2 Thessalonians Series: Standing Firm in Dark Times (2 Thess 2:13-17)

Standing Firm in Dark Times

But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (NET)

How can we develop spiritual stability in the midst of dark times, including trials and an increasingly godless world? Paul wrote to a church that was shaken. In 2 Thessalonians 2:2, Paul said for them, “not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.” The word shaken was used of an earthquake (cf. Acts 16:26). They were shaken by false teaching that Christ had already come or that they were in the tribulation period right before he came. They were also shaken by the persecution they were enduring for their faith. To comfort and establish them, Paul taught them about the end times—specifically two signs that would proceed the coming of Christ, (1) the great apostasy and (2) the coming of the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:3). Those two events will happen together, as the Antichrist will claim to be God and seek to prove it by many lying miracles, and those who are not convinced by his miracles and do not follow him, he will persecute—causing the great apostasy. Many will fall away from God and any so-called god (cf. 2 Thess 2:4, Rev 13:15-17). Paul teaches them that ultimately, Christ will come and judge the Antichrist and those who chose to love evil instead of believing the gospel. Second Thessalonians 2:8-12 says,

and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival.The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.

After teaching about those who will be condemned by Christ, Paul contrasted the Thessalonians with them. In verse 13, he says: “But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” The “but” contrasts the Thessalonians with the condemned world. They were not destined to fall away because of false teaching, the persecution they endured for the faith, or the revelation of the Antichrist. They also would not be eternally condemned because they would be eternally saved by Christ. However, in verse 15, he then says, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm.” Though, they were eternally saved, that didn’t mean they could coast spiritually and had no responsibility. The phrase “stand firm” is a present tense command, meaning that it was not a one-time event. Throughout their spiritual life, as they encountered false teaching, persecution, lawlessness, and difficulties from within the church and within their own spiritual life, they needed to keep on standing firm in their faith. They needed to keep holding onto Christ, his Word, and his Church.

Though the Thessalonians were not in the final end time sequence, there were growing aspects of it around them, which continue today. In 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, Paul said, “For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed.” False teaching, lawlessness, and persecution towards believers were present then and continue to grow and spread today. And, though the final Antichrist has not come, according to Scripture many antichrists have come and will continue to come. First John 2:18 says, “Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour.” Since “anti” means against or in place of, there have been many who have both persecuted Christians and Christian beliefs and who seek the worship that only Christ deserves or seek to destroy the worship of Christ. There is also a growing spirit of lawlessness—rebellion against God and his laws—which will personify the Antichrist. Consequently, many who have gone to church with us, served with us, prayed with us, and even preached to us have fallen away. They were drawn to lawlessness of this age—rebelling against the truthfulness of Scripture, its teaching on God, salvation, marriage, gender, and a host of other topics. Many have fallen away and many will continue to fall away; therefore, we are exhorted, along with the Thessalonians, to stand firm in our faith. This was common exhortation Paul gave to churches: To the Philippians, Paul said, “So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends” (4:1). To the Corinthians, Paul said, “So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (15:58). To the Ephesians, Paul said, “Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (6:11). We all need to stand firm in this godless age.

This is a rebuke against lackadaisical and uninspired Christianity that seeks to just have a comfortable life, retire, and coast into the pearly gates of heaven. We are part of a spiritual war, and if we are not fighting, then we are losing. If we are comfortable, we are just being entertained or distracted by the enemy so he can try to ultimately destroy us—our marriage, children, church, and our lives. As Paul challenged the Thessalonians, Corinthians, and Ephesians, we must ask ourselves, “Are we standing firm in our faith? Or are we slowing back-sliding, slowly decreasing in faith and spiritual fervor, which makes us more vulnerable and those around us, including our family, friends, and church more vulnerable?” Certainly, we must fight to stand in a culture and world that is increasingly anti-God and seeking to make all people into its image.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, we will consider principles about standing firm in dark times, including trials and increasing godlessness.

Big Question: What principles can be discerned from 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 about standing firm in trials and our increasingly godless age?

To Stand Firm in Dark Times, We Must Understand, Accept, and Remember God’s Eternal Plan for Our Salvation

But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

Again, as mentioned, after describing the condemnation of the Antichrist and the lost at Christ’s coming, Paul contrasted that with the Thessalonians’ eternal salvation. In verses 13-14, we have the doctrine of salvation in miniature. The Thessalonians could stand firm during the persecution they were experiencing, the false teaching trying to dupe them, and the temptation to follow the increasing godlessness around them because their salvation was secure. Certainly, this is true for us. Paul gave a similar teaching to the Ephesians in the context of their call to stand firm in spiritual warfare, including all the devil’s schemes. To do this, they needed to put on the armor of God, which includes godly attitudes and actions. Part of the armor of God was the “helmet of salvation,” as mentioned in Ephesians 6:17. The helmet of salvation includes understanding our hope of eternal salvation and being sure of it, which will allow us to stand against the devil’s schemes and the persecution of the world, including potential martyrdom for Christ. If we trust that our eternity is secure, that allows us to be bold and courageous instead of fearful in an antagonistic world. Likewise, in the context of the persecution and false teaching in the end times, Paul taught the Thessalonians the same. For them to stand firm in dark times, including trials and increasing godlessness, they needed to understand and accept God’s eternal plan for their salvation. The same is true for us.

Observation Question: In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, what aspects of the believers’ salvation does Paul focus on?

Paul focuses on different aspects of a believer’s salvation that we must understand and accept to stand firm in dark times. The first is that:

• Believers are loved by God.

In verse 13, Paul said, “brothers and sisters loved by God,” and in verse 16, he repeated how God “loved” them. As the Thessalonians considered God’s condemnation of the Antichrist and the lost, they needed to remember that they, specifically, were loved by God. The Thessalonians were loved by God and so are all believers. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Because God loved us (past tense), he took steps to save us. He sent his Son to earth as a human to live a perfect life that we could never live and to die as a substitute for us—bearing God’s condemnation for our sins. As the Thessalonians considered the condemnation of the wicked and the Antichrist, they needed to remember that because of God’s love, Christ bore their condemnation so they would never have to be condemned. Certainly, this should give us comfort in a world destined for judgment. In 1 John 4:18, John said, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.” The more the Thessalonians grasped God’s love for them, the less they would be worried, the less they would be shaken by the suffering they were enduring, or seemingly bad future prospects as they neared the end times. Perfect love casts out fear. No doubt, this is why Paul prayed for the Ephesians to grasp God’s love. In Ephesians 3:18-19, he prayed for them to:

be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God.

As they grasped the depth of Christ’s love, not only would it cast our fear and anxiety, but it also would empower them. To be filled with something means to be controlled or empowered by it. Acts 13:45 described the Jews as being “filled with jealousy” and Acts 19:28 (NKJV) described the pagan Ephesians as “filled with rage.” Therefore, to be filled to the fullness of God means to be empowered by him—empowered by him to conquer sin, to do good works, to stand against evil, and to persevere through trials. The Thessalonians (and us) need to grasp how much God loves us to do the same.

As an illustration of the effects knowing one is loved, most small children are not worried about what they will eat, drink, or wear the next day (or months in the future) because they know they have parents or guardians that love and care for them. Likewise, we must know God’s love. It saved us, changes us, and empowers us to do God’s will. Certainly, like Paul, we should pray for our family, church members, and ourselves to be able to grasp this great love—not only a love that saves us but one that provides for us daily and secures our future.

As Paul sought to comfort and strengthen the Thessalonians, he reminded them of God’s love twice in verses 13 and 16, which was first manifest in their salvation and would continue to sustain them through their sanctification and glorification. We must remember it as well when tempted to doubt God, worry about our future, or even give up on the faith. God loved us in the past as demonstrated by his Son dying for us and his love will provide for our present and future.

What other aspects of the believers’ salvation does Paul mention?

• Believers are chosen by God for salvation.

As we consider that God loves us, we must also recognize that God loves all people, including unbelievers. It is not love alone that leads to our salvation but also the fact that he chose us, from amongst the world, for salvation. Verse 13 says “because God chose you from the beginning for salvation.” With that said, we must recognize that there is a textual variant in this text. Some early manuscripts say, “because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved” (as translated by the ESV and NIV). The NET, NASB, HCSB, and KJV translate it as the “from the beginning.” Many scholars argue that the evidence is stronger for “from the beginning.” However, if firstfruits was in the original manuscript, then Paul was saying that the Thessalonians were the first harvest of converts in Thessalonica and amongst the Gentile world in general (cf. Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:15). Either way, Paul’s main point was they were saved because God chose or elected them.

The doctrine of election is a difficult doctrine, but it is taught throughout the New Testament. Ephesians 1:4 says, “For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love.” Second Timothy 1:9 says, “He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” Revelation 17:8 says,

The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth—all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world—will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come.

Election is repeatedly taught throughout the New Testament—that before time God chose some for salvation and passed over others. There are two primary views on this. One view is called conditional election—meaning that God chose some to salvation based on the condition that they were going to choose him in the future. Those who believe this perspective point to verses like Romans 8:30 which says: “because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Also, 1 Peter 1:1-2 says something similar:

From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those temporarily residing abroad (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia) who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with Jesus Christ’s blood.

Clearly, these texts say that God’s foreknowledge is the basis of election. However, those who disagree with the view that God elects based on his foreknowing that people would accept him, point out that “foreknowledge” is not referring to knowing certain facts about a person, it is referring to knowing somebody intimately and experientially in a saving manner. This is how the word is used in 1 Corinthians 8:3. It says, “But if someone loves God, he is known by God.” To be “known by God” here means to be known in a saving sense (not that God knows facts about that person). Christ also uses “know” in this way. When talking about those who professed him as Lord in the end times but weren’t truly saved, Christ said to them, “I never knew you” (Matt 7:23).

For further support, the word “know” was also used of intimate relationships in the Old Testament and not simply knowing information about someone. For example, Genesis 4:1 (ESV) says, “Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain.” Knowing something intellectually about a person doesn’t create a baby; that happens by an act of intimacy. In addition, with Jeremiah, God said to him, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer 1:5 ESV). God wasn’t saying to Jeremiah that he knew specific information about him before he was born. God was saying that he knew Jeremiah intimately and called him for a special purpose—being a prophet. That understanding of “know” is what both Romans 8:30 and 1 Peter 1:1-2 convey. Before God created the earth, God knew certain people in a special way, and that way refers to a saving relationship. Therefore, election is not God’s selection of those whom he foreknew would believe in him, which would not be a choice at all, just a confirmation. God’s election of some to salvation is unconditional—based simply on God’s choice.

Human Inability

Further evidence that God is not electing people because he foresees their future faith is found in what the Bible teaches about the sinful state of unbelievers. Scripture teaches something called human inability, also called total depravity. When sin entered the world, it affected people in such a way that they will not choose God apart from God choosing them. Consider the following verses: Romans 8:7-8 (ESV) says, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Before salvation, people are naturally hostile to God and cannot submit to his laws. First Corinthians 2:14 says, “The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” It’s not that people don’t have free will to trust and follow Christ. They do! However, their nature has been so eroded by sin that they will always reject Christ. A lion will eat meat rather than grass 100 out of 100 times because it’s his nature. In the same way, people apart from God’s grace in salvation will reject God 100 out of 100 times because of their nature.

Then, how can God save anybody? He must elect some and give them faith to believe. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.” Even the faith that a saved person professes is a gift from God. Likewise, Philippians 1:29 says, “For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him.”

Therefore, in election, we see the character of God. Because God is just, sinners will be condemned to hell to pay for their sins. However, because God is merciful, he elects a remnant to save. When Paul sought to comfort the Thessalonians in the midst of their persecution and fears about God’s future judgment, he reminded them that they were elected—chosen by God for salvation. He also reminded them of this in his introduction to his first letter. In 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, he said:

We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).

How can we know that we are elected? By how we responded to the preaching of the gospel message and how we still respond to it. Where others rejected the gospel, the Thessalonians were deeply convicted and turned from their idols to follow the true God, which was a supernatural work of grace (1 Thess 1:9). Have we turned from living for self, wealth, and others to living for God? If so, that is only because of the grace God gave us in salvation, grace prepared for us before time. It’s a mystery, but a mystery that should give us great comfort, especially as we consider God’s judgment. The doctrine of election exalts God because only he can save, and it humbles humanity because we can do nothing to save ourselves. We can only trust in God with the faith he graciously gives us and praise him in response.

Paul seems to focus on the Thessalonians’ election to salvation in context because of the security it provides when Christ ultimately comes to judge. Those God chose before the foundations of the earth will not be lost. They will all be saved because they will come to the Son and be resurrected by him. John 6:39-40 says,

Now this is the will of the one who sent me—that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me [referring to election before time], but raise them all up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father—for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Also, Romans 8:30 says, “And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.” There is an unbroken chain from predestination to glorification. Those who were chosen before time will eventually be glorified (raised with glorified bodies). This is all spoken about in the past tense because to God, it’s as good as done. The Thessalonians didn’t need to worry about ultimately being judged at Christ’s coming with unbelievers and the Antichrist, or somehow losing their salvation before then. If they were saved, their salvation was secure. Therefore, those who fall away from faith or are eventually proven to not truly be saved were never saved in the first place. Like Christ said to false professors in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you.” Also, John described the cult leaders and cult members who left the Ephesian church in 1 John 2:19, when he said: “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.” Those who left the church and turned away from God were never truly saved. If they were, they would have persevered in the faith to the end (Matt 24:13). Those God chose for salvation, will eventually respond to his grace, and be resurrected at the second coming. They are eternally secure. This would have delivered the Thessalonians from a crippling fear shaking them of missing the second coming or being judged by God in the end times, as the false teaching seemed to advocate for. Their salvation was secure since God chose them from the beginning. It’s the same for us and, therefore, should deliver us from fear of judgment in the end times. God’s perfect love and work for us from even from before time should give us peace and an expectation of eternal salvation, regardless of false teachings or tragic events that may happen to us or around us.

This leads us to the next part of our salvation.

• Believers are sanctified by the Spirit, including being effectually called to salvation and set apart for holiness.

In verses 13-14, Paul said “salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. He called you to this salvation through our gospel.” To be sanctified means to be set apart for holiness or to be made holy. This most often refers to the progressive process of holiness that believers undergo after being saved. God gives us the Holy Spirit to convict us, change us into Christ’s image, and empower us for good works. However, since Paul says salvation comes “through sanctificiation by the Spirit and faith in the truth,” this seems to refer primarily to the pre-salvation work of the Spirit where he sets us apart for salvation and holiness, convinces us of the truths of the gospel, and imparts saving faith to follow Christ (cf. 1 Cor 1:2). The same is described in 1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV):

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

In response to the foreknowledge of God (knowing us in a saving manner before time), the Spirit sets us apart for obedience to Christ and salvation through his blood.

How does the Holy Spirit do this? John 6:44 says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” Since unredeemed people cannot respond to God because of the sin nature we received from Adam (cf. Rom 8:7), God, through the Spirit, at some point in time begins to draw the elect to himself. Again 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” What was previously foolish to the hardened heart (that God loved the world, that his Son became human, died, and resurrected for the sins of the world), the Spirit of God begins to convince this person of the truthfulness and wisdom of God’s plan. John 16:8 further describes the Spirit’s work upon unbelieving hearts: “And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” Again, the Holy Spirit fulfills God’s plans for the elect. At a point in time, often through a long process of hearing God’s Word and the gospel, the Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers of their sin and how they are under God’s wrath. He convinces them of their need for perfect righteousness to be accepted by God and how Christ offers the perfect righteousness they could never achieve. They become convinced that Jesus was the Son of God who lived a perfect life and yet died for their sins on the cross and was resurrected to save them. At conversion, the Holy Spirit supernaturally provides faith for an unbeliever to believe (cf. Phil 1:29). Again, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.” The Spirit of God gives a person the gift of faith, so they can be saved.

When a person accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior and is converted, we theologically call this the effectual call. In verse 14, Paul referred to this when he said, “He called you to this salvation through our gospel.” There is a general call that goes out to all in the world who hear the gospel, but it is only effectual when the Spirit gives the elect faith and they respond.

We’ve wrestled with God’s election of those who will be saved before time and the Holy Spirit’s work of drawing these people to salvation in time, but now, we must also wrestle with the human responsibility aspect of salvation (“faith in the truth” and “gospel”, v. 13-14). Though God elects and gives faith to the elect, Scripture nevertheless commands all people to repent of their sins and believe the gospel, and we are responsible for doing so. This is a paradox. We are commanded to believe to be saved, told that if we reject the gospel, we will be eternally judged, and yet at the same time told faith is a gift of God to the elect. Whatever way we work through these complex truths in our minds, we must never so emphasize God’s sovereignty that we say humans have no role to play in our salvation. They are clearly called to repent of their sins and believe the gospel to be saved (Acts 26:20, Rom 10:9). Nor must we so emphasize the human responsibility that we say God is not in control of salvation. Paul taught God’s election and human responsibility (faith) in the same verse. “But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth” (2 Thess 2:13). This reality is often called the mystery of the saints. Salvation has often been explained as a door that says, “To all who will believe, come!” Then after going through the door, we turn back and see that it says, “Elect before time” or in this case, “Chosen from the beginning.” It is truly a mystery! With that said, God’s sovereignty in salvation and human responsibility are both taught in Scripture, so we must believe and teach both.

This leads us to the final step of our salvation, which Paul wanted the worried and shaken Thessalonians to understand.

• Believers will be glorified.

Verses 14-15 say, “He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm.” What does glorification refer to? In short, it refers to becoming just like Christ in body and character. Romans 8:29-30 says this about the salvation process:

because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

Those God foreknew in a saving manner, he preplanned for them to be made in the image of his Son. Then the order of salvation is quickly given—those predestined are eventually called by accepting the gospel. When they accept the gospel, they are justified—meaning to be made just as though they never sinned. Finally, they are glorified, which means they will ultimately become just like Christ, specifically with a glorified body. As mentioned, all of these aspects of salvation are given in the past tense because to God they are as good as done. What he planned before time will be completed in the future. The salvation of those he predestined will end in glorification.

Again, this is what the Thessalonians needed to take comfort in as they were disoriented about the end times and the potential of judgment. Their (and our) glorification is ultimately future. It will happen when Christ returns (cf. 1 John 3:2). Philippians 3:20-21 says:

But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.

With that said, there is an aspect of Christ’s glory that we now possess currently. In John 17:22, Christ said: “The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one.” No doubt, this current glory includes being seated in heavenly places in Christ and sharing his riches, nature, and authority through our union with him. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!” Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.” However, there is a future glory we will receive at Christ’s return. As mentioned, we will receive glorified bodies like his (Phil 3:20-21). We will rule with him as co-heirs in the coming kingdom. Romans 8:17says,

And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)—if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the coming glory that will be revealed to us.”

Certainly, the suffering Thessalonians needed to be reminded of this. Their sufferings for Christ proved they were saved (heirs with him) and their sufferings, those difficult, were unworthy to be compared to the great glory that they would receive when Christ returned.

Again, Paul’s point is that the Thessalonians and us can stand firm in dark times, including trials, increasing lawlessness, and the coming judment because God’s wrath is not our destiny. Salvation is! First Thessalonians 5:9 says, “For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” God loved us and chose us for salvation before time. He sent the Holy Spirit to sanctify us by drawing us to God and giving us faith in the gospel, and one day when Christ comes we will be fully glorified—set free from sin and sharing in all the glory of our coming King. In response to the reality of God’s great salvation (Rom 8:29-30), Paul said this in Romans 8:31-39:

What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This reminds us that the gospel is not just for unbelievers. It is for believers as well. We must remind ourselves of gospel truths throughout our lives, especially in difficult times, when tempted to believe God does not love us or have good plans for us. God loves us, chose us, sent his Holy Spirit to convince us of the gospel and save us, and one day we will be glorified—made to be just like Jesus Christ. The gospel is not just the beginning of our salvation, it is the basis for our daily sanctification, including our standing against sin and in trials. When the Thessalonians were shaken by persecution and false teaching, Paul reminded them of the gospel so they could stand. We should think often of these gospel truths as well.

As Paul commanded in Ephesians 6:17 and here in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, if we are going to stand firm in various attacks of the devil, we must put on the helmet of salvation. We must understand, accept, and remember God’s eternal plan of salvation for us. Are we truly saved? Have we repented of our sins and self-guided life, believed in Christ’s death and resurrection of our sins, and followed him as our Lord and Savior? If so, our future is secure and therefore, we can have peace today, knowing he will provide for our present, even in difficult times, and bring us securely into the coming kingdom. If God gave up the best for us in his Son to secure our eternity, how much more will he not provide for our present? If God is for us, who can be against us. To stand firm, we must understand, accept, and remember God’s eternal plan for our salvation. Thank you, Lord!

Application Question: Which aspects of the order of salvation that Paul presented in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 stood out most and why? Which view on election seems to have stronger biblical support, conditional or unconditional election, and why? If a true believer’s salvation is secure, does that mean he or she does not need to persevere in the faith (cf. Matt 24:13, Col 1:22-23, Heb 6:4-6)? Why or why not? How can a person know if he or she is truly saved (cf. Matt 7:21-23, 2 Cor 13:5, 2 Pet 1:5-10)? Why is understanding and accepting God’s eternal plan for salvation so important for a believer to stand in temporary trials? How is God calling you to think more on the gospel truths, including his love, so you can have more peace today?

To Stand Firm in Dark Times, We Must Be Committed and Involved in a Faithful Community of Believers

Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Not only did the Thessalonians need to stand firm by understanding, accepting, and remembering God’s plan for their salvation, but also they needed to stand firm together. In verse 15, Paul said, “brothers and sisters, stand firm.” They needed to do this as a community of believers. It would be impossible for them to stand firm alone. It is the sheep that is away from the flock and the shepherds that is typically attacked by the wolf. It is the soldier who has wandered away from the troop who is most vulnerable, and it’s the same with believers who are unfaithful with God’s church.

Previously, when Paul was worried about the Thessalonians, he sent Timothy to check on them and strengthen them. In 1 Timothy 3:2-3, he said, “We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions.” It was when Christ was weary unto death that he called the three disciples to go pray with him for an hour (Matt 26:40). It was when Elijah was weary and felt like quitting that God sent him to befriend and disciple Elisha (1 Kg 19). We stand by being vitally attached to other believers in community.

Certainly, even as the previous point corresponded with Paul’s call to put on the helmet of salvation to stand firm in the evil day, this point also corresponds with the armor of God. In Ephesians 6:16, when Paul called for the Ephesians to put on the shield of faith, the Greek word used for the shield was not a small shield but a large shield. It was like a door made of solid wood and covered with metal or leather. It was meant to protect the soldier’s entire body. It was about two and half feet wide and four and a half feet high. In ancient times, the edges of this shield were “so constructed that an entire line of soldiers could interlock shields and march into the enemy like a solid wall.” The implication of Paul’s call to put on the shield of faith to stand firm in trials was that we must not battle alone. We need others to protect ourselves and fight off the enemy.

Therefore, in order to stand firm in dark times, including trials and increasing godlessness, we must make sure that we are members of a Bible-preaching church, developing relationships within it so others can care for and protect us and so we can do the same for them. This includes being transparent when struggling with various trials, including sin, health, and relationship issues, so we can receive and give counsel and prayer. James 5:16 says, “So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed.”

No doubt, this is the reason that many cannot stand firm, including those in leadership. Often leaders have nobody to transparently share with or receive counsel and prayer from. They counsel, pray for, and mentor others, but no one does the same for them. Consequently, many church leaders are extremely vulnerable and are prone to major falls, including sexual sin, abusive (or passive) leadership, and leaving the faith altogether. If our church leaders are vulnerable, how much more are the church members who likewise have nobody to transparently share marriage issues, purity struggles, financial difficulties, or even doctrinal questions with. For these reasons, a plethora of people raised in the church and who have served in the church are falling away from the faith they once heartily professed. They couldn’t stand firm, in part, because the church was only their spiritual family in name. They weren’t functionally “brothers and sisters” (v. 15). They didn’t reach out to get to know others and serve them or allow themselves to be known and served. To stand firm, like an ancient army of soldiers, often we’ll have to lock our shields together to persevere in dark times.

Are we standing firm with others? Have we opened our lives to people in our church, especially the church leaders, so we can have accountability, counsel, and targeted prayers? Though imperfect, God has chosen the church to be his body, and therefore, one of the means of receiving his grace. He has given every person in the church a gift and when they use that gift, God’s grace flows through them to build up the members of the body. Are we connected to the church? Are we seeking to get to know people and be known by them, as a spiritual family? Are we seeking to carry others’ burdens and allow them to carry ours? Again, Paul said, “brothers and sisters, stand firm” (v. 15). We are meant to stand firm in dark times together.

Application Question: What are some common hindrances to finding a good church and developing intimacy with the members? Why is developing community within the church so important to standing firm in dark times, including trials, struggles with sin, and the influence of the world? What are some ways that a person can deepen their relationship with their church to receive more of God’s grace to stand firm? How has God used other church members to help you stand in difficult times? How is God calling you to reach out and help others stand firm in this season?

To Stand Firm in Dark Times, We Must Study, Remember, and Practice God’s Word

Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Previously, we talked about standing firm through community, however, one of the primary ways, we do that is through gathering to study God’s Word together. In verse 15, Paul said “stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.” The word “traditions” means “that which is handed down from one person to another.” This is not referring to extra-biblical traditions as seen in the Catholic or Orthodox church, which are considered equal to Scripture. In those contexts, many traditions have no biblical basis—such as the immaculate conception of Mary, praying to her, other saints, and icons, or even the existence of purgatory. Traditions can be good as long as they agree with Scripture. However, when they conflict with Scripture or are treated as equal to Scripture, there is a problem. Both Christ and his apostles warned against an emphasis on human tradition, which had infected both Israel and the early church. For example, in Mark 7:7-13, Christ rebuked the Pharisees and experts of the law for their unbiblical traditions. He said:

They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’ Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition.” He also said to them, “You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you would have received from me is corban’ (that is, a gift for God), then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this.”

In addition, in Colossians 2:8, Paul also warned the Colossian church about human traditions. He said, “Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” We must test every practice and teaching in the church by the Word of God. Does the Bible teach this practice? Does this practice or aspect of worship contradict Scripture?

Again, when Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to “stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter” (v. 15), he was not referring to extra-biblical traditions. He was referring to biblical teaching which was first taught orally and then eventually written by the apostles and their associates, as seen in the New Testament letters. We must remember that when Christ died, resurrected, and ascended to heaven, there was no New Testament. God empowered the disciples through the Spirit to continue Christ’s teachings and gave them new revelation. In John 14:26, Christ said this to the disciples: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.” Eventually, the new revelation given to the apostles and their associates was written down in the New Testament we have today. Most people believe that 1 and 2 Thessalonians were two of the first New Testament letters written, somewhere around AD 51-52. Paul essentially said to the Thessalonians if they did not hold to the apostolic teaching, they would not stand. They would fall into temptation, false teaching, and worldliness. They would succumb to the pressure of persecution and possibly fall away from the faith.

Holding onto God’s Word includes not just studying and knowing what the Bible says, it also includes obeying it. In Matthew 7:24-27, Christ described two types of people who listened to his Word—one who obeyed it and one who did not. He described the one who listened and obeyed as building a house on a rock, and when the storm came, the house stood. However, the one who just listened and built, the house was destroyed when the storm came. In context, that refers to God’s judgment and that the person who does not obey is not really saved (cf. Matt 7:21-23, 13:20-21). With that said, it, certainly, has applications to a person’s faithfulness in trials of any kind. A person who is not rooted in God’s Word will not be able to stand in dark times and the growing ungodliness. They will be prone to doubt God’s goodness, accept the lawlessness of the day, and even turn away from the faith.

Likewise, Paul said a similar thing to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:28-32. He said:

Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears. And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

If these elders were not committed to God’s Word (studying, obeying, and teaching it), they would not stand. In fact, some of them would be deceived by cults and their false teaching and eventually expouse those beliefs themselves. However, if they were committed to God’s Word, they would be made strong by it, remain faithful, and be rewarded eternally for their faithfulness.

Again, though Paul taught that the Thessalonians were chosen for salvation before time began and called by God in time (2 Thess 2:13-14), he doesn’t tell them to simply trust in God’s grace and do nothing with it. They still needed to actively seek to stand and be faithful to the end. He taught them that God would protect them because they were eternally secure, but he also taught them they needed to persevere in the faith by being committed to God’s Word (cf. Matt 24:13, Col 1:22-23). This is taught throughout Scripture, including in the following verses:

But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:13

but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him—if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard…

Colossians 1:22–23

For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age, and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt.

Hebrews 6:4–6

With Hebrews 6, I take this verse to refer to somebody like Judas who had partaken in the Holy Spirit, as Christ empowered him by it, preached the Word to the lost, and cast out demons and yet had never truly repented. Christ taught he was a devil and never saved (John 6:70-71, 13:10). However, by his continual exposure to the Word and the Spirit, he simply hardened his heart so he would never truly repent and be saved. The author of Hebrews writes this so that the believing Jews would not be tempted to apostatize by returning to Judaism. They needed to persevere in the faith which would prove that they were truly saved.

This concept seems paradoxical because if God has secured us eternally, then why do we need to actively fight to persevere in the faith and seek to stand against temptation? The reason is for those who are truly saved that is exactly what God’s Spirit works in them to do. He works in them to study God’s Word, obey it, and persevere in it. Those who do not persevere in obeying God’s Word are not truly saved and don’t truly have the Holy Spirit. This was a promise God gave his people in the New Covenant. Ezekiel 36:27 says, “I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative, and you will obey my statutes and carefully observe my regulations.” Those who don’t faithfully study God’s Word and seek to diligently obey it are probably not saved. They have not experienced the new birth and been given the Holy Spirit. If they simply regularly listen to (and maybe read) God’s Word but are not faithfully obeying it, they lack proof of the Spirit’s residence in their life to make them holy. They are just building their house on sand and when the judgment comes, it won’t last. Christ will declare that he never knew them or they will deny him and fall away before the eternal judgment (cf. Matt 7:21-27, 25:12).

Are we holding on to biblical teaching passed down to us by the prophets and apostles? We do this by diligently studying Scripture daily, obeying it, and teaching it to others. This is how we stand firm in dark times, including the final days which will only get worse and worse. As a practical application, if we find ourselves overwhelmed and discouraged by our trials and circumstances, certainly, we should increase our time in God’s Word, including reading it and listening to it read, sung, and preached. It will build us up, protect us, help us persevere, and increase our faith and joy.

If we struggle with desiring, reading, understanding, and obeying God’s Word, certainly, we should pray like the Psalmist in Psalm 119:33-38

Teach me, O Lord, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes, so that I might observe it continually. Give me understanding so that I might observe your law, and keep it with all my heart. Guide me in the path of your commands, for I delight to walk in it. Give me a desire for your rules, rather than for wealth gained unjustly. Turn my eyes away from what is worthless. Revive me with your word. Confirm to your servant your promise, which you made to the one who honors you.

In addition, if we struggle with being faithful to God’s Word, we must remember the many benefits promised to those who meditate on it and obey it to help motivate us to faithfulness. In Psalm 1:2-3, the Psalmist describes how God blesses the person who meditates on God’s Word day and night. Psalm 1:3 says, “He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.” As a tree stands in storms and still produces fruit to bless others in them, so does the person (and community) who delights in, studies, and faithfully obeys God’s Word.

Again, the context of Paul’s command to hold on to God’s Word to enable the believers to stand is within the Christian community. In verse 15, he said, “brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you.” Because of the communal context, John Stott said this:

The church is the fellowship of faith, the society for sacred study, the hermeneutical community. In it we receive teaching from pastors who are duly authorized to expound the tradition of the apostles, we wrestle together with its contemporary application, and we teach and admonish each other out of the same Scriptures. To be sure, private and personal Bible study is essential, and the Reformers were correct to emphasize ‘the right of private judgment’. Nevertheless, it also has its dangers. Left to ourselves, it is easy for us to misinterpret the Word of God, to put on it constructions it was never intended to bear, and even to manipulate it to suit our prejudices. So we need the checks and balances of the Christian family, in order to help restrain our rampant individualism and establish us in the truth. It is the Bible in the church which can develop our Christian stability, and so strengthen us to withstand the pressures of persecution, false teaching and temptation.

As we are reminded of God’s Word through biblical preaching each Sunday, corporate study in small groups, the visualization of God’s Word through practicing the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, the singing of God’s Word in corporate worship, the detailed study of it in our daily personal devotions, and as we practice Scripture both individually and as a community, we are enabled to stand in dark times. Certainly, our need to be committed to God’s Word to stand in these dark times should challenge us both towards renewed personal Bible study but also faithfulness to the body of Christ where God’s Word is revered, studied, and practiced. May God renew our commitment to his Word both individually and corporately!

Application Question: What are some good church traditions and what are some that may distract, contradict, or hinder God’s Word? Why is studying Scripture so important for standing in dark times? What are common hindrances to people studying God’s Word both individually and corporately? What are some good disciplines to help us study Scripture better? How is God calling you to better cling to Scripture (both personally and corporately), so you can better stand in trials and help others do the same?

To Stand Firm in Dark Times, We Must Diligently and Faithfully Pray for Others and Ourselves

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

In Paul’s writings, he commonly taught theology, gave applications from it, and then would erupt into prayers for the members to apply the teachings shared or to simply praise God. He specifically erupted into prayer several times in Thessalonians. In 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, he erupted in prayer for the Thessalonians to increase in love for another and to become holy. After teaching them how to be holy in the second half of the epistle, he prayed again in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that God would sanctify them in spirit, soul, and body. In 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12, he shared his prayers for them again, that God would make them worthy of his calling, empower their every desire for good, and that Christ would be glorified through them. In 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, he prays again for God to encourage their hearts and strengthen them in everything they do and say. This prayer, no doubt, was so that they could stand firm, rooted in God’s Word in those dark times. He will pray for them again, twice in Chapter 3 verses 5 and 16—for them to be drawn to the love of God and endurance of Christ and for the Lord to give them peace.

Certainly, this reminds us that the study of Scripture should not only lead us to obedience but also prayer and worship. It is our prayers that empower us and others to walk in God’s Word. Also, as previously mentioned, the study of Scripture should lead us to worship since God is the ultimate author of Scripture. Often Paul, after dealing with some deep doctrinal issue, would erupt into worship. In Romans 11:33 after talking about God’s hardening of Israel and their eventual salvation at Christ’s coming, he cried out, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!” Certainly, our study of Scripture should lead us to the same—not only obedience, but praise, worship, and prayer as well.

In the context of 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, Paul’s prayers for God to encourage and strengthen the Thessalonians was part of how God would enable them to stand firm in the midst of persecution, false teaching, and no doubt, their concerns about the increasing lawlessness and coming of the future Antichrist. Prayer is how we stand firm and enable others to stand firm as well. Again, we saw Paul teach this in Ephesians 6:11-18, when he taught the Ephesians how to stand firm in spiritual warfare by putting on the armor of God. The last necessity after putting on the six pieces of armor was for them to constantly pray in the Spirit. Ephesians 6:18 says, “With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.” Likewise, we must be alert to what’s happening in our and others’ lives and our world, and in response, pray, so all the saints can faithfully stand firm as they serve God in these dark times. If we are not praying, then we will not be able to stand (individually or corporately). Even Christ, right before going to the cross, spent hours in prayer, along with others so he could be faithful in that dark hour (Matt 26:40). We must constantly pray as well.

Observation Question: What are the different aspects of Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians to stand firm in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17?

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Verse 16 provides the basis of the actual prayer request given in verse 17. In verse 16, Paul prays to both Jesus Christ and God the Father. The fact that he puts them together is a strong evidence for Jesus’ deity. Jesus is fully equal to God in person, power, and honor. In fact, he puts Jesus’ name before God’s, which was unusual for Paul’s writing (cf. Phil 1:2, Eph 1:2, and Gal 1:3.) and would have been blasphemous if Christ were not God. Unlike what critics of Christianity claim, Jesus was not considered God hundreds of years after his death by his followers. Christ taught that he was God and so did his apostles. Paul probably put Christ’s name first because Christ is our mediator between us and God. He is not only the way that we are saved but also our continual door to God, as we pray and worship. For example, consider these verses:

For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,

1 Timothy 2:5

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 2:17–18.

you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:13–14

Christ is still our access to God today. We are saved through Christ, and we continually go to God through him. In fact, to pray in Jesus’ name, as Christ taught in 1 John 14:14, means to pray through him and in line with his character.

Another way that Paul demonstrates Christ’s deity in verse 16 is by using the word, Lord, which is kurios in Greek. In the Septuagint, the Greek Old Testament, which most people used during ancient times since they didn’t speak Hebrew (including many Jews), kurios was the word commonly used for Yahweh. Christ was God. To add to this, after giving a plural subject (Christ and God), Paul gave four singular verbs: loved, gave, encourage, and strengthen (v. 16-17). The plural subject of Christ and God the Father with singular verbs implies the doctrine of the Trinity—that they were one God. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that God is one and yet manifest in three separate persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and that each all are fully God (not part of God). Colossians 2:9 says this about Christ specifically, “For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form.” Even as we’ve discussed God’s sovereignty over salvation in election and yet human responsibility to believe the gospel, the doctrine of the Trinity is also a mystery, a paradox that Scripture teaches. It is a paradox because the truths of the Trinity seem to conflict with one another—one God, three separate persons who are fully God (three in one). Though these are difficult doctrines, if we believe that God is the ultimate author of Scripture, we should expect that the Infinite would author things that the finite would not fully comprehend. If Scripture was only written by men, then we would expect them to write things fully comprehensible by others. However, if God is the ultimate author, we should expect paradoxes that don’t fully make sense to the finite mind.

In verse 16, Paul said this about Christ and God the Father, that they “loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope.” This is important because our prayers to God are based on his past faithfulness to us. We typically seek help from people who have loved and sacrificially supported us in the past and therefore proved their loyalty to us (like parents or friends). How has God “loved us” in the past? In context, this probably refers to God’s choosing the Thessalonians (and us) for salvation before time (v. 13). He loved us not only before time but also in time by sending his Son to die for us and be resurrected (cf. John 3:16, Rom 5:8, Rom 10:9). He also sent the Holy Spirit to set us apart for faith in the truth (v. 13). He saved us, not based only anything we have done, but according to his “grace” as verse 16 says (cf. Eph 2:8-9). This means salvation is based on God’s unmerrited favor. Our salvation is not something we contributed to or deserved. It was totally based on God’s goodness and mercy.

Two Benefits of Salvation

In verse 16, Paul describes two benefits of our salvation, the first one being “eternal comfort.” Why is it eternal? It’s eternal because we experience it now and throughout eternity through our relationship with God. We have eternal comfort from knowing we have been forgiven our sins, accepted in God’s family, made part of his body, and that our labor and suffering for God’s kingdom will be rewarded throughout eternity as we rule with Christ. Certainly, this is an eternal comfort that we have as believers. The “good hope” we receive focuses on the future, since hope is something one looks forward to (v. 16). Titus 2:13 (NIV) says this about believers: “while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” No doubt, our good hope focuses on Christ’s return to complete our salvation, as we receive glorified bodies and rule with Christ as coheirs in the coming kingdom, but also our hope focuses on his return to judge sin and make all things right in our messed up world. This is our great hope. Believers have “eternal comfort” now and “good hope” for the future because of God’s blessings and promises, no matter how dark things may seem. Consequently, believers should be consummate optimists because we believe God is in control (of both good and bad), he eternally saved us and promises to provide for us, and we know his Son is coming soon to make all things not only right but perfect. Because of our salvation by God, whom we trust, we have eternal comfort for the day and good hope for the future.

Petitions

After giving the background to the prayer in verse 16, Paul gave specific petitions in verse 17. He prayed for God to “encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.” Again, the Thessalonians were shaken by the false teaching in the church and the persecution they were undergoing. Consequently, they needed encouragement from God. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul said this:

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

God is the “God of all comfort” who comforts us in trials so we can comfort others. That was essentially Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians; that they would receive God’s comfort in their circumstances, and no doubt, be able to comfort others who were going through the same or different trials. Certainly, one of the primary ways that God would comfort the Thessalonians would be by their meditating on the Scriptures that Paul had just penned. As they better understood the end times, Christ’s coming, and their salvation, that would deliver them from fear of God’s judgment and their difficult circumstances. God had not destined them for wrath but to gain salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Thess 5:9).

Likewise, God has given us Scripture in general to give us comfort and strength for whatever trials we go through. In Romans 15:4, Paul said: “For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.” As we study how God used the trials in Joseph’s life to ultimately bless him and use him to save others, it should encourage us, as we navigate various trials in our life that don’t make sense. As we study how God made Abraham and Moses wait for his promises, that should encourage us as we wait on God and his promises. Romans 15:4 says Scripture is given so we can have endurance—meaning the ability to bear up under heavy weights—and for us to have encouragement. No doubt, as Paul prayed for the Thessalonians, he was praying that the Thessalonians would deeply study God’s Word and that God would give them great encouragement and strength so they could faithfully navigate and persevere through their trials. In addition, as previously mentioned, he, no doubt, also desired that God would use their local fellowship to do the same—that as a spiritual family they would lift each other up in prayer, carry each others’ burdens, study God’s Word together, and encourage and strengthen each other.

In verse 17, when Paul prayed for God to “strengthen” the Thessalonians “in every good thing” they did or said, he was directly praying for them to stand firm. The word “strengthen” means to “secure,” “make stable,” “set fast,” and “make firm.” The Thessalonians needed God’s grace to keep them from being tossed to and fro mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually during their trials. They also needed to stand firm by living a lifestyle of practical godliness, in both their actions and words. Both are important because if people do good works but never mention their faith, then people will rightly recognize them as moral but never attribute it to Christ and therefore be drawn to him. On the other side if people have good words and not good works, then others will rightly consider them hypocrites. Believers must have both, and we should pray for both to manifest in us and our church communities so others can be drawn to Christ.

One of the things we must notice about Paul’s prayer in verse 17 is that he doesn’t focus on praying for the Thessalonian’s persecution to stop, for God to thwart the government’s plans, or for God to continue to hinder the Antichrist’s coming. Instead of focusing on external circumstances, Paul’s prayer focused on the internal character of the Thessalonians—that they would look more like Christ in what they did and said. That’s what really mattered. Again, certainly, that should be our focus as well in life, not necessarily changing our circumstances but how we go through them. Paul showed that was his focus as well, when he encountered the possibility of death while imprisoned in Rome. In Philippians 1:20, he said: “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” It was not being delivered that was his focus but glorifying Christ whether he lived or died. Again, that should be our focus as well both for ourselves and those we minister to when going through trials. In addition, as noted from Paul’s example, it should be our focus in prayer—ourselves and others walking in a Christlike manner and bringing glory to him, rather than changing outward circumstances. Yes, certainly, we should pray for God to heal the sick, provide for those struggling financially, set free those who are stuck in some difficult circumstance, and deliver those who are being persecuted for righteousness. However, more importantly, we should pray for their comfort, strength, godliness, and effective witness through both their acts and words. We should pray like this for our family, friends, local church, and the church around the world. We should pray that believers would stand firm in the midst of trials and increasing godlessness by being encouraged and strengthened to look more like Christ in everything they do and say (v. 17).

Are we praying constantly for one another and ourselves? This is one of the ways that we stand firm both individually and corporately. Again, it should be remembered that the last (and probably most important) armament that Paul exhorted the Ephesians to practice in order to stand firm in evil days was Spirit-led prayer. Though not listed as armor, it surely was. In a sense, it was the seventh armorment, and seven is the number of perfection. Without it, the other pieces of armor will not work. Ephesians 6:18 says, “With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.” As Paul wrote the Thessalonians and exhorted them to stand firm in their dark times, he was prompted to pray for it. It was part of how God would enable them to continue to stand. Yes, they needed to understand their salvation, have community, and be committed to God’s Word, but they also needed to live in prayer (and receive prayer) to stand in their dark times. Likewise, we must pray for ourselves and the church to stand as well. Without prayer, we will fail.

Remember that Christ told his disciples that Satan desired to sift them like wheat but he had prayed for them that their faith would not fail (Lk 22:31-34). Then, he took the leaders of the disciples to the garden to pray and said, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation” (Matt 26:41). They all fell asleep and therefore denied Christ in his greatest hour of need and their greatest hour of temptation. If we sleep, work, or entertain ourselves, instead of praying, we will also fall and probably contribute to others falling. To stand firm in dark times, we must consistently pray and receive prayer.

Application Question: What are some practical ways to further develop our prayer lives?

To further develop our prayer lives, so we can better stand in dark times, we must:

• Set aside times to pray daily. Often in the Psalms, the Psalmist talked about seeking the Lord in the morning. For example, Psalm 119:147 says, “I am up before dawn crying for help. I find hope in your word.” Psalm 5:3 says, “Lord, in the morning you will hear me; in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer.” Likewise, Christ often got up early in the morning, while it was still dark, and went to pray (Mk 1:35). The morning is a great time for us to focus on prayer as well. It is harder to be distracted when nobody else is up and the daily grind hasn’t begun. Certainly, starting our day with prayer is a good practice. With that said, Scripture calls us to pray without ceasing—all the time—(1 Thess 5:17), but if we don’t have set times for extended prayer, like in the morning or at night, we won’t pray without ceasing throughout the day.

• Share prayer requests with others. Paul prayed for the Thessalonians and in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, he shared his prayer requests with them (for the word of God to spread and be glorified and for his and his associates’ protection). We should find others to share our struggles with and prayer requests and take time to pray for one another. There is great power in corporate prayer. In Matthew 18:19-20, Jesus said this: “Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.” Since there is so much power in corporate prayer, we should avail ourselves of corporately praying often.

• Start a prayer journal and/or list. People often struggle with what to pray. If we write our prayer requests down and that of others, it will help us pray more consistently for them. In addition, it will build our faith as we watch God answer our prayers and that of others. When God provided manna from heaven for Israel to eat, they were commanded to keep some of the manna by putting it in the ark of the covenant so they would remember God’s faithfulness (Ex 16:33-34). Likewise, when God parted the Jordan River for Israel, they were commanded to take rocks with them so they would remember that miracle as well (Josh 4). If we don’t write down our prayer requests and God’s miraculous answers, we will commonly forget God’s grace to us and therefore struggle with lack of faith and consistency in prayer. In 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Paul recounted how God had “loved” the Thessalonians and himself in the past tense as a basis for his prayers in verse 17. Remembering God’s past faithfulness encourage us to prayer today. Forgetting it or not taking time to remember it will only hinder us from faithfully praying.

As we practice a regular discipline of praying and receiving prayer, it will encourage and strengthen our faith and enable us and others to better stand in dark times. Are we constantly praying for both ourselves and others to be encouraged and strengthened in the faith and receiving prayer for the same so we can boldly stand for Christ in these dark times? If not, the church will not stand and many will fall. Lord, give us grace to pray!

Application Question: Why is individual and corporate prayer so important for standing firm in dark times, including spiritual warfare, trials, and increasing godlessness? Why is prayer so hard to be faithful at? What are some good disciplines to help one grow in prayer? How is God calling you to pray specifically for yourself, others, the church, and your world in these dark times?

Conclusion

How can we stand firm in dark times, including trials and increasing godlessness?

1. To Stand Firm in Dark Times, We Must Understand, Accept, and Remember God’s Eternal Plan for Our Salvation

2. To Stand Firm in Dark Times, We Must Be Committed and Involved in a Faithful Community of Believers

3. To Stand Firm in Dark Times, We Must Study, Remember, and Practice God’s Word

4. To Stand Firm in Dark Times, We Must Diligently and Faithfully Pray for Others and Ourselves

Application Question: What stood out most and why in the study of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17?

Prayer Prompts

• Pray for God to to protect his church in these dark times and that he would empower them to stand firm, without compromise or falling away.

• Pray for God to unify his church and that the members will grow in love for one another and actively serve one another.

• Pray for God to anoint the church to corporately and individually study, understand, and share his Word—that he would give its members an insatiable desire to understand and obey Scripture, that he would raise up faithful leaders to teach it, and transform us through the systematic study of God’s Word.

• Pray for God to empower his church to faithfully pray, including praying for wisdom for our government and church leaders, peace and righteousness in our nations, and the spread and acceptance of the gospel and God’s Word around the world.