Steadfastness
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· 43 viewsThe ability to persevere in a task or calling. The Christian is called to endure in the face of trial or opposition, and his endurance brings spiritual rewards.
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Endurance commended as a virtue for God’s people
Endurance commended as a virtue for God’s people
Jos 1:7; Ga 6:9
Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
See also Dt 5:32; Jos 23:8; Job 17:9; Ac 11:23; Ac 13:43; Ac 14:22; Eph 4:14; 1 Ti 6:11; 2 Ti 2:3; 1 Pe 2:20; Re 13:10
You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day.
Yet the righteous holds to his way,
and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.
When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,
And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
If anyone is to be taken captive,
to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
with the sword must he be slain.
Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
Endurance is a hallmark of true Christian profession
Endurance is a hallmark of true Christian profession
Mt 10:22; Lk 9:62
and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
See also Ac 20:24; 2 Ti 2:12
Christian endurance originates with God
Christian endurance originates with God
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
See also 2 Co 1:8–9; Col 1:10–11; 2 Th 3:5
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Christian endurance involves standing firm
Christian endurance involves standing firm
1 Co 15:58; Php 1:27
See also Ga 5:1; Php 4:1; 2 Th 2:15; 2 Ti 3:14; 2 Ti 4:5
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The results of enduring
The results of enduring
Salvation
Salvation
Heb 10:36; Jas 1:12
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
See also Ro 2:7; Ro 15:4; 1 Ti 4:16; 2 Ti 2:10; Heb 12:7–9
to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
Protection
Protection
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
See also 2 Th 3:3–4
Spiritual fruit
Spiritual fruit
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
See also Lk 8:15; Ro 5:3–5
Encouragement for others
Encouragement for others
If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
See also 1 Pe 5:9; Heb 12:1–3; Re 1:9
Examples of endurance
Examples of endurance
Ps 123:3–4; 1 Co 4:12; 1 Th 1:3; 2 Th 1:4; 2 Ti 3:10–11; Jas 5:11; Re 2:3
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us,
for we have had more than enough of contempt.
Our soul has had more than enough
of the scorn of those who are at ease,
of the contempt of the proud.
and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.
Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
