How Can You Stand Firm Until Jesus Returns?
In contrast to those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved, 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15 says, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning [or as the first fruits] for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this [viz., salvation through sanctification] He called you through our Gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”
How Can You Stand Firm Until Jesus Returns?
First, examine everything carefully in light of Scripture.
Second, make your “calling” and conversion sure through Sanctification: v13-14a, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this [viz., salvation through sanctification] He called you [how?] through our Gospel.”
When does the “Gospel” become more than “just words?” It becomes “more than words” when the Holy Spirit empowers it with full conviction. Until that happens; it’s just “words.”
Paul says earlier in 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5b, “knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”
You cannot separate “sanctification” from “salvation:” v13, “God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification.” One way to make your “calling” and conversion sure is by growing in sanctification. Sanctification means separation from sin in dedication to Him.
What is “salvation?” Salvation is freedom from the penalty of sin.
What is the penalty of sin? Romans 6:23a, “For the wages [i.e., the payment and penalty] of sin is death.” What did Jesus die for when He died on the cross? For your sins. Christ paid the full penalty for your sins: past, present, and future when He died for our sins on the cross. Salvation is freedom from the penalty of sin.
But is that all? Some falsely believe because salvation is freedom from the penalty of sin, it gives them a liberty to sin. Paul encounters and corrects this error in Romans 6:1–2, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”
Salvation is also freedom from the power of sin in sanctification: v13, “God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification.”
Jesus saved you from the penalty of sin when He died on the cross for your sins. And when He died for your sins you died with Him to the power of sin. The cross is not only the basis for your salvation, it’s also the basis of your sanctification. In the cross you find freedom from the penalty and the power of sin.
Romans 6:6–7 (NLT), “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.”
Watchman Nee offers the following insight: “Our sins were dealt with by the blood, we ourselves are dealt with by the cross. The blood procures our pardon, the cross procures deliverance from what we are in Adam. The blood can wash away my sins, but it cannot wash away my old man: I need the cross to crucify me— the sinner.”
For more information visit: jenkinsmemorialbaptistchurch. com.
Also, if you do not attend church, we invite you to join us for Bible Study each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:45 a.m.
Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.
