READ 2 Thessalonians 2:15

There's an exhortation given here -- a challenge.  “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our epistle.” 

1.  We are to stand fast. The word, stand fast, is the idea of standing firm, having a solid footing in a time of storm when the wind is blowing.  

He is contrasting the time of great tribulation, the apostasy, and the appearance of the Antichrist, with the salvation that you and I have in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

But the exhortation, the challenge for you and me, is that in these last days we should stand fast, be firm, and not be easily shaken.  

I'm convicted in my own heart that we are indeed in the days of apostasy because so much is going on today that could shake even God's children. Jesus said that there would be such a day that, if it were possible, the very elect would be deceived.   

So much is going on in the religious world, such as false doctrine.  It is so important for you to stay in the Scriptures and to be taught the truths and the doctrines of the Scriptures so that you won't get swept off your feet by every wind of doctrine that blows.  There's some goofy stuff out there.  Just turn on the television.  It is unbelievable.  I hope you don't buy everything you see or hear on television that's carried on in the name of religion.  Stand fast. 

2.  We are to hold the traditions.  

And hold the traditions."  I thought traditions were bad.  Some tradition is bad; some is good.  

Jesus did warn about the traditions of men.  He scorned the Pharisees and gave them a pretty hard time when He said to them in Mark 7:9, “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” 

But there is a tradition that is good.  

The word, “tradition” literally means to hand something over.  Pass something on. 

Paul is talking now about the truth of the Scriptures. He's talking about the teachings of the Word of God.  “…hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” 

Notice those two things.  Keep in mind that he's writing to people who were in the New Testament day, and yet the New Testament was not completed.  

Because of that, there were some who were given the spoken word.  They would speak the very Word of God. Then, by our epistle.  He is now ascribing inspiration to his writings.  Paul was used by God to write Scripture.  He could be referring to this book or he may be referring to First Thessalonians.  Whichever one it is, the point he's trying to make is that in Paul’s epistle and in this verbal preaching of the Word of God, you have the teachings of scripture.  

We are in a different day.  The New Testament has been completed. There's no more revelation going on.  Revelation has been completed.   God has closed the canon.   We have the completed Word of God.  

The Bible says that now we are to hold these traditions.  The word, “hold” here really means to get a good grasp on them.  We could paraphrase this by saying, keep a tight grip on what you were taught.  You better hold on to it!  You better know what you believe, because if you don't know what you believe you're going to encounter some teaching that's going to be very disturbing to you.  You better know what the Bible teaches.  

There is no excuse for a Christian not to know the Scriptures.  Especially at Brownsburg Baptist Church.  We are trying to get you deep into the Word of God and holding onto the teachings of God's truth. 

That's the exhortation of the hour.  We're saved people, We're going to heaven when we die. We have the truth. Hold on to it!  Don't let anybody shake you from the truth. 

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  Define the phrase “stand fast”, as you understand it from this devotion.  Would you say that you are one who is standing fast, or are you unstable? Explain.

2.  What is the difference between “good tradition” and “bad” or “man’s tradition”?

3.  What does it mean to “hold the traditions which ye have been taught”?

4.  What advantage do you have in standing fast today, with a completed canon of Scripture?