Grace Chapel II Thessalonians Lesson 5: Stand Firm

Professional snowboarders use the best kind of equipment to lock their feet onto their boards. If that board slips loose, it can cause serious injury. In some cases, a snowboarder wouldn’t just lose their ability to land a trick—they could even lose their life in the process.

In this lesson, we’re going to learn what it means to stand firm in our belief in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gives our feet the ability to stand firm—kind of like those snowboarders who must keep their feet secured to the board. In the same way, we need to keep our stance on the Lord.

“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.”

2 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV

Paul is celebrating their salvation and sanctification. This means they have been saved from death, Hell, and the grave. They are being sanctified—made holy—to align their lives with what it means to be saved.

Sanctification is the process of dying to sin and learning to live your new life in Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, each day you grow in grace and become more like Jesus. This verse should encourage us to grow as sanctified believers.

“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.”

2 Thessalonians 2:14–15 ESV

Paul is encouraging them because they are doing what they are supposed to do. They are facing opposition, and Paul is telling them to stand firm by continuing to do what God has called them to do. They do this by being sanctified believers.

Today, we will face opposition too, and we need to stand firm when it comes. That opposition may come through temptation, trials, or even deception. No matter how it shows up, we must stand firm in our belief in Jesus Christ.

“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.”

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 ESV

Paul is praying both comfort and strength over the Thessalonian church. They need the comfort of the Holy Spirit, knowing that they are still saved and that the Lord is at work in them. They also need to be established so that when trials come, they will be able to stand firm.

We need that same prayer in our lives today. We need comfort and establishment. We need the Holy Spirit to comfort us because life is hard. We also need the Holy Spirit to strengthen and establish us—because life is hard.

So today, I am going to pray over you that the Holy Spirit will comfort you and establish you as a saved and sanctified believer.