Hold Fast

Reading in Hebrews, the term hold fast caught my attention, and a search through Scripture ensued.

My journey began in Hebrews 3 where we’re told Jesus was counted as worthy of more than Moses. The Jewish audience for this letter held Moses in great esteem. But the writer of Hebrews declares Jesus is worthy of more honor than the revered Moses (Hebrews 3:3).

Then the writer brings us into the picture.

“And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:5-6).

Hold fast, as used in Hebrews, is from the Greek word κατέχω which means to hold down or fast. Literally, or figuratively. (Blue Letter Bible lexicon.)

It turns out this word is used several ways in the Bible. And each usage adds to our understanding of God’s desire for us to hold fast.

What Should We Hold Fast?

As we saw in Hebrews 3:5-6, we should hold fast “the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope.”

1 Corinthians 15:2 tells us to hold fast the word preached to us.

And 1 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to hold fast that which is good.

Hebrews 10:23 tells us to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.”

Putting it simply, we’re told to hold fast to the truth which was preached to us at some point, the truth which never changes, the truth which is good. We are to hold fast to the confidence we have in our Lord’s saving grace. The confession we made at some point in our lives. The writer reminds us not to waiver or let go of our faith but to remain steadfast in confident trust “to the end” (Hebrews 3:6,14).

Why Should We Hold Fast?

It’s interesting that holding fast sometimes comes after the word, “if.”

“Whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:6).

“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (Hebrews 3:14).

It makes me think.

A trophy doesn’t go to the one who starts a race, but to the one who finishes. We’re told we are partakers of Christ if we hold fast to the end. Let’s not give up before the race is finished.

Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us,

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Today we run the race our Father gives us. Our example and guide is Jesus, the One Who fills us with faith and enables us to run in His power. He finished His race well, enduring the shame of the cross and our sin, and He is now at the right hand of the Father waiting for us. He is the reason we hold fast.

How Do We Hold Fast

Hebrews 10:23 helps us know how we can hold fast. “For He who promised is faithful.”

In 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (KJV,) we’re told, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

We have a faithful Father Who enables us to run our race well. He is faithful in all He promises. And He promises to be with us and to be our strength.

“The LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”” (Joshua 1:9).

“Trust in the LORD forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:4).

And before Jesus left the earth, He told His disciples, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Not only do we have a perfect Savior Who walked this road before us, but we have a faithful Father Who keeps His promises, and His Holy Spirit walks with us so we are never alone on this journey. Our God’s faithfulness and His presence enable us to hold fast to the confidence we have in Him.

Final Thought

The Greek word translated hold fast is translated differently in some Scripture verses. These translations help us better understand our need to hold fast to God’s truth.

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15).

When the sower sows seed, the seed which grows and bears fruit is from the ground that keeps the seed, or holds the seed fast. Similarly, the souls who hide God’s word in their hearts and accept it as truth are the souls who will bear spiritual fruit. These people don’t let His word go, but instead hold it fast, and the word of truth bears fruit.

Another example of holding fast shows up in Acts 27 where Luke tells the story of Paul being transferred to Rome for judgement. The ship ran into a severe storm, and the sailors feared for their lives.

Then the author tells us,

“And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. ” (Acts 27:40).

The sailors made for the shore. They were petrified of the storm and chose to hold fast in the direction of safety. What a beautiful picture for us. May we choose to hold fast to the word of truth and sail towards Jesus, our Lord and King, without wavering.

NOTE: To bless you as you think about holding fast, you may enjoy the song In Christ Alone, by Keith and Kristin Getty. It speaks of standing in the love of Christ. He is our strength, the One Who enables us to hold fast. Bless you as you walk with Him today.

(Scripture: New King James Version, unless specified; Related post: Run Well; Photos: Taken by Carolyn Thigpen, Sea of Galilee, October, 2015 and Tribble Mill Park, April, 2025)