STAND FIRM THROUGH SANCTIFICATION. 2 Thessalonians 2:13. “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” After considering the future of those who choose to follow the antichrist and have no interest in God’s salvation or knowing the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul returns to giving thanks for God’s people. He exhorts them to stand firm in the faith and reminds them of their commitment to God and His word. The salvation of sinners was planned before the world was created. The Holy Spirit brought salvation to those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ through His sanctifying work and the willingness of the people to believe the truth.
Paul’s voice is raised in grateful praise as he sees the hand of God in the lives of those whom God had chosen before the foundation of the world. The “father” of these saints, the messenger of grace, thanks God for the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the Gospel. The preaching of the Gospel refers to the time when the Thessalonians were saved, and that work leads to the openly revealed glory of our Lord when He returns. We will see that day because we have been made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers had “pleasure in unrighteousness” and would not believe the truth.
The Spirit knows that in the ancient past, God chose some for salvation. We don’t earn this in any way; we truly deserve condemnation. When the Gospel came to our ears, we had a choice. We could reject the truth we heard or accept the forgiveness offered. Even before I was saved, the Spirit of God set me apart to hear the message of redemption by grace alone and taught me that God was near to draw me to Himself by cords of love, which I chose not to resist. By believing in the truth, I can now say to God that I am His child. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ to us by His power working in us. He has saved and called us, but we must respond to God’s work within us. Through living righteously, we are called to persevere despite the powers of darkness against us. Our future with the Lord Jesus Christ is what truly matters. The “traditions” are biblical teachings passed down to us, whether written or spoken. Similarly, Paul passed on the Gospel he “received and by which ye stand,” and we are to stand firm in what we have received.
Although He chose and sanctified me, I also had a choice. The light of salvation was brought to me; my mother and father sanctified me. Because the truth of God was exemplified by their lives, it was easier for me to believe what I saw and heard than for many others. Even now, sanctification continues daily. Reading and obeying the Word of God set me apart to follow God’s way in everyday life and within my heart and mind. Sanctification through the Word of Truth is something I experience daily. My position in Christ is certain; positional sanctification is a fact. The Spirit of God placed me in the Body, but it’s up to me to fully conform to what I know to be the will of the One I love. He loved me first, but now, through sanctification, my love can demonstrate the reality of my Christian testimony.
In God's purposes, Paul, in a distant place both physically and spiritually, opposed those saved by grace. But God first worked in him and then sent him to distant people, Jews and Gentiles, who were chosen by God’s grace before they were born to hear the Gospel from him. Wherever he traveled, the Holy Spirit was there to guide him. Some believed and were saved as he moved from one place to another, while others rejected the message. Eventually, he reached the city of Thessalonica, where more chosen ones heard the Word. Many were “called” by the Gospel; only some believed in the Lord.
It is still difficult for me to understand why many are called, but only a few are chosen. Man's free will is part of the answer, but why, when it is clear that God loves them, would sensible, thoughtful men and women refuse to respond to such great grace and instead turn away, choosing sin over faith? The words in this letter make this matter quite clear: some do not know God because they will not obey His Gospel. Instead of receiving the love of the truth so they can be saved, they do not believe in the message and deliberately choose pleasure in unrighteousness, which is all they have.
There is a divine order in all of this: God, at the beginning, chooses. Then, He gives the Gospel message to Paul, who lost his life for the sake of the Gospel. So, he can go where God sends Him, to those whom the Spirit has sanctified, and when they hear the message, he preaches; the hearers believe in the Christ who died for their sins. Soon after salvation by grace, people learn through the word and practice the truth, which sanctifies them. Sanctification through the blood of Christ reveals what God’s grace is worth. This allows new lives to begin with only a glimpse of what it means to live by faith and see the riches of redeeming grace unfolding before them each day. Then they, too, share with others what they have heard and learned, and in testimony, proclaim the calling to salvation that no person ever earned. The more a believer shares the Gospel, the greater his own sanctification becomes. As he separates himself from sin, he becomes more assured of his salvation.
We should not be swayed by what people may say or the pressure that comes from persecution. False teachers, worldliness, and apathy toward the things of God will persist. We must stand firm and hold to the truth of God without being shaken or afraid. The circumstances happening around us will not alter what God says. It is our responsibility to compare what others claim with what the Bible says and teaches. What God has revealed to us through those we trust has not changed. The truth taught by trustworthy men who have been tested and proven in life and death remains the same and is effective for us.
Our trust is rooted in something beyond what we can naturally understand. We have God's word in print that includes doctrines, teachings, and “traditions” originally given to those who saw the Lord face to face or received from those who did—they are the traditions and spoken teachings most people have never heard. Now, these same traditions—doctrines—are available in written form. The Holy Spirit prompted their writers until the canon of scripture was finished. We hold the Bible, which contains the doctrine we stand on, and we value the words passed down through chosen men as a gift from God.
Some refer to these words as “only traditions,” which have lost their value to many who want to adapt teaching and preaching in a way that will be “seeker-friendly.” They wonder and resist when we say, “The Bible says,” and insist it is practiced as God always intended. Traditions can indeed be harmful or valuable depending on whether they are supported by God’s Word. The traditions of men should not be considered correct unless they originate from the Lord. We are called to stand firm, hold tightly to the teachings given by the Holy Spirit of God, and remain faithful to the One who gave them. Loyalty is expected from those for whom Christ gave His life. And the extent to which we hold fast to God’s truth reflects how much we shed His light.
The challenge for saints in Bible times is similar to ours today. When questions arise about events and disasters, look to what the Bible says. Base your beliefs on the unchanging truth from an unchanging God. The “traditions“ that come from Him are the ones we must hold onto. Men can change their opinions easily, depending on who influenced them. Opinions are not biblical traditions, so we can accept or reject them. If they are built on the solid rock of the scriptures of truth that guide us, then we can trust that the outcome will bless us with confidence.
Paul began with thanksgiving for them and now makes intercession for them. We uphold the good "traditions" passed on by Paul and trusted men through the authority of Divine Persons, in contrast to the anti-Christ and Satan's activities. The Father and Son have given us comfort that lasts forever through the preaching of the Gospel. Disturbed minds can be settled and find peace. The future is secure and blessed because of God's grace alone. Comfort and strength within our hearts provide inward rest. Meaningful service beyond proclaiming the word and stewardship is part of our responsibility. To understand the truth internally and proclaim it outwardly is the practical aspect of the Gospel. We are motivated to do both in anticipation of the Lord's return.