'How To' Instructions in Righteousness

Lesson 46:

Remember what you have received and heard [from the Word of God].
Hold fast.
Repent.

Key verse:  Rev. 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
 

This portion of scripture is from the letter to the Sardis church.  Their works were not perfect before the Lord and they are being admonished.  This situation is being experienced in the Body of Christ to this day and the correction is for us, as well as those in the first century church.  This is an admonition to turn from backsliding.

Remember what you have received and heard
[And heard] How thou didst hear the gospel in former times; that is, with what earnestness and attention thou didst embrace it. This would rather seem to imply that the reference in the whole passage is to the fact that they embraced the gospel with great ardor and zeal. – Barnes
 

[Remember] Enter into a serious consideration of your state.

[How thou hast received] With what joy, zeal, and gladness ye heard the Gospel of Christ when first preached to you. –Clarke

The admonition is compound.  We must examine ourselves constantly.  We must remember what we have heard from the Word of God.  We must hold on to it.  We must exhibit the same zeal and fervency we had the first time we were called.

Hold fast

[And hold fast]

(1) Hold fast the truths which thou didst then receive;

(2) hold fast what remains of true religion among you. – Barnes

[Hold fast] Those good desires and heavenly influences which still remain. –Clarke

Sardis had lost some of the things they learned and are being encouraged to hold on to what they have left.  We may be in a better state than they as we have their situation as an example not to lose anything.  We are to hold fast what we have learned and not allow anyone to take it away with false doctrines and teachings.

Repent

[And repent] Repent in regard to all that in which you have departed from your views and feelings when you embraced the gospel. – Barnes

[And repent.] Be humbled before God, because ye have not been workers together with him, but have received much of his grace in vain. –Clarke

Repent if you feel you have lost anything you have been taught.  Repent of backsliding and continue to move forward in the Salvation Process.

Lesson 46: Instructions –
Remember what you have received and heard [from the Word of God].  Hold fast.  Repent
 
 1) Examine yourself daily to ascertain your spiritual state...whether you remain in the Salvation Process.
 2) Keep in mind and constantly study what you have heard from the Word of God.
 3) Maintain your joy, zeal, gladness and fervency.  Accomplish this by staying immersed in the Word of God.
 4) Repent immediately at any sign of backsliding.
 5) Understand the difference between backsliding and falling away.
 6) Recapture and/or hold onto your first love.

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