(2Th 2:15)  “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”  “….or our epistle.”  Here we see the epistles of Paul being held up to follow, for they are the very Words sent by God through the Holy Ghost. “Stand fast”, that is “hold to” those Words. If anything is needed in this day it is for God’s people to stand fast to the Bible. All of the Bible. Not just the parts you like or agree with. Yield your heart to God and embrace all His Words.  

(2Th 2:14)  “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”   It is fitting that He Who left the fellowship and Who left behind the glory of the Godhead (Jn 17:5) to be clothed in human flesh, to now be glorified in the sight of all men! For my precious Lord the flesh of man become glorified flesh; the life He led is held up as being that which no one else has ever lived (glorified); and His crown of thorns became a diadem of victory over the grave! His love for His Own speaks, saying, “Come to Me and share my glory!”

 (2Th 2:14)  “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The Apostle Paul also penned, (1Ti_1:15) “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;…..” Through the salvation experience the Lord makes us alive spiritually, gives us a new nature, and promises us a glorified physical body. In other words, He shares His glory with us! Praise He Who loved us despite our sin, died bearing that sin on the cross, and rose desiring to share His glory, the glory of Jesus Christ!

(2 Thess 2:13b “….. because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14)  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Notice the plain Words before us. To believe the truth leads to the actions of responding to the call to be saved, contrasted with (2Th 2:12) “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,…”  The truth: to not believe and respond to Jesus is to damn the soul for eternity; to respond in repentance and ask for the gift of everlasting life is to be saved for eternity. There is no other way to be saved: (Act_4:12) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” 

(2Th 2:13)  “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”   “Sanctification of the Spirit”. One: By the Spirit of God  entering and sealing the bodies of the saved, we are set apart from the rest of the world that is lost.  Two: we are set apart as holy vessels to be used of God. Three: by the salvation experience He imparts we are set apart mentally from the thinking of this world. Therefore the truly saved should by their very behavior stand out as different from those who are lost. Saved people that in behavior live as if this does not matter live in danger: (1Co 3:16) “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (17)  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 

 DAILY DROP OF WATER  (2Th 2:13)  “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”  The Lord calls to Himself those whom He knows will listen and respond. Those who truly listen and respond have a heart to turn from the sins that crucified Jesus. That is what a heart of love desires. Does this describe you?  

 (2 Thess 2:12)  “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  When you consider this verse closely, you have to draw the conclusion that to believe the truth brings with it a change of life – believe, action, withdraw from what displeases the Savior. Bible belief is not the acceptance of facts as true. Bible believe is acting upon that truth to seek forgiveness and the gift of everlasting life. You and I know instinctively that God hates evil and to embrace Him is to turn our backs upon evil ways. This is why so many will play Christian rather than embrace true Christianity. They would rather lie to themselves and tell themselves God loves them as they are. No, God loves you despite what you are and will be forced to judge your sin with hell if you do not repent and seek the Gift of Everlasting Life in truth.

(2 Thess 2:12)  “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  Pleasure in unrighteousness. So many who profess to be saved, do as they desire to do on Sunday and the rest of the week, and then say, “The Lord understands.” Yes, He understands disobedience. The Lord never makes allowances for willful disobedience. Such a person wants God to be faithful when they need Him, even though again and again they have been unfaithful, in His face with it. God is God, not a genie in a bottle. Obedience is required of Him: (Deu 10:12) “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, (13)  To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”