master, as well as to be believed as a Teacher.

(4) Alas! we can deny the faith by actually forsaking it, and quitting the people of God. Some do so deliberately, and others because the charms of the world overcome them.

3. In what way may we be said to hold fast the name of Christ and the faith of Christ?

(1) By the full consent of our intellect, yielding up our mind to consider and accept the things which are assuredly believed among us.

(2) If we hold fast the name of Jesus, we must hold the faith in the love of it. We must store up in our affections all that our Lord teaches.

(3) We also hold it fast by holding it forth in the teeth of all opposition. We must confess the faith at all proper times and seasons, and we must never hide our colours. Let us never be either ashamed or afraid.

II. Having considered the fact, LET US FURTHER ENLARGE UPON IT. What do we mean by holding fast the name of Christ?

1. We mean holding fast the Deity of that name. We believe in our Lord's real Godhead. "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God." One of the names by which He is revealed to us is Immanuel.

2. We also hold fast the name of Jesus, and the faith of Jesus, as to the royalty of His name. He was born King of the Jews, and He is also "King of kings, and Lord of lords."

3. Moreover, we believe in the grandeur of that name, as being the first and the last. Oh, what blessings have come to us through Jesus Christ!

4. We hold fast the name of Christ as we believe in its saving power.

5. We hold fast this name in its immutability.

III. LET ME SHOW THE PRACTICAL PLACE OF THE NAME AND OF THE FAITH WITH US. The practical place of it is this:

1. It is our personal comfort. For all time the Lord Jesus is our heart's content. Through this blessed name and this blessed faith believers are themselves made glad and strong. It is strength for our weakness, yea, life for our death.

2. And then this name, this faith, these are our message. Our only business here below is to cry, "Behold the Lamb!"

3. He also is our Divine authority for holy work. If the spiritually sick are healed, it is His name which makes them strong.

4. This also is our power in preaching. The devil will never be east out by any other name — let us hold it fast.

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