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The believers responsibilities to God’s truth

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II Thessalonians 2:13–17
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“During the Civil War,” writes author Tim Riter, “President Lincoln attended Wednesday evening services at a church close to the White House. Accompanied by Secret Service agents, Lincoln would sit in the pastor’s study during the message; then they would walk back … More

Application

At this point in his letter Paul switches from prophecy to practical Christian living. He turns from Satan’s lies to God’s truth and from warning to thanksgiving and prayer. He explains how every believer has the following responsibilities to God’s truth:

  1. Believe the truth (vv. 13-14). Salvation is of the Lord and lost sinners can never save themselves. God’s part involves the work of the Holy Spirit in drawing men into Himself. It is dangerous to engage in idle speculation about divine sovereignty and human responsibility.  Both are taught in the Bible. The human responsi­bility is to believe the truth. When sinners believe God’s truth, He saves them.  When they reject the truth they cannot be saved (vv. 10-12).
  2. Guard the truth (v. 15). The believers are exhorted to stand fast in the midst of opposition and to hold fast the traditions of Christ. The word “traditions” as stated here does not mean things which men have made up but something to pass from one to another which was received in the first place from God himself.
  3. Practice the truth (vv. 16-17). If we hear the Word, but do not obey it, we are only fooling ourselves (James 1:22-25). Too many Christians today emphasize guarding the truth, but downplay living the truth. One of the best ways to guard the truth is to put it into practice.  It is good to be defenders of the faith but we must not forget to be demonstrators of the faith.

Paul urged the Thessalonians to “stand fast” and “hold on to the truth they had been taught (v. 15).

Application

It is harder to practice the truth, than it is to believe and guard the truth. That is why it is often harder to get an application from my quiet-time than it is to write down what the writer is saying.

II Thessalonians 2:13-17 (English Standard Version)

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

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