Good morning! Welcome to Sunday school! Please turn to 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

My title this morning is “Stand Fast and Be Encouraged.” This passage rounds out and summarizes Paul’s teaching in this passage, and also includes references to numerous other themes discussed in this letter. It breaks down into three sections, so that my outline today is simple: the thanksgiving, the command, and the prayer.

1.  Thanksgiving (vv. 13-14)

There are three things I want you to notice about Paul’s thanksgiving for the Thessalonians in vv. 13-14. First, notice the “when.” Paul says that he gives thanks for the Thessalonians how often? (“always”) We’ve seen that before! We as Christians are to be praying all the time.

But then also notice that Paul says that he is “bound” (or “obligated”) to give thanks for the Thessalonians. Do you realize that you are obligated not only to pray for your fellow believers, but also to give thanks for them? Why? Well, let’s take a look.

First, Paul is obligated to give thanks for the Thessalonians because God chose them (v. 13). Did you know that if you are saved, it is because God chose you? This is ultimately what set the Thessalonians apart from the gospel rejecters Paul had just addressed. They were not saved because they were better those people; they were saved because God chose them.

When did this choosing take place? According to v. 13, it took place, “from the beginning,” or before the beginning of time. Ephesians 1:4 teaches the same truth. It says, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” Think about this: before you had ever sinned, before you even existed, God chose to save you!

Verse 13 refers to believers as those who are “beloved by the Lord” (“the Lord” there being a reference to Jesus). Now, we know that God loves everybody– “God so loved the world.” However, this reference specifically has to do with the love with which God chooses and saves His people. Christian, you are God’s child, and He loves you in a very special way.

What is the name of this doctrine? It is the doctrine of election. I’ve actually tried to avoid saying that word, because I know that as soon as I say it, the hairs on the backs of some people’s necks stand up, and some people are ready to argue. I’m trying to avoid that this morning! But maybe we should ask the question, “Why is this doctrine sometimes divisive?” I think this doctrine can become divisive when we extend our arguments beyond what Scripture explicitly teaches. There’s a time and a place for that sort of discussion. But this morning, I want to stick with the text. Recognize that in 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul said these things in order to encourage and assure the Thessalonians! So let’s use this text in the way Paul intended for it to be used!

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why me?” Sometimes people ask themselves that question when things go bad. But have you ever asked yourself that question when things were going good? I distinctly remember as a teenager, mowing our front lawn and thinking about how I might just have easily been born into some pagan family in China, Russia, or you name it. “Why me, Lord? Why did I grow up in a Christian home? Why did I receive the gospel?”

One of my family’s favorite movies is, “The Sound of Music.” It’s a great movie! But there is a song in that movie that always strikes me as unbiblical. It’s called, “Something Good.” Do you know it? Baron Von Trapp and Maria are reveling in their newfound love for each other, when they ask themselves the question, “Why me?” And the answer that is given in the song is basically that somewhere in my past, I must have done something good. That’s a very tit-for-tat way to view our God!

The fact is that there are blessings in your life that cannot be traced back to anything good that you did. They are simply there because God loves you and because He is good. And that’s how it is with my salvation. It is a gift from God. And when you come to view your life in that way, you cannot help but be filled with thankfulness.

So, in v. 13, we read that God chose us for salvation, but how does He actually save us? Paul gives two answers to that question at the end of v. 13. The first answer relates to what God does, and the second relates to what we do.

As it relates to what God does, we are saved “through the sanctification of the Spirit.” We’ve discussed this before. To be saved is to be set apart for special service to God. If you are a Christian, your sanctification is both a past-tense reality and a present-tense progression; but here, the emphasis is on the past-tense reality. You were saved “through the sanctification of the Spirit.”

However, that is not to say that we are completely inactive in salvation! What do we do? According to v. 13, we believe “in the truth”–that is, the truth of the gospel.

Before we move on, I want you to see the Trinity in v. 13. What does God do? (chooses us for salvation) What does Jesus do? (loves us) What does the Spirit do? (sanctifies us) In other words, all three persons of the Trinity were active in your salvation! Doesn’t that make you feel special? It should!

Have you ever been truly graced by someone’s presence? Maybe you found yourself saying something like, “You didn’t both need to come!” or, “I can’t believe that all of you all worked together on this birthday party for me!” When it comes to your salvation, every person of the godhead worked together on it. What an amazing thought!

The second reason Paul gives thanks for the Thessalonians is because God called them (v. 14).

Not only did God choose you for salvation in eternity past, but He also called you to salvation when you actually got saved. This doctrine is referred to as “effectual calling.” Now, again, we know that in one sense, God calls everyone to be saved. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Some people heed that call and some do not.

But the New Testament also refers to a special kind of call that is always effective in those who believe. Romans 8:30 says, “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Notice that all of those who are called in this verse are justified and glorified–in other words, they are all saved. This is effectual calling.

You say, “How does this call take place?” According to v. 14, God does it in people’s hearts as they think about the preaching of the gospel (v. 14). So Paul preached the gospel. Why did some believe while others refused? It comes back to God’s choice, but along with that choice comes God’s effective call to salvation. God worked in a special way in some people’s hearts so that they would believe and be saved. He called them to Himself.

Now again, we want to stay off the rabbit trails, but it’s important for me to be clear here. Because someone might ask, “If what you’re saying is true, doesn’t that make God responsible for the other people’s unbelief?” The answer to that question is a resounding NO! Go back to vv. 10-12 (vv. 10-12)! Why will God judge these people? Because “they did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” It’s not God’s fault that these people are being judged; it’s their fault because of their sin!

You say, “That doesn’t quite make sense to me!” Well, you’re in good company. The fact is that the precise relationship between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility is a mystery; but we know that they’re both true. How do we know that? The Bible says so. God’s sovereignty and human responsibility are compatible. Paul certainly believed that! So that’s good enough for me. And I hope that it’s good enough for you, too.

So, God chose the Thessalonians and He called them to salvation; now, what was the ultimate end of that salvation (v. 14)?

Here is another friend in 1-2 Thessalonians. The doctrine of sanctification was a friend. We had seen that before. The doctrine of glorification is also a friend. It showed up in chapter 1 (2 Thess 1:10, 12). So if you are a Christian, part of God’s plan for you is for you to be glorified. You will receive a dazzling, perfect body; you will never sin again; you will be honored; and all of this is based on the fact that you will be like Jesus. Verse 14 says that you will share in His glory.

I hope that you have been encouraged by this study of vv. 13-14. And practically speaking, I hope that you, like Paul, will give thanks for your fellow-believers, as well as for your own salvation! What a difference it would make in our lives if we would see ourselves–and others–the way that God sees them!

We’re going to go ahead and finish up chapter 2 this week. And so, my second point for you this morning is a command: “stand fast.”

2.  Command: “Stand fast” (v. 15).

Hopefully you remember from our first week studying chapter 2 that the Thessalonians had been prematurely shaken from a theological teaching they had formerly believed and that they were troubled about it. Paul said, “We don’t want you to be shaken; we don’t want you to be troubled; don’t be deceived–don’t you remember what we told you?” In other words, what the Thessalonians needed was not primarily new revelation but a reminder to stick to what they had been taught! And in summary, Paul basically says the same thing here (v. 15).

There are a couple of things I want you to notice about this verse. First, what do you think the word “tradition” means in this context? It means “traditional teachings.” Based on 3:6, we know that this would include application as well as doctrine. But in this passage, the emphasis is on doctrine.

Second, what were the two means by which the Thessalonians had been taught? (“by word” and by “epistle”) Does that make sense to you? It’s pretty simple. Paul, Silas, and Timothy had taught the Thessalonians in person, and they had written them letters. That’s all Paul is saying. “Word” refers to the spoken word, and “epistle” just means “letter.”

Now, I am going to take you down a rabbit trail for a minute, because I found this interesting and helpful. Catholic theologians love this verse. Why? Because it emphasizes tradition and oral teaching; and they want to add tradition to the Bible, and they don’t believe in Sola Scriptura. Does that make sense? How many of you grew up in the Catholic church? So you should know what I’m talking about. But I want to point out that there are some problems with using this verse to justify the way Catholics utilize tradition.

First, this verse cannot be used to justify later traditions. Paul is obviously talking about what he himself had said when he was in Thessalonica. For instance, this passage could not really be used to justify a doctrine like papal infallibility, right? Why not? Because we know Paul wasn’t teaching about that in Thessalonica! How do we know that? Quite simple: there was no pope!

Second, although Paul’s teaching as an apostle was authoritative, we don’t know exactly what he said when he was in Thessalonica. Now, could we go back to the church fathers and try to figure out some of the things that he said that aren’t recorded in the Bible? Sure. But the fact is that the medium God chose for preserving the apostolic teaching was the text of the New Testament. And when it comes to other things that the apostles said and taught, we simply do not have nearly the same degree of certainty about those words. The Bible is what is inspired and what has been preserved.

Third, although we do not know exactly what Paul said when he was in Thessalonica, we can discover the basic content of his teaching. How? Simply by reading 1-2 Thessalonians! How many times as we’ve studied these letters have we run across comments like the one we read in v. 5– “Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?” Paul’s teachings in Thessalonica were just an expanded (or, in some cases, protracted) form of what we read in these letters. Or we could say it this way: these letters are his teachings written down! Did he say more than we have in these letters? Sure! But where might we find some of that other content? Perhaps in his other letters in the New Testament? So again, we don’t have a written transcript of what Paul said in Thessalonica, but we do have these letters, and that is what we should focus on.

Fourth, 2 Timothy 3:16 says that the Scriptures are sufficient for equipping the man of God. All of the doctrines that a pastor needs for ministry are found right here in this Bible. Now, is it nice to possess other books? Certainly! Pastor Kit has a big library, and so do I! However, do we absolutely need those other books in order to do our job? No. Tradition and other teachings can help us to interpret the Bible at times, but we do not ultimately need it in order to supplement the Bible.

Finally, the Catholic Church does not have the authority to dictate to God’s people how they interpret the Bible and tradition. You see, in order for the Catholic position on doctrines such as papal infallibility, the immaculate conception, etc. to work, they not only need tradition, but they also have to assert their own authority to interpret those traditions definitively for every believer. Does that make sense? The problem is, the Bible never gives them that authority.

I know that was a bit of an aside, but I found it interesting, so I thought you would, too. Are there any questions or comments on that?

We’ve discussed the thanksgiving, we’ve discussed the command, now let’s discuss the prayer.

3.  Prayer (vv. 16-17)

In v. 16, we see the bases of Paul’s requests. God loved us, and He gave us everlasting comfort and good hope by grace. He graciously gave us two things: 1) everlasting comfort (or encouragement) and 2) good hope.

I love the phrase, “everlasting consolation” (or “encouragement”). Did you know that because you have eternal life, you should be eternally encouraged? Eternal encouragement is a corollary to eternal life. Think about this: if you can never lose your salvation, and God is always working for your good, and He will not leave you, and He will finish what He started… what is there to be discouraged about?

Now, on the one hand, I know there is a lot to be discouraged about, but the point is that discouragement need not overwhelm you because you are saved! For the Christian, there is never a time in which comfort and encouragement are not in order!

Not only that, but God gave you good hope. I don’t need to say much about that phrase. We’ve been talking about hope since we opened up to 1 Thessalonians 1. Hope is that confidence in what God has planned for my future that changes my entire outlook in the present. And for the Christian, it is a good hope. We are going to be resurrected. We are going to be raptured. We are going to be saved. We are going to be glorified. That is our good hope.

So that is the basis of the prayer. Now, what’s the prayer (v. 17)?

Paul says, “May God comfort your hearts” (or encourage you), and may He “establish you in every good word and work.” Those are two themes that have continued throughout both of these letters! In fact, if you were to ask me, “What is the theme verse of 1-2 Thessalonians,” it just might be this verse. In these letters, Paul is seeking to comfort the Thessalonians in regards to a number of things (including their salvation, their testimony, their faith in the midst of trials, the Rapture, and the Day of the Lord) and he is seeking to establish these believers in their newly found faith. Specifically, in this verse, Paul asks God to establish them “in every good word and work,” which reminds us of his prayer in 1:11 that God would fulfill their good desires and the work of faith with power.

Brothers and sisters, stand fast in every good word and work.

Before we conclude, I want you to see the deity of Christ in these verses.

Verse 16 has a plural subject (“our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God the Father”), and v. 17 has singular verbs (“comfort” and “establish”). Who is doing the comforting and establishing? (Jesus and the Father!) And not only that, but who is listed first: Jesus or the Father? (Jesus!)

It is impossible for me to imagine the apostle Paul referring to anyone but God in this way. He would not say, “Now may Timothy Himself and God the Father comfort and establish you.” He would not even say, “Now may Michael the archangel himself and God the Father comfort and establish you.” This is a manner of reference reserved only for God Himself; therefore, Jesus is God.

Conclusion

One of the things I’ve enjoyed about studying 1-2 Thessalonians is observing Paul’s shepherding heart. One of the things a shepherd has to remember is that sheep are skittish; they get scared easily. That’s true of actual sheep, and it’s true of Christians, too. It certainly was true of the Thessalonians. That’s why encouragement is one of Paul’s primary themes in these letters.

Specifically, in this chapter, the Thessalonians were worried that the Day of the Lord had arrived, and that they were in it! Paul’s response to this false teaching is threefold.

First, he talks about truth. Paul tells them to stand fast in the truth. He says, “Don’t be shaken by what other people say! Stick to what I taught you and what I have written in my letters. The Day of the Lord is not here. More importantly, when it comes, your persecutors will be judged, but you will be saved!

Second, Paul focuses on the Thessalonians’ morale. He tells them not to be troubled, but to be encouraged.

Finally, Paul focuses upon action. He prays for the Thessalonians to keep doing what is right.

So, what can we take away from this passage today? Well, let’s just focus on those three words: “truth,” “morale,” and “action.”

Our primary take-away has to be that we must stay rooted in the truth. In fact, up until this point in 2 Thessalonians, there have been only three commands, and all of them are related to this idea. 2:2 says “Do not be shaken in mind or troubled,” 2:3 says “Let no one deceive you by any means,” and 2:15 says, “Stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or by epistle.” All three commands have to do with standing fast in the truth!

I simply cannot overemphasize the importance of you knowing your Bibles. If you know this book, then you will remain stable, even while people all around you are being blown about by every wind of doctrine. And this will lead to a confidence and a peace that cannot be replicated in any other way.

Our kids sing about this in children’s church. “The wise man built his house upon the rock.” We must build on the rock of God’s Word.

Ever since the days of Paul, there has existed alarmist false teaching that made its mark by playing on people’s fears.  It’s out there still today. But brothers and sisters, God does not want us to have that kind of morale! The Bible is clear that even when the very worst happens, we will be safe! Oh, we will face tribulation in life to be sure; but that’s okay, because we are not under God’s wrath! Instead, we are chosen, called, sanctified, and destined for glory!

It is easy for us as Christians to get into this sort of depressed and mopey funk. Let’s not forget that we are on the winning team, amen?

Finally, let’s make sure to take action today, doing what God wants us to do, saying what He wants us to say. When we are unsettled, we tend to stray away from simple obedience. So stand fast on God’s Word, be encouraged, and keep doing the things that God wants you to do.