Recently, I heard a pastor give a sermon on this passage of Scripture. As he was preaching, the Lord led me to write down a few notes about a different topic.
There are two words that bear looking into that are specific to our message today:
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17).
What Does it Mean to ‘Hold Fast’?
Can anyone determine what those two words are referring to? Now, if you write in your Bible like I do, I recommend that you underline the words “hold fast.”
Hopefully, this has sparked some interest in the topic of our message today. But first, let us take a moment to look at verses 13 and 14.
Paul consistently taught that God is the source of salvation. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. We cannot work for it. It does not matter how much we donate or tithe to a church.
It does not matter how much we volunteer to help the homeless, the needy, the poor, the sick and afflicted, the elderly, the widowed, and the list can go on and on. None of those matters. Our work does not matter.
To have eternal life beyond this mortal coil, the gift of salvation from God must be accepted (Romans 10:9-10). There is no other way to obtain forgiveness from the sin that we are born into.
By reminding the believers in Thessalonica that they have been chosen, Paul is offering them encouragement (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2).
The phrase “by our gospel” does not refer to anything that they had preached of themselves, but it means “through us.” Paul and his companions were used by God to spread the good news and invite new believers to share in the glory of Christ.
Despite the fact that we are flawed, unfaithful, and untrustworthy creatures, the fact that God works through us may seem odd.
However, God has granted us the incredible privilege of carrying out His enormous mission, which is to instruct the world on how to find salvation (John 17:32; Romans 8:29-30; 1 Thessalonians 2:12).
Can We Stand Firm Alone?
But before we get to verse 15, we will look at the remaining two verses.
Paul begins a benediction in 2 Thessalonians 2:16. He says that the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father have loved him, his coworkers, and his readers in his prayer.
Although it is unusual for Paul to mention Jesus before the Father, the order demonstrates that Jesus and the Father share the same essence, authority, and power.
Additionally, the Greek language uses plural subjects and singular verbs, indicating that each person named in the subject is valued equally.
Romans 5:8 says that Jesus and the Father loved us when we were sinners and still do. According to Romans 8:38-39, nothing can separate us from this love. Because of His love, God showed the Thessalonians comfort that lasts beyond this life and into eternity.
Also, by grace, His undeserved favor, He gave the Thessalonians hope for a bright future. The hope that God had given to Paul’s readers was unaffected by the persecution and trials.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:17, Paul continues his benediction and prayer. He appeals to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to provide his readers with comfort. They were subjected to severe persecution because they were unsure about the Lord’s upcoming day.
They had endured many trials. They needed God’s help to stay calm because all of these things could have set people off. The Thessalonians would be able to live out their faith in words and deeds that glorify God if they had God’s strength and comfort.
Christians have the ability to confront difficulties with unshakeable faith in God, to support one another through encouraging words and acts of kindness, and to encourage one another.
Paul urged his readers in Ephesians 4:29 to refrain from unwholesome speech and use only words that strengthen one another.
In addition, he exhorted the Ephesians to live a love-filled life, following in Christ’s footsteps (Ephesians 5:2). We are able to speak and move in a manner that pleases God because we get our strength and encouragement from him.
Now, let us go back to verse 15.
Paul was aware that the Thessalonians would be compelled to abandon their faith as a result of persecution, false teachers, worldliness, and apathy. As a result, he exhorted them to “stand fast” and cling to the truth that he had taught them in his letters and while he was with them.
How Does This Apply to Us Today?
Those same things are also possible for Christians today to face. Our lives are dependent on adhering to the truth of Christ’s teachings. We should never lose sight of the fact that He lived and loved.
Paul makes a connection between his readers’ obligation to adhere to the truth and God’s call to salvation and the glory that believers will enjoy in the future. The believers were subjected to persecution and trials as a result of numerous false teachers’ efforts to deceive them.
Therefore, Paul exhorts his readers to maintain their stance against the influence of the false teachers.
In addition, he exhorts his readers to maintain a firm grasp on the teachings they have received from him, regardless of whether he imparted them or communicated them to them via letter. The Bible frequently warns against departing from the truth and adopting a different, false belief (1 Corinthians 4:6; Galatians 1:8-9).
From a position of love for God and His Word, it is possible to veer off course. In Revelation 2:4, the risen Christ chided the Ephesian church for abandoning its initial love.
In Revelation 2:5, He is basically saying that we should remember from where we have fallen, repent, and do the things we did before. We must always love the Word of God and the God of the Word.
So, what does that mean, “hold fast”? The online Cambridge dictionary states that to “hold fast” is to remain firmly in the same position or opinion.
- Stand and be recognized: To recognize something is to identify from knowledge of appearance or character.
- Stand and be counted: To publicly make known one’s views.
- Stand firm in our faith.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).
For further reading:
Why Is Holding Fast to the Faith Important?
How Is Christ the Solid Rock on Which We Stand?
Why Do False Teachings Stand Out More Than the Truth?
Does the Church Today Align with Jesus’ Teaching?
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