“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17).
Introduction
In these verses the apostle Paul encourages the believers in Thessalonica to keep the faith in the knowledge that, since they have accepted Christ, they are truly saved. Only those who are born again can have such confidence and conviction.
Stand fast
Paul had already dealt with this issue in his previous letter. “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 3:8). Here he has in mind their determination to keep on doing what God has commissioned them to do, that is, not to allow anything or anyone to move them from their faith in Christ and belief in the Scriptures. ““Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58) … “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). “Establishment in these were what the young converts at Thessalonica needed, not fanatical teaching” (Jamieson, Fausset, brown Bible Commentary).
Hold the traditions
This means that they must have a firm grip on what they have already been taught and know to be true. It also relates to the need for faithfulness despite the tribulations they were facing. “I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth” (Revelation 2:13). Believers who refuse to give up their faith in Christ will be eternally blessed by Him. “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11). Therefore, no matter how dire circumstances might become for Christians in the Last Days, we must keep on preaching Christ as Saviour. “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession” (Hebrews 4:14). The tradition spoken of here is the word of God itself. “Keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you” (1 Corinthians 11:2). Whatever traditions our churches have, they must be weighed and measured by the standards of God’s infallible word. If they are not Scriptural then they must be jettisoned.
God loves you
This is the fundamental truth that separates Biblical Christianity from all other religions. God loved us even before we came to Him for salvation. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God’s love was manifested in His Son whom He sent into the world to be our Saviour. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This love is eternal and cannot be taken away from us. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39) … “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Spiritual strength
Paul prays that the suffering believers would receive the strength that only God can give. He often does this by sending another Christian alongside us to help and encourage us. “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith” (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Such comfort is not simply to sympathize with us in our distress, but to urge us not to give up, but to continue to faithfully serve the Lord. Nevertheless, it is the Holy Spirit who aids and strengthens us to continue following Christ. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever … But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:16, 26).
Conclusion
The Bible never promises that the Christian life would be easy, in fact the very opposite is true. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). We need to maintain a firm grip on the truth that saved our souls, and continue spreading the message of salvation throughout the world. “The more pleasure we take in the word, and works, and ways of God, the more likely we shall be to persevere therein” (Matthew Henry).
© 12/11/2008