Christ's Law

[Odë:hgöd]

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● 2Tim 1:13 . . Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from
me.

The Greek word for "hold fast" means to clutch, cling, or adhere to.

The word for "pattern" means a sketch; viz: a blueprint, a schematic diagram,
and/or an example, i.e. a model. (e.g. 1Tim 1:16)

When Noah was commissioned to build the ark, he wasn't left clueless as to what it
was supposed to look like. God gave him a design to work with. And when Moses
was tasked to fabricate articles of worship for the Tabernacle, he too was given
designs. In other words, Moses and Noah both made everything according to God
given specifications; viz: Christianity is a God-given religion; He has not left it to
human ingenuity.

What this boils down to is that modern churches have been handed down from
Paul, and to a certain extent from Peter, a God-given pattern for their operations.
When they depart from His pattern, then they are no longer following Christ,
rather; they are attempting to revise his ways.
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[Odë:hgöd]

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● 2Tim 1:14 . . With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us; carefully guard
what has been entrusted to you.

This probably refers to congregations whose spiritual welfare is the responsibility of
church officers. The officers found in dereliction of duty are known as non vigilant
watchdogs and self-seeking, incompetent shepherds; for example:

"Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they
cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with
mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack
understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain." (Isa
56:10-11, cf. John 10:11)

So; exactly what is the "help of the Holy Spirit". Well; I'd say it's a motivation, to
the point of obsession, because I think we can safely assume that God is never
half-hearted about His business, viz: a church officer who lacks obsession with his
congregation's spiritual welfare should probably not be in a position to influence
folks in that way.
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