Stand Firm6/26/2024 2 Thessalonians 2:15 ~ "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." Your salvation in Christ gives you the strongest, most firm foundation upon which you can stand. If you were to move off the solid rock of Christ you will discover that the storms of wickedness in this world will topple you rather quickly. But those who know their salvation in the LORD Jesus, the assaults of the world cannot shake them from the confidence found in Christ. Those two little words that open our text today call upon us to look at the verses that came before, and we find in those a glorious and joyful promise of God's gracious salvation. "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" (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). You are beloved, chosen and sanctified in order that you may obtain the promise given to all who believe--eternal life. There are two commands in our text today: stand firm and hold. To stand firm is to remain unmovable against the assailing storms of temptation and the increasing hostility of the world. And to hold is to "hold fast" to those traditions and teachings, given in the Word of God, through faithful obedience to the truth. It is on the foundation of Christ that you must stand firm. There must be an immovable quality to your faith in Christ. Unlike the shifting sands of false beliefs, the LORD has given His word and it is on His word that we find our stability. Jesus our LORD said in Matthew 7:24-25, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." Remember that the coming of the lawless one is with false signs, wonders and great deceptions that are embraced by those who refuse to love the truth (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). But true believers will find their sound footing upon the Word of God, trusting in what has been written through the apostles and prophets as the most sufficient source for life and faith. Not only do we have a sufficient place to stand, but we also have a trustworthy truth to hold. We are, as our text commands, to hold fast to those things that are passed down to us through the LORD's apostles. They were commissioned by Christ to instruct the church, passing down through the written word those disciplines and traditions that we grasp. Perhaps you're wondering about the statement from our LORD about not holding onto the traditions of men. In Matthew 15:3 Jesus asked, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?" Those traditions from the religious rulers of the day were nothing more than human efforts to maintain an external show of self-righteousness. Paul, in our text today, is concerned that the church holds onto the traditions that are established by the LORD through His apostles--those things that were passed down and required of the church. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." So, dear ones, let us stand our ground against the encroaching darkness of this world. Many have already succumbed to the deceptive workings of the enemies of God. Many have already let go their grasp on the Word of God. But you and I, beloved disciples of Jesus, must not be moved. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." Until the coming of the LORD or the day we depart this world, all Christians must stand firm in the faith. In His Grace, Pastor Michael
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