2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
Stand Firm
13 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. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 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.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
“But!” This three-letter word in the English language means so much and is very significant. It is a coordinating conjunction used to connect ideas that contrast or are vastly different. I’m sure, others in my church, like me, remember the sermon by one of our pastors on Ephesians 2:1-10, By Grace Through Faith. In verses 1-3, the pastor uses the Scripture to paint an irreparable outlook and description of us all who are without Christ: we were dead in our trespasses and sins, we once followed the path of the prince of the air of this world, and were the sons of disobedience. We were absolutely hopeless! Then, beginning in verse 4, it says, “but” God! The pastor so eloquently labored to expound the full meaning of what this phrase truly means to the believer: we were beyond hope, but God! This is more than a mic drop moment; this is when our hearts want to stand and join in with the angels singing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah! “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”
In the same way, we have this conjunction connecting the teaching that Paul has presented on the “Man of Lawlessness” with a message of encouragement in today’s passage. It says in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” Where Paul was informing those who are suffering from persecution that they will indeed suffer as our Lord Jesus Christ promised in Matthew 5:10-16, but now you have reason to rejoice! Right now we can give thanks to God. He chose us to be saved, sanctified, and believe the truth of the gospel. In 2 Thessalonians 2:14, God called us to the truth of the gospel so we, as justified sinners now called saints, may share and have the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. This last phrase is monumentous and we must not quickly bypass the true meaning and significance the Word of God is saying to us. God calls us so we may have the glory, or honor, of our Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew Henry says in his commentary, “Note, Wherever the gospel comes it calls and invites men to the obtaining of glory; it is a call to honour and happiness, even the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glory he has purchased, and the glory he is possessed of, to be communicated unto those who believe in him and obey his gospel; such shall be with Christ, to behold his glory, and they shall be glorified with Christ and partake of his glory.” What a high calling we have in Christ Jesus. This is our identity and our purpose. We are not to walk in weakness and in shame. The Apostle Paul boasts in his weaknesses so the power of God may be magnified (2 Corinthians 2:9). Those in Christ have a high calling: we shall be glorified with Christ and partake of his glory.
But let us pause for a moment. Yes, we do share in Christ’s glory, but let us not forget, as Paul reminded the church in Thessalonica and as Peter told the churches scattered abroad, we also will share in His suffering (1 Peter 4:13-14). We must be correct in our teaching to avoid the danger of slipping into the heresy of antinomianism, or what is popularly called today, the “Prosperity Gospel.” This says they are under grace and no longer committed to following the moral law of God. Health and wealth on earth are their destiny. This is not Biblical at all. Jesus promised us persecution in Matthew 5:10-16. Paul said we should stand firm because we will be persecuted (2 Thessalonians 3). Peter said to not be surprised when we suffer (1 Peter 4:12). James said we must count it all joy when we are met with trials of various kinds (James 1:2-4). Jude says we must persevere to the end (Jude 1:17-23). We are to reject those that oppose Scripture and not watch them on television. But instead, trust the sufficiency of the Scripture alone.
Therefore, we must stand firm! We must hold to the teachings of Scripture that we have been taught! In doing so, our God will comfort us and give us hope through grace. He will comfort and prepare us for every good work in Jesus Christ. We can rest in our hope by standing on the promises of God!
Christian Hymn: Standing on the Promises by Russell K. Carter in 1886
