“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

1 Corinthians 16:13

Have you noticed that the world has changed? Did you also notice that things are not as they once were?

What is different?

Because many Christians have not faithfully stood up for the truths of what the Bible teaches and the convictions that it brings, the world has changed. Sometimes, it appears that Christians do not have a voice in this world anymore. Instead of Christians changing the world, the world seems to be changing Christians.

How is a Christian to be different from the world around them? Read something very important that all Christians should remember: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Christians are no longer to live a life for themselves. They are to life a life of faith. That word faith means “moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation.” After relying upon Christ for salvation, that Christian life is to be lived with a moral conviction in the truthfulness of God (and His Word, the Bible). See what Christians are to be reminded of: “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5). Christians do not live according to the wisdom of the men of this world, but in the power of God and His Word. That word power means “miraculous power or ability.” God gives us the ability to stand in faith (in our moral convictions and in the truthfulness of God).

Understanding that Christians are not to live for themselves but live in the moral convictions by power of God, what does the Bible say a Christian must do?

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Christians must watch (watch means “to stay awake and be vigilant”). The dangers, and sin, in this world are greater than many Christians can bear. Many Christians have not been awake, watching, to prevent the godlessness of this world from becoming prevalent.  

Paul ended his letter to the Corinthian church with this warning. He warned them to watch. He told them to stand fast in the faith. That meant he wanted them to be stationary, to persevere, in their convictions of the truth of God’s Word and the Gospel truth (their faith). They were not to compromise what God’s Word said. 

Is that an easy thing to do? Paul understood that many would not know how to do that. He encouraged them by telling them to be strong, and to use that strength to stand. Christians are to muster all of the strength we have deep down, take a stand, and not be moved from our convictions of what we know God’s Word teaches us to do. Christians are to witness to people in the world to become more like Christ, not become more like the world themselves.

Will you be one who will watch, not compromising, and stand fast in your faith?