If you turn in your copies of God’s Word now to 2 Thessalonians, I believe that’s on page 1260 of your few Bibles. I’ll be reading there only three verses. beginning at verse 13. Let’s give attention to the very word of God. 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 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. 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.
As far in the word of God. Thanks be to God. Amen. Please be seated. Would you pray with me? Lord God Almighty, we thank you for this passage. We ask that you would add your blessing to it. And we pray by your spirit that you’d give us not only understanding, but Father, that you’d work upon our hearts this morning. Edify us, yes, but convict us of our sin and remind us of all the promises in Christ. We ask this in his name, amen. Are you obtaining glory? It seems to be what Paul was calling those in Thessalonica to do, to obtain glory – not their own, but the glory of Christ. So the question this morning is, are you? Are you obtaining it?
It seems that those who were rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem, led by Nehemiah, indeed obtaining glory, again, not for themselves, but for God. If you know a bit about Nehemiah, he was saddened, and that’s a light word to use, when he heard that the walls and the gates were broken down, they were burned with fire, and so he asked for permission to go back to return, he was in exile, permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls, the walls that surrounded Jerusalem, the walls that protected the temple.
And in chapter four of that book, we read of their labors, the labors of those who were rebuilding the wall. And we know that they were opposed, that there were those who didn’t want the wall rebuilt, that they wanted to thwart their efforts. In fact, they wanted to kill those who were trying to rebuild the wall. And so what did Nehemiah do?
He called them to hold spears, shields, bows, coats of mail, that means armor, to be able to defend themselves while they continued to build. And they labored on with work going on in one hand and the weapon being held in the other. They were standing, standing firm on the wall. And the glory came as they completed their work in 52 days. because they continued to labor, because they continued to stand firm.
I think that helps us as we come to this passage in 2 Thessalonians, the second letter that Paul is writing to this very young church, these young believers, these converts. He’s already written another letter to them previously in which he’s opened many doctrines about election, about resurrection, about Satan, about temptation, about the need for holiness. And now in the second letter, he continues in a sense to encourage, to call them to remember what he’s taught them. and to reassure them that Jesus Christ has not yet come, but he is coming for them, so they shouldn’t be shaken by those who would suggest that he’s already left them.
Brings us to our passage this morning, as he gives thanks to God for their salvation. The central theme of what we’re about to look at seems to be that, yes, they’re chosen by God. He gives thanks to God for that, that they wouldn’t be shaken, but obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. That seems to be the centerpiece of what we’re studying this morning, calling them to make sure they’re standing firm so that they would indeed obtain this glory of Christ as he returns.
Stand firm. calling these new Christians not to be shaken so as to obtain this glory and stand firm in these foundational truths, not only to recognize the deceptive nature of the words that the persecutors are sending against them, but then to remember what Paul has taught them and stand firm in these supernatural and wonderful truths so that they won’t be led astray. Stand firm so that others will see their face and trust in Jesus Christ, stand firm to bring Glory to the one living and true God.
So that’s the call. In fact, this passage is not difficult to understand. The command, the encouragement, the urging is not difficult to grasp. It’s clear, it’s concise. A child can understand what Paul is saying. Stand firm. Don’t be moved. Stand in the truth. The real question is not what Paul means. But how were they to do that? Given the persecution that they were experiencing, which was in essence an attempt to knock them off the rock which is Christ, how were they to stand firm? How are we to stand firm? Given the persecutions that you experience, given our corruption in Adam, how do you stand firm? How do you continue to fight the battle? which you know that you’re in.
Because we’ve got at least two problems, you know that. First of all, you’re not strong enough. We need to admit that, that we don’t have strength to stand on our own. Our legs are weak, our knees are wobbly, even as you’re a follower of Jesus Christ. You just don’t have the strength to withstand the attack of Satan and this world which hates and indeed despises the things that you hold to be true, good, and right. You don’t have the fortitude to keep pressing on in your own strength against your own sin.
Your corruption in Adam makes you weak and frail and subject to succumbing to the constant arrows and attacks of the deceiver. Your mind is filled with doubt. The corruption of Adam, which you inherited, remains in part. Sin is crouching at the door.
There’s another problem. Not only are you too weak, but your adversary is too strong. Satan is too powerful. He’s too awake. He’s too persistent. Peter says this about him. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. He’s prowling. He’s roaring. He’s devouring. He is like a lion. waiting to pounce, constantly seeking for ways to attack you, never sleeping, always every moment seeking to destroy you.
And those in the world, like those who are persecuting the Church in Thessalonica, who hate Jesus, who hate His Father, who hate righteousness, will never stop attacking. They must continue. For their objective to show, to demonstrate, to prove that you’re wrong, works that way. They can’t prove that they’re right because they’re not, and so they must prove that you’re wrong. And so the only way for them to lift themselves up is to constantly attack you. So the world will be constantly attacking the truth and attacking you as one who holds to the truth. So there you have it. This call to stand firm. But these problems, you’re too weak. The adversaries are too strong. The corruption in your heart is not helpful. So there’s the problem.
You’re called to stand firm so that you would obtain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ as he returns, and you know you must do this. And so now the question comes. How do you live each and every day? under attack by Satan, the world, even your own sins, and yet stand firm. I might sum up the teaching here in these three verses this way.
Christians gain or attain the glory of Jesus Christ as they stand firm in the gospel. Very simple. Christians gain or attain the glory of Jesus Christ as they stand firm in the gospel. And we’ll see that on the three heads this morning. First, Christians stand firm in the assembly. Secondly, Christians stand firm in the Savior. And then finally, Christians stand firm in the word. As we go through these heads, these points, I’d like you to be asking yourself that question, am I obtaining the glory of Christ? First, Christians stand firm in the assembly. Let’s make sure we understand what the ultimate goal that Paul is proclaiming here in these three short verses.
Yes, he’s telling them to stand firm, hold to the traditions. As he speaks of traditions, I want to make sure we understand what he’s teaching, what he’s speaking of. He’s not speaking of the traditions of men. He’s speaking of the things that he’s taught them. He’s speaking of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s what Paul is referring to, the things he handed down to them, the gospel. That’s what he’s referring to as traditions.
So what is this objective in standing firm and holding on to these traditions? We see it in verse 14, to this he called you through our gospel so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s the objective, that’s the goal, to obtain the glory of Christ by standing firm. confesses in his letter to those at Philippi that he was working on it. He hadn’t obtained it yet.
For his sake, I’ve suffered the loss of all things, count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection. I may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. That by any means possible, I may attain the resurrection from the dead. That I may attain his glory.
Not that I’ve already obtained this. or am I perfect, but I press on to make it my own. That’s the idea, pressing on to obtain this glory, to attain the resurrection. The question is how? By standing firm. So now we need to know, how are we gonna stand firm?
Paul begins by giving thanks to God. Look at verse 13. He breaks out into praise. This letter is full of praise. But we ought always to give God thanks for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because he chose you as the firstfruits to be saved. This beginning gives us some sense as to the direction or guidance as to how a believer can stand firm It’s only by the choice of God. It’s only by the work of the Lord. And thus, Paul proclaims that with thanksgiving.
We could actually stop here and say, well, that’s how you stand firm. It’s in the power of God. I think it’s better that we continue, though. But that is the backdrop, isn’t it? That stands behind everything we’re going to speak about this morning. It’s the choice of God. It’s the work of the Lord. enables you to stand firm. So look at verse 13 again. You always ought to give thanks to God for you brothers beloved by the Lord because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit. See that’s how you’re going to stand.
It’s through this sanctification. Paul’s likely meaning here, as he uses that word sanctification, that immediate, once in time, definitive sanctification, which occurs as the heart is changed from stone to flesh. There’s an immediate sanctification that happens. That word could be translated as consecration, or being set apart by the spirit, saved by the work of the spirit, sanctified by the spirit immediately.
But there’s another aspect to sanctification. There’s that definitive aspect, that once in time aspect as your heart is changed from stone to flesh, and there’s then that progressive sanctification that occurs in the heart of a believer throughout their life until Jesus returns or he or she dies. And that’s what we read this morning in the Westminster Confession of Faith. Spirit working, dwelling in them, killing off the body of sin, destroying it, destroying the dominion of sin, weakening and mortifying lusts, lust of the flesh, quickening and strengthening in all saving graces, enabling believers to practice true holiness. That’s sanctification. That’s progressive sanctification.
And as Paul uses that word here, I think I’ve got license then to talk about progressive sanctification and that as being a means by which you stand firm You see, part of the Lord’s sanctification by and through His Spirit in you is to bring you together, to gather you in the assembly in unity and peace and fellowship and communion with one another, with other believers, joining together in a common goal.
You’re all here to obtain the glory of Christ. You’ve assembled for that purpose, and that’s why we gather as local congregations, assemblies of the people of God. We’re called into the family of God, as sons and daughters of Him. We’re individuals, yes. But we’re called into this body, the body of Christ, with Him as our head. And so throughout scripture, we see this gathering to worship together, to fellowship together, to be part of that single body of Christ. Not individuals, but as an assembly.
Adam was alone in the garden. God said it’s not good for man to be alone. And so he creates Eve. Adam needed a helper, fitter, suitable for him. Adam needed the assembly so he could truly worship. God blessed them and said to them, be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and assembly.
Abram was sent out from his homeland, from his father’s house, not by himself, but with Lot and their wives, an assembly. Jacob, as a result of the famine, goes to Egypt, not by himself, but with his 12 sons, the 12 tribes. And as the Israelites come out of Egypt, they don’t come out as individuals, but they come out as a throng, 600,000 men, plus women, plus children, an assembly, always a gathering, always an assembly, always a coming together.
And so we see this picture of a mighty army, don’t we? Gathered together in part to fight. But we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against cosmic powers over this present darkness and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. We’re fighting as an assembly. Followers of Christ, the people of God, gathered together, standing together as an assembly.
That’s one way you stand firm, isn’t it? Together. Not alone. You stand firm. Christians stand firm together with one another. And that’s why we see the importance of unity as Paul preaches unity to those at Philippi. Standing together. Think about Moses for a second. Think about the Israelites as they’re battling Amalek in the wilderness. Moses tells Joshua, go out, choose men for us, fight with Amalek. I’m gonna go up there. I’m gonna hold my hands up. And as long as I do, you’re gonna win. What happens?
Moses gets tired. And so Aaron and Hur come up. They put a stone under Moses so he can sit. And they hold his hands up. Aaron and Hur coming alongside Moses so that his hands would remain raised so that the Israelites would win the battle. Do you see the rock under Moses? And do you see the congregation coming together, Aaron and Hur, raising up so that the Israelites would prevail? That’s the idea. Moses couldn’t do it on his own. He was too weak. He needed the rock and he needed Aaron and her. We need each other to stand firm.
Do you consider that? Do you think about that as the Spirit works and sanctifies your heart so that you would come to this place with other sinners? and with other sinners be in unity and communion and fellowship. See, that’s part of what sanctification is all about. So that you’d come together and help your brothers and sisters to stand firm. You think about that. Every time you come, you are encouraging those to your right, those to your left, those in the back, those in the front, by your mere presence, and you’re helping each other to stand firm.
It’s mutual. Consider the writing of the one who penned Hebrews. Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together. Why? In part because you can’t stand firm without your brother and sister upholding you. and your brother and sister can’t stand firm without your presence. We’re encouraged by each other’s presence. Sunday after Sunday, we’re encouraged to come back.
We’re encouraged to go out and continue to fight because we’ve come together We’ve assembled together, we’ve stood firm together and we know we can continue to fight together because we’re fighting the same enemies day in and day out and we have the courage to stand firm like Aaron and her holding up Moses’ hands. We’re in the same army. We’re the militant church together. Indeed, we can’t stand alone and need God’s plan and purpose in the church. where he designed us to come together, worship together, and to stand together. It’s mutual. We need each other to be able to stand. Yes, Christians do stand fast in the assembly of the militant church. That brings us to our second point, that Christians stand firm in the Savior, Well, there are other aspects to standing firm, aren’t there?
And as Paul writes this letter to those at Thessalonica, he gives thanks to God, those who are 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. It’s two things that he mentions. God chose you to be saved. So they’re saved. as a result of the choice of God through belief in the truth. Not to be shaken from this belief. That’s the idea of standing firm, isn’t it? To not be shaken from that belief. Not to be knocked off the rock which is Christ. But what is that belief? What is that truth that Paul writes of?
What’s the gospel? If you had to define the gospel to someone Two words or less, how would you do that? Jesus Christ. Isn’t he the gospel? Isn’t that how you would define the good news? Jesus Christ, the savior, the eternal king, the bridegroom, he’s coming again. Isn’t that the gospel? The one who satisfied the righteous, eternal wrath and punishment for the sins of believing sinners as he died on the cruel cross at Calvary.
That’s the gospel. That’s the truth. The one who suffered the loss of his blessed communion with his father as your sins were poured out upon him. That’s the gospel. That’s the good news. The one who rose from the dead. leaving behind the shroud of death, leaving sin and death vanquished in the tomb, the one who now lives ruling and reigning at his father’s right hand, who pleads his blood for you so that you are forgiven. That’s the gospel.
This one, this Jesus Christ, he’s coming back. coming back for his bride, the church. That’s the truth. That’s the belief in the truth that Paul speaks of. He writes of. In this one, Jesus is coming back to repay with affliction those who are afflicting you and to grant relief to you who are afflicted. This is the gospel. This is the belief, the truth, the gospel that these at Thessalonica were to stand firm in.
And each one of them is about Jesus Christ. All this belief, all these truths, they’re all about his strength, they’re all about his power, they’re all about his victory, they’re all about his loving kindness and his compassion. And if that’s true, and I believe it is, that the beliefs to be stood on are all about Christ, then the only way for you to stand firm is for you to stand firm in Christ. All these foundational truths, as you trust in Jesus, you’re trusting in his strength, you’re trusting in his power to save you, you’re trusting that he actually did stand in your place on the cross at Calvary, you’re trusting that his resurrection is purposed and intended and stands for you. And that you will be resurrected because he was resurrected. And if you believe all this, then you can stand firm. because it’s actually Jesus that’s standing in your place.
Did you hear that? It’s actually Jesus Christ that’s standing firm in your place, just like he stood firm on the cross, just like he stood firm in the tomb in the three days of death and defeated death and rose from the dead, standing firm in your place and just as he stands firm in the heavenly places now. The Apostle Paul actually puts it this way, that you have been raised up with him and seated with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Do you get the picture?
It’s very simple. Christ is standing for you. And it’s all caught up in his calling to follow him, isn’t it? Following Jesus Christ is primarily coming after Him, isn’t it? He’s the first, He’s the head, He’s the one that’s paving the way, He’s leading the charge and standing firm in it. You’re merely the one following Him, following the one who’s standing firm.
Isn’t that the beauty of God’s covenant? His covenant of redemption, His covenant of representation? Yes, you were represented by Adam in the garden and he fell and you fell with him, but you were represented by Jesus Christ on the cross and in the tomb. And now at the Father’s right hand, he represents you. And so you’re able to stand firm in Christ because he’s representing you.
Stand therefore having fastened on the belt of truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness. Those Paul’s words to to those at Ephesus as they were called to put on the armor of God. He’s telling them to fasten on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness. He’s telling them to fasten on Jesus, isn’t he? Because Jesus is truth and Jesus is the breastplate of righteousness.
And he does live in and through you by his spirit. You’re standing in his strength. And Jesus is strong. Satan thought that Jesus was weak. And so he was rejoicing as Jesus goes to the cross. He thought, I’ve defeated him. Finally, he’s gone. But it was exactly the opposite, wasn’t it? The cross actually slayed Satan.
The cross actually did what Satan was trying to prevent it from doing. that the God-man would be working his will and his father’s will on the cross. That by the divine nature, Jesus was sustained. Human nature was kept from sinking under the infinite wrath of God and the power of God and he actually earned life.
And so what Satan is gonna continue to do is to separate you from Christ, isn’t he? because he knows that you can and will stand firm if you’re in Christ. And so Satan’s job is to try to separate you from Christ. Brothers and sisters, that’s not possible. And that’s in fact what Paul was teaching those at Thessalonica. It’s not possible for you to be separated from Christ if you truly separated yourself from the world and you’re trusting in Christ and him alone. It’s not possible, but Satan will try.
But Jesus Christ is too powerful. So if you’re standing in Christ today, you’re standing firm. You’re unmovable in Christ Jesus. Yes, Christians stand firm in the Savior, and in that standing firm will obtain his glory. That brings us to our third point, Christians stand firm in the word.
We’ve already spoken about what’s the objective here. To this he called you through our gospel so that you may obtain the glory. We’ve discussed the work of the spirit, we’ve discussed the work of Jesus, and now you have an actual part to play in standing firm so that you may obtain the glory. Yes, we stand with other believers. We stand in the assembly. with followers of Christ, the army of God. But in order to be part of that army, you need to be properly equipped so that you can stand firm with one another, so that we can obtain that common goal that we’re all seeking to obtain that glory of Christ.
And so we need to be equipped. And Paul writes of that equipment. Each one of us needs to have that which he’s provided. In Ephesians 6, we see Paul proclaim, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Think of those who were rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem. As Nehemiah gives that account, they were rebuilding, they were protecting the city, they were protecting the rebuilding of the temple. But they also had their weapons in hand, didn’t they? They were equipped. Spears, shield, bows, coats of mail. Each one labored on the work with one hand and held the weapon on the other. Now, in Nehemiah, all these weapons seemed to be used defensively. They actually didn’t seem to take them out and slay anyone. With them, they were used defensively.
They were protection. so that they could continue and fulfill that which they had been called to do in 52 days, always by their side, always available, always ready, ultimately gaining the glory of Christ through completion of that task that they were given.
Paul gives you weapons, doesn’t he? The Lord has given you weapons that you might stand firm, that you might gain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. And as he speaks of these weapons, he speaks of many defensive weapons, just like those weapons that they had as they were building a wall, a shield of faith. as Satan is constantly shooting his flaming arrows, his darts, called temptation non-stop, you have that faith, that shield of faith, that sincere saving faith or trust in the Lord Jesus Christ that protects and guards and doesn’t allow those flaming darts to penetrate, to kill, maybe wound you, yes, but not kill you, ultimately so that you could obtain the glory of Christ, that helmet of salvation, A crucial part of our body being protected. That which directs the rest of the body, the actions of the body. Salvation is sure and this protective helmet is just that. It’s sure. It’s promised. It can’t be penetrated. It can’t even be removed. Eternal life is promised by the one who made all things and made you and has granted you life in Christ.
But a soldier is not merely defensive, is he? He fights offensively, he attacks his enemy. And so you’ve been given one offensive weapon. It’s the sword of the spirit. It’s scripture, it’s the word of God, one. Jesus used it as he was being tempted, Time and again he pulled out the sword, didn’t he? And he used the word of God to fend off the temptations of Satan. Are you using it offensively? Certainly the word is a comfort as you meditate upon it, and should be, and must be.
It’s an encouragement as you reread the promises of God, you remember what he’s promised in his covenant, you’re thinking about the assurance of Jesus’ return, It’s of much comfort, it’s of much encouragement. And you’re standing upon it. As we already spoke, Jesus is the rock. You’re having full and complete support, not lacking anything, solid ground in Jesus Christ, in the word of God. But there’s more.
Are you using it offensively? Meaning, are you attacking with it? Are you using the word to slay temptation? You see, that’s how it’s set forth in Ephesians chapter six. The word, scripture, the Bible, is a sword to be used offensively to slay each and every temptation that Satan sends your way. In a sense, cutting it in pieces so that it falls to the ground and has absolutely no power over you. but there’s actually more than cutting up the temptations of Satan.
Psalm 119 reads this way, verse 15, I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. That’s offensive, not in a bad way, but in the way that you’re using the word of God actively. See, if you’re truly meditating and fixing your heart upon the word of God, there’s not gonna be any room for temptation. Verse 20 reads this way, my soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. So you have to love the law of God and are immersed in it.
Satan’s temptations, his darts, his flaming darts are extinguished as the word douses them with its purity. Verse 24 reads, your testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors. As the word becomes your delight, more and more day by day, the passing pleasures of sin become less and less, again, and putting out the fire of lust. The word is to be used truly offensively, attacking, and overcoming that remaining sin.
Are you using it that way? If you’re thinking this morning, I haven’t thought of the word that way. I haven’t thought of the word as that which helps me to stand firm. I haven’t thought of the word in the way that as I use it offensively, that I will be, in a sense, gaining more and more and more of the glory of Christ, as it allows me to stand firm.
Yes, the Spirit’s sanctification, drawing you together in union as the great assembly, and Jesus Christ standing in your place for you, and the sword of the Spirit, all all are which enable you to stand firm and gain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, Christians do gain the glory of Christ as they stand firm in the gospel. Nehemiah was standing firm on the wall. He wouldn’t come down. It was only because they had their defenses ready and their will was fixed and they stood firm. By the work of the Spirit, by the representation of Jesus Christ, and by the power of the word, you are enabled to stand firm and gain that precious glory of Christ. Amen.