Stand Firm but Don't Stand Still

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

            With the beginning of a new year, health clubs have a push for new members.   With New Year’s resolutions many people have a resolve to get back into shape or to get into shape for the first time.   At the same time there is a TV show of biggest losers that show how hard some really work and what a difference it can make.  What they had never done before, such as running a marathon, they were able to accomplished.  With all the football playoffs going on are we content to just watch or are we in shape that we could be out on the field playing the game? 

Is that what happens in the church also? It is really a lot of fun to watch others play the Christian game, while others sit in the bleachers, or pews and let others put forth all the effort.  If somebody can be out of shape physically imagine how out of shape a person can become spiritually.   Perhaps at this time of the year we could ask, are we the flabby faithful?  Are we lazy Lutherans, or the sluggish Salem saints?  

            As we enter this new year we hear Paul encourage Christians of old and us today, 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings… and  by his grace … strengthen you in every good deed and word.  We will consider then Stand Firm, but Don’t Stand Still.

I.              Stand Firm

You have heard about the 98 pound weakling who gets sand kicked in his face on the beach? What happens to a spiritual weakling, a theological wimp?   What happens is not sand in the face, but false doctrines and false teachings thrown in ones face.   The only problem is that when we are spiritual wimps we can’t tell truth from error.   We can think something sounds good but it is theological garbage, which can give the soul indigestion.  In Christianity there are two sides, both of what we are to believe and what we are to do.   They cannot be separated.   Neither does Paul in our text.   He encourages the believers to hold to the teachings. 

            What are those teachings?  13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.              

a.    Loved by the Lord:  This is where the Apostle Paul starts.   How awesome to know that the almighty, creator of the universe, before whom we will stand, loves us!  Why me?   Why would he even care to love me?   What a reminder for each of us.   And how has that loved been shown?  His love gave us his son.  But look even more!  From the beginning look what he has done!

b.    Chosen How does being chosen show his love towards us? Paul says from the beginning?  The Bible even says: “For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world!” Eph. 1:4 How important this is when doubt come into our lives, when we question our relationship with the Lord.   Of course we might wonder, how can I know I am a chosen one?   See how the Bible points us to Christ.   We were chosen in him.  Since we have been brought to know Christ, we are assured he has chosen us.  

c.    Sanctifying Work of the Spirit   Big words do not need to trouble us.  The Work of the Holy Spirit is called Sanctification.   Paul says the Holy Spirit is the one who then brings us to know Jesus.   No one can say Jesus is Lord except through the Holy Spirit.   Do you see a theme running through these verses, God before creation chose us, in Jesus who died for us and the Holy Spirit who sanctified us, brings us into the kingdom.  What is important is to see that we have done none of this!  God gets all the credit and the glory.

d.    Called:  Paul writes, He called you to this through our gospel.   Do you remember the Third Article, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ nor come to him, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel?   So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.  How were you called, by word or by letter?  See how Paul explained by preaching or by reading the word of God, that is how the great truths of Christianity comes to a person.  

e.    Glory, That you might share in the glory.  This is how we know we will be in heaven.   Again it is all the work of the Lord in our lives through word and sacrament.   To bring us to faith and to keep us in the faith until we enter the glory of heaven.  There is where we will be forever with the Lord.

So the end result of all this is eternal encouragement and good hope.   Did you need to have encouragement?   Did you need to have hope?   Every so often there comes time for us to be built up

II.            Don’t Stand Still

After you have gone to the gym and worked out, what next?  What is the purpose for a football player to work out hours after hours if they are not going to get to play the game?   Some realize that their opponent has just spent 30 hours in the gym and they have only spent 10 hours.   What will happen on the field?  Will they lose the struggle?   Will the competition beat them?  Also what happen when you don’t use your muscles?  What happens to one who had the muscles and then neglects the exercise?   Use it or lose it!   At the same time there can be the whole motivational struggle, not much is happening, look at what the others are doing, I’ll just give up. 

What will happen in the spiritual struggle?   God wants us to be spiritually strong for the spiritual battles that we have to fight in this sinful world.   But also he wants us to be using our gifts.  Listen again to our text:

            16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.  The Lord expects us to accomplish good deeds in our life of words and actions.  Paul repeated this thought to the Corinthian church.  1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV84) — 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

            In Thessalonica there was a problem.  The next chapter Paul has to remind them that they had work to do.  2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NIV84) — 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV84) — 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” I found the following quote interesting: “Doing nothing is about the most tiresome work in the world because you cannot stop and rest.” – Epigram

            When it comes to our part in the kingdom, there is constant need for encouragement and hope.   This is why we need to keep our focus on what Jesus has done for us.  That is what is to motivate us to work for the Lord.   We can see other people not taking up their role or share in their part.   We can have struggles with our own sinful flesh or temptations from the devil that would discourage us or keep us from using our gifts and talents for the kingdom. 

            When we keep our eyes on Jesus, our Savior, we will keep the right motivation as God’s people.   Knowing all that he has done for us, gives God’s people energy and joy to serve him, because our work in the Lord is not in vain.   Stand firm, but don’t stand still.  Amen.