“With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:15 NLT
“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:15, CSB
Contrast Jesus Christ > anti-christ
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” – Jesus in John 14:6
In Jesus I found truth, The Truth, the source of all truth.
Deception, twist,
Truth – true as opposed to false, the quality of being true, genuine, actual, or factual, the actual state of a matter, conformity with fact or reality, verified, indisputable, a proven or verified principle or statement,
Truth – that which is genuine, reliable and trustworthy
Seek, learn , internalize, embody, hold fast, stand firm in the truth.
Salvation – to cause to experience divine salvation, to make safe and sound from a difficult situation, to deliver from a direct threat,
“came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10
“He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.” – Hebrews 5:9
“now you Gentiles have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, who was promised long ago.” – Ephesians 1:13
“receiving the purpose of your faith, that is the salvation of your souls,” – 1 Peter 1:9
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death.” – 2 Corinthians 7:10
“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” – Philippians 2:12
Read chapter 2
Don’t be deceived. Any who oppose Jesus will be wiped away.
How would Jesus want us to approach this chapter?
Follow the truth. Seek the truth.
Avoid:
the slip into unwarranted speculation (guesswork, distraction from Jesus & Gospel)
the slip into shoulder shrugging cynicism (ignore, can’t get it, don’t look at it)
Read, pray, study, and seek truth together.
Look at connection between the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 24 & 2 Thessalonians 2 (Mark 13, Daniel 9:24-27, 11:40-12:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-16, 5:1-8)
Certain events will precede, persecution, many will turn away, false prophets come with signs, Gospel will be preached to all nations, no one but Father God knows when Jesus will return, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.” – Jesus in Acts 1:7. Jesus will return at the appointed time. Mockers will question. The delay shows God’s patience and desire that many will come to repentance and faith. – 2 Peter 3:4, 8-9 The return of Jesus will be visible to all. – Matthew 24:27
Distinguishing the essential from the non-essential. (Albert Mohler theological triage)
First-order issues: essential such Trinity, full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, justification by faith, the authority of Scripture, and the bodily return of Jesus.
Second-order issues: believing Christians may see differently and may cause local church distinctions, such as method of water baptism, whether women should be ordained.
Third-order issues: nonessential issues over which Christians should learn to disagree agreeably. Such as the timetable and sequence, issues related to the interpretation of difficult texts.
3 Truths about the end times that Christians have always believed.
1. Against those who claimed that Jesus would not return to earth in bodily form, the Rule of Faith declared that Jesus “sat at the Father’s right hand and will come again”.
2. Against those who claimed that Christians would not be resurrected physically, the Rule of Faith confessed a belief in “the resurrection of the flesh”.
3. Against those who denied a future judgment, the Rule of Faith affirmed that Jesus would “judge the living and the dead”.
Meet the Antichrist
Doomed – “the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:8
Lawless – “the lawless one will be revealed,” – 2 Thessalonians 2:8
Coming – “the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come,” – 1 John 2:18
Someone who rejects Jesus as Messiah – “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist – denying the Father and the Son.” 1 John 2:22
Someone who rejects the divine origin of Jesus – “every spirit, that does not confess Jesus, is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,” – 1 John 4:3
Someone who rejects the humanity of Jesus – “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.” – 2 John 1:7
A beastly ruler over many nations – Revelation 13
False prophets deceive. Oppressive rulers persecute. Pagan rulers exalted themselves as gods. – Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 29, Daniel 11.
“abomination of desolation” defile the place of worship – Daniel saw Antiochus Epiphanes 167 BC who put the image of Zeus in the Temple, the prediction in Luke 21:20 sounds like Romans attack on Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. This is similar to what 2 Thessalonians 2 says that the “lawless man” will do.
Revelation 13 convergence of an evil ruler and false prophet
Revelation 13 mentions the best, empowered by Satan (adversary), masquerades as Christ, accepts worship as God, wields power, blasphemes Jesus, slanders God, persecutes the saints.
John writes that there will always be antichrists who continue in the tradition of the originals.
Jesus will return victorious – Revelation 17:8, 19:19-21
Having and asking deep and difficult questions about our faith is valuable since, if treated properly, it can and should lead one to truth, knowledge, and a greater faith. Think about it. When we press our faith with hard questions, we determine the reasonableness of our beliefs.
Hold fast – to hold onto something and not let go
Stand firm – to continue in the state of being with a possible application of acceptability
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13–14, NLT
“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.” – Philippians 1:27 NLT
What do we learn?
1. Gods, love, gives strength, rest, truth, endurance.
2. Receiving Jesus, as Savior gives us reliable and trustworthy truth.
3. Jesus followers are called to hold onto this truth, not letting go.
What should we do?
1. Read 2 Thessalonians 2, praying, reflecting.
2. Memorize 2 Thessalonians 2:15.
3. Use a daily moment of silence to reflect on it.
4. Pray for each other, according to 2 Thessalonians 2:15.