HOLD ON TO SOUND TEACHING OF THE WORD - PART 2
TUESDAY 28 MARCH 2023
Paul the apostle urges Timothy to love the Word of God more and more, on account of holding on to the pattern of his sound teachings. Let's find out more!

Reference: 2 Timothy 1:13-14 New Living Translation (NLT) "Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you."
The above Scriptures are two important verses that convey the true meaning of being in tune or functioning in harmonious manner with the precise Word of truth. The first verse says, "Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching —a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus." While the second verse says, "Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you."
And in today's article, we are going to discuss the first verse in detail: Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Now watch this: What does Paul mean by a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus? He simply means that we flow with the true and sound Word, through the trust and love which are ours in Christ. When there is such frame of mind, the eternal Word will continue to work for your present and future good. Got it?
Now let's go into the full discussion: When Paul says, "Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus", what does it really imply? In another way, "Trust in the Lord wholeheartedly; embrace the accurate Word of His grace and keep firmly to its original truth. Don't change your mind or accept the Word counterfeit. I think that if we heard it this way too, we would understand a little better, the depth of its meaning, than the actual way it is stated.
In line with this truth, and to strengthen it in our lives practically, apostle Paul noted in Colossians 2:6-8 (NIV) - "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." Beloved, in accordance with this epistolary expression to the Colossians, I will break down Pauline exhortation and list it in plain details below, as the dependable and convincing way to hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching:
Firstly, having received Christ, you must continue to follow Him (Be consistent in your walk with Christ).
Secondly, let your roots grow down into Him (Be rooted in Him),
Thirdly, let your lives be built on Him (Be built up in Him),
Fourthly, then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught (By observing the above, you'll gain vigorous strength of faith in the wholesome teaching of the truth),
Fifthly, you will overflow with thankfulness (Immense or boundless Gratitude),
Sixthly, then warning follows: Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ (False doctrines).
Dear brothers and sisters, do not turn your eyes away from the real deals that you receive through my accurate teaching of the Word. Accept it as a genuine version of the gospel truth and as supremely good pattern of its kind, plus - allow it to shape your mindset and Christian walk. To that effect, I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to open the eyes of your spirit and keep exposing you to the ways of the Spirit, as you remain focused on the things above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Stay tuned for part 3. Shalom!
Scripture Reading - John 15:4-5; Romans 16:25; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:9.
Exuberant Declaration: Holding on to the true Word of God grants me gracious favour and manifold blessing, which are the fountain of my salvation. Hallelujah!


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