The story behind the hymn ‘He will hold me fast‘ tells of a young man who was born again but struggled with many challenges, such as weakness and temptation. The song was written in 1907 by Ada Ruth Habershon after evangelist Robert Harkness asked her for lyrics to encourage a new convert who feared he would not be able to “hold out” in his faith. The hymn reassures believers that Christ’s strength, not their own, is what holds them secure in their faith; a theme that Harkness was inspired to write about after meeting the young man in Toronto in 1906. Are you sometimes fearful of how your faith will pan out? Christ will indeed hold you fast! In this blog, we will discuss how God maintains and sustains our salvation.
Through His Love and Faithfulness
The theme of Scripture revolves around this foundational truth: God is love (1 John 4:16), and he has expressed this love through his Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:6-8). God’s love is eternal and independent of human actions (Ephesians 2:8-9), assuring believers that it is not about their inconsistencies but the stability of God’s love. The Bible states that God’s steadfast love and mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). That means that his love toward us is firm. It is a constant and enduring love. Even when we are faithless, he remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13) because he cannot deny himself.
Moreover, Scripture reminds us that nothing can separate believers from God’s love in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Paul emphasizes that nothing in creation can separate believers from God’s love —not life, death, angels, demons, or any other powers. Jesus assured that no one can snatch those whom he has redeemed from his and his Father’s hands (John 10:28-29). The hymn reiterates that even when the tempter would prevail, Christ will hold us fast, never letting us go.
Ultimately, as Philippians 1:6 assures, God will complete the saving work he began in believers. The extent of his faithfulness is such that he will make good his promise to get us home, regardless of how rough and treacherous the terrain may be in this life. He is the shepherd who knows how to care for his flock (Psalm 23), and the God who will fulfill his purposes for us (Psalm 138:8). Often, we think that it is our holiness and consistency that make God hold us firm. But that is not the case. God will bring us to see victory in the end because he finishes what he starts. Let us rest assured that in his love and faithfulness, God will keep us to the end (1 Corinthians 1:8).
Through the Ongoing Work of the Holy Spirit
God also keeps us through the ongoing work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit seals believers and guarantees their inheritance. Ephesians 1:13-14 describes believers as being sealed with the Holy Spirit, serving as a guarantee of their inheritance. It is essential to have this understanding because when doubts assail our souls—and they inevitably do—we need to remember that the guarantee we have is beyond ourselves. Jesus assured us of this help when he was on earth (John 14:26). But how does the Spirit achieve this work? The Spirit regenerates and sanctifies, leading to new life (Titus 3:5). He makes us into new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and by his power, we can put off the old self and be renewed in our minds (Ephesians 4:22-24).
The Holy Spirit testifies with the believer’s Spirit that they are children of God (Romans 8:16). It is this internal affirmation that assures the believer of something beyond their merit. The word ‘testifies’ implies that a conversation is taking place between the Spirit and the person. He is the promise of Christ to every saint. Like blood in the veins, the work of the Spirit brings continuous nudging and speaking into the believer. He reminds them that, in Christ, they are secure, not because of their strength and ability but because of the work of the Spirit. Remember, dear saint, that God secures you by the incessant work of the Spirit within–even if you may not see or feel it.
Through the Intercession of Christ
Intercession is the act of standing between a person and a superior to get a favorable response in a matter. In matters faith, it is the act of praying for another before God. In Kenya, and I would say most religious homesteads, people usually say things like, “Were it not for my mom’s prayers… my pastor’s prayers… the overnight prayers… my prayer circle, I would not have made it.” Now that may sound deep, and there is nothing wrong with knowing that people are praying for us. However, regarding eternity, God keeps the believer through Jesus, who continually intercedes for them, ensuring their perseverance and endurance (Hebrews 7:25).
In John 17, we see Jesus’ high priestly prayer of intercession before the Father. He prays that the saints would have endurance, unity, and knowledge of God. Of utmost importance is that Christ begins the prayer by mentioning that eternal life is knowing God and himself. The caveat is crucial because anyone who does not have a relationship with Jesus forgoes the privilege of enjoying Christ’s intercession.
Believers are securely held in Jesus’ hand. John 10:28 promises eternal life and that no one can snatch them out of his hand. How amazing to know that whoever Christ holds fast can never be untangled from his grip. The hymn we referenced says, “He’ll not let their souls be lost, his promises shall last, till our faith is turned to sight.” How amazing the power of Christ’s intercession! It is, for us, past–he prayed for us when he was here, present–he is praying for us now before the Father (Romans 8:34), and future–that is in the days to come before we meet him on the last day.
Lest we forget the significance of this intercession and its ongoing impact on us, John says in 1 John 2:1 that it goes deeper than we think, even when we sin. When the enemy brings rightful claims against us due to our inconsistencies, transgressions, sins, and iniquities, we have an advocate before the Father in Jesus Christ. Indeed, when the tempter would prevail, God keeps us through Christ’s intercession.
Through His Discipline and Restoration
Lastly, it keeps the saints through discipline and restoration, bringing them to grow in holiness (Hebrews 12:6). This principle may seem unusual, but it also applies to parents. The reason parents discipline their children is to help them return to the right path and prosper, thereby laying the foundation for posterity. The wise teacher reminds us not to despise the discipline of the Lord (Proverbs 3:11-12) because he disciplines us out of love. If the Lord allowed us to go our own way, then we would all self-destruct. But he disciplines to remind us that he has our best interests at heart and an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Not only does he discipline, but he also restores the believer when they walk in error and sin. God is faithful to forgive those who repent (1 John 1:9). He reminds us that, though our sin is like crimson, he can make it like wool (Isaiah 1:18). God desires that we walk in the fulness of his calling and at times he will have to, as it were, whip us back into the right path so that we can be in line with his good pleasure. God is faithful not to leave us to our own devices. He promises us restoration when we repent and turn to him.
Hence, the journey of the believer is not possible by his own strength, and the assurance of getting home to the Lord cannot come from within ourselves. God is the one who keeps us to the end of the road, when we appear before him in glory. Our role now is to obediently respond to the work he is doing in us and trust that he will guide us to our destination. He will not let our souls be lost, and one day we shall be raised to endless life because in Christ, we are held fast.