Let us turn once more to God's Word and I want to direct you this morning to words that we find at the end of the second chapter in Paul's second epistle to the Thessalonians in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and read in the last three verses verses 15 through 16 and 17 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle. Know our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.

turning then to these three verses at the end of the second chapter in Paul's epistle to the Thessalonians and I remind you of course that we were considering the previous part of this chapter, this remarkable chapter only last Lord's Day morning where we took for a text those words in verses 7 and 8

In the opening part, he speaks of the great mystery of iniquity. It's a prophetic portion in Paul's epistle. Strangely, really, he doesn't often make prophetic statements, but this is a statement of that that will come to pass in God's appointed time, even the manifestation of the man of sin and the son of perdition. And I said how we were looking last week there at verses 7 and 8. He says, The mystery of iniquity doth already work. Only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. what he's been speaking of in the previous opening verses where we have such a remarkable description of what we now witness as the the papacy and the splendor of the man of sin and the power of the mystery of iniquity which of course is the devil's answer to the mystery of godliness which is real religion what we see there of course is that false apostate christianity and as i said we were looking at those two verses in seven and eight only last lord's day morning and concentrated on what he said at the end of verse eight that ultimately this great mystery of iniquity, the papacy will be altogether overthrown, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."

He spoke of those two aspects then of the overthrow ultimately of course the destruction is the Lord's return the brightness of his second coming when the judgment will be made and the whole matter of false religion completely and utterly exposed but also we noted that reference to the spirit of his mouth and said that that really applies to the day in which we're living. What is the answer to the mystery of iniquity? It's the word of God. It's the breath of God's mouth. That's what the scripture is. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. It's the very breathings. of God, the Scriptures, but also we can think in terms of the preaching of the Word of God, the proclamation of the Gospel, that sword that we see proceeding out of the mouth of Christ there in the book of the Revelation.

Well, these are some of the things we were speaking of last the Lord's Day morning and I thought it might be profitable to come back to the end of the chapter and particularly what he says here in verse 15 therefore brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which have been taught whether by word or our epistle I want to try to say something with regards to what's to be understood by this expression holding fast, standing fast, holding the traditions. I want to take up the theme of apostolic traditions, but first of all to say something about false traditions, because those false traditions are what we really see in apostate Christianity, what we see really with regards to the papacy and its traditions, its teachings.

Now I remarked last week how that of course the papacy puts itself in the very place of God. We have that the third and fourth verses where the Apostle Paul says let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition who opposeth and exalted himself above all that is called God, all that is worshipped, so that he is God, seated in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

And of course, we see that because as a monarch, the Pope has a triple crown, most Monarchs, most kings would have a crown, a single crown, but no, the papacy has a triple crown. And what is the significance of that? Well, he puts himself really in the position of all the persons in the Godhead. As if he is God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

He takes that name, doesn't he? Holy Father. That's how the devout Roman Catholic will refer to the Bishop of Rome, he is the Holy Father. They call their priests fathers, but he is the Holy Father. And that name in scripture is only used on one occasion, there in John 17, where the Lord in his great high priestly prayer addresses the Father as Holy Father, just one occasion. Well, the Pope assumes that name.

And then also, he's referred to often as the Supreme Pontiff, the Chief Priest, as it were. It's a religion of priestcraft, but the Supreme Priest is that man who sits on the so-called throne of Saint Peter. He is the Supreme Pontiff, but that is Christ. He is the Great High Priest of our profession, says Paul, writing to the Hebrews.

So, as He puts Himself in the place of the Father, so He would put Himself also in the place of God, the Son. And then thirdly, He is often referred to as Christ Vicar, the Vicar of Christ. Vicar meaning in the place of, in the stead on. as we have it of course in the word a vicarious sacrifice Christ's sacrifice is vicarious it's in the place of others he's suffering the punishment that his people deserve and so when we think of the Bishop of Rome as the vicar of Christ is he not usurping the place of the Holy Spirit

it is expedient for you says Christ and I go away if I go not away the comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him unto you Christ says I will not leave you comfort as he comes by his spirit and yet the papacy assumes that name and would put the Pope in the place of God the Holy Ghost and so he's one who has great authority he can make pronouncements he can utter infallible decrees from from Rome that will and must be obeyed by all who are faithful Roman Catholics.

And what do we see then? We see how that Rome has its traditions. And the Council of Trent back in 1545, the answer to the Protestant Reformation, that statement of Roman Catholic doctrine, they make it quite clear there that their tradition stands on equal authority with the Bible. So, the authority of the Church of Rome isn't the Scripture, it's not built upon that sure and certain foundation, but they have their traditions. And here we read of tradition. Paul says, stand fast and hold the traditions which have been taught, whether by word or our epistle. And it's a verse that the Roman Catholics would seize upon and say, look, tradition does have some parts to play in the life of Christians. Well, we'll come to that apostolic tradition presently, but first of all, just to say a little more with regards to these false traditions of the Church of Rome, what are they? Well, there are many, we can only mention a few. but amongst other things of course the Pope has decreed that certain days and certain seasons are to be looked upon as holy and there are periods of life that are to be properly observed by the devout Roman Catholic. There's Lent, there's Holy Week, there's Easter, there's Christmas, there's all these various times and seasons that are to be properly observed.

But what do we read when we turn to the Word of God concerning these matters? Well look at Galatians chapter 4 and what the Apostle is saying there at verse 9 following. He says, But now after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements? Whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage, ye observe days and months and times and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."

There are not these days and months and times that we need to be observing. There were certainly various periods, of course, back in the Old Testament. And I know in the context that's what he's referring to, those who Judaize us in the churches of the Galatians. But it's applicable also to the Church of Rome and it's imposing of these things.

Going to the Colossians, there in Colossians 2.17 Paul says, let no man judge you in respect of unholy guy. There is, but one day that we see being observed in the New Testament Scriptures, and we see it throughout the Acts, and that is the first day of the week. And the Lord Jesus Christ, of course, is Lord of the Sabbath. We don't observe a sixth day, a seventh day Sabbath anymore. We observe now the first day, the Lord's Day, and at the end of The scriptures in the book of Revelation we see John in exile there on Patmos, but he's in the spirit on the Lord's Day. This is the day that we're to keep. We're not to observe the traditions of Rome with regards to today's and seasons.

But then also, they make use of images. They make use of images in their worship. that aids to their worship, they say. But we know what the second commandment declares. There in Exodus 20 verses 4, 5 and 6, the children of Israel are told quite plainly they are not to make graven images of anything. God is a spirit, says the Lord Jesus, a true worshippers worship the father in spirit and in truth and how even in the days of Isaiah we see the prophet as God's faithful servant condemning those who want to be like the nations round about remember the words that we have for example in the 40th chapter in that prophecy in chapter 40 of Isaiah and there at verse 18 And the following verse is, to whom then will ye liken God, or what likeness will ye compare unto him? The workman moulteth a graven image. The goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot. He seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved.

Have ye not heard? Have ye not known? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers, that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in, that bringeth the princes to nothing, that maketh the judges of the earth as valets.

God says how He is to be. worshipped. No man. They that make a graven image are all of them valetan. It's what the Prophet goes on to say is the mouthpiece of God. They are vain, these images. And yet, with its traditions, the apostate Church of Rome prescribes images as useful in worship.

And then also, of course, there's the invoking of the saints they invoke the saints, they call upon the name of those who have been canonized we know that the word saint is a good biblical word it refers to all those who are truly the people of God but the Church of Rome has a special category of those who have attained sainthood and people will pray to them and I don't know I do see the newspaper the Daily Telegraph online and when you look at the announcements you often get someone acknowledging Saint Jude I put a notice in the newspaper to thank Saint Jude for something that Saint Jude apparently has done for them Well, this is one of the traditions of Rome to invoke the saints.

But what do we see when we turn to God's work? Well, think of Paul and Barnabas at Lystra. There in Acts chapter 14, they perform a miracle. Paul performs a miracle and a lame man is healed and able to walk. and these superstitious people they're so impressed that they conclude that the gods have now come and visited them and they want to do worship to these men who perform such a remarkable deed there in Acts 14.11 when the people saw what Paul had done they lifted up their voices saying in the speech of Lake Aeonia, the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men and they called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius because he was the chief speaker.

Then the priest of Jupiter which was before their city brought oxen and garlands unto the gates and would have done sacrifice with the people. which when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of, they rent their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God which made heaven and earth and the sea and all things that are therein.

So the apostle will have nothing at all to do with this nonsense. It's a vain and a futile thing. We see it again, don't we, in the Book of Revelation on two occasions as John is shown remarkable things by the angels. He would worship the angel. He would worship the angel. And it's recorded there in Revelation 19.10, again in chapter 22 and verses 8 and 9. He bows down to worship the angel, but the angel makes it plain he's to do no such thing. What does the angel say? Worship God. Worship God. There's not to be the invoking then of any other. It is only God who can hear. and answer us when we come to him with our prayers and in many ways isn't prayer the highest form of all our worship when we address ourselves to him who is the almighty God of heaven and earth.

Oh there are then all these vain traditions of apostate religion, apostate Christianity amongst all the other apostate religions and we see it in the days of the Lord Jesus how he addresses the scribes and the elders and the Pharisees in vain do they worship me teaching the doctrines of men he says again referring to just one other portion of scripture that contradicts all these vain teachings of the Church of Rome the language that we have there in Mark chapter 7 verse 8 and verse 9 laying aside the commandment of God says the Lord you hold the tradition of men as the washing of pots and cups and many other such like things you do and he said unto them full well you reject the commandment of God that you may keep your own tradition and again at verse 13 he speaks of making the word of God of non-effect through your tradition which ye have delivered and many such like things do ye.

We can contrast in the traditions of a vain religion with the word of God. But what are we to make, coming to the positive now, what are we to make of the verses before us here, verses 15, 16 and 17 at the end of this chapter. That's the context, isn't it, in which Paul comes to this particular conclusion. He begins this last section of the chapter with the word therefore. He's bringing things to a conclusion. But what are we to make of this reference to tradition. There is such a thing as apostolic tradition. The words, when we examine the word itself, not so much our word tradition but the original word that is here being used. Now it's a Greek word that's derived from a verb and the verb literally means to hand over. or to hand down or to transmit and we also have the word delivered used in 1st Corinthians chapter 11 and in verse 2 of the ordinances that have been delivered. It's interesting because the margin as the alternative reading for ordinances as traditions is in fact the exact same word that we have here in this 15th verse. It's translated traditions in Thessalonians but there in 1 Corinthians 11, it's translated ordinances. Interesting that that's how the A.V. translators rendered the same word in two different parts of scripture.

What are these traditions or these ordinances? It's what has been delivered to us, what's been handed down to us. How has it been handed down? Well, what does it say here in the text? The traditions He says, which have been taught, whether by word or our epistle. There are here two ways of transmission being mentioned. First of all, he speaks of it by word, and then by what he calls our epistle. Let's for a while just examine these two different ways of conveying this instruction, these traditions or these ordinances.

By word is a reference to the spoken word. We might include preaching in that. Again, that word that we have in 1 Corinthians 11, 2. He says, keep the ordinances, or the margin says traditions, as I deliver them to you.

How did Paul deliver these things to them? Well, he writes to the Corinthians as he writes to the Thessalonians but Paul was also amongst them and Paul would also give them instruction and teaching verbally he didn't only write I should say but he would be amongst them and there would be various pieces of instruction given and they had apostolic authority of course and so in that sense they are not the traditions of men they are not the traditions of men if we go back to the beginning of this chapter in 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 2 he says be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us that the day of Christ is at hand there were those who were who were troubling them and saying that they'd received some instruction by Paul by word or by letter as from us he himself would give instruction when he was amongst them but as he is an apostle there is an authority and so what he conveys to them even by word of mouth is not the traditions of men but more a tradition that has come from God

or remember what the Apostle says when he writes to the Galatians concerning his own ministry uses strong language doesn't he there in Galatians 1.11 I certify you brethren he says I certify you that the gospel which I preached is not after man, for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of God." He could speak with such authority because God had called him to this office of being an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and he makes that so clear, so plain

It's interesting, isn't it, that passage that we read. I read the passage there because I'm always struck by what Paul says in Philippians 4 verse 9. As he's coming to the end of his epistle to the Philippians. Those things which he have both learned, he says, and received and heard and seen in me do. And the God of peace shall be with you. I mean, it's not simply what he writes and what we now have as part of the scripture of truth but he wants them to remember the sort of man he was amongst them the things that he did amongst them those things which he have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do he had an authority as an apostle And of course, all his authority was rooted in the Word of God. We know the language of Isaiah 80, to the Lord and to the testimony. If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no life in them. Paul was a man who was learned in the Scriptures of truth. He knew the Old Testament Scriptures. He'd been schooled at the feet of one of the rabbis, Gamaliel. He knew the Word of God and he had a right understanding, a spiritual understanding of the Word of God. He had an authority, apostolic authority.

But now there are no apostles. The office of apostle is a foundational office in the church. The church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, we're told. So no man can speak with the sort of authority that a man like Paul and the other apostles would speak.

But with regards to these traditions, these things that are being handed down, it doesn't just say word, whether by word, it says or our epistle. Stand fast and hold the traditions or we might say the ordinances because his word tradition is so charged which he has been taught whether by word or our epistle well he's maybe he's referring here to the first letter he writes two letters to the Thessalonians and maybe here as he comes to the end of his second letter he's reminding them he's already written to them and they have instruction there and remember what he tells them at the end of that first letter there, the last but one verse of the first epistle I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren because this is what he's handing down to them, the instruction it's the word of God really all scripture that's given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness. It's the word of God.

And observe again how this 15th verse opens with the word therefore. He's coming to a conclusion, he's deducing certain things from what he said previously.

Therefore, Brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which have been taught whether by word or our epistle. We can say in a sense that the traditions or the ordinances are those things that have been said in the previous verses. What are we told in the previous verses 13 and 14? It says, We are bound to give thanks always 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, whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold fast the traditions. It's a connection. We're thrown back on those immediate previous verses in verses 13 and 14. And what do we have in these two verses? Great gospel doctrines. Great gospel doctrines here. And in a sense, we can go back even further.

Remember what we have at verse 9 through 10, 11, 12 is a further description of the papacy. He's speaking of great gospel doctrines in verses 12 and 13 and in a sense that can be linked back to what he is saying in those words that we concentrated on last Lord's Day morning at the end of verse 8 where he speaks of how the Lord will consume the mystery of iniquity whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming and the spirit of his mouth referring to the word of God and the preaching and the teaching of the word of God then here in verses 13 and 14 how he speaks of that gospel great gospel truths and what are these gospel truths? well he speaks doesn't he in verse 13 of eternal election that's the content of verse 13 we're bound to give thanks always to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation

The beginning there is referring to the beginning in an absolute sense. Eternity, before time was created. That's what he's referring to. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, said Jeremiah, saying, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. He's speaking there at the beginning of verse 13 then of that election that is eternal according as He has chosen us in Christ from before the foundation of the world.

But not only does He speak of the great truth of eternal election, He also speaks of the other great truth of effectual calling. From what we read at the end of verse 13 He's chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Well these are the great truths, the great doctrines that Paul was preaching. In that sense these are the traditions really and the ordinances that they are to attend to. How did the Gospel come to them? Not in word only. It came in power, in the Holy Ghost, in much assurance. You know what manner of men we were among you, he says there in the opening chapter of the first letter. And then again, how he speaks there in the second chapter of 1 Thessalonians. verse 13, for this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when you receive the word of God which you heard of us you received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectively worketh also in you that believe

all these traditions it's all to do with the gospel the message that this man was proclaiming the blessed truths of sovereign grace and how he'd experienced it, of course, in his own calling, his own conversion. He pleased God, he says, who separated me from my mother's womb to call me by his grace and to reveal his Son in me. This is a message. These are the things that he was teaching amongst them.

Gospel doctrines these are apostolic traditions and not only gospel doctrines but also gospel duties gospel duties see what he goes on to say here in chapter 3 and verse 6 he uses the word tradition again Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourself from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. What is the tradition? It's those things that Paul himself practiced. It was the life that he lived. It was the way in which he conducted himself as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

and interesting when we consider what he says there in that 11th chapter of 1st Corinthians as I said at the beginning of that chapter he uses the word ordinance and yet it's exactly the same words as we find in Thessalonians which is rendered as traditions you know what he talks about in 1st Corinthians 11 he deals with the whole matter doesn't he of head coverings in the first part of chapter 11 and then in the second part he deals with the matter of the ordinance of the Lord's Supper and how matters are to be conducted with regards to the proper observers of that supper how that things have been done decently and in order

what he says there between those two sections in the first part he's speaking of the woman's head covering the second part the matter of the Lord's Supper and he says in verse 16 if any man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the churches of God no such custom men are not to be contentious there were traditions but they were apostolic traditions And that's what he's reminding them of.

There was a way in which matters were being conducted. We have the word of God, that's all we have now. We don't have apostles, but we have the complete canon of scripture. The entire revelation that God has seen fit to give to us here in his holy word. And this is what Paul is speaking of in this passage.

Therefore brethren, stand fast, hold the traditions I say we could substitute the word ordinances which have been taught whether by word or our epistle now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which have loved us and have given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and establish them in every good word and work as we draw to a conclusion just briefly in a sense by way of application he's exhorting them isn't he here to stand fast and to hold they're not to yield any ground at all you see with regards to these things we're not to be passive this is the instruction he's given to the members in the church of Thessalonica these teachings, this is something they had to adhere to with conviction not to be passive, there's a need of perseverance here there's a need of prayer no yielding of any ground you remember what Paul says to the Ephesians how he speaks of the necessity of the whole armour of salvation.

Take unto you, he says, the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand and to stand in the evil day. Again, you see, we have the idea there they've got to withstand opposition, they've got to stand for the truth. And the word that we have here, hold, stand fast and hold the traditions, he says. it has the idea of taking hold, a stronghold vehemently laying hold of these truths, well how can any child of God, any believer who feels his own innate weakness and his inability really of himself to hold firm and to stand fast, how can he How can he heed such an exhortation as this?

Well, Paul immediately reminds us, doesn't he? If we're going to be those who would persevere in these apostolic ways, we must give ourselves to prayer, because he immediately prays for them. Having given the exhortation in verse 15, he says, Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work how we will pray he prays for them and he prays for them time and time again he prays for them doesn't he at the end of the previous first chapter in fact we were looking at the verses only two or three weeks ago on a Thursday evening there at the end of chapter 1, wherefore also he says we pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ he prays for them and interesting we see how Paul also exhorts him to pray he exhorts him to pray there at the end of chapter 5 the last chapter of that first letter verse 17 he says pray without ceasing Verse 25, Brethren pray for us.

He would pray for them, they would pray for him. What are we to do then with regards to apostolic traditions? Well, we are to understand how different they are from the false traditions, the vain traditions of apostate religion, apostate Christianity. Apostolic traditions are rooted in the Word of God. or they're rooted in those things that were practiced by the apostles themselves but we have no apostles now all we have is the scriptures of truth and so for all our ordinances all our traditions we must find grounds only in the scripture of truth we don't look to any man be that man the so-called Bishop of Rome. We look to God, we look to the Word of God and there we rest and we look to God in our prayers that he would help us that we might indeed stand fast and hold the traditions we've been taught whether by words, as Paul says, or our epistle.

May the Lord be pleased to bless his Word to us. Amen.