Stand Firm & Hold On

Over the last two weeks we have taken a deep dive into 2 Thessalonians and last week we looked at the three things that must happen before Jesus returns:

There will be a great falling away (apostasy)

The man of sin (the Antichrist) will be revealed

The restraint (of the Holy Spirit’s influence) will be removed

Today in our passage Paul shares with these Christians how grateful he is for them and the things that he wants them to focus upon. The truths that Paul shares are just as relevant today, in 2024, as they were then.

Take a look at 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

2 Thessalonians 2:13–15 ESV

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

Stand Firm in Your Salvation & Sanctification (2:13-15a, 3:3)

Paul returns to the concept of gratefulness directed toward the Thessalonian believers that he had mentioned in his first letter.

Notice 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4

1 Thessalonians 1:2–4 ESV

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

Paul reminds these believers that they are IN relationship with Christ through faith. This relationship, as Paul said is a result of God’s LOVING choice.

Before time began God lovingly chose to bring the lost into relationship with Himself based upon two things (note v. 13b):

Belief (faith) in the TRUTH

Wiersbe notes that the “call of God went out to the whole city, but it was EFFECTIVE ONLY in those who believed the truth and trusted Christ.”

Sanctification by the SPIRIT

Knute Larson in his commentary notes this about sanctification:

Sanctification is a process by which the believer becomes increasingly holy. The Holy Spirit affects this process in conjunction with the individual, WHO MUST CONTINUALLY CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IN THE TRUTH…When faith and the Spirit work in harmony, the believer develops more like Christ, becoming increasingly useful in the work of God and his kingdom.

As a result of FAITH in Christ and Sanctification by the SPIRIT these believers had been SET APART for FUTURE REWARD (v. 14—obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus)

Dr. Pic also mentions this “FUTURE REWARD” in his commentary. He notes:

More likely, given the point of v. 14, Paul is referring here to final salvation—and so to progressive or final sanctification and perseverance in faith…considerable emphasis has been placed on the destiny the Christian is called to…God’s call to salvation includes His call into His kingdom

1 Thessalonians 2:12 ESV

we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

His call to holiness

1 Thessalonians 4:7 ESV

For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

and the call to glorification

2 Thessalonians 1:10–12 ESV

when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

They are to STAND FIRM in these things…in the person and work of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Paul had reminded them of this before. As a matter of fact he was so concerned about them “standing firm” he sent Timothy to visit them...

1 Thessalonians 3:2 ESV

and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,

Why can we stand firm? Why could they stand firm? It wasn’t because of how strong and faithful they were, but it was, as 2 Thessalonians 3:3 reminds us, how strong and faithful God was:

2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV

But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

We can take comfort in this and rejoice in this, that our HOPE IS IN NOTHING LESS THAN JESUS’ BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS! As we are holding on to Him, He is holding on to us!

Not only is Paul calling these believers to stand firm in the work of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but he is also instructing them to...

Hold on to the Truth (2:15b-17, 3:4-5)

Notice 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

2 Thessalonians 2:15–17 ESV

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Both the command to “stand firm” and to “hold to” are “PRESENT TENSE IMPERATIVES.” In other words these are commands that are to be ON GOING! They are to CONTINUE to stand firm and to CONTINUE TO HOLD ON.

So what are they to hold on to? Paul uses the Greek word translated here as “TRADITION.” It literally means “something that is passed along from one to another.”

What had Paul passed on to them? As an APOSTLE of the Lord Jesus he had passed along his “SPOKEN WORD” and his “LETTER.”

Paul is not telling them to hold on to any or all traditions, but rather the things He had passed along to them under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit…as Dr. Pic says:

THE BASIC TRUTHS THAT ARE AT THE HEART OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.

Harold Hoehner gives a similar definition:

The traditions are the apostolic truths proclaimed to the believers in oral teaching and in written word.

This would be similar to what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:3

1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

and in...

1 Corinthians 11:23 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

So what are they to do with these “traditions” that they have received? Paul says they are to “HOLD TO.” This work in the original language means to “HOLD FIRMLY TO.”

In other words God’s truth is a precious commodity that we are to GRASP FIRMLY and NEVER LET IT GO, while at the same time PASSING ALONG THIS TRUTH TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

Paul goes on to mention something similar in the next chapter. Note 2 Thessalonians 3:4-5

2 Thessalonians 3:4–5 ESV

And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

He has not only encouraged them to keep the traditions passed down to them, but he has confidence that they are “DOING AND WILL DO THE THINGS THAT WE COMMAND.”

Paul has confidence that the Thessalonian believers aren’t just “hearers” of the Word, but also “DOERS” of the Word.

As this chapter concludes Paul points these believers to find their COMFORT and HOPE in the Lord Jesus and God the Father so that they are ESTABLISHED in every good work and word...

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 ESV

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Aren’t you thankful for the LOVE of God?! As Dr. Pic says, “Apart from [the redemptive work of Christ], His love would never be known.”

God expressed His love to us!

1 John 3:16 ESV

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

As a result of this great love we know ETERNAL COMFORT: an encouragement that will never be disappointed!

We also have a CONFIDENT EXPECTATION (GOOD HOPE) that is well grounded in the promises of God!

The last thing we want to look at today is the beginning of Chapter 3. We’ve already alluded to vv. 3-5, but now focus upon Paul’s request in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

2 Thessalonians 3:1–2 ESV

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.

Pray for God’s Word to Spread (3:1-2)

He asks them to pray for the Word of God to “speed ahead.” Maybe you remember what Paul had told the Corinthian believers in 1 Corinthians 16:9

1 Corinthians 16:9 ESV

for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

There is a GREAT DOOR ahead for the Gospel, but there are also many adversaries to the Gospel. That was not only true in Paul’s day, but it is certainly true in our day as well!

Paul requests that the Thessalonians pray that the Word of God that is being spread would not be “HINDERED.”

Couldn’t we pray the same thing about the ministries here in Black Mountain?

Couldn’t we pray the same thing about all the GOOD NEWS CLUBS throughout the country?

Couldn’t we pray the same thing about the work in Hickory, NC?

Couldn’t we pray the same things about our partnerships in Panama and India?

Couldn’t we pray the same thing about the work in Puerto Rico and the precious children that attend Genesis Academy?

Couldn’t we pray that same thing about our Awana program, and our teen ministry, and Youth Aflame in a couple of weeks?

That God would intervene and provide fertile ground for the Word to be planted and to spread?!

He also asks them to pray that as the Word is spreading they would be delivered from wicked and evil people. Not everyone is going to welcome them with open arms.

Remember, Paul said there are many adversaries.

Maybe you heard about the young missionary couple in Haiti that were just killed by gangs.

Maybe you heard that the French gov’t has become more hostile to religious groups and they’ve added rules and regulations.

Maybe you heard about the Christians in N Korea, and Iran, and China suffering greatly for their faith.

THESE THINGS WILL ONLY INTENSIFY IN THE LAST DAYS, WHICH MEANS THAT THE FAITHFULNESS AND INTENSITY OF OUR PRAYERS SHOULD ALSO INCREASE!

Today we are going to end our service specifically praying for these three things:

Believers Would Stand Firm in their Salvation and Sanctification

Believers Would Hold on to the Truth

God Would Bless His Word that is Being Spread Around the World and Protect His Messengers

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