Standing Firm On God's Word Series

Standing Firm in Your Faith

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

To the resilient congregation of Thessalonica, enduring persecution from Judaizers for their divergence from Mosaic Law and from Roman authorities for their refusal to worship multiple gods and the Emperor, Apostle Paul expresses profound gratitude that “God chose them for salvation,” ensuring their unshakable eternal destiny. It is not our “praiseworthy yet ultimately fickle conduct” that we can stand firm on the Day of the Lord’s return as sheep! No one can “earn God’s love or prove themselves worthy of God’s election by what they do for God,” for all have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23) and everyone’s righteousness is nothing more than mere filthy rags to Him (Isaiah 64:6)! One can only obtain salvation by God choosing them and through the “sanctifying work of the Spirit and through faith in the truth” (2:13). “Echoing Deuteronomy 33:12 where Mosses blessed the Benjaminites, calling them beloved of the Lord,” Paul rejoices that the “Gentiles are now part of the new Israel, the church!” They were grafted into the Vine as a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God’s own possession (1 Peter 2:9; Romans 11:11-24). For those who might doubt or fear losing their salvation and eternal destiny Paul reassures them that standing on the foundation of faith in a risen Savior was wise for “it would be unthinkable for God to loose anyone whom He chooses to save, and erase what has been “etched indelibly in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 13:8)?

Reflection. In life, we often encounter various fears, from public speaking to spiders, snakes, chronic illnesses, bullies, and the fear of poverty. Yet, amidst these apprehensions, there remains one unwavering truth: the assurance that Satan, despite his relentless prowling like a roaring lion, cannot snatch a single child of God from His protective hand. We are not mere branches to be discarded at the first sign of sin; rather, we have been firmly grafted into the Vine, chosen by God with a love that surpasses our imperfections. If sinlessness were a prerequisite for acceptance by the Lord, then alas, we would all fall short.

Beautiful are the feet of Apostle Paul who received the night vision to preach the Gospel in Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10). The message Paul gave to the Thessalonians thankfully was not of human but divine origin and as such was “supernatural in scope and heavenly in essence.” To a church that was being persecuted by their community who heaped shame upon them for believing in but one God, they desperately needed to hear the truth that “God elected them for the purpose of their future obtaining of the glory of Christ.” According to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, believers find assurance that they are not merely God's creation, but His beloved children. As stated in Romans 8:16-17, believers share in the sufferings of Christ, which in turn guarantees their participation in His glory. In the epistle to the Thessalonians, it is emphasized that believers have every reason to rejoice, for the entire Trinity is in their favor. God has chosen and called them, Jesus sacrificed Himself to redeem them, and the Holy Spirit is actively sanctifying them. In a world overshadowed by sin and its repercussions, the pursuit of earthly glory holds little significance compared to the eternal glory promised to those who align themselves with the will of God. Until this world is freed from its “bondage of decay” (Romans 8:21) believers will face wars and rumors of wars, persecution for righteousness’ sake, debilitating diseases of various kinds, famines, and bodies that over time ache and break down and return to the dust in which they were formed. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the trials and tribulations encountered in life are transient, as expressed in 2 Corinthians 4:17. He emphasizes that these hardships pale in comparison to the imminent return of the Lord, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. At that moment, with a resounding command, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet call of God, the dead will rise, and those who are alive will join the Lord in the air. Their mortal bodies will undergo a miraculous transformation, becoming glorious like Christ's, as highlighted in Philippians 3:21. This anticipation of the day of the Lord's return fills believers with eager anticipation and profound hope.

Reflection. The Day of the Lord is quickly approaching, are you ready? When He descends with a multitude of angels, will He discover us faithfully executing His will, devoted to His honor and glory? Or shall He find us blending in with the morally adrift of this world? Though the exact timing of His return eludes us, we can ready ourselves by consistently living lives that reflect the essence of the Gospel. Every passing moment offers an opportunity to align our actions, thoughts, and words with the profound truths of the Gospel, thus ensuring that we stand prepared to meet Him when He comes.