Standing Firm

Introduction

Do you remember the last word of encouragement you received? Do you remember what it did to you inside? Maybe it puts a spring in your step. Or it made you walk a little straighter. Or just for a moment it allowed you to see the good in your life rather than focusing on what was wrong. Everyone needs encouragement. Encouragement also brings assurance. Assurance breeds confidence. Assurance means we can count on what was said and done. Encouragement and assurance or confidence go together.

What is your response to being encouraged? When someone gives you a compliment (which is what encouragement is), do you accept it or deflect it? Most of us deflect it. We kick the ground and say something like this—that was kind. Of course, it was kind. Here’s the question. Was it truthful? Or to put it another way, do you think people are lying when they compliment you? Do you think people are trying to manipulate you? They could be. That is a possibility. I tell my counseling students, I will be honest with you. When you fail at demonstrating a skill, I will tell you. When you need to improve, I will tell you how to correct it. And when I tell you that you did something well, you can trust that I am telling you the truth. People don’t have to give compliments and when they do, they are not just being kind; they are being truthful.

The same is true when we read our Bibles. We can count on God being truthful. He is kind, but he is honest. If he says something about you, then it is true whether you believe it, feel it, accept it, or act on it. Our text this morning is straightforward. There are no twists or turns. Nothing that demands our attention to small details. Paul encourages and reassures his readers. Their confidence had been shaken. Someone had told them that they had missed out on the day of the Lord. Paul wants them to stand firm in their faith. He wants them to be confident of what God has done for them and of their relationship with him. I have the same desire for us. We need to be confident of our relationship with God so that we can stand firm in our faith.

Jesus Loves Us

You don’t have to be around a small child for very long before you hear these words: “Watch me. Watch what I can do.” You know what they want. They want you to see them “perform.” They want your attention. But what they really want are the words which they believe will come from your mouth—“way to go. That was great. You are so strong.” And the face of the child will beam. Paul is writing to a group who think they are suffering for nothing. They have heard that they missed the return of Jesus. Although Paul dispels that notion in chapter 2:1-2, he knows they need to be bolstered and so he begins this section with these words: “Jesus loves you. He wouldn’t forget you. He wouldn’t return without letting you know. You haven’t missed out on anything.” What better words do we need to hear than “Jesus loves me, this I know.” We learned this song early in life. It may have been the first song you ever learned, but the theology of the song is unshakeable. When we are faced with uncertainty; when our confidence has been shaken; these are the words that need to come to our mind: “Jesus loves me, this I know.” It doesn’t matter if you sing them or sing them well; what matters is that we sing the song. “Jesus loves me, this I know.” (Jack, please lead this song and another about Jesus loving us.)

God Saved Us

In his great love, God saved. The Thessalonians believed that they missed out on Christ’s return and are now being told that out of his great love, God saved them. He chose them. This is the idea of election. We don’t speak much about this concept because we are afraid of what Calvin did in his theology. So we avoid it rather than being misunderstood. Let’s understand the biblical concept of election. God chose from the beginning that he would have a people who would belong to him. He would save them. He would do all that needed to be done for them to be in relationship with him. That is election. The biblical concept has nothing to do with specific individuals being chosen while others are chosen to be condemned. Biblical election is God’s work, but all are given the opportunity to choose. Notice at the end of verse 13 that the Thessalonians believed the truth. God chose and saved, but we have to believe the truth. Election doesn’t take away our free will. Instead we recognize that God acted on our behalf.

So here is what Paul says to encourage them. God saved you. He saved you so that the Holy Spirit could bring you to holiness. Isn’t that beautiful? God saves us and the Spirit works to make us holy. We agree with that truth and live accordingly. None of us are foolish enough to think that we are holy. None of us are foolish to say that we have no sin or didn’t need to be forgiven. God’s salvation and the Spirit’s work means we are declared to be holy. How can that be? Living holy lives is a response to what the Spirit is doing. We are cooperating with the Spirit’s work. We live to please God because we know he saved us. It is a response to what he did. We believe the truth and in believing that truth, our lives reflect that belief. This means that our relationship with God is not in doubt. Perfect before God. He saved us. Jesus loves us. God saves us. What better words to hear today. Let’s take the Lord’s Supper together now.

God Calls Us

Paul writes in verse 14 that God calls us to salvation through the gospel. The death, burial, and resurrection is God’s call to salvation. Faith in what Jesus did at the cross; faith in the sufficiency of Christ to take care of our sin; faith to walk boldly and confidently with God; God has called us to share in this salvation. For what purpose? So that we can be with him for eternity. So that we can share in Christ’s glory when he returns. This salvation is not just for the present, but for the future. When Christ returns, all who have been saved; all who have believed the truth; all who have been chosen by God will share in his glory. In the meantime we are to stand firm. We are not to waver. We are not to be shaken. Don’t let the lies around you cause you to turn your head. Your heart may beat a bit faster; you may wonder about the future; you may get nervous; you may have a dry mouth and sweaty palms, but don’t move from your spot. Stand firm. Remain committed to Christ and wait for his return.

Look at verses 16 & 17. This prayer summarizes Paul’s point. God has given us eternal—never ending; no beginning no ending; the very nature of God—encouragement. The word here comes from the same root word that Jesus uses to describe the Holy Spirit in John 14-16 and is translated as the Comforter or Counselor. God has given us encouragement that has no end. And Paul’s prayer in verse 17 repeats the word “knowing this about God, may it bring comfort, courage, come along side to strengthen your hearts.”

In simple ways Paul wrote what a shaken and uncertain congregation needed to hear. Jesus loves you; God saved you; God called you; Stand firm. He has not left you. Jesus didn’t return without you knowing. Words we need to hear as well. Have you heard the call of God? When Christ returns will you share in his glory? Only if you have been saved will that be the case. Invitation.

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