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		<title><![CDATA[Columbus Baptist Church's Podcast]]></title>
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		<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Sermons]]></itunes:subtitle>
		<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher Freeman]]></itunes:author>
		<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Wanting to listen to all our sermons? Not just the last 10? Go to http://columbusbc.com/church-cast 

These are the sermons and services of Columbus Baptist Church.

We are located at 1258 Palms Rd. in Columbus MI 48063

You can reach us at 810-367-3094 or secretary@columbusbc.com

]]></itunes:summary>
		<description><![CDATA[Wanting to listen to all our sermons? Not just the last 10? Go to http://columbusbc.com/church-cast 

These are the sermons and services of Columbus Baptist Church.

We are located at 1258 Palms Rd. in Columbus MI 48063

You can reach us at 810-367-3094 or secretary@columbusbc.com

]]></description>
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				<title><![CDATA[07 II Thessalonians 2:6-8 "Let No One Deceive You" Part 2]]></title>
				<category>Podcast</category>
				<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher C. Freeman]]></itunes:author>
				<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Title: “Let No One Deceive You” Part 2 Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 FCF: We often struggle fearing the uncertainty of the end times. Prop: Because God will cause the man of lawlessness to be revealed and to be destroyed, we must not let anyone deceive]]></itunes:subtitle>
				<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Title: “Let No One Deceive You” Part 2

Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

FCF: We often struggle fearing the uncertainty of the end times.

Prop: Because God will cause the man of lawlessness to be revealed and to be destroyed, we must not let anyone deceive us.

 

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we’ll begin reading in verse 3 and read through verse 12 again. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer.

 

Last week we spoke at length about the coming of the man of lawlessness both who he is and what he is going to do. We approached this topic from each eschatological framework within Christendom by trying to understand each framework itself and how they view end times prophesy.

 

The oldest beliefs concerning the end times conclude that things will get much worse for Christians prior to the Lord Jesus returning. It seems that the Thessalonians assumed this as well as they saw their persecution level rise steeply.

 

But Paul corrects them by telling them that the Day of the Lord has not come. He then goes on to describing the man of lawlessness and apostasy that must precede Christ’s coming. This event and the man is so blasphemous that no human has ever been so bold as to claim to be over all other gods, sit in God’s temple, and claim to be Yahweh Himself. But this man of lawlessness will. That is why it cannot be the Day of the Lord yet.

 

Today, Paul will continue his discussion of the man of lawlessness and the sequence of end times events leading up to the return of Christ. Let’s get back to his discussion.

 

Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Sovereign King of Kings, we come to You today as Your humble people whom you have called out of darkness with a divinely given faith. We hold fast to Christ’s work with a rope that was made by Your hands. Such a rope will endure all the lies of the evil one. But this does not mean we can be complacent or passive. We must actively cling to the rope of faith in Christ. Our anchor holds through the fiercest storms. And our faith, if it is saving, will hold to Him. So, Lord, help us to cling to what you have revealed. That we might trust fully in your sovereign hand to uphold us and to bring about these terrible things in their due time. That we might trust Your promise that a New Kingdom comes and that we might hold fast to Christ until it does. We pray this in His name… Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “If the Lord will not suffer it, neither men nor devils can do it.” C.H. Spurgeon

 

“God is working out His eternal purpose, not only in spite of human and satanic opposition but by means of them.” A.W. Pink

 

[Slide 3] “Satan can do nothing without the command of God to whose dominion he is subject.” John Calvin

 

The devil’s way of extinguishing goodness is God’s way of advancing it.” George Barlow

 

[Slide 4] “The hands of the wicked cannot stir one moment before God allows them to begin and cannot stir one moment after God commands them to stop.” “The wickedest enemies of God are only axes and saws and hammers in His hands and are ignorantly His instruments for doing His work in the world.” J.C. Ryle

 

[Slide 5] “The whole history of the world is discovered to be but a contest between the wisdom of God and the cunning of Satan and fallen men. The outcome of the cont...]]></itunes:summary>
				<description><![CDATA[Title: “Let No One Deceive You” Part 2

Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

FCF: We often struggle fearing the uncertainty of the end times.

Prop: Because God will cause the man of lawlessness to be revealed and to be destroyed, we must not let anyone deceive us.

 

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we’ll begin reading in verse 3 and read through verse 12 again. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer.

 

Last week we spoke at length about the coming of the man of lawlessness both who he is and what he is going to do. We approached this topic from each eschatological framework within Christendom by trying to understand each framework itself and how they view end times prophesy.

 

The oldest beliefs concerning the end times conclude that things will get much worse for Christians prior to the Lord Jesus returning. It seems that the Thessalonians assumed this as well as they saw their persecution level rise steeply.

 

But Paul corrects them by telling them that the Day of the Lord has not come. He then goes on to describing the man of lawlessness and apostasy that must precede Christ’s coming. This event and the man is so blasphemous that no human has ever been so bold as to claim to be over all other gods, sit in God’s temple, and claim to be Yahweh Himself. But this man of lawlessness will. That is why it cannot be the Day of the Lord yet.

 

Today, Paul will continue his discussion of the man of lawlessness and the sequence of end times events leading up to the return of Christ. Let’s get back to his discussion.

 

Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Sovereign King of Kings, we come to You today as Your humble people whom you have called out of darkness with a divinely given faith. We hold fast to Christ’s work with a rope that was made by Your hands. Such a rope will endure all the lies of the evil one. But this does not mean we can be complacent or passive. We must actively cling to the rope of faith in Christ. Our anchor holds through the fiercest storms. And our faith, if it is saving, will hold to Him. So, Lord, help us to cling to what you have revealed. That we might trust fully in your sovereign hand to uphold us and to bring about these terrible things in their due time. That we might trust Your promise that a New Kingdom comes and that we might hold fast to Christ until it does. We pray this in His name… Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “If the Lord will not suffer it, neither men nor devils can do it.” C.H. Spurgeon

 

“God is working out His eternal purpose, not only in spite of human and satanic opposition but by means of them.” A.W. Pink

 

[Slide 3] “Satan can do nothing without the command of God to whose dominion he is subject.” John Calvin

 

The devil’s way of extinguishing goodness is God’s way of advancing it.” George Barlow

 

[Slide 4] “The hands of the wicked cannot stir one moment before God allows them to begin and cannot stir one moment after God commands them to stop.” “The wickedest enemies of God are only axes and saws and hammers in His hands and are ignorantly His instruments for doing His work in the world.” J.C. Ryle

 

[Slide 5] “The whole history of the world is discovered to be but a contest between the wisdom of God and the cunning of Satan and fallen men. The outcome of the contest is not in doubt.” “God’s plan will continue on God’s schedule.”  A.W. Tozer

 

“To know that nothing happens in God’s world apart from God’s will may frighten the godless, but it stabilizes the saints.” J. I. Packer

 

Let these words sharpen your mind to understand the text this morning.

 

I.)                  God will determine when the man of lawlessness is revealed, we must not let anyone deceive us. (6-8a)

a.       [Slide 6] 6 - And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.

                                                               i.      After Paul calls to their attention that he has taught all this to them before, he once again uses the phrase “you know.”

                                                             ii.      We saw this phrase come up repeatedly in 1 Thessalonians. But this is the first time Paul banks on their previous knowledge to make his point in this letter.

                                                           iii.      What do they know?

                                                           iv.      They know what restrains the man of lawlessness now.

                                                             v.      Well, Paul, it is all well and good that they know what restrains this man – but WE DON’T!

                                                           vi.      This gives us one of the most perplexing questions regarding end times prophesy that we have.

                                                          vii.      Who or what is restraining the Man of Lawlessness?

                                                        viii.      Who or what is keeping the Man of Lawlessness from committing his blasphemies and leading this global apostasy?

                                                            ix.      [Slide 7] The uncertainty is centered on four concepts.

1.       First, that Paul refers to this restrainer as an impersonal force here in verse 6 and then later as a personal being in verse 7. Yet it does not appear that he is referring to two things. So how can something be both impersonal (neuter gendered participle) and then personal (masculine gendered participle)?

2.       Second, the restrainer could be seen either positively or negatively. Is it a good thing or bad thing that the man of lawlessness is held back? Even as a Christian that is hard to answer. Especially since the Lord’s return happens after he comes.

3.       Third, what does it mean that the restrainer is taken out of the way? Is this by force? Is it violent?

4.       Finally, that Paul does not name the restrainer raises the question, why? Why would Paul not name it?

a.       That question is actually easy to answer. Because the Thessalonians already knew who or what he was talking about.

b.       But the follow up question is much harder.

c.       Since this letter is breathed out by God, why is God being unclear? Why didn’t God move Paul to write the name of the restrainer, or at least spell it out more clearly?

                                                                                                                                       i.      Is it held in mystery intentionally to prevent someone or something from stopping, avoiding, or hindering the work of the restrainer?

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Would Paul or the Thessalonians be harmed or in danger if the restrainer was named?

                                                                                                                                   iii.      Is God keeping Paul from inadvertent praise or worship of the restrainer?

                                                                                                                                   iv.      Has God included enough hints within the text to deduce the restrainer’s identity already?

                                                             x.      [Slide 8] Because of these aspects of uncertainty, there have been several options put forward which arrange themselves into 4 general categories.

1.       Humans

a.       The Roman Empire and the Emperor – As agents preventing the rise of lawlessness.

                                                                                                                                       i.      This answers why Paul would not have named it but it raises other issues.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Is Paul placing the coming of the Man of lawlessness necessarily AFTER the fall of Rome? Did Paul expect Rome to fall soon? If he did, this is the only place in all his writings that he assumes so.

b.       Human government –

                                                                                                                                       i.      In that things haven’t quite been aligned for such a man to step onto the scene, and humans generally standing for moral goodness by punishing the wicked and helping the innocent is what is preventing this from occurring. 

                                                                                                                                     ii.      This is a more general version of the first one, which sheds the problem of Rome falling but inherits the same problems in that it is much less likely that all human government topples?

c.       The Jewish State – The fall of apostate Judaism. Although one wonders how and why this is preventing the man of lawlessness from coming. This would be a postmil position in reference to seeing the events described here having nothing to do with the end times and everything to do with AD 70.

2.       [Slide 9] Christians

a.       The preaching of the gospel and Paul the apostle– God’s Kingdom is still advancing.

                                                                                                                                       i.      It is difficult to understand how Paul might see himself or the work of the gospel as being the thing preventing the coming of the man of lawlessness.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      This is linked to both the Amil and Postmil position although Postmil still sees this as not talking about end times at all.

b.       The church – Being salt and light.

                                                                                                                                       i.      The Mid-Tribulational Premillennial camp believes this.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Once the rapture happens half way through the tribulation, this makes way for the Man of Lawlessness to utter his blasphemies and there is none to rebuke him.

                                                                                                                                   iii.      But why would Paul not mention it? Why keep this mystery from the church? And even though the church is salt and light – it is hard to see or imagine how we are preventing such a powerful man from coming just by existing.

c.       Generally speaking, I tend to see every human answer, believer or unbeliever, as severely underestimating the power of his man and his apostasy. So what about some non-human categories.

3.       [Slide 10] Angels

a.       The Angel from heaven with the key to the Abyss and a great chain - The binding of Satan –

                                                                                                                                       i.      During the Millennial reign an unnamed angel who comes down and does not fall down from heaven, has the key to the abyss and binds Satan for 1000 years.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Later Satan is released for a time and leads an army to battle against Christ’s people.

                                                                                                                                   iii.      Amillennialism would say that the restrainer then is this angel and that Satan is currently bound which is why the man of lawlessness has not come yet.  

                                                                                                                                   iv.      This answers the secrecy with the need to hide truth from the forces of darkness. However, taking this view forces us to take Revelation 19 and 20’s description of these events not as a chronological record of events but as the order in which John saw the visions.

b.       Demonic infighting

                                                                                                                                       i.      Another view espouses that the forces of darkness are not united and as long as this is so, the man of lawlessness will not come.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Paul keeps this hidden to keep them from being united.

                                                                                                                                   iii.      However, the New Testament in no way suggests or hints at the forces of darkness being disunited.

                                                                                                                                   iv.      If anything, it seems that Satan has rallied them and leads them. The New Testament says it is the Devil and his angels. This seems to speak of unity not disunity.

c.       Angelic Warfare

                                                                                                                                       i.      When the man of lawlessness is mentioned in Daniel, in close proximity we have this report that Michael the archangel is battling against other fallen angelic creatures and holding them at bay.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      One interpretation then is that this is talking about angelic entities fighting demonic entities and holding things the way they are until they are removed.

                                                                                                                                   iii.      Secrecy then is to prevent Paul or the Thessalonians from worshipping these entities or praying to them instead of to God.

                                                                                                                                   iv.      One wonders how simply suggesting angelic warfare would tempt them to worship angels though? Certainly, other parts of scripture mention this. And Paul has touted the growth and endurance of their faith.

d.       Michael the Arch Angel –

                                                                                                                                       i.      This is a more specific interpretation of the last one.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      And bears the same evidence.

                                                                                                                                   iii.      Again we might wonder what the real danger would be that they would worship these entities by simply stating that they restrain the man of lawlessness from coming.

                                                                                                                                   iv.      Other passages in the New Testament name Michael and Gabriel.

4.       [Slide 11] God Himself

a.       The providence of God –

                                                                                                                                       i.      Which summarizes everything we’ve just said so far.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      In the end, God’s providence is His working in normal and creaturely agency as well as intervening in supernatural ways to bring about His will.

                                                                                                                                   iii.      Of course we might wonder why Paul doesn’t simply say it.

                                                                                                                                   iv.      Perhaps the Lord led him to include enough clues in the text itself for us to determine that this is so.

b.       The Holy Spirit -

                                                                                                                                       i.      By this it is meant that the Holy Spirit does powerfully and intentionally intercede to prevent this man from stepping onto the scene.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      The word Spirit in Greek is neuter gendered and when the adjective “holy” is used to describe the third person of the Godhead, it too is neuter in gender.

                                                                                                                                   iii.      But when the Scriptures substitute a pronoun for the Holy Spirit, they do not use “it” but “He.” Thus, this could explain why Paul uses a neuter and then a masculine participle to describe the restrainer.

                                                                                                                                   iv.      But why not call out the work of the Spirit here?

                                                                                                                                     v.      Although quite uncertain, Paul has not spoken much about the Spirit of God in either 1 or 2 Thessalonians.

1.       Not speaking of this text, commentators have remarked on the absence of the third person of the Godhead suggesting that perhaps there was some connection between the Spirit’s Work and the accusation of the Jews in Thessalonica that Paul was an insurrectionist.

2.       So perhaps Paul keeps his references to the Spirit to a minimum and certainly never in a context suggesting that He is actively opposing some human power from rising, in order to spare the Thessalonians more grief from local Jews should this teaching fall into the wrong hands.

                                                            xi.      Some of you may recognize that I do not normally include so much detail when we discuss uncertain things in the scripture.

                                                          xii.      [Slide 12] Here is my protocol when dealing with interpretational discrepancies in a sermon.

1.       If I am reasonably convinced of a specific interpretation, I won’t usually even bring up other options. I will present it as the only interpretation. I usually do this when I thought the passage said something and most if not all the commentators I consulted say the same or similar things.

2.       If I am somewhat convinced of a specific interpretation, I will usually give other options but present my interpretation as the best without a deep analysis of the others.

3.       If I am convinced but without any assurance, I’ll give all the options and state pros and cons to both before arriving on my conclusion.

4.       If I remain uncertain… I am going to give you every option and their problems and probably not pick a conclusion.

                                                        xiii.      Can you guess which one we are on today? 😊

                                                        xiv.      If a gun was put to my head and I had to decide just one, I’d say the Holy Spirit. And I’ll explain why in a moment.

                                                          xv.      But I do so cautiously and find more comfort in agreeing with Augustine of Hippo who said about this passage “I frankly confess I do not know what he means.”

b.       [Slide 13] 7 - For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;

                                                               i.      Paul continues to look to the future but without neglecting the present.

                                                             ii.      With this statement Paul recognizes and validates small fulfillments of what he has already said.

                                                           iii.      There is nothing new under the sun.

                                                           iv.      All the things Paul has said will be, have been done in smaller or lesser degrees since the dawn of time.

                                                             v.      This mystery of lawlessness is the current opposition and blasphemy pointed at the God of the universe.

                                                           vi.      In other words, Paul says that all the pieces are there. They are all in play.

                                                          vii.      It is the same story and it’s already been played out in several times throughout the history of the world.

                                                        viii.      And in that sense, there is nothing that needs to be done before it happens again … except that this time it will be the last cycle. Why? Because something will be different this time.

c.       [Slide 14] only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

                                                               i.      Two concepts we must address here.

                                                             ii.      First, is whether or not the work of the restrainer is good.

1.       Generally speaking, Paul seems to indicate that the work of the restrainer is good because it is difficult to see how the apostasy could be a good thing.

2.       But since the apostasy must precede Christ’s return, perhaps we could see it as a bad thing that he is being restrained.

                                                           iii.      Second, and part of that discussion is what we are to make of the phrase “taken out of the way”

1.       To be taken suggests by force with violence, which would suggest that the restrainer is evil and opposed to God.

2.       However, many scholars point out that taken out of the way does not necessarily carry that force. Because of some recent discoveries in Koine Greek grammar we might translate this as “until he comes out of the middle”

                                                           iv.      As a word picture, we might employ the Scriptural story of the Angel of Yahweh barring the way for Balaam to go and curse God’s people. Eventually the Angel of Yahweh let Balaam go but restricted what he was able to say. And later Balaam, although unable to curse the Israelites, did things to destroy them.

                                                             v.      I find remarkable symmetry in this passage with the relationship to the restrainer and the man of lawlessness.

                                                           vi.      This is why I SLIGHTLY favor the view that this is the Holy Spirit as the restrainer. And God doesn’t have Paul mention it so that the man of lawlessness is blind, just as Balaam was initially, both to what is preventing him and to what eventually allows him to proceed.

                                                          vii.      We know that God works this way because He did this with the crucifixion of Christ. Paul says that had the forces of darkness known what they were doing, they would have never crucified the Lord of Glory.

                                                        viii.      God has Paul not elaborate in order to hide this plan from the man of lawlessness himself.

d.       [Slide 15] 8 - And then that lawless one will be revealed

                                                               i.      We get the impression that as soon as the restrainer stops preventing this from happening, that it will happen quickly and without intermission.

                                                             ii.      The word revealed is interesting on two counts.

1.       First, it is the same word from which we get our word “apocalypse”, which is what the last book of our bible is called.

2.       Second, this is the third time that this word is used to speak of the man of lawlessness’ coming and in every case the voice is passive. Meaning that the action of revealing is being done to him not by him.

3.       This establishes a theme in all of what Paul is discussing here. The theme is, that God is at work to bring all these things about in His timing and according to His will. Nothing will happen without His consent and without His decree.

e.       [Slide 16] Summary of the Point: Although it is certainly debated what or who the restrainer of the man of lawlessness actually is, no matter what option you pick, God’s providential, sovereign hand is certainly the right answer always. God has decreed the end from the beginning. God being all knowing and all-powerful means there could never be any real doubt. Whatever has happened or has been prophesied to happen, is all what God has willed to happen since before the foundation of the world. This is why New Testament writers, and even Paul in this text, speak of things in the future using present tense verbs. This, of course, does not eliminate other agents moving to accomplish God’s decrees and plans, but ultimately all things go according to His will. That being said, whatever is restraining the man of lawlessness, we know that behind it is God, waiting for the fullness of time to bring all things about in His timing. Therefore, we must not let anyone deceive us. The order is quite certain. The man of lawlessness and the apostasy will come after the restrainer comes out of the middle. Then, and only then, will the Day of the Lord come and Christ return. Don’t believe anything different.

 

Transition:

[Slide 17(blank)] But what will happen when the restrainer is gone? Can the man of lawlessness be stopped? Paul interrupts himself again…

 

II.)                God will destroy the man of lawlessness when Jesus returns, we must not let anyone deceive us. (8b)

a.       [Slide 18] —whom the Lord Jesus WILL SLAY WITH THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH

                                                               i.      The last time Paul interrupted himself was to express frustration or confusion for why the Thessalonians could have begun believing that the Day of the Lord had already come since he clearly taught them all this about the man of lawlessness.

                                                             ii.      This time, he interrupts to bring comfort and peace.

                                                           iii.      As much as he has said about the man of lawlessness, and as harrowing as it sounds that the restrainer would step aside to permit him to be revealed, Paul desires his audience to understand that The Lord Jesus Himself will slay this man of lawlessness with the breath of His mouth.

                                                           iv.      This seems to be a loose quote or allusion to Isaiah 11:4 when Isaiah prophesies that the shoot of Jesse will destroy the wicked with the breath of His mouth.

                                                             v.      Well, when will Christ slay him with His breath?

b.       [Slide 19] and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming—

                                                               i.      This second statement is parallel to the first but indicates to us the timing of the slaying and his being brought to an end.

                                                             ii.      The Day of the Lord. When the Lord Jesus returns, when He gathers His people together, that is when this will all come about.

                                                           iii.      Regardless of eschatological position, this remains true in some sense or another.

                                                           iv.      It is only the details that are debated.

                                                             v.      Christ’s coming will put an end to the works of the man of lawlessness. Forever.

                                                           vi.      Whether this happens before the millennium or after – in one way or another Christ’s coming will destroy the blasphemies of the man of lawlessness.

                                                          vii.      And eventually, if not at the same time, the works of Satan and all who do not believe the gospel will also be judged and cast into the second death which is the lake of fire.

c.       [Slide 20] Summary of the Point: Although there may be uncertainty about the coming of the man of lawlessness, there is no uncertainty about the end of the man of lawlessness. The Lord Jesus will consume him by His breath and cast him in the lake of fire. His plans will end. His agenda will topple. And his kingdom will fall. Although he and the apostasy he brings must precede the coming of the Lord Jesus and the gathering together of His saints – his end will be quick and final. So, we must not be deceived. Though he must be revealed, he will then be destroyed. Of this we can be certain.

 

Conclusion:

So, what have we learned today that refines our beliefs and shapes our lifestyles?

 

Basics Concepts of Faith and Practice:

[Slide 21] Paul points the Thessalonians, once again, back to what they know. They know that there is a restrainer who is keeping this man of lawlessness from being revealed. They know that there is already the spirit of lawlessness everywhere now. That this mystery, this hidden agenda is behind the scenes working in the world as it is… but that it will not develop into this apostasy until the restrainer comes out of the middle. Once this occurs, the man of lawlessness will come. And while this is a terrible necessity, the man of lawlessness will be destroyed by the breath of the Lord Jesus when He comes again. These truths we must confess and we must not let ourselves be deceived to think anything different.

 

But what impact does this have on us today?

 

1.)    [Slide 22] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the man of lawlessness is being restrained by the sovereign will of God. 

a.       Whatever the restrainer is, there is no question that ultimately it is by the sovereign will of God alone that the man of lawlessness is restrained.

b.       And it is only by the sovereign will of God that he will be revealed.

c.       As powerful as the forces of darkness are, they are still under the direct sovereign control of the God of the Universe.

d.       There is nothing Satan can do to change the Day of the Lord.

e.       He cannot hasten it forward and he cannot push it backward.

f.        Satan certainly desires to mock God. And although he cannot be incarnate himself, he longs to mimic and mock the second person of the Godhead and possess for himself an incarnate satan man. A satanic superman as some scholars have said.

g.       But the restrainer holds him back. And God is ultimately the One who knows and determines the day of judgment.

h.       So as much as we may fear the apostasy and the man of lawlessness’ opposition to God’s people. As much as we may be anxious about the coming persecution against God’s people…

i.         God is always in control.

j.         As Martin Luther said, “Even the devil is God’s devil.” God created him and God ultimately controls his activity.

k.       We can rest assured that nothing will come unless the Lord allows it to come.

l.         And not only that…

2.)    [Slide 23] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” The man of lawlessness will be destroyed by the Lord Jesus when He returns.

a.       Not only will the man of lawlessness not come until God allows him to, but he will also be taken out by the breath of the Lord Jesus when He returns.

b.       Just like all of us, as Hannah prayed, his beginning is of God and His end is of God. The Lord sets him up to knock him down.

c.       This does not mean that believers won’t suffer from his work. Nor does it mean that every person who claims Christ will be spared the lawless influence that precedes him.

d.       But it does give us comfort to know that God will not enter a fight with this man as if they are on equal footing. His days have already been determined. His hour, his time, is set.

e.       His end is sure.

f.        Therefore, we do not need to be anxious or afraid. Nothing he can do will affect the Lord Jesus’ return and His coming kingdom. Nothing.

3.)    [Slide 24] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must not let ourselves be deceived.

a.       The man of lawlessness is currently being restrained but the mystery of lawlessness is in the world today.

b.       This again speaks to the immanency of the events concerning the Day of the Lord.

c.       Whatever your eschatological framework is – you cannot believe something that requires several events to happen before it can take place.

d.       The way Paul words this – it could literally happen at any moment. As soon as the restrainer comes out from the middle of it – the apostasy will flood the world and the man of lawlessness will step on the scene, seat himself in the temple of God, claiming to be Yahweh Himself and the god of all gods.

e.       So we should not believe anyone who teaches something different.

f.        And for most eschatological frameworks, that isn’t a problem.

g.       But another thing we cannot let ourselves be deceived on is that God is somehow out of control of when this man will be revealed.

h.       Even if you take a view that the restrainer is human government, or the church, or the preaching of the gospel, we cannot allow ourselves to think for one moment that God waits to see what will happen.

i.         There is no rogue molecule in His creation. All creatures, from the loftiest angels, to the single celled organisms and everything in between are completely subject to His decree and His plan.

j.         The man of lawlessness will come when the Lord wills him to come. And he will be destroyed when the Lord wills him to be destroyed.

k.       We should not ascribe to any teaching to the contrary.

l.         We must remember what this text teaches us about the sequence and specifics of the events preceding the Day of the Lord. And we must trust and cling to what we have been given.

4.)    [Slide 25] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” The mystery of lawlessness is at work even today.

a.       If you are here today and you are not a believer in Christ or you have made a profession of faith in Christ, but you do not see obedience to Christ and growing in your faith as your top priority… then I have some difficult news for you to hear today.

b.       You might think that you will see the signs and will not believe the deception of the man of lawlessness.

c.       You might think that you won’t be fooled and you’ll know him when you see him.

d.       But my friends – Paul reveals to the Thessalonians that the mystery of lawlessness is already active.

e.       The work of lawlessness is ongoing.

f.        The lies the man of lawlessness will tell, are already being laced to every society, in every culture, around the world.

g.       The forces of darkness are at work, even now, preparing you to believe him. Through world leaders, cultural battles, worldviews, values, and commonly held beliefs and practices, they are grooming you to be little disciples of the Man of Sin.

h.       In all likelihood there are already things you believe, already things you do, already things you value and cherish that will be in accordance with the Man of lawlessness.

i.         So that when he arrives, you will have one foot already in the door.

j.         I cannot stress this enough. The only thing that will prevent anyone from being deceived by the man of lawlessness, will be God saving you by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

k.       If you are not a believer or you have little to no evidence that you are… if you are not putting Christ’s Kingdom first… if you are not loving God first… if you are not loving others as yourself. My friends…

l.         You will be deceived.

m.     The time for you to believe on Christ and put Him as your highest priority is now. Lest you fall away.

n.       Let the word of Christ chase away the lies that are even now preparing you to be deceived unto death.

o.       Trust Christ and serve Him only. Put Him above all else. And you will see through the lies of this man when he comes.

p.       Let an Elder know if you desire to trust Christ and follow Him with your life today.

 

[Slide 26 (End)] Let me close with a word of prayer by the puritan Philip Doddridge.

 

How melancholy does the face of our earth appear when we reflect on the reign of Satan on it, on the influence of the dragon and the beast and the false prophet.

 

O Lord, cut short their power. Send down the angel that has the key to the bottomless pit to bind this destroyer. And when he is loosed for a season, moderate his rage and support your saints under the terror of every assault until you appear to close this perplexing scene by the wise and glorious catastrophe of all things.

 

Then it will be seen that the souls of those who were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus were not lost, and that it was wise to refuse the mark of the beast-though they could neither buy nor sell, nor enjoy their liberty, nor their lives, without submitting to it.

Come quickly Jesus, we pray this in Your name… Amen.

 

Benediction:

Now may you be satisfied to fill a little space if God be glorified,

And not hurry to and fro seeking for some great thing to do,

But seek from God daily strength while keeping at His side,

Till you can say with the apostle of old,

I have learned to be content In whatever circumstance l am in.

Until we meet again tonight, grace and peace to you.]]></description>
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				<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 10:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[II Thessalonians 2:3-5 "Let No One Deceive You" Part 1]]></title>
				<category>Podcast</category>
				<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher C. Freeman]]></itunes:author>
				<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Title: “Let No One Deceive You” Part 1 Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5 FCF: We often struggle falling prey to speculation and uncertainty regarding the end times. Prop: Because the Day of the Lord must be preceded by the apostasy and the man of lawlessnes]]></itunes:subtitle>
				<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Title: “Let No One Deceive You” Part 1
Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5
FCF: We often struggle falling prey to speculation and uncertainty regarding the end times. 
Prop: Because the Day of the Lord must be preceded by the apostasy and the man of lawlessness, we must not let anyone deceive us. 

Scripture Intro: CSB
[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we will read from the Christian Standard Bible starting in verse 3 and going through verse 12. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. 

Last week, Paul definitively addressed the concern the Thessalonians had about the Day of the Lord. That it had come and that somehow they had missed it. Paul answers them directly… it has not come. 

Today, he will outline a particular event that must precede the Day of the Lord and the return of Christ and the gathering together of His people. And that event seems to be something significant enough and obvious enough that he is somewhat shocked that they have believed this lie, since he has already taught them all of this. 

He warns them… don’t let yourself be deceived. 

Because of the nature of this information and the fact that there is such wide uncertainty concerning it, I will be forced to break down this context into probably three or perhaps even four sermons from here until verse 12. 

But let’s start with reading the entire context before we get into it. 

Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. 

Invocation:
God of our salvation, we confess that since our salvation is all of You, that there is neither nothing we can do to get it from You, nor is there anything we can do to void it if You have given it to us. Nevertheless, we confess that this does not make us passive agents in our preservation. You have told us repeatedly to hold fast to what we have received from Christ and His apostles. You have warned us repeatedly in Your Word to trust what You have said over and above what our own senses declare to us. You will preserve us, but the way You do that is by the faith You have put in us. A saving kind. A kind that endures. And so, Lord, we enter this passage to respond in faith and trust Your promise over and above what we observe. Keep us in Your loving care and preserve us to the end. We pray this in Jesus’ name – Amen. 

Transition:
[Slide 2] “Satan doesn’t care what we worship, as long as we don’t worship God.” D.L. Moody

“Satan is not fighting churches; he is joining them. He does more harm by sowing tares than by pulling up wheat. He accomplishes more by imitation than by outright opposition.” Vance Havner

“There is something very comforting in the thought that the devil is an adversary. I would sooner have him for an adversary than a friend.”  C.H. Spurgeon

These words prepare us for the exposition of the Word of God today. Let us begin. 

I.)	A great rebellion led by a lawless man doomed to be destroyed by Jesus will occur before the Day of the Lord, so we must not let anyone deceive us.  (3)
a.	[Slide 3] 3 - Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. 
i.	Paul puts his finger directly on the root of the problem facing the Thessalonians. 
ii.	They are letting people lead them away from what they have learned about the Day of the Lord. 
iii.	Their discernment is vacillating, they have been overcome by sudden fear, and they are believing lies. 
iv.	From verse 3 until verse 12, Paul’s basic app...]]></itunes:summary>
				<description><![CDATA[Title: “Let No One Deceive You” Part 1
Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5
FCF: We often struggle falling prey to speculation and uncertainty regarding the end times. 
Prop: Because the Day of the Lord must be preceded by the apostasy and the man of lawlessness, we must not let anyone deceive us. 

Scripture Intro: CSB
[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we will read from the Christian Standard Bible starting in verse 3 and going through verse 12. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. 

Last week, Paul definitively addressed the concern the Thessalonians had about the Day of the Lord. That it had come and that somehow they had missed it. Paul answers them directly… it has not come. 

Today, he will outline a particular event that must precede the Day of the Lord and the return of Christ and the gathering together of His people. And that event seems to be something significant enough and obvious enough that he is somewhat shocked that they have believed this lie, since he has already taught them all of this. 

He warns them… don’t let yourself be deceived. 

Because of the nature of this information and the fact that there is such wide uncertainty concerning it, I will be forced to break down this context into probably three or perhaps even four sermons from here until verse 12. 

But let’s start with reading the entire context before we get into it. 

Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. 

Invocation:
God of our salvation, we confess that since our salvation is all of You, that there is neither nothing we can do to get it from You, nor is there anything we can do to void it if You have given it to us. Nevertheless, we confess that this does not make us passive agents in our preservation. You have told us repeatedly to hold fast to what we have received from Christ and His apostles. You have warned us repeatedly in Your Word to trust what You have said over and above what our own senses declare to us. You will preserve us, but the way You do that is by the faith You have put in us. A saving kind. A kind that endures. And so, Lord, we enter this passage to respond in faith and trust Your promise over and above what we observe. Keep us in Your loving care and preserve us to the end. We pray this in Jesus’ name – Amen. 

Transition:
[Slide 2] “Satan doesn’t care what we worship, as long as we don’t worship God.” D.L. Moody

“Satan is not fighting churches; he is joining them. He does more harm by sowing tares than by pulling up wheat. He accomplishes more by imitation than by outright opposition.” Vance Havner

“There is something very comforting in the thought that the devil is an adversary. I would sooner have him for an adversary than a friend.”  C.H. Spurgeon

These words prepare us for the exposition of the Word of God today. Let us begin. 

I.)	A great rebellion led by a lawless man doomed to be destroyed by Jesus will occur before the Day of the Lord, so we must not let anyone deceive us.  (3)
a.	[Slide 3] 3 - Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. 
i.	Paul puts his finger directly on the root of the problem facing the Thessalonians. 
ii.	They are letting people lead them away from what they have learned about the Day of the Lord. 
iii.	Their discernment is vacillating, they have been overcome by sudden fear, and they are believing lies. 
iv.	From verse 3 until verse 12, Paul’s basic application is simply this: Do not let anyone deceive you. 
v.	No matter what others say or how they say it, the Thessalonian church must be firmly rooted in truth and convinced of what they have been taught. 
vi.	But Paul is not going to leave it there. He is going to instruct, or re-instruct them on the sequence of events concerning the Day of the Lord. 
b.	[Slide 4] For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first
i.	Paul gatekeeps the coming of the Day of the Lord behind one event. 
ii.	The event is what he describes as “the apostasy”. 
1.	The Greek word here means “rebellion” which is most often what we might use to translate this if it were in a political sense. A rebel or a traitor.
2.	But given the context of this passage, it seems better to see this in a religious sense. 
3.	There may be overlap as political and religious upheaval will most likely go hand in hand. But when we use the word rebellion here, I think we do generally lose the religious sense. 
4.	An apostate is someone who publicly denies a previously held religious belief and distances themselves from the community that holds to it. This could, although not necessarily, include persecution against their previously held beliefs. 
iii.	So, to what is Paul referring? 
1.	Interestingly enough many of the references to this teaching are written after Paul writes this. 
a.	[Slide 5] 2 Tim 3:1 – 5 - “But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, without gentleness, without love for good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Keep away from such men as these.” 
b.	[Slide 6] 2 Peter 3:3-4 – “knowing this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
c.	[Slide 7] Jude 18-19 - “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts. These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, not having the Spirit. “
d.	[Slide 8] 1 Tim 4:1 – “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by the hypocrisy of liars, who have been seared in their own conscience”
2.	This suggests that this is something Paul was shown directly by God’s Spirit. 
3.	[Slide 9] And so, Paul is relaying that in the end there will be a time when people will say they are following the real Jesus, turning from what they see as a corruption of Jesus’ teachings, emphasizing the freedom of their flesh to pursue anything they wish, and mocking any who would suggest that Jesus is concerned about living a holy life. They will claim to be godly but have no power to overcome their own sinfulness. They will divide, they will be worldly, and they won’t have the Spirit of God. 
4.	Friends… if what I just described to you doesn’t sound familiar… then you are living under a rock. 
5.	I have just described a cancer that is currently growing in western Christianity. 
iv.	Does that mean that the great apostasy has happened? 
v.	I would… cautiously say… no. 
1.	Down through the history of the church age there have been several events that seemed to be a great apostasy. 
a.	When the Jews rejected their own Messiah and killed Him.
b.	When Gnosticism overtook the church and led many astray in the 2nd century.
c.	When Rome adopted Christianity as the official religion and paganism creeped into it and joined to make the Roman Catholic church.
2.	And it is possible that what we see happening today would be fitting this prophesy but as Paul will say in a few verses, this spirit of lawlessness is already at work in the world. It makes sense that we would see aspects of this pop up – like birth pangs. 
3.	But the way this is spoken about, it seems like we might see a much more staggering and global case of people abandoning biblical Christianity and flocking to other forms of Christianity or paganism. 
4.	Although we see apostasy on the rise in our culture, and have seen periods of it through the ages, still we see great movements of the Spirit and people are coming to faith in Christ. 
5.	What Paul speaks of seems to be a great winnowing of Christians that will necessarily result in biblical Christianity being heavily persecuted, on a global scale, and seemingly the church will be overcome by it. 
vi.	Although I don’t think this has happened yet – where the United States goes, the world is sure to follow. Should the disdain of biblical Christianity continue to grow in the west, I can see it quickly developing into a worldwide event… especially when the other component of this event happens…
c.	[Slide 10] and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 
i.	The identity of the man of lawlessness is, as you might imagine, a hotly debated topic in Christendom. 
ii.	Although there is actually more agreement than you might think, especially between two of the three major eschatological frameworks. 
iii.	Although I am loathe to do it, it is necessary for me to briefly introduce these three major frameworks, so that you are not completely in the dark as to what I am talking about as we go forward. And in order to understand the makeup of these frameworks, you must understand some different approaches to prophesy about the end times. 
iv.	[Slide 11] Last week I already introduced you to one of these… preterits. 
1.	Preterists believe that some or all of the events mentioned in the scriptures regarding the last days have been fulfilled, especially at AD 70 when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. 
2.	Historicists believe that some of the events mentioned in the scriptures regarding the last days have been fulfilled after AD 70. 
3.	Futurists believe that all or most of the events mentioned in the scriptures regarding the last days have not yet been fulfilled. 
v.	Depending on how much of each of these you mix together in your recipe, determines what dish of eschatological framework you make. 
vi.	[Slide 12] The names of the three major frameworks are premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism.  
1.	[Slide 13] Premillennialism, at least one branch of it, is the oldest eschatological position. 
a.	Well known church fathers such as Justin Martyr, Papius, Tertullian, Irenaeus, and many lesser-known individuals clearly wrote about and believed in a premillennial return of Christ. 
b.	Premillennialism adds a heavy dose of a futurist understanding of end-times prophesy. Premillennialism would recognize and appreciate smaller fulfillments, but advocate that these always leave some portion unfulfilled in literal ways. Meaning that they cannot be the complete or final fulfillment. 
c.	At its core premillennialism teaches that the gathering of the saints and a return of Christ will precede a literal 1000-year earthly reign of Christ with His people from Jerusalem. 
d.	After which would be the final judgment and eternal state. 
e.	Even Augustine of Hippo believed this for a time, but eventually became an influential opponent of it. 
f.	Premillennialism today is divided into three broad categories based on when the church would meet Christ in the air prior to the 1000-year reign. 
i.	The historic position is that after the tribulation, Christ would descend, collect His people, and come with them to the earth. This is what all the church fathers I have already mentioned taught. 
ii.	There is also a newer position, represented by one later church father’s sermon composed between the 4th and 6th centuries. 
1.	His name was Ephraem and his sermon said, “all the saints would be gathered together before the tribulation, and taken to the Lord, so they do not see any of the confusion which overwhelms the world.” 
2.	This would be the bedrock upon which the pretribulational view would be built. 
3.	A view that says that before the tribulation period, the Lord would come and gather His people and take them to be with Him in heaven during the remainder of the tribulation. 
iii.	Finally, there is a much newer position that attests that at some point in the middle of the tribulation the church would be caught up to be with Christ and wait with Him until the end of the tribulation. 
2.	[Slide 14] Amillennialism is also incredibly old. Many church fathers held this view. 
a.	Because this view takes many forms, we do see it mix together all three views of end-times prophesy. There is a dash of futurist, a hint of historicist, and a splash of preterist in this view. 
b.	The view says that the tribulation and the millennium are figurative expressions to summarize the events of the last days. 
c.	The tribulation is not seen then as a literal 7-year period, nor is the tribulation an event that is in the future. 
d.	Amillennialism would see the events of the tribulation as describing events that led up to and including the destruction of the temple in AD 70. 
e.	The 1000-year reign of Christ is a metaphorical age of the church, which begins after the destruction of the temple. 
f.	Within this reign of Christ, Satan is bound so the church can share the gospel, but that doesn’t mean that there is no opposition. 
g.	At the end of the church age, Christ will return, gather His people, judge the earth, and usher in the eternal state. 
h.	There is a lot of variety within Amillennialism, but this is the general framework behind it. 
3.	[Slide 15] Finally, there is Postmillennialism. Postmillennialism is, by far, the most modern of the three major frameworks of the end times. It’s earliest known writings occurring in the late 1600s. 
a.	Postmillennialism is very similar to Amillennialism, but with a heavier dose of a preterist view of end times prophesy. 
b.	Like Amillennialism, Postmillennialism teaches that the events of the tribulation occurred prior to the destruction of the temple in AD 70. 
c.	After this, a period of time, mentioned as 1000 years but really an undefined amount of time, will occur in which the church will progressively influence the world into a time of peace and prosperity. 
d.	After this the Lord Jesus will return physically and judge the world and the eternal state will begin. 
e.	Although often caricatured as merely supporting liberal social programs to institute progress, or to militantly take the world over, evangelical postmillennialism understands the transformation of the world happening by the preaching of the gospel alone. 
vii.	Having now a basic understanding of each view, we can rightly give the options for how each view sees this “man of lawlessness.” 
viii.	[Slide 16] Postmillennialism understands this entire passage quite differently than the other two eschatological frameworks. 
1.	Postmillennialism suggests that Paul is not talking about the second coming of Christ at all, nor is it talking about a Christian apostasy but rather a Jewish rebellion. 
2.	The rebellion then would occur with the events that lead up to the destruction of the temple in AD 70 and the man of lawlessness is none other than Emperor Nero his death occurring just prior to the destruction of the temple.
ix.	[Slide 17] Amillennialism understands this passage very broadly. 
1.	Although they do not believe in a literal tribulation or millennium, they do see this man of lawlessness as a movement, an institution, or an individual that telescopically occurs several times throughout the church age. 
2.	Although Paul’s description here would be thought to refer to the events in AD 70, Amillennialism is broad enough to suggest that there could be several small fulfillments of this prophesy before a definitive manifestation of it occurs before Christ returns. 
3.	This isn’t a baseless claim because most of the Jews of the 1st century would have concluded that the prophesies about the man of lawlessness were fulfilled when Antiochus IV Epiphanes defiled the temple and set up images of Zeus within it in 167 BC.  Yes, over 150 years before Christ this happened. The last name “Epiphanes” means God-manifest. 
4.	Caligula, who claimed to be a god, tried to have an image of himself put up in the temple in AD 40, which was just 12 years prior to Paul writing this letter. He was stalled and then assassinated before he could see it done. 
5.	And Roman General Pompey entered the holy of holies in AD 63, just 11 years after Paul wrote this. 
6.	All that to say – what we have already observed – prophesies like these seem to have multiple fulfillments leading to an ultimate fulfillment. 
x.	[Slide 18] Premillennialism would view the man of lawlessness as the little horn, the beast from the sea, the fourth king that rises up over the other three. The Antichrist. In premillennialism this is a future king or ruler who will establish a global regime, empowered by and submitted to Satan, seeking to destroy the saints of Christ. 
1.	Although we will not turn to them, there is remarkable harmony between 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 and several other passages which refer to a similar person doing similar things. If you would like to look these up later and read for yourself, the references are on the screen. 
a.	Dan 7:24-27
b.	Dan 8:21-26
c.	Dan 11:36-45
d.	Dan 12
e.	Revelation 13:1-10
2.	[Slide 19] Furthermore, that a great apostasy would be tied to this person’s rise to power and that he is given the same title as Judas, this seems to indicate a future, celibate, Christian insider, who betrays biblical Christendom and begins to seek to destroy it. 
a.	The CSB translates this “the man doomed to destruction”, which is the same name that Christ gave to Judas Iscariot. This suggests not only that his regime will ultimately fall to Christ’s Kingdom, but also that as a consequence of the apostacy, an apostate will emerge with great power. The man of lawlessness will be a former Christ professor.  
b.	Daniel 11 indicates that this future king will not only not regard the gods of his ancestors but that he will also not regard the desire of women, more than likely this means he will be celibate. 
c.	This could mean that he is celibate because he is focused on power alone and hasn’t given his strength to women (Prov 31:3). Or perhaps he is celibate because he is asexual or even a homosexual. 
xi.	I am of the opinion that, although the other frameworks include godly brothers, the premillennial position fits what Paul says… like a glove. 
d.	[Slide 20] Summary of the Point: Verses 3-12 are heavy on teaching and light on application. That is a blessing to us because as much uncertainty as there is regarding the specifics of the teaching, there are some things that are quite certain. Paul assures the Thessalonian church that the Day of the Lord will not come until the time of great apostasy comes led by a lawless man who is doomed to be destroyed by Christ at His coming. Therefore, they must not let themselves be deceived to think that the Day of the Lord will come before these things. They must compare what they hear to what they have been taught. 

[Slide 21(blank)] Transition: Paul has identified the event that will occur before the Day of the Lord. He states that the apostasy and the man of lawlessness will come first. We have done our best to identify this person with consideration to broader Christendom. But what will this man of lawlessness do? 

II.)	The lawless man will commit blasphemies that no created being ever has, so we must not let anyone deceive us. (4-5)
a.	[Slide 22] 4 - He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship,
i.	One of the primary atrocities that the man of lawlessness will commit will be his blasphemies against Yahweh and His Son. 
ii.	In many of the contexts I put on the screen with the Premillennial position, this blasphemy is spoken of quite plainly. 
iii.	And here Paul gives us a surprisingly rich description. 
iv.	Paul isn’t trying to be vague. He is trying to be crystal clear. 
v.	First, we should recognize that this man of lawlessness does something that LITERALLY no Roman Emperor ever did. 
1.	We know that the Emperor cult was alive and well during the first century. We know that Caesar worship was going on in many cities that Paul visited. 
2.	We know that several titles in the New Testament, given to Christ, were actually mottos of Caesar worship which the apostolic authors used to correct pagan emperor worship. 
3.	Things like, Lord, Savior, Son of God, Image of God, God manifest, Lord and Savior. No King but Christ. 
4.	It was a deliberate rhetorical strategy of first century Christian preachers to simultaneously denounce Caesar worship and exalt the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Christ. 
vi.	But as often as we have noticed that Roman Emperors elevated themselves to deity… 
vii.	NOT ONE Roman Emperor EVER put himself above every god or temple or object of worship. Not one. 
viii.	Emperor worship was always viewed alongside the worship of many pagan gods. And temples to other gods were not torn down or replaced by temples to the Emperor. 
ix.	Not only that, but down through the ages, although common to elevate a king to some level of deity, no king ever had the gall to suggest that he was over all gods. 
x.	This gives postmillennialism a very difficult problem to deal with. Nero never claimed to be over every other god or object of worship.
xi.	Amillennialism too has a similar problem although it is not as problematic since some brands of amillennialism would say there is still a future man of lawlessness. 
xii.	What is certain though, is that Paul’s prediction here is, in no way, fulfilled prior to AD 70. Not if his words mean anything. 
xiii.	Of course, a premillennial framework, which is primarily futurist allows for Paul’s words to be true in their fullest sense.  
xiv.	But this is not the extent of the man of lawlessness’ blasphemy. Afterall, being over all so-called gods, demons or otherwise, and being over objects of worship – is no great blasphemy. 
xv.	The real blasphemy comes next…
b.	[Slide 23so that he sits in God’s temple, 
i.	Every single eschatological framework has been written about after the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the destruction of the temple. 
ii.	Paul writes before the destruction of the temple by 18 years.
iii.	On the surface, it seems like Paul would most assuredly be referring to the literal temple and that the man of lawlessness would go into the temple and sit upon the mercy seat in the holy of holies. 
iv.	What’s the problem then? 
v.	The temple doesn’t exist and hasn’t for the last 1,956 years.
vi.	Postmillennialism and Amillennialism suggest that The Roman General Titus did this when Jerusalem and the temple was destroyed. 
1.	Jewish historian Josephus gave account that the Romans entered the temple and set up images of the Roman Eagles on its ruins and worshipped there. 
2.	However, other accounts indicate that the temple was destroyed before the Romans entered in and that there is no actual evidence, aside from Josephus’ words, to suggest that they set up images to worship on the temple ruins.  
3.	And no historian suggests that anyone went in and sat down in the temple. 
vii.	[Slide 24] Amillennialism also suggests that this may be interpreted figuratively, although there are three ways it could be seen – hence the difficulty of a figurative fulfillment. 
1.	The Authority of God
a.	Taking his seat in God’s temple could be metonymy which substitutes something for something that is associated with it. 
b.	 “Taking his seat in the temple of God” may simply be an expression to say that he took the place of God – perhaps even that he takes a religious position of authority that God alone would have. 
c.	Some historicists point to the highly problematic position the Pope of the Roman Catholic church created in the 1200s called the Vicar or deputy of Christ, who can forgive sins. Such a place seems to take the authority that belongs to God alone. 
2.	God’s Throne in Heaven
a.	Taking his seat in God’s temple could also be seen as God’s heavenly throne. 
b.	Many scholars say that this cannot be for a man could not ascend to God’s throne. 
c.	However, if we understand a heavenly throne to imply space – we could actually see someone coming from space (or at least saying they did) and claiming to be the Lord of the Stars. 
d.	I don’t want to go down too big a rabbit trail here – but this is a possibility that seems to be even more possible given recent declassifications. 
3.	The Universal Church
a.	Many times, throughout the New Testament, the church is called the dwelling place or the temple of God. 
b.	Perhaps the man of lawlessness would be a Christian apostate who rises from within Christendom. 
c.	Furthermore, Paul never uses the expression “Temple of God” to refer to the temple building in Jerusalem. What he does call the temple of God are believers who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts. 
d.	We’ll talk more on this in just a second but let’s get to the Premillennial position on this…
viii.	[Slide 25] Premillennialism traditionally has seen this as fulfilled literally with the building of a third temple. 
1.	This is plausible, although this puts the immanency of Christ’s return, to which the New Testament resolutely espouses, at odds with premillennialism. 
2.	How can Christ’s return occur at any time, when an entire temple needs to be built before someone can go and sit down in it? 
3.	As someone who leans heavily toward premillennialism, this is a huge problem and the answers that are traditionally given are fairly unsatisfactory. 
a.	Some have suggested that the Day of the Lord and when Christ gathers His people should be seen as two separate events. 
b.	Thus, the temple being rebuilt and the man of lawlessness taking his seat, is a prerequisite for The Day of the Lord and not the gathering of His people. 
c.	However, the weakness of this view is that Paul seems to see both of these events as the same. In verses 1-2 of this chapter, it seems like they are the same event. 
4.	This is why the Amillennial view of a figurative interpretation is actually quite intriguing. Especially the third one. 
5.	Maybe we aren’t looking for the man of lawlessness to actually sit in the temple of God. Maybe the man of lawlessness will take his seat among Christians. 
6.	[Slide 26] At first this sounds bonkers, but Revelation 13:6-7 says that the beast “opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. And it was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them”
7.	Here John refers to the name of God and His tabernacle as those who dwell in heaven. And he is going to make war with the saints and overcome them, meaning he will kill them. And send them where? Heaven. 
8.	So perhaps we can be premillennial and not have a 3rd temple after all. 
ix.	But even taking his seat among God’s people or even in the temple itself is not the most egregious act of blasphemy. 
x.	What is the worst thing he does?
c.	[Slide 27] proclaiming that he himself is God. 
i.	Again, postmillennialism has no answer for such a prophetic word. 
ii.	No Roman Emperor has ever claimed to be Yahweh. 
iii.	[Slide 28] Pope Innocent III declared that “No king can reign rightly unless he devoutly serve Christ’s vicar,” to which he was referring to himself. Although this comes very close to claiming to be God, it is not the same. 
iv.	[Slide 29] No person in the history of the world has ever claimed to be God Himself… save one. The God-Man, Jesus Christ. 
v.	This is why many rightly point out the mockery of Satan. 
vi.	[Slide 30] Satan takes what God does and mimics and defiles it. 
1.	Just as God is three persons in one God, Satan is the Father power behind the man of lawlessness, his son, and the second beast from the land also called the false prophet, aids the man of lawlessness by giving false signs and wonders. The unholy trinity.
2.	Just as Jesus was a Jew and rose up within Judaism, claimed to fulfill the law, and claimed to be God Himself, so the man of lawlessness will rise up within an apostate Christendom, exalt himself above every other so-called god and claim to be God. 
vii.	Both the Amillennial and premillennial framework make way for this… but I think the premillennial position gives a clearer understanding here. 
viii.	As close as some emperors and popes have come, none have ever truly fulfilled Paul’s words to the letter. 
ix.	This is all certainly a lot to take in.
x.	Nevertheless, Paul speaks of this quite succinctly. In only a couple verses he has talked about several extended passages in Daniel and throughout the yet-to-be-written New Testament. 
xi.	How can he write so briefly on such a huge topic?
d.	[Slide 31] 5 - Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? 
i.	Paul can speak briefly about all of this – because he remembers teaching them all of this in much greater detail. 
ii.	Paul now, as an aside, interrupts his teaching of the man of lawlessness to express, what I see as a bit of frustration or confusion regarding all that he has just said. 
iii.	He says – “don’t you remember?” 
iv.	It has only been a few months, at most a year since Paul and his companions were with them in Thessalonica. 
v.	They should remember….
vi.	Paul is shocked that they are vacillating on this issue when it was so recent that he taught them these things. 
vii.	But this drives us back to the original exhortation which Paul began in verse 3. 
viii.	They have “let themselves” be deceived. 
ix.	In this he also teaches them the cure to not allowing themselves to be deceived. 
x.	It is, quite simply, to remember what they have been taught. 
xi.	Compare what they are hearing, what is causing them fear, and what they are being tempted to believe to what they have already been taught. 
xii.	Anything that contradicts – must be cast aside. 
e.	[Slide 32] Summary of the Point: Again, shoving aside all the uncertain things, we can arrive at certain truths. The lawless man will commit acts of blasphemy so egregious that they have never been or been allowed to be before. He will elevate himself above all other gods and objects of worship. He will take his seat in God’s temple and claim to be God. Because these things are so terrible, we should be looking for nothing less before the coming of the Day of the Lord. Let no one deceive us on this. Hold fast to what we’ve been taught. 

Conclusion:
So CBC, what have we learned today that refines our beliefs and guides our lifestyles.

[Slide 33] Basics of Faith and Practice:
Even though there is a great deal of uncertainty here, some things Paul says are certain. The Day of the Lord must be preceded by the apostasy and the man of lawlessness. Until these things occur, the Lord will not return. And in order to be an orthodox Christian, you must see some or all of what has been predicted in this text, as still yet to come. So, we must not let anyone deceive us.

So, what things do we need to take away from this text this morning?

1.)	[Slide 34] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that before the Day of the Lord, first there must be the apostasy and the man of lawlessness. 
a.	Aside from Postmillennialism, all Christians in the church age have believed that there will be some ultimate and definitive manifestation of the apostasy and the man of lawlessness before Christ returns. 
b.	The two oldest positions concluded that things will get worse for the church before Christ returns. 
c.	If you are Postmillennial, although I still see you as a brother –I find a lot of difficulty arriving at such a position. 
d.	Providentially, we have seen a huge rise in Reformed or Reforming churches adopting Postmillennialism as their eschatological framework. But with an honest look at this passage – my friends – I just don’t see it. 
e.	We must conclude from this text, even after the events of AD 70, that there is still yet to come a great apostasy and a lawless and blasphemous man who will lead it. 
2.)	[Slide 35] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the man of lawlessness will commit acts of blasphemy that go beyond what any created being has committed in the history of the world.
a.	Even if Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 describe Satan, even he never committed such blasphemies against Yahweh. 
b.	At most Satan said he would be “like” the most High. 
c.	But to elevate himself above every other created being, to sit down in the temple of Yahweh and claim to be Yahweh Himself… such acts have never been committed, by any of God’s creatures. None have dared to do such things. 
d.	The only man to have done something like this – is Jesus. Of course, then it isn’t blasphemy, because it is true. 
e.	Next week we will observe that something or someone is holding this man of lawlessness back. It is keeping him from leading this rebellion and committing these blasphemous acts. 
f.	This all fits together to indicate to me – that as believers we will know when such a man is upon us. It won’t be hidden and it won’t be a surprise. There may be elements of it that will be tempting to believe… but we won’t be fooled. And Paul gives us some fairly big clues. 
g.	Look for a blasphemous man to claim to be God or even Jesus. 
h.	Look for him to be claiming to be a Christian. Look for him to not regard the desire of women. Look for him to try to snuff out biblical Christianity. Look for him to desire power above all else. 
3.)	[Slide 36] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We should deny that the man of lawlessness has already come. 
a.	I use the word should and not must – because of the uncertainty in this. I don’t want to be too strong. 
b.	But from my view, Paul doesn’t give this sign to the Thessalonians supposing that it will be hard to see. 
c.	In fact, he kinda words it like it will be easy to see. He is shocked they are thinking the Day of the Lord had come, when so clearly this apostasy and man of lawlessness had NOT come. 
d.	This isn’t negating what Jesus said about the false prophets giving prophesies and exhibiting signs that are so strong that if it were possible, it would deceive the elect. 
e.	Jesus’ point there is that it will be such a tumultuous time spiritually, that all Christians in name only will not stand a chance. They will be deceived. Only the elect will be preserved, not because they are special, but because they will hold fast to their divinely given faith – even though their eyes and ears tell them something completely different. 
f.	Paul is saying to look for these signs. They must precede the Lord’s return. 
g.	Therefore…
4.)	[Slide 37] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must not let ourselves be deceived. 
a.	Christian, hold fast to your faith no matter what. 
b.	And don’t go running to see someone who has claimed to be Christ. No matter how convincing He is… We won’t need to be called to go meet Him… He will bring us to Himself. 
c.	Keep trusting in Christ alone. 
d.	Keep growing in faith and love for one another. 
e.	Keep gathering together with other believers who will help you see through the lies. 
f.	And don’t be looking for new or creative approaches to Christianity. Seek beliefs and practices that are firmly rooted in what the church has been doing since the beginning. 
g.	Novelty and innovation in the church’s doctrine and practice is the spirit of lawlessness. It is the beginning of this man’s work. 
h.	Do not let yourself be deceived Hold fast to what you were taught. 
5.)	[Slide 38] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” The man of lawlessness is also the man doomed to destruction. 
a.	Though we may despise him, though we may hate him, though we may be tempted to love him, though we may be tempted to follow him… he is doomed for destruction. 
b.	No doubt he will be convincing and powerful. He will persuade many. Another will come and give many signs and wonders proving him to be what he claims to be. 
c.	Many people, friends and family members who we know and who have claimed to be Christians, will be deceived and will fall away. 
d.	Many of us… will be hunted and killed by this man because we hold fast to biblical Christianity and refuse to worship Him as God. 
e.	But remember… He will be slain by the breath of the Lord. His kingdom will topple. And he will be cast alive into the lake of fire along with the False Prophet. 
f.	As much destruction as he may cause – also remember that God has sealed His true people by His Spirit. 
g.	If possible, you would be deceived. But it is not possible. Not for those who continue to believe. Not for those that God has promised to glorify since He has counted them worthy of His call. 
h.	God will preserve you… so keep believing. Keep hoping. Keep trusting. Even if all your senses tell you to stop. Keep hoping in Christ alone. 
6.)	[Slide 39] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” As long as you remain a quasi-Christian or an unbeliever, you will be deceived. 
a.	Jesus’ comments in Matthew 24 and Paul’s words here make it abundantly clear. 
b.	In the last days, the line between the visible and the invisible church will grow crisp and black. 
c.	Now such a divide between the organization and the people who truly are Christians is very blurry. But in that day, the line between them will be quite plain. 
d.	The visible church will be apostate. You will still be able to call yourself a Christian. You will still be able to worship Jesus. But you will have to confess that this one… this man… is Him. It will appear that He has come and set up His Kingdom. 
e.	And the invisible church, the real church, will be the ones considered rebels. Deniers. 
f.	They will say, “How can you deny that the Jesus you believed in all your life is not the one who is walking among us today? He has brought peace and love to the world! How can this not be the Jesus of the bible? He has healed our wounds!” 
g.	Everything will be flipped on its head. 
h.	My friends, if you are not a genuine Christian, you will be deceived by this man’s coming. And what’s worse, you will turn against true believers. You will seek our death. 
i.	But its not too late. Not yet. 
j.	You can repent of your sin and put your trust in the REAL Jesus today. You can leave all your sin and pride behind, all your idols, and serve Christ forever. It won’t be easy… and you may die for Him… But you will be gathered together with Him on that day when He defeats this man of lawlessness. 
k.	Won’t you repent and believe on Jesus? Won’t you bow the knee to Him today? 

[Slide 40 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the Danish Reformer Niels Hemmingsen

O Heavenly Father, I pray to you for your dear Son's sake, Jesus Christ, our only Savior's sake, that you would reign over us all with your word and your Holy Spirit.

Do not let your enemy's hand have power over us, to steer us away from you. Give the rest of us the will and ability to refute the devil's deeds, adultery, and sexual sin. Make holy all those servants of God's word with your Spirit, so they might learn and seek your holy will.

Help us all that we may live here in the world according to your will—in the fear of God, in honesty, and in pure living-that we may find on the final day of judgment that we are your chosen, in everlasting joy and salvation through your son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

To you, the only good and merciful God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all worship, honor, and praise forever,
amen.

Benediction:
Go, dwell on his love by sweetest song, And crown His head with multitudes of praises.
Till all kings bow down to him and all nations serve Him.

Until we meet again, Grace and peace to you.]]></description>
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				<title><![CDATA[05 II Thessalonians 2:1-2 The Day of the Lord...Not Yet]]></title>
				<category>Podcast</category>
				<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher C. Freeman]]></itunes:author>
				<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Title: The Day of the Lord… Not Yet Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 FCF: We often struggle waiting for the events of the last days and trusting in what we’ve been taught. Prop: Because the Day of the Lord will bring comfort to God’s people, we must hold]]></itunes:subtitle>
				<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Title: The Day of the Lord… Not Yet

Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

FCF: We often struggle waiting for the events of the last days and trusting in what we’ve been taught.

Prop: Because the Day of the Lord will bring comfort to God’s people, we must hold fast and stand firm in what we have received.

 

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we’ll read from the Legacy Standard bible starting in verse 1. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer.

 

Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 2 serve to close out a section talking about God’s justice and the great hope we have when Christ is revealed from heaven. It also allows Paul to move to addressing another concern the Thessalonians have about the end times.

 

There is no question that this is one of the primary reasons that Paul writes this letter. Of course, it is quite interesting to modern readers because what Paul talks about concerns the study of the End Times or Eschatology.

 

But it might be easy for us to focus on the discussion of eschatology and miss the truths that are far more applicable to us today. I will do my best to guide us to these truths.

 

Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Awesome, Holy and Terrible God, You incite fear in the hearts of Your enemies. You are untamable. You cannot be muzzled. You cannot be resisted. You cannot be thwarted. You are just and will have justice. You are sinless and will have a sinless and perfect world one day. For Your people, these words are not fearful words. For we desire what You desire. You have changed our hearts to want what You want. A world ruled by You and governed by Your law where sin doesn’t exist and we can worship You in Your presence. But for the wicked, for those who hold only a loose affiliation to Christianity, those who think themselves Christians but love the world and all its distractions, for these – such an eternity sounds terrible and boring. Help us today to see the Comfort and the Terror of the Day when you make all things right. May Your Spirit convict us, guide us, and conform us to You. Be with us and teach us today from Your word, we pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “He who loves the coming of the Lord is not he who affirms it is far off, nor is it he who says it is near. It is he who, whether it be far or near, awaits it with sincere faith, steadfast hope, and fervent love.”  Augustine of Hippo

 

“In the first advent God veiled His divinity to prove the faithful; in the second advent He will manifest His glory to reward their faith.” John Chrysostom

 

[Slide 3] “As Christians we should not be exit-ists, looking for our going, but advent-ists, looking for His coming.” William Freel

 

“The primitive church thought a great deal more about the coming of Christ than about death, and thought a great deal more about His coming than about heaven.” Alexander MacLaren

 

“Many people will be surprised when Jesus comes again – but nobody will be mistaken.” John Blanchard

 

Let these words concerning the Lord’s return prepare our minds for the exposition of this text.

 

I.)                  The Day of the Lord will bring comfort to God’s people, so we must hold fast and stand firm. (1-2a)

a.       [Slide 4] 1 - Now we ask you, brothers,...]]></itunes:summary>
				<description><![CDATA[Title: The Day of the Lord… Not Yet

Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

FCF: We often struggle waiting for the events of the last days and trusting in what we’ve been taught.

Prop: Because the Day of the Lord will bring comfort to God’s people, we must hold fast and stand firm in what we have received.

 

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we’ll read from the Legacy Standard bible starting in verse 1. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer.

 

Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 2 serve to close out a section talking about God’s justice and the great hope we have when Christ is revealed from heaven. It also allows Paul to move to addressing another concern the Thessalonians have about the end times.

 

There is no question that this is one of the primary reasons that Paul writes this letter. Of course, it is quite interesting to modern readers because what Paul talks about concerns the study of the End Times or Eschatology.

 

But it might be easy for us to focus on the discussion of eschatology and miss the truths that are far more applicable to us today. I will do my best to guide us to these truths.

 

Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Awesome, Holy and Terrible God, You incite fear in the hearts of Your enemies. You are untamable. You cannot be muzzled. You cannot be resisted. You cannot be thwarted. You are just and will have justice. You are sinless and will have a sinless and perfect world one day. For Your people, these words are not fearful words. For we desire what You desire. You have changed our hearts to want what You want. A world ruled by You and governed by Your law where sin doesn’t exist and we can worship You in Your presence. But for the wicked, for those who hold only a loose affiliation to Christianity, those who think themselves Christians but love the world and all its distractions, for these – such an eternity sounds terrible and boring. Help us today to see the Comfort and the Terror of the Day when you make all things right. May Your Spirit convict us, guide us, and conform us to You. Be with us and teach us today from Your word, we pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “He who loves the coming of the Lord is not he who affirms it is far off, nor is it he who says it is near. It is he who, whether it be far or near, awaits it with sincere faith, steadfast hope, and fervent love.”  Augustine of Hippo

 

“In the first advent God veiled His divinity to prove the faithful; in the second advent He will manifest His glory to reward their faith.” John Chrysostom

 

[Slide 3] “As Christians we should not be exit-ists, looking for our going, but advent-ists, looking for His coming.” William Freel

 

“The primitive church thought a great deal more about the coming of Christ than about death, and thought a great deal more about His coming than about heaven.” Alexander MacLaren

 

“Many people will be surprised when Jesus comes again – but nobody will be mistaken.” John Blanchard

 

Let these words concerning the Lord’s return prepare our minds for the exposition of this text.

 

I.)                  The Day of the Lord will bring comfort to God’s people, so we must hold fast and stand firm. (1-2a)

a.       [Slide 4] 1 - Now we ask you, brothers,

                                                               i.      The word, “now” here suggests that what follows is really a result of all that Paul has said.

                                                             ii.      So, what has he said?

                                                           iii.      He has expressed his thankfulness to God for them because they are growing in faith and love and remaining steadfast against persecution.

                                                           iv.      He has reminded them that their growing faith and endurance amid persecution is evidence that God has counted them worthy of His Kingdom, and that God will eventually punish those harming them while rewarding them with glory when Christ returns

                                                             v.      He has even assured them that the justice of God is perfect and that it is His prayer that God will keep His promises to them and deliver them safely through to that day when they are all gathered together with Jesus.

                                                           vi.      As a result of this, Paul has a request.

                                                          vii.      It is not a command. But the primary reason this is so, is because of the relationship between Paul and the Thessalonians.

                                                        viii.      Because they are obedient, submissive, and desiring to grow in their faith and love – Paul doesn’t need to bark orders to them. His kind requests are readily heard and joyfully observed.

                                                            ix.      So, what is his request concerning?

b.       [Slide 5] with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,

                                                               i.      Paul has been addressing the Thessalonians’ concerns regarding the timing of the Day of the Lord, really since the beginning of the book.

                                                             ii.      He has talked about what will be when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven – and it really doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that what they are going through is not the Day of the Lord at all.

                                                           iii.      But Paul won’t leave them uncertain any longer. He will bring clarity directly to their concern.

                                                           iv.      Is the persecution they are experiencing now a sign that The Day of the Lord has come? This is their concern.

                                                             v.      Paul will address it head on.

c.       [Slide 6] 2 - that you not be quickly shaken in your mind.

                                                               i.      We should note that this is the third question or concern they have expressed regarding the Day of the Lord.

                                                             ii.      The first, was whether or not those who had died in Christ had missed the revelation of the kingdom. Paul answered them comfortingly that those who had died in Christ would not miss the revelation of Christ nor the Kingdom He brings.

                                                           iii.      The second, was concerning the timing of the Day of the Lord. Specifically, its suddenness.  Paul answered them again, comfortingly, informing them that although it would come unexpectedly to unbelievers, it should not take them unawares. But even if it does – it will not prevent them from joining Him in the air and living with Him in His Kingdom.

                                                           iv.      This third concern they face has yet to be truly unveiled although we have discussed it quite freely since it helps to make sense of much of what Paul says and why.

                                                             v.      But before we get to the specifics of their concern – we ought to dwell on the concern itself.

                                                           vi.      Since this is the third separate issue related to the Day of the Lord – Paul desires them to stop being so unstable on this issue.

                                                          vii.      In less than a year Paul has now had to deal with three different concerns regarding the Day of the Lord.

                                                        viii.      Furthermore, they went from concerned about the suddenness of its coming to thinking it had already come.

                                                            ix.      This really paints the picture of the words Paul uses here “quickly shaken”

                                                             x.      Shaken has the idea of tremors and vacillating back and forth.

                                                            xi.      They are quite unstable on this issue, quickly vacillating between concerns and opinions.

                                                          xii.      You can hardly blame them. The idea of a future eternal judgment beyond death was not common in the paganism they left. If anything, paganism saw things in cycles, so that even if there was some kind of judgment it only led to renewal.

                                                        xiii.      So, the idea of a future judgment with such stark contrasts of eternal destinies for the righteous and the wicked, really raises the stakes.

                                                        xiv.      Paul adds the prepositional phrase “in your mind” to sharpen the discussion of their vacillation.

                                                          xv.      By mind, Paul means – their understanding or discernment. It is their seat of reason.

                                                        xvi.      They are not being thoughtful, discerning, or reasonable about this issue.

                                                       xvii.      They are allowing the high stakes of this issue to overwhelm them and cloud their judgment.

                                                     xviii.      Paul’s request is for them to stop allowing their discernment to be quickly moved. To take time to think and reason and consider what they have been taught before being overwhelmed with concern.

                                                        xix.      But what is the root of their instability? What else is Paul requesting them to stop doing?

d.       [Slide 7] or be alarmed

                                                               i.      Not only has Paul requested them not to continue to quickly shift their discernment on the teaching of the Day of the Lord, but he also requests that they not be alarmed.

                                                             ii.      To be alarmed is to be afraid – but not a growing nagging fear. Rather a startling fear.

                                                           iii.      Something they are caught by surprise and startled by.

                                                           iv.      This seems to be the cause of the quick changes in the discernment of the Thessalonians.

                                                             v.      They continue to be on unstable and shaky ground with the teaching regarding the Day of the Lord, because they are easily startled and alarmed.

                                                           vi.      Paul wants them to arrive at comfort and stability regarding the teaching of the Day of the Lord.

                                                          vii.      He wants them to hold fast to what he has taught them and stand firm and courageous against sudden fears.

e.       [Slide 8] Summary of the Point:  When Paul mentions that his next topic is concerning the Day of the Lord’s return and His gathering together of… US… he leaves no room for uncertainty. He expresses to the Thessalonians that for the believer there is no fear concerning the Day of the Lord. In fact, the Day of the Lord is consistently taught by Paul in these two letters as an aspect of COMFORT to God’s people. It will be the day when they experience true peace and meet with their Savior and never be separated from Him. So, Paul requests that they keep themselves from doing two things. Do not be quickly shaken in your mind or be alarmed. If we were to put these commands positively it would be, hold fast and stand firm. Be courageous and discerning.  

 

Transition:

[Slide 9(blank)] But Paul isn’t done addressing their vacillating discernment or their fear. He needs to assure them that no matter what caused them to fear – or what they have heard – they must believe what Paul has already taught them.

 

II.)                The Day of the Lord will bring comfort to God’s people, so we must measure all teachings of the Day of the Lord by what we have already received. (2b)

a.       [Slide 10] whether by a spirit or a word or a letter as if from us,

                                                               i.      It becomes clear there is some sort of false teaching causing them to be suddenly startled and thus quickly vacillate in their discernment regarding the teaching they have received about the Day of the Lord.

                                                             ii.      Paul isn’t sure what the source of this false teaching is but offers three different examples of places they might have received it.

                                                           iii.      A spirit.                

1.       Although I originally had a different idea of what this meant, every single commentator I consulted, unanimously interpreted this as people coming to them with a spirit of prophesy. This is one of those cases where I don’t feel confident about my interpretation… certainly not confident enough to disagree with EVERYONE else.

2.       So how did they arrive at this conclusion?

3.       In 1 Thessalonians Paul cautioned them to not quench the Spirit and to not despise prophesies. But he also said to test everything taught and hold fast to what is good and abstain from everything evil.

4.       What is clear is that they have obeyed the first part of Paul’s previous exhortation and failed at the second part.

5.       Probably people came to them who have said, “I have a word from the Lord” and demonstrated some level of charismatic gift to bring the new revelation to them.

6.       Paul warns them to not be suddenly fearful but to exercise discernment, even if someone comes in signs and with a message, supposedly from God, that contradicts what they have already received. They must not quench the Spirit or despise prophesies… but they must also test everything.

7.       Whatever is not of God, must be avoided.

                                                           iv.      A word or message would be the preaching of some teacher or prophet going about either intentionally or unintentionally sowing fear.

1.       Paul no doubt was aware of traveling preachers going about, and perhaps some of them not adequately trained to understand the exact nature of the end times.

2.       Perhaps they were false teachers or prophets peddling a new message concerning the end.

3.       Perhaps they were not posing as Christians at all, but were simply pagans attempting to take the Christian teaching and adapt it to paganism. This wouldn’t be the first time or the last that such a thing happened.

4.       Paul warns them not to be startled and discard discernment just because someone comes preaching a message about the coming judgment from an angle that is new and foreboding.

5.       Instead, they should rightly divide truth by the truth they have already received.

                                                             v.      A letter as if it is from us. In this Paul relays, perhaps, more than we might expect.

1.       First, he gives us a third medium by which people can communicate startling news that may disrupt their discernment regarding the Day of the Lord.

2.       The written word.

3.       But over and above that, Paul adds, as if it is from us. Meaning what?

4.       Paul either knows of or suspects that there are letters being circulated at this time pretending to be from himself, Silas, and/or Timothy. Letters that call into question some of the teachings they had already given to the Thessalonians regarding the Day of the Lord.

5.       Paul warns them not to be alarmed by these letters nor to blindly believe them, but to use their discernment and hold fast to what they had already received.

6.       In Galatians Paul said that even if he himself came with a different gospel – that he should be accursed and they should not listen. Paul doesn’t quite go to that extreme here – but he does make plain that it doesn’t matter who supposedly teaches these false teachings about the Day of the Lord.

7.       If it contradicts what they had already been taught – then it must be avoided.

                                                           vi.      Well, we have hinted at it long enough… what is the nature of these false prophesies, these new messages and interpretations, or these letters, about the Day of the Lord, that has caused them to abandon discernment due to startling fear?

b.       [Slide 11] to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

                                                               i.      Well, we didn’t keep that secret very well – but such is the nature of studying a book of the bible rather than simply reading it.

                                                             ii.      Still, we see that the main reason that the Thessalonians keep vacillating, and abandoning reason, and becoming fearful – is because someone or perhaps many sources are telling them that the Day of the Lord has already come.

                                                           iii.      But Paul says that the Day of the Lord hasn’t come yet – no matter what anyone told you.

                                                           iv.      But after arriving at this, we are left with the question, why?

                                                             v.      Why would the Thessalonians think that the Day of the Lord had come? What could have been taught to them to convince them that the Day of the Lord had arrived?

                                                           vi.      [Slide 12] I see two possibilities for what might have happened and both of them are found within the context of 2 Thessalonians.

1.       Perhaps the persecution they are experiencing reminds them of what they were taught about the Day of the Lord including a time of difficulty and tribulation.

a.       When we discussed the Day of the Lord while studying Paul’s previous letter, we observed that the Day of the Lord includes 4 categories of events.

                                                                                                                                       i.      A terrible tribulation. Mankind will be afflicted including cosmic signs, wonders in heaven, terrible bloodshed, natural disasters, all spoken of as if they were world ending or crippling.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      The revelation of Christ and the gathering together of His people with Him. Which may also include some kind of earthly kingdom ruled from Jerusalem.

                                                                                                                                   iii.      A day of judgment which is the culmination of God’s Justice where all sin will be paid and all sinners, both angelic and human, will be removed from the earth and cast into the Lake of Fire which is the second death.

                                                                                                                                   iv.      Finally, there is a remaking of the universe. There will be a new heaven and earth. A new Jerusalem will descend, and we will enter into an eternal state. This could be a second earthly kingdom or the same one we already mentioned.

b.       Interestingly enough, Paul covers both the revelation of Christ and the eternal judgement of the wicked in both 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Seeming to indicate that these events occur at the same time.

c.       Which might suggest that the Thessalonians understood the other two events to occur before and after these.

d.       Perhaps they assumed that the persecution they were experiencing was the terrible tribulation.

e.       And so, a false teaching that may have arisen is to take what they had been taught about the cosmic signs and reinterpret them as metaphors to refer to less cataclysmic events.  

f.        This would cause them to think that they were in the midst of the Day of the Lord and that the persecution they were experiencing was part of the terrible tribulation that preceded Christ’s return.

2.       Another option is for us to look ahead in this context and see that Paul had already taught them about the man of lawlessness and the coming apostasy. So, perhaps they have been convinced that their present condition fit that description and they were already seeing the apostasy and the man of lawlessness.

                                                          vii.      In either case we are left with the same question… what about these teachings would lead them to sudden fear? Why might they be afraid of the Day of the Lord when they were clearly taught in both letters that the Day of the Lord is a day of victory for God’s people and should give us comfort and peace?

                                                        viii.      [Slide 13] For myself it only makes sense in one way. That they assumed that the events of the Day of the Lord would happen in quick succession. They assumed that once the tribulation or apostacy and man of lawlessness stepped on the scene, that Christ would return and gather them together.

                                                            ix.      Why would that be fear inducing to hear people say – The Day of the Lord is here?

                                                             x.      Because they haven’t been gathered together to be with Christ.

                                                            xi.      So that leaves them with a few questions and all of them have terrible answers.

                                                          xii.      Did we not make the cut?

                                                        xiii.      Is this the best it gets?

                                                        xiv.      Has God’s justice somehow been served already?

                                                          xv.      If we break down Paul’s statements in chapter 1 and 2 into its most basic message, it is, essentially, that the Day of the Lord is a sequence of events that occur over a period of time. Paul does not say how long until it begins or how long it would take to get through it. But He does indicate that there is a sequence that must be followed. We’ll get to more of that later.

                                                        xvi.      I mention it now only to prove why they were suddenly fearful.

                                                       xvii.      They thought they missed it. And that this was their life from now on. Or worse… that they were to be judged with those who afflicted them because they were NOT counted worthy of God’s call after all.

                                                     xviii.      This is why Paul spends so much time expounding God’s perfect justice. This is why Paul prays that God continue to count them worthy of His calling and continue to give them power to walk worthy of their calling.

                                                        xix.      He wants them to understand that this will all happen over a course of time. And that that time has not yet begun. But when it does… it will be good for them and for all God’s people.

c.       [Slide 14] Summary of the Point: Paul did it in the last letter and he will continue to do so in this one. He will continue to point back to what he and his companions have taught them already. He taught them that the Day of the Lord is a great comfort to God’s true people. And if they hear another teaching that causes them to fear or their discernment to be shaken, because it tells them the Day of the Lord has already come – even if that teaching came from someone who was a prophet, a preacher, or even posing as Paul himself – they should not believe it. They should measure every message they hear by what they have already received. And if what is new doesn’t match up – they should avoid it.

 

Conclusion:

So, what have we learned today that refines our beliefs and shapes our lifestyles?

 

Basics of Faith and Practice:

[Slide 15] In his first letter and so far in his second, Paul has always spoken of the Day of the Lord as a comfort to those who believe on Jesus. The scriptures as a whole speak of the Day of the Lord as a Terrible day, but a Great day for those who are God’s children. Since this is true, a true believer should not be shaken or startled by any teaching regarding the Day of the Lord. No matter the source of the teaching, we should use discernment and compare it to what we have already received regarding the nature of the Day of the Lord and avoid any teaching that does not fit.

 

But how does this apply to us today? Are there any that say the Day of the Lord has already come?

 

1.)    [Slide 16] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that the Day of the Lord has come.

a.       If you have spent any time conversing with me, you know that there are some teachings that I am very passionate about. Even some debated teachings that I have taken a strong stand upon and unless the Spirit of God moves me – I do not intend to budge.

b.       You also know that eschatology… is not one of those.

c.       I am VERY VERY VERY uncommitted to any eschatological system. I tend to see the merits in most of them and am ready to admit when a passage favors one view over the others.

d.       But there is one vein of eschatological teaching upon which I can and will be quite strong. It is eschatological teachings that we must… REJECT!

e.       There are indeed some folks who have concluded that everything predicted in the bible has come about.

f.        They are called preterists. From the Latin word praeter, meaning past or gone beyond.

g.       Preterism is divided broadly into two groups. Partial preterists and full preterists.

h.       Partial preterists would see some predictions in the scriptures as fulfilled.

i.         Some would conclude that the Roman Catholic church is the apostasy spoken of in 2 Thess chapter 2 and that the Pope is the Man of Lawlessness.

j.         Therefore, they would conclude that the next thing we are waiting for is for Christ to be revealed from heaven.

k.       The key here is that they still say that Christ’s revelation from heaven is still in the future.

l.         This then is the distinguishing mark between a partial and a full preterist.

m.     A partial preterist… in my estimation… could still very well be a solid brother and close Christian friend.

n.       But not so for the full preterist.

o.       A full preterist would say Christ has… in some way… already returned. They would say that this has already occurred in the events of AD 70 and that we are currently living in the New Heaven and the New Earth today.

p.       My friends, you cannot be a full preterist and be an orthodox Christian. Why?

q.       Because the earliest creeds confess that Christ will come (future tense) to judge the living and the dead.

r.        Full preterism is… a heresy. And must be denied.  

s.        The Day of the Lord – has not come. At least not the whole of it. And on this I will firmly stand. And you must too.

t.        Another end-times conclusion I believe we must draw from this text, is that there is a necessary sequence of events to the Day of the Lord.

2.)    [Slide 17] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the Day of the Lord will not happen all at once but must follow a sequence of events.

a.       It is not an event that any believer could conceivably have missed.

b.       Now I think we can go overboard here when we get out our timelines and mark days and months and years to every event.

c.       I’ve pointed it out several times now, that every single timeline of these is wrong because there are 7 thunders in Revelation that we know nothing about because God told John to seal up the scroll and not write down what the 7 thunders said.

d.       Again, pointing out safely what all acceptable positions of the end times do, is that the Day of the Lord is a period of time that covers several kinds of events. They happen in sequence. Now where we are in that sequence, how long they last, and how long until the next one, is all up for debate.

e.       But we should not be looking for all of it to happen at once.

f.        Another thing I can say with confidence about the Day of the Lord…

3.)    [Slide 18] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” The Day of the Lord is only spoken of in the scriptures as a comfort to believers.

a.       Any teaching that causes a genuine believer to fear the coming of the Day of the Lord should be rejected without distinction.

b.       And any Christian who allows mortal fears to overwhelm their heavenly comfort with regard to the Day of the Lord – should be rebuked.

c.       Some teachings of the end times tell us that we will avoid the Great Tribulation because the Lord Jesus will rapture us out beforehand.

d.       Possibly. But my friends – you should expect to experience everything the church has continued to experience in the church age as a normal amount of trouble and suffering. Even if you believe we will be raptured before the cataclysmic events of the tribulation- do not think for a moment that you won’t be abused, beaten, burned, flayed, raped, pillaged, and murdered for your faith. Because that has happened to Christians for the last 2000 years and guess what – it is happening today in other parts of the world.

e.       Nevertheless, the Day of the Lord should bring comfort to us.

f.        Friends, even if God permits us to go through the whole tribulation. Even if the tribulation lasts 7000 years instead of just 7. The Day of the Lord… is still a comfort to God’s people. Why?

g.       Because the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven, and we will all be gathered together to Him and we will never be apart from Him again!

h.       That single teaching… makes the Day of the Lord a great comfort to His people.

i.         It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.

j.         So, since it is a comfort to us…

4.)    [Slide 19] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must not fear the Day of the Lord.  

a.       What is there to fear?

b.       What if the stars fall on me?

c.       What if the plague takes me?

d.       What if I am a victim of the wars and rumors of wars?

e.       What if the demons from the abyss sting me with their tails?

f.        What if all this happens to you… but you still see Jesus in the air face to face?

g.       What can be taken from you that the Lord has not promised to restore?

h.       Some may be truly concerned about the man of lawlessness and the strong delusion…

i.         Do not fear either my friends. We’ll get to that in due time and I will show you conclusively that Paul actually goes out of his way to assure genuine believers that such a delusion will not come upon them and that they will be preserved through the lies of the man of lawlessness.

j.         But Paul’s words in this text are sufficient.

k.       There is no reason to be startled or alarmed about anything regarding the Day of the Lord if you are a true believer.

l.         Well, how do we not allow teachings about the Day of the Lord to cause us to fear?

5.)    [Slide 20] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must filter everything we are taught about the Day of the Lord through what the Scriptures have revealed to us.

a.       Friends, many pastors like to speak long about all of this. They really want to make many things certain that I don’t think we have any business making certain.

b.       But there are a few things about the Day of the Lord that are certain.

c.       The reason I say they are certain is because no matter what eschatological view you hold to – they all agree on these things.

                                                               i.      There will be a time of tribulation and trouble.

                                                             ii.      Christ will return and take His bride to Himself.

                                                           iii.      There will be an eternal kingdom set up with God living among His people with a New Heaven and a New Earth.

                                                           iv.      And all will be judged, the living and the dead, and Christ will separate the sheep from the goats.

                                                             v.      These things are certain.

d.       And any teaching that contradicts these – is false.

e.       Do not listen to those who claim to know when the Lord will return. Do not listen to those who have calculated when things will be.

f.        Do not believe those who say that all will go to heaven eventually or exist in that New Kingdom with God and His Son’s bride in peace.

g.       Do not believe the scientists that say this world will burn up in a billion years by colliding into the sun.

h.       Rather than spending a bunch of time and energy speculating on what is unclear – we should hold fast and stand firm in what is clear.

i.         And there is one more thing that is abundantly clear that we need to talk about this morning…

6.)    [Slide 21] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” The Day of the Lord is only spoken of in the scriptures as a terrifying day of judgment to the unbeliever.

a.       As much as I have taken great pains to convince everyone who is a believer here today that the Day of the Lord is only a comfort to us, I must now take great pains to convince you, if you are not a believer, a Christian in name only, or a Christian who is living in unrepentant sin, that the Day of the Lord is not a comfort to you… at all.

b.       In fact, the Day of the Lord is a horrifying, cataclysmic, sudden, and terrible day of judgment and death.

c.       All the enemies of God, all who have not truly believed on His Son, all who have not bowed the knee and submitted to His Lordship, will suffer the eternal wrath of God both in body and in soul forever.

d.       Not only will the tribulation be a time of great pain and anguish, but it will culminate in the utter defeat of Satan and his children, and finally end in the eternal death of him and his children as they are separated from the merciful and saving presence of a holy God.

e.       [Slide 22] There are several lies many prominent people have probably told you, that must be exposed.

                                                               i.      Only God can judge me.

1.       Indeed. And He will. And only those found in His Son will inherit His Kingdom

2.       All others will be separated from His presence to spend eternity in anguish in His wrath.

                                                             ii.      I’m not as bad as other people.

1.       All men are wicked. All men are unrighteous. All men miss the mark of perfection which God has set for all who would enter into His Kingdom.

2.       Whether you are as bad as Hitler or only told a single lie in your entire life – if you depend on your good deeds to save you – you will be damned. Indeed, as Jesus said, you are damned already.

3.       Revelation 19 tells us that the books which record your deeds will be opened. And they will be examined on the day of judgment. But here is the thing. Everyone who is judged by the books containing their deeds – will be cast into the lake of fire.

4.       The only people spared from that fate are judged by a different book. A book that doesn’t record their works… only their name. A name chosen and written before the foundations of the earth were created. A name who has believed on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and served Him with their lives.

5.       Not being as bad as others won’t matter. You must be as perfect as Christ.

                                                           iii.      I’ll see the signs and remember what you said and I’ll submit to Christ then.

1.       My friends, Paul in 1 Thessalonians, told them that the Day of the Lord would come like a thief in the night. And it would be sudden and take people unawares.

2.       Jesus said that people would be going about their normal lives, continuing to make plans for marriage and acting like tomorrow would come just like today did… when all things would come to an end.

3.       And Paul is about to say in this book that those who are unbelievers will 100% believe and follow the man of lawlessness and God will send a delusion upon them to make sure they do not believe.

4.       The truth is, that when the Day of the Lord begins… you will never know it… and by the time you do… it will be too late.

f.        [Slide 23] The fact of the matter is, that no man or woman is assured another day on this earth. Insurance agents make millions of dollars every year by relaying this one powerful truth. Life is uncertain and the days we have on this earth are not in our hands.

g.       So, I implore you… I beg you… will you not turn from your sin? Reject your claim on your life and submit your plans, your destiny, your lifestyles, your beliefs to Christ as Savior and Lord. Confess He is Lord and believe He is Savior. Serve Him for the rest of your days.

h.       And then you will know the comfort of the Day of the Lord.

i.         If you need to do this today, don’t leave without talking to myself, another Elder, or someone you know is a Christian.

 

[Slide 24 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the church father Augustine of Hippo

 

Lord God, as we turn to you in purity of heart, we give you our highest and most abundant thanks, as best we are able to in our frailty.

 

Our whole mind prays for your unmatched goodness, that by your power you would drive out the enemy from our thoughts and deeds.

 

Father Almighty, enlarge our faith, direct our minds, and help us to focus our thoughts on your kingdom.

 

And in the end, bring us safe to your place of endless blessings, through your Son Jesus Christ,  Amen.

 

Benediction:

May the Lord your God, our help in ages past,

And our hope for years to come,

Be your guard while troubles last,

And lead you to His eternal throne.

 

Until we meet again, grace and peace to you.]]></description>
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				<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 10:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[04 II Thessalonians 5.11-12 God's Call To Glory]]></title>
				<category>Podcast</category>
				<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher C. Freeman]]></itunes:author>
				<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Title: God’s Call To Glory Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 FCF: We often struggle comprehending the scope and sequence of God’s Redemption of His people. Prop: Because God calls and oversees our redemption to glory, we must be counted and walk worthy of]]></itunes:subtitle>
				<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Title: God’s Call To Glory

Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

FCF: We often struggle comprehending the scope and sequence of God’s Redemption of His people.

Prop: Because God calls and oversees our redemption to glory, we must be counted and walk worthy of the call of God.

 

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1.  In a moment we’ll read from the English Standard Version starting in verse 5 and going through verse 12.

 

Last week, Paul began addressing some of the concerns of the Thessalonians regarding the Day of the Lord and the persecution they were enduring. Paul assured them that God’s justice is perfect. That He is reordering their lives and will reward all men according to what they have earned, either punishment for wickedness or reward for Christ’s righteousness. As terrible as His punishment is for those who disobey the gospel, for those who obey, His reward is even more wonderful.

 

We finished last week with the reward of meeting Christ in the air and His people glorifying Him and marveling at His splendor. But Paul wants to close out this section of his letter both by elaborating on the nature of the redemptive path God has put them on and also praying that God would see them to the end reward that he has just described.

 

Stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Gracious God who gives abundantly to us so that we may be Your people, we humbly ask that You would send Your Spirit among us today to teach us from Your Word. Help us to see the depth and richness of Your grace today. Help us to understand just how miserable of a state we were in prior to Your grace interrupting our travels to hell. And perhaps, You would call others this morning with the interrupting power of Your grace to cease their pursuit of their own destruction and obey the gospel by believing on Your Son, Jesus. Meet with us, for we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “Perfection demands perfection; that is why salvation must be by grace and why works are not sufficient.” Donald Grey Barnhouse.

 

“We can never be blessed until we learn that we can bring nothing to Christ but our need.” Vance Havner

 

[Slide 3] “Whatever contribution men make to their salvation they make by the grace of God. And that makes salvation the work of grace a hundred percent.” R.B. Kuiper

 

“A man is not a Christian unless he can say with Paul, “I am what I am by the grace of God.” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

 

[Slide 4] “The grace of God does not find men fit for salvation but makes them so.” Augustine of Hippo

 

“The sinner, apart from grace, is unable to be willing and unwilling to be able.” W.E. Best

 

“Grace is not a reward for faith; faith is the result of grace.” John Blanchard

 

[Slide 5] “Grace is omnipotence acting redemptively.” Geoff Thomas

 

“Grace is power. It does not instruct, it energizes, and what dead men need is energizing, such energizing as raises the dead.” B.B. Warfield

 

“Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.” Jonathan Edwards

And on and on they go. I could have included many more. But that is enough for now. Let these words about God’s grace prepare you to see it in the text today.

 

I.)                  All who meet the Lord in the air are counted and walk worthy of the call of God, so we must be counted and walk worthy of t...]]></itunes:summary>
				<description><![CDATA[Title: God’s Call To Glory

Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

FCF: We often struggle comprehending the scope and sequence of God’s Redemption of His people.

Prop: Because God calls and oversees our redemption to glory, we must be counted and walk worthy of the call of God.

 

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1.  In a moment we’ll read from the English Standard Version starting in verse 5 and going through verse 12.

 

Last week, Paul began addressing some of the concerns of the Thessalonians regarding the Day of the Lord and the persecution they were enduring. Paul assured them that God’s justice is perfect. That He is reordering their lives and will reward all men according to what they have earned, either punishment for wickedness or reward for Christ’s righteousness. As terrible as His punishment is for those who disobey the gospel, for those who obey, His reward is even more wonderful.

 

We finished last week with the reward of meeting Christ in the air and His people glorifying Him and marveling at His splendor. But Paul wants to close out this section of his letter both by elaborating on the nature of the redemptive path God has put them on and also praying that God would see them to the end reward that he has just described.

 

Stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Gracious God who gives abundantly to us so that we may be Your people, we humbly ask that You would send Your Spirit among us today to teach us from Your Word. Help us to see the depth and richness of Your grace today. Help us to understand just how miserable of a state we were in prior to Your grace interrupting our travels to hell. And perhaps, You would call others this morning with the interrupting power of Your grace to cease their pursuit of their own destruction and obey the gospel by believing on Your Son, Jesus. Meet with us, for we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “Perfection demands perfection; that is why salvation must be by grace and why works are not sufficient.” Donald Grey Barnhouse.

 

“We can never be blessed until we learn that we can bring nothing to Christ but our need.” Vance Havner

 

[Slide 3] “Whatever contribution men make to their salvation they make by the grace of God. And that makes salvation the work of grace a hundred percent.” R.B. Kuiper

 

“A man is not a Christian unless he can say with Paul, “I am what I am by the grace of God.” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

 

[Slide 4] “The grace of God does not find men fit for salvation but makes them so.” Augustine of Hippo

 

“The sinner, apart from grace, is unable to be willing and unwilling to be able.” W.E. Best

 

“Grace is not a reward for faith; faith is the result of grace.” John Blanchard

 

[Slide 5] “Grace is omnipotence acting redemptively.” Geoff Thomas

 

“Grace is power. It does not instruct, it energizes, and what dead men need is energizing, such energizing as raises the dead.” B.B. Warfield

 

“Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.” Jonathan Edwards

And on and on they go. I could have included many more. But that is enough for now. Let these words about God’s grace prepare you to see it in the text today.

 

I.)                  All who meet the Lord in the air are counted and walk worthy of the call of God, so we must be counted and walk worthy of the call of God.  (11)

a.       [Slide 6] 11 - To this end we always pray for you,

                                                               i.      Paul begins these closing thoughts on God’s righteous judgment pointing back to the rest and reward given to those who obeyed the gospel by believing what the apostles spoke to them concerning Jesus.

                                                             ii.      What is that rest and what is that reward? It is the glorifying of Christ and marveling at His splendor.

                                                           iii.      Paul reveals that it is “to this end” or more literally, “in this” that they continue to pray for them.

                                                           iv.      This gives this entire passage a distinct eschatological perspective of all that it has to say. Now that may be obvious now, but if we forget this it may make our interpretation of the text more difficult as we go forward.

                                                             v.      Paul and his companions are always praying for them that they would make it to that day when Christ returns and they can glorify Him in His presence.

                                                           vi.      Paul is not suggesting, necessarily, that this is uncertain.

                                                          vii.      Some Christians wrongly conclude that if God has promised something to us that to pray for it is either a waste of time or even showing distrust in His promises.

                                                        viii.      However, we are commanded to pray in the will of God. Paul shows us what that looks like.

                                                            ix.      Paul is confident, based on their growth in faith and love and endurance amid affliction and persecution, that God will count the Thessalonians worthy of His Kingdom.

                                                             x.      But just because Paul is certain of that, and just because God has promised to do that for those who believe, doesn’t mean there is no need to pray for it to come about.

                                                            xi.      Quite the opposite actually.

                                                          xii.      To suggest that praying for something somehow implies that it is uncertain is simply unfounded.

                                                        xiii.      Imagine if we applied this to the Lord’s prayer.

                                                        xiv.      Is it uncertain as to whether God’s kingdom will come? Yet we are told to pray for it to come by Jesus Himself.  

                                                          xv.      Paul praying for the Thessalonians to reach that glorious gathering in the air with Christ, is not suggesting, at all, that they might not make it. It is praying that God’s promises come true.  

                                                        xvi.      But what is necessary if they are to make it to that glorious day when we meet Christ in the air?

                                                       xvii.      What is the content of their continued prayers for the Thessalonians?

b.       [Slide 7] that our God may make you worthy of his calling,

                                                               i.      There are two translational concepts here that we should briefly address.

                                                             ii.      Many scholars debate the Greek word the ESV translates here “make worthy.” This is a very old debate. It is at the heart of the divide between Protestant and Roman Catholic doctrine.

1.       As a reminder Official Roman Catholic Dogma believes that God actually makes you righteous at baptism. That original sin is washed away in those waters of baptism and the remainder of your life is the process of trying to keep yourself in that state of grace. Something you can only do in the confines of the Roman Catholic Church.

2.       Through rigorous study, the Reformers demonstrated that the most common way to translate this word is “counted worthy.”

3.       This word in the New Testament is consistently used to express someone or something being counted as worthy which is not actually worthy of the honor being given to them. It is in fact a legal declaration rather than something you are made into or have earned.

4.       In fact, this is the same root word that Paul used in verse 5 where the Thessalonians are counted worthy of God’s Kingdom. Since the context was speaking of God’s righteous Justice, a legal verdict makes much more sense than some kind of God-infused act.

5.       But since this context has an eschatological emphasis, the meaning could, conceivably be “make worthy.”

6.       We know that Jesus will present us faultless before the throne of God. He will make us worthy and righteous.

7.       But even if that is true, two things are absolutely certain.

8.       The idea of God making us worthy prior to Christ’s return, whether that be that we reach a state of perfection and never sin again, or that we reach a state of perfection and have to strive to keep ourselves there – both of these are not only not supported in this text, but they are repudiated.

9.       Being truly worthy of God’s Kingdom is definitely something God must do, but per Paul, that occurs at the coming of Christ. 

10.   However, in my opinion, counted worthy is the better translation here. And I will explain that in a moment.  

                                                           iii.      The second translational concept here is concerning the same word but from a different angle.

1.       The mood of the verb “count worthy” is in the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive mood is used to express a wish or hope, and sometimes has conditions.

2.       As understanding grows on the Greek language, particularly the Greek trade-language that was used in the writing of the New Testament, more has been understood about the subjunctive mood to understand that it is actually very RARELY used in the New Testament to express something that is possible if the right conditions are met.

3.       Instead, the subjunctive mood is almost exclusively used to express something that is either probable or intended.

4.       Why does this matter?

5.       Well, if we read this and Paul prays that our God “might” count them worthy of their calling… our mind automatically imports the possibility that God might not do that. We start wondering what the conditions are that God might have to not count someone worthy of the calling HE CALLED THEM WITH.

6.       But here, Paul uses the subjunctive mood because He is praying that God’s calling producing the verdict of worthy for these Thessalonian believers. Prayers are hopes or wishes.

7.       But as we’ve already said, prayers are not necessarily a hope that implies it may not happen.

8.       In fact, there is a HUGE correlation here between God calling someone and counting them worthy of that calling. And the key to unlock that is another letter that Paul will write from Corinth, possibly at the same time that he is writing to the Thessalonians.

9.       In Romans 8:29-30, Paul says that whom the Lord calls He also justifies. Justify is to be “counted righteous” or “declared righteous” in a legal sense and would be synonymous with being counted worthy of God’s Kingdom. Paul puts a necessary and unbreakable connection between the ones whom God calls and those whom He declares righteous.

10.   There is no uncertainty here. If God called them, He will count them worthy of that call. And Paul is praying for that end.

                                                           iv.      With both those translational issues out of the way we better understand what Paul is praying.

                                                             v.      Paul wants them to make it to that day when we glorify Christ in the air.

                                                           vi.      So, he is praying that what is necessary for that to be the case is found in the Thessalonians.

                                                          vii.      First, that they be counted worthy of the saving call of God.

                                                        viii.      But our justification is not the end. Just because we are justified does not mean we are ready for the day we stand before Christ face to face to give Him glory.

c.       [Slide 8] and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,

                                                               i.      Paul also prays that God would fulfill or complete or provide every resolve.

                                                             ii.      The ESV translates this word well. It means something hoped for or desired or something  resolved to do or have.

                                                           iii.      Paul’s prayer is that God completes in them every resolve. What resolve?

                                                           iv.      The resolve has two sides.

1.       First, for good.

a.       Good here is of the moral quality.

b.       It is to be good. To be righteous. To be holy.

c.       It is to please God.

d.       It is to care for one another.

e.       It is to love God and others.

f.        Paul’s prayer is that God completes the resolve for them to be morally upright.

2.       Second, a working out of their faith.

a.       So beyond moral uprightness, that they would do what pleases God out of a belief in Him and the gospel.

b.       The resolve to work out their faith in acts of obedience to God.  

                                                             v.      And notice that all of this is done by or with God’s power. God is doing the completing of these resolves by supplying everything necessary.

                                                           vi.      In this we see another close correlation between another letter that Paul will write several years later.

                                                          vii.      In Philippians 2, Paul commands the Philippians to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

                                                        viii.      The word in Philippians 2 for “good pleasure” is… resolve.

                                                            ix.      Here Paul prays that God completes the resolve for them to be morally upright and work out their salvation, and in Phillippians he assures them that God provides the desire and the power to accomplish His resolve.

                                                             x.      Paul’s prayer is for them to make it to that meeting in the air to glorify Christ.

                                                            xi.      Therefore, he prays for the necessary process for them to get there.

                                                          xii.      They must not only have been counted worthy of the calling of God, but they must also walk worthy of that calling.

                                                        xiii.      A divinely given faith that is effective to save, is a faith that must also be worked out with divine assistance.

d.       [Slide 9] Summary of the Point: Paul is praying, as any loving pastor should, that the church in Thessalonica makes it to that day when all believers will be gathered together to glorify Jesus in the air. And if they will make it to that day, they must follow the necessary process to get there. All who will meet the Lord in the air on that day will be counted worthy of God’s effectual call. They will also walk worthy of that call by living morally upright lives, working out their faith as God completes this in them by His power. So, what is the application for us? Well, we must be counted and walk worthy of the effectual call of God. That application requires a good deal more explanation, but let’s save that for later.

 

Transition:

[Slide 10 (blank)] So, after this necessary process is complete in them, what will be the result?

 

II.)                All who are counted and walk worthy of the call of God will glorify Christ and be glorified, so we must be counted and walk worthy of the call of God. (12)

a.       [Slide 11] 12 - so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,

                                                               i.      Paul, probably alludes to Isaiah 66 as he mentions the name of the Lord being glorified. 

                                                             ii.      In our time and in this time to a much greater degree, a person’s name meant much. In paganism and witchcraft, there is power in knowing and using names of demons. In the Old Testament, oftentimes it is considered a great shame on a person who is never named. In the New Testament we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

                                                           iii.      A name represents the fame and reputation and the authority of the person who bears it.

                                                           iv.      It would also be good for us to understand what being glorified means as we move through this verse.

                                                             v.      To glorify is to be positively acknowledged, recognized, or esteemed for one’s own character, nature, or attributes.

                                                           vi.      To be glorified is to be honored and appreciated for who you are.

                                                          vii.      Therefore, the purpose of the Thessalonians being counted and walking worthy of God’s call is so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be given the proper honor, praise, recognition, and esteem it deserves… how?

                                                        viii.      Paul says - in you. In the Thessalonians. When?

                                                            ix.      When they are all delivered safely to Christ’s glorious presence having been counted worthy of God’s call and having walked worthy of God’s call, by their existence as a people conformed to Christ, and by their actions, as a people who marvel at His splendor, they will give glory to Jesus.

                                                             x.      The question arises, of course. Don’t we bring glory to God NOW by the way we live?

                                                            xi.      Certainly! Paul isn’t debating that point, nor is what he says here somehow in conflict with that.

                                                          xii.      Remember this passage is eschatological. Paul has his eyes fixed on that meeting with Christ in the air when He is revealed from heaven.

                                                        xiii.      Why?

                                                        xiv.      Because that is where the Thessalonians’ concerns are.

                                                          xv.      They are concerned that the Day of the Lord has come and they are actually living their best life now… under great persecution.

                                                        xvi.      But that isn’t the end of this redemption plan of God…

b.       [Slide 12] and you in him,

                                                               i.      One aspect that we must understand is that salvation is NOT just about getting out of hell.

                                                             ii.      It is NOT just about avoiding eternal death.

                                                           iii.      Being counted worthy and walking worthy of this name means not only that we bring glory to His name… but that the one who bears His name is also… glorified.

                                                           iv.      We are called children of God. A kingdom of priests. We are called the bride of Christ.

                                                             v.      This is all imagery and language to suggest that we become, in a very real way, part of God’s family. We become sons of God.

                                                           vi.      We, in this entire redemptive story arch, go from created Image bearers to part of His royal court.

                                                          vii.      We inherit glory from one who has stamped His name on us. A name above every other name.

                                                        viii.      That same name… has been given to us in a similar way to a surname being given to an adopted child or a bride.

                                                            ix.      We inherit all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that comes with the name we were given.

                                                             x.      How can this be? How did this happen? How did we go from wretches to sharing in His glory?

c.       [Slide 13] 12 - according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                               i.      It is all grace my friends.

                                                             ii.      Once again, I implore you to step away from the correct but often misunderstood definition of grace as God’s unmerited favor.

                                                           iii.      A better definition might be the acronym grace… God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

                                                           iv.      But even that is a bit narrow.

                                                             v.      So here is the best definition of grace that I can give you.

                                                           vi.      It is God’s power which he grants to people according to His free will, to enable them to be, receive, or do something which they are unable to be, get, or do on their own.

                                                          vii.      And indeed, we could not be worthy of God’s call on our own. We could walk worthy of that call on our own.

                                                        viii.      And we certainly were not able to take His name or be in His family by the strength of our own efforts or will.

                                                            ix.      Who among us chose their name? You may have had an opportunity to change your name. But none here chose their name.

                                                             x.      Our salvation, from beginning to end, is all a work of God’s grace.

d.       [Slide 14] Summary of the Point: And so, Paul reveals that after the necessary process of being counted worthy and walking worthy of God’s effectual call, not only will the Thessalonians glorify the name of Jesus but they will also be glorified by bearing His name. Paul summarizes that all of this saving work from beginning to end is the work of God and His grace. Therefore, we must be counted worthy and walk worthy of the effectual call of God.

 

Conclusion:

So, what have we learned today that refines our beliefs and guides our lifestyles?

 

Basic Concepts of Faith and Practice:

[Slide 15] Paul’s prayer starts at the end, where those rewarded for obeying the gospel are glorifying Christ. So, his prayer is that they would walk the only path that leads to them glorifying Christ in the air at His return. He prays that God counts them worthy and that they walk worthy of God’s effectual call on their lives. So that they can glorify Christ and in His name be glorified themselves. Of course, all of this is according to the grace of God and Jesus Christ. Since this is the only path that delivers believers to His side, and since all true believers will meet Him in the air, this is the path all true believers must walk. So, we too must be counted worthy and walk worthy of the effectual call of God.

 

But what does all this mean, and how do we do it? 

 

1.)    [Slide 16] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that all of salvation is by the grace of God.

a.       Understanding God’s grace is perhaps one of the greatest personal lessons the Lord has taught me since being your pastor.

b.       Ten years ago, I understood God’s grace to be, mostly, kindness.  

c.       But I now realize how cheap my understanding of grace really was.

d.       I heartily affirmed the definition, unmerited favor… but truthfully didn’t comprehend exactly what that meant.

e.       And even understanding the words can lead us right back to… kindness. God is kind to us and we don’t deserve it.

f.        But as I studied, I realized that this is really a drop in the bucket of what God’s grace really is.

g.       Others have said, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. A fine definition. But, alas, it could simply mean… kindness. God gives His riches through Christ’s sacrifice to us because He is kind to us.

h.       But all these definitions fall short of a biblically consistent view of the word… grace.

i.         Let me define it with a word picture.

j.         Imagine you are sailing in an motorless sailboat on the Mediterranean Sea. While heading for your destination, the wind suddenly stops. No matter how many sails you unfurl and in which direction, there is no wind to catch. You are stranded. In this position, you are completely subject to the wind. Nothing you do can actually affect your progress toward your destination. Suddenly, a strong wind kicks up and pushes you, not to the destination you wanted to go, but to another. When you land you find out that the destination you desired was overrun by bandits and everyone there was killed.

k.       This is a great illustration of God’s grace.

e.       God’s grace is His power which He grants to people according to His free will, to enable them to be, receive, or do something which they are unable and unwilling to be, get, or do on their own.

l.         Since we are sinners from birth, children of wrath, and sons of our father the devil, we are not righteous and we do not even seek God. The destination we wish to go is toward a city destined for destruction.

m.     God’s grace fills our sails and propels us toward a destination of His own choosing. We don’t seek Him, He seeks us.

n.       Now, there are certainly aspects of human agency. We are commanded to repent. We are commanded to believe on Christ and what He has accomplished. We are commanded to walk worthy of the calling we’ve been given.

o.       But we must recognize that no matter what we are commanded to do, without God’s power which He gives when and to whom He chooses, we can never obey any of those commands. We cannot even obey the command of the gospel to believe on Christ, without God’s grace first enabling us to do so.

p.       That is what Paul means when he says that salvation is by grace, through faith, not of ourselves, but a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.

q.       Grace comes first, like a wind, unseen and not in our control. Then once we are moved by grace, we can believe in Christ, and we are saved.

r.        In this way, as Paul makes clear in this passage, all glory goes to God for our salvation. For even our belief would not be possible if He did not enable us to believe.

s.        And since salvation is by grace, it produces a predictable trajectory of every single believer’s salvation, which leaves no room for interruption or uncertainty.

2.)    [Slide 17] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the events of salvation are an identical unbroken chain beginning with God’s foreknowledge and ending with our glorification.   

a.       This passage, as I have already said, has a lot of similarities to both Romans 8:29-30 and Philippians 2:12-13. Since Paul wrote all three of these texts and one around the same time as he wrote 2 Thessalonians, I took the liberty of cobbling together the sequence of salvation according to Paul.

b.       [Slide 18] On the screen behind me, Romans 8 is in blue, 2 Thessalonians 1 is in red, and Philippians 2 is in purple. The italicized words in black are merely words I have filled in to help connect the contexts together.

c.       This is the redemptive story of every single person who God has elected for salvation. And not only does every single believer follow this sequence, there is no interruption or break. Meaning if the sequence is truly started by God, it will not end until it is completed.

d.       Let’s look…

e.       Those whom He foreknew, He also predestined... and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (counted worthy of His call and His Kingdom) and those whom He justified, He also… conformed to the image of His Son by completing in power their resolve for good and every work of faith to work out their own salvation in fear and trembling for it is God who is at work in [them} both to will and to work for His good pleasure and those whom He conformed to the image of His Son, The name of the Lord Jesus will be glorified in [them] and He also (will glorify) glorified [them] in Him so that all His salvation from beginning to end is according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

f.        From God’s foreknowledge or His foreordination, to His glorifying us in Christ, and everything in between, it is one unbroken chain.

g.       Those whom God foreordained will be glorified.

h.       Since this is true… what must we do?

3.)    [Slide 19] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must pray that God completes our salvation.

a.       Just because He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it, does not mean we don’t need to pray for our own and one another’s salvation.

b.       Oftentimes when we talk about praying for others to be saved, we mean for them to be justified.

c.       Certainly, from what we just saw, this is not a bad thing. For if they are justified, they will be glorified.

d.       But Paul provides a pattern for us. He is reasonably sure that the Thessalonian church is elect of God because He saw the gospel come upon them in the power of the Holy Spirit. He has seen them grow. He has seen them mature.

e.       And yet, both his letters to them are FILLED with prayers for them to be saved… ultimately.

f.        We are often tempted to stop praying for someone when they profess Christ. Because, try as we might, we still think of salvation as a one-time, check box experience.

g.       My friends… Our salvation is ongoing. We are still being saved. We are still being reordered. We are still being redeemed.

h.       God has more for us in this great salvation.

i.         So let us continue to pray for one another. That we would continue to be saved, and that God would save us fully and completely one day.

j.         Pray through the member directory. Pray through the prayer list. Pray that God would keep saving everyone on that list who has made a profession.

k.       Just because we believe that God will preserve all those whom He has elected to salvation… doesn’t mean we stop praying when we see one event of that salvation occur.

l.         Indeed, our salvation isn’t done… In many ways – especially for us – it has only just begun.

4.)    [Slide 20] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must walk worthy of God’s effectual call.

a.       Since God has us on this new path, a path we are guaranteed to walk if we are truly called by Him…

b.       Then we must walk the path!

c.       The certainty of our salvation does not produce passivity…  it produces action!

d.       And the greatest part is… God supplies our desire and our ability to be what He wants us to be!

e.       He doesn’t leave the tending of or progression in our salvation to our passions or power. He supplies that to us!

f.        So with an assured outcome of success – RISE UP CHRISTIAN and walk worthy of the name of Jesus Christ.

g.       It is a name above every name… and He has given it … TO YOU!

h.       He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings… and He has given YOU His name.

i.         So get off the bench! It is time to live uprightly. It is time to obey His commands. It is time to make disciples. It is time to serve each other. It is time to share the gospel. It is time to grow in the knowledge of Christ.

j.         GET IN THE GAME! There is no fear of failure.

k.       In fact…

5.)    [Slide 21] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” When God calls us, He is faithful to complete us, and glorify us.

a.       Is there a greater comfort available?

b.       We often talk about salvation in reference to sin. And we should. That is a message that often gets neglected in many churches today.

c.       We are saved from sin’s power, penalty, and eventually its very presence.

d.       And I still believe that one of the greatest parts of heaven is never dealing with temptation again.

e.       But listen…

f.        God’s plan for your salvation is not so narrow.

g.       He will honor you. Not because you deserve it. Not because you’ve earned it. But because CHRIST has earned it and given you HIS NAME!

h.       We will reign with Christ.

i.         We will be part of a council where we contribute to the rule of His eternal kingdom.

j.         We will judge angels.

k.       We will be in the royal court. Dukes, duchesses, princes and princesses.

l.         My friends. We went from children of wrath… to royalty. How? The King left heaven and sought for Himself a bride. He purchased Her with His precious blood. And He will come back for Her and take Her to His Kingdom.

m.     Is there a greater comfort available my friends?

n.       If there is… I don’t think my heart could take it. For this comfort… leaves me… speechless.

6.)    [Slide 22] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” You can’t do anything to save yourself or force God to save you. You must be called.

a.       This is a difficult message for you to hear.

b.       Why?

c.       Because even though it is something you should do… ultimately, you can’t do it.

d.       God must do it.

e.       The application… is humility.

f.        In order to be called of God, you must be counted worthy of the call… by God.

g.       Again, counted worthy is not something you earn or something you inherently have. Counted worthy is a legal verdict implying that you are not actually what you have been counted to be.

h.       And indeed, the first step of obeying the gospel… the first step in any person who is being called of God, is to recognize your wickedness and unworthiness.

                                                               i.      As a negative example, the rich young ruler came to Jesus wanting to know how to enter the Kingdom of heaven. He called Jesus a good teacher, to which Jusus asked, why do you call me good, there is none good but God. An interesting statement designed to get the young man thinking about whether or not he understood what goodness really was. Of course this goes right over his head, so Jesus answers his original question. Jesus told him that he must keep the law. Jesus even gives examples of some of the laws that it is impossible to break secretly, like not murdering, committing adultery, lying, or loving others as he loves himself. Really this is the last 6 commands of the 10 emphasizing human relationships to one another. It is true, in the sense that a person must perfectly keep the whole law to be worthy of God’s Kingdom. But, again, this was a gambit, a riddle designed to get the young man to consider how sinful he really was; to humble him. But again, it goes right over his head, because he assures Jesus that he had kept all of these laws from his youth. So, Jesus applies the first half of the 10 commandments and tells the young man to sell all that he has and follow Him. Thus, showing that he loves God with all of himself. Of course, the young man goes away sorrowful because he realizes that he does not love God more than he loves his money.

                                                             ii.      Interestingly, some scholars think that this rich young man was actually Saul of Tarsus. The author of this book we are studying now.

i.         What the rich young man needed, and what Paul received on the road to Damascus, was the sudden and abrupt understanding of how far from God they actually were.

j.         And that is the real application here.

k.       My friend… there is NOTHING you can do to force God to save you from His own wrath. He is just to send you to eternal death away from His mercy and His saving power.

l.         There isn’t a prayer you can pray, a list of facts you can believe, or a lifestyle you can live that will force God to call you to be His child.

m.     You must be counted worthy of His call. That is the position you are in. Utterly… and completely… helpless.

n.       And the interesting thing about that… is that those who arrive at this conclusion. When you are truly convinced that there is nothing you can do… that is usually the first evidence… that God is calling you.

o.       Why?

p.       Because natural man never concludes that he is helpless. Natural man always assumes he is able to do something. How do I know that?

q.       Out of every single movie where mankind faces an insurmountable enemy that cannot be beaten, how many movies do you know where mankind goes extinct and that is the end of the story?

r.        Every single religion in the world and even some strands of Christianity teach that you can earn by works what God is offering. If you just do X,Y, and Z then you will get what God offers.

s.        Christianity teaches that the thing you must do… is be perfect. And since you can’t do that… there is nothing you can do to get salvation from God.

t.        No… He has to do it all.

u.       Perhaps, today, you are realizing this for the first time. You, unlike the rich young ruler, have recognized how helpless you are to get salvation from God. 

v.       This friends, is evidence that God may be calling you. How does He link you to the verdict of “worthy”? When He enables you to obey the gospel, abandon your sin, and believe on Jesus Christ as your Savior and your King.

w.     Won’t you step out and obey the gospel today? Won’t you fall on His mercy and hope in His grace? Won’t you believe on Christ?

x.       If that is you today – don’t leave without talking to an Elder or someone you know to be a Christian.

 

[Slide 23 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the Puritan Phillip Doddridge.

 

Ever-blessed fountain of natural and spiritual life! I thank you that I live, and that I may live a faith-filled life. I bless you that you breathe into me your own living breath.


Though I was once dead in my sins, now I have become a living soul, in a sense that is unique to your own children.


But I do not just want to live. I want to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
(2 Peter 3:18).


So I beg you to form my mind in the image of faith. Do not let me misunderstand grace, measuring my growth in grace by a natural yardstick.


Let me experience your love even more, with unreserved resignation to your wise and holy will, and a greater care for others.


Strengthen my soul as you help me grow in patience, in humility and zeal, and in a heavenly attitude. Give me a concern to be accepted by you (2 Corinthians 5:9).


Whether I live or die, let everything I do be for your glory.


You know I hunger and thirst after righteousness. Make me whatever you want me to be.

 

Draw your image on my soul. By the gentle influences of your Spirit, trace every feature which your eye, o Heavenly Father, may enjoy, and which you may see as your own image.


I know I am not yet where I should be. I am far from being already perfect. But after the great example of the apostle, I forget what lies behind, and strain forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13).


Feed my soul by your word and by your Spirit. …As a newborn babe, I desire the sincere milk of the word, that by it I may grow 1 Peter 2:2).


And may my progress be obvious to all (1 Timothy 4:15) until I finally reach maturity, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).


And after having enjoyed the pleasure of those that flourish in your courts below, I will come to live in the paradise above! I ask and hope this through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ-to whom be glory, both now and forever. Amen.

 

Benediction:

And now hear from the God Who dwells in the

heavenly Zion:

Blessed is the one Who He chooses to dwell in His

courts,

For He will satisfy your house with goodness and by awesome deeds,

Answer all who trust in Him with a hearty Amen!

 

Until we meet again, Grace and Peace to you.]]></description>
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				<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 10:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[03 II Thessalonians 1:5-10 God's Perfect Justice]]></title>
				<category>Podcast</category>
				<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher C. Freeman]]></itunes:author>
				<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Title: God’s Perfect Justice Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 FCF: We often struggle believing that God’s justice is perfect when we suffer for His name. Prop: Because God’s justice will punish the guilty and reward the righteous, we must trust in His p]]></itunes:subtitle>
				<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Title: God’s Perfect Justice

Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

FCF: We often struggle believing that God’s justice is perfect when we suffer for His name.

Prop: Because God’s justice will punish the guilty and reward the righteous, we must trust in His perfect justice.

 

Scripture Intro: ESV

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. In a moment we’ll begin reading from the English Standard Version starting in verse 5. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer.

 

After greeting them and thanking the Lord for their growth and endurance in suffering, Paul wants to attack a couple topics all at once. First, he wants to comfort them in the midst of their persecution and second, he wants to clear up some teaching on the Day of the Lord. For the next two chapters, this will be his objective.

 

This passage is riddled with interpretational difficulties, which could keep us from seeing it’s comforting and impactful application. But this gives me a chance to teach a lesson alongside the message of this text.

 

When we come to passages that are difficult to interpret, there are two dangers that we could run into.

 

First, is the danger of ignorance. When you only read 1 study bible or only have one commentary, or only rely on what you think the passage says – then you’ll never even know the interpretational options that have been posited down through the church age. The danger here is that the interpretation that you arrived at may be poorly attested for several reasons, or as you engage with others on the passage you might be overcome with pride and dismiss any other option than what you’ve seen.

 

The second danger is the danger of getting bogged down in the details. We might even get discouraged when we see that there is really no clear-cut way to understand the passage. But it has been my experience that even passages that have no settled interpretation down through the church age – ultimately the basic meaning of the text… what bible interpreters call the telos… remains the same.

 

For the purposes of this sermon, I intend to present a focused interpretation driving to the telos of the passage so we can apply it to our lives today. That is my goal.

 

I will mention options of interpretation and briefly defend why I am interpreting the text in a specific way. But I do not intend to provide the full argument of each view.

 

Now if you are one of those people who just has to know the details, I’ve done my homework. I’ve spent hours researching this and most of what I found is not going to make it into this sermon. But I promise, if you ask or come to prayer group and bible study Thursday – We’ll talk about it.

 

That being said, we have… A LOT to get to. So please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Perfectly Just God, You are perfect in all your ways. We do not have any trouble appreciating Your delay in justice when it is applied to our account. For had You not been merciful to us while we were yet sinners, we would have been cast from Your presence long ago. Yet when we see Your mercy applied to those who hate us, those who harm us, those who abuse us, those who slander us, or even those who spit on your laws and abuse others, we often are tempted to doubt that Your justice is perfect. Forgive us this treachery Lord. May we believe that Your justice is perfect. May we hope...]]></itunes:summary>
				<description><![CDATA[Title: God’s Perfect Justice

Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

FCF: We often struggle believing that God’s justice is perfect when we suffer for His name.

Prop: Because God’s justice will punish the guilty and reward the righteous, we must trust in His perfect justice.

 

Scripture Intro: ESV

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. In a moment we’ll begin reading from the English Standard Version starting in verse 5. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer.

 

After greeting them and thanking the Lord for their growth and endurance in suffering, Paul wants to attack a couple topics all at once. First, he wants to comfort them in the midst of their persecution and second, he wants to clear up some teaching on the Day of the Lord. For the next two chapters, this will be his objective.

 

This passage is riddled with interpretational difficulties, which could keep us from seeing it’s comforting and impactful application. But this gives me a chance to teach a lesson alongside the message of this text.

 

When we come to passages that are difficult to interpret, there are two dangers that we could run into.

 

First, is the danger of ignorance. When you only read 1 study bible or only have one commentary, or only rely on what you think the passage says – then you’ll never even know the interpretational options that have been posited down through the church age. The danger here is that the interpretation that you arrived at may be poorly attested for several reasons, or as you engage with others on the passage you might be overcome with pride and dismiss any other option than what you’ve seen.

 

The second danger is the danger of getting bogged down in the details. We might even get discouraged when we see that there is really no clear-cut way to understand the passage. But it has been my experience that even passages that have no settled interpretation down through the church age – ultimately the basic meaning of the text… what bible interpreters call the telos… remains the same.

 

For the purposes of this sermon, I intend to present a focused interpretation driving to the telos of the passage so we can apply it to our lives today. That is my goal.

 

I will mention options of interpretation and briefly defend why I am interpreting the text in a specific way. But I do not intend to provide the full argument of each view.

 

Now if you are one of those people who just has to know the details, I’ve done my homework. I’ve spent hours researching this and most of what I found is not going to make it into this sermon. But I promise, if you ask or come to prayer group and bible study Thursday – We’ll talk about it.

 

That being said, we have… A LOT to get to. So please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Perfectly Just God, You are perfect in all your ways. We do not have any trouble appreciating Your delay in justice when it is applied to our account. For had You not been merciful to us while we were yet sinners, we would have been cast from Your presence long ago. Yet when we see Your mercy applied to those who hate us, those who harm us, those who abuse us, those who slander us, or even those who spit on your laws and abuse others, we often are tempted to doubt that Your justice is perfect. Forgive us this treachery Lord. May we believe that Your justice is perfect. May we hope and trust in it. And if there are those who are not Your children here today, may You give them a new heart to fear Your justice and repent and believe on Your Son. Meet with us today Lord, and assure us of Your perfect justice. We pray this In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “Without justice, what are kingdoms but great banditries?” Augustine of Hippo

 

“Justice always makes mercy dumb when sin has made the sinner deaf.” Thomas Brooks

 

“The bible insists that God is entirely just, and that therefore ultimately justice will be done and will be seen to be done.” D.A. Carson

 

“Belief in a just God is not optional.” Jay Poppinga

 

“Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.” Thomas Jefferson

 

Let these thoughts prepare you for the exposition of the text this morning.

 

I.)                  God will repay those who harm us and give us rest when Christ is revealed, so we must trust His righteous justice.  (5-7)

a.       [Slide 4] 5 - This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God,

                                                               i.      Right off the bat we have an interpretational issue.

                                                             ii.      Paul begins this sentence with the word “evidence.” The words, “this is” have been added by the ESV primarily to help it feel more natural in English.

                                                           iii.      So, what is the evidence of the righteous judgement of God?

                                                           iv.      Well, before we address that, we should probably try to understand what God’s righteous judgment is, since figuring that out will help us determine what could be the evidence for it.

                                                             v.      Even a cursory reading of this text forces us to see God’s righteous judgment as His holy and right application of justice, both in meting out judgment to the wicked and in rewarding the righteous.

                                                           vi.      But perhaps even more correctly, we might say that Paul is talking about God’s delayed but assured righting and reordering of the world to the way it should be.

                                                          vii.      So now that we understand what God’s righteous judgment is… let’s look at the options for what the evidence of it could be…

                                                        viii.      There are two different interpretations.

1.       The biggest category is that the evidence is something that the apostle has already said. This actually divides into four different views, really debating on how far we go backward.

2.       The second option is that Paul is not referring to something that has been said but is about to present the evidence of God’s reordering of the world to the way it should be.

3.       In my opinion, the only real option that actually gives evidence that God is reordering the world to be as it should is that the Thessalonians, former pagans and idol worshippers, are growing abundantly and enduring suffering. This proves that God is in the process of reordering the world.

                                                            ix.      But what will be the end of that process for the Thessalonians? They might be wondering this because they are currently enduring a lot of persecution for their faith. What is God’s plan for justice for them?

b.       [Slide 5] that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God,

                                                               i.      God’s reordering of the world to reward the righteous and to punish the wicked has the outcome of the Thessalonians being counted worthy of the Kingdom of God.

                                                             ii.      God has begun a process which He will complete. He has not forgotten them just because He is delaying justice upon those who are afflicting them.

                                                           iii.      God doesn’t begin people on the road to Christlikeness whom He does not intend to finish. He will perfect them and transfer them into His Kingdom. A Kingdom…

c.       [Slide 6] for which you are also suffering—

                                                               i.      They are enduring suffering primarily because they have declared their loyalty to Christ and His Kingdom.

                                                             ii.      Paul recognizes this and wants to assure the Thessalonians that God’s justice is not doubtful because they are suffering.

                                                           iii.      The Day of the Lord has not already happened, and those opposing them won’t get away with it.

                                                           iv.      No, they haven’t yet gotten their reward for following Him.

                                                             v.      But their growth and endurance is the evidence they should look to that God who began a good work in them, will complete it.

                                                           vi.      Jesus Himself said that those who endure suffering for His sake are blessed indeed.

                                                          vii.      And Paul assures the Thessalonians that they are indeed blessed. So blessed, that they will be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which they suffer.  

d.       [Slide 7] 6 - since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

                                                               i.      Paul begins this next verse with the word “Since.”

                                                             ii.      This poses a challenge for us because it is the beginning of an “if…then” statement but Paul never actually gives us the “then.”

                                                           iii.      I would encourage us to think that the then has already been stated.

                                                           iv.      Paul’s “then” is the fact that God is in the process of reordering the world with the assured outcome that the Thessalonians will be counted worthy of the kingdom they are suffering for, which is evidenced by their growth and endurance in faith and love. So, what must be true for all this to be the case?

                                                             v.      Paul points to the Old Testament teaching of retribution. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

                                                           vi.      Now we’ve seen, even in Paul’s last letter, that it is inappropriate for the church to have this philosophy. We must return good for evil. We must forgive. We must love our enemy. We must turn the other cheek.

                                                          vii.      But God… God is a different story.

                                                        viii.      God is the ultimate keeper of the teaching of retribution. He will take what has been taken. He will give what has been given. He will punish and reward exactly what has been earned. No more and no less. And He alone is in a position to do this perfectly.

                                                            ix.      Since God sees justice this way – His justice is perfect, and He won’t ignore the fact that they suffer for His Kingdom.

                                                             x.      But what else is true that assures the outcome of verse 5?

e.       [Slide 8] 7 - and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels

                                                               i.      In the law of retribution God also rewards what has been earned.

                                                             ii.      The reward for the Thessalonians is that they are counted worthy of the Kingdom. Which is the outcome of God setting things right as evidenced by their lives being transformed.

                                                           iii.      And Paul actually lumps himself and Silas and Timothy in this too. They too will get relief. They will be given rest by God.

                                                           iv.      But we see the timetable for this, clearly spelled out.

                                                             v.      When? When will God finally afflict those who are afflicting His people and give rest to the afflicted? When?

                                                           vi.      When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.

                                                          vii.      When Jesus returns, that will be when the world is finally put to order. That will be when all things will be set right.

                                                        viii.      This then, is clear indication that the Day of the Lord… has not happened yet. Which is Paul’s thrust all the way through chapters 1 and 2.

                                                            ix.      The reason they are still experiencing this affliction and persecution… is not because the Day of the Lord has come… instead it is because the Day of the Lord has not yet come.

f.        [Slide 9] Summary of the Point: Paul’s point here is really to provide encouragement and assurances to the Thessalonian church. He wants them to understand that their suffering is not something that slipped by the Lord, it isn’t something the Lord can do nothing about, and it isn’t something the Lord is ambivalent toward. God’s justice is right, holy, multifaceted, and executed in His perfect timing. He will repay those who harm His people and He will give His people rest when Christ is revealed. Why? Because His justice is right and good. Indeed, God has already begun His reordering of the world and the evidence is in our hearts growing to be more like Him and enduring through suffering for His name. So, we must trust His perfect justice. Its extent and its timing. He is good and He is just.

 

Transition:

[Slide 10 (blank)] Paul begins with the Thessalonians personally as a church, but he wishes to zoom out and show the greater principle of the Lord’s Justice and reordering the whole world.

 

II.)                God will punish the wicked and reward the righteous when Christ is revealed, so we must trust His righteous justice. (8-10)

a.       [Slide 11] 8 - in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

                                                               i.      Here we see our second and third interpretational issue in the first three words of verse 8.

                                                             ii.      Since there are Old Testament prophesies concerning the Day of the Lord which suggest that the vengeance of Yahweh comes in flaming fire, I see the fire as part of His vengeance. This actually solves both the interpretational issues in one fell swoop.   

                                                           iii.      So, what is Paul saying?

                                                           iv.      Paul now is addressing all of humanity under the law of retribution. All the wicked and all the righteous will be judged at the coming of Christ.

                                                             v.      First, Paul focuses on the wicked. Jesus will come with a flaming fire to repay and punish a certain group of people.

                                                           vi.      Some commentators see two groups of people here, but really there is just one.

                                                          vii.      Over the next three verses Paul will have a triad of couplets which are designed in parallelism to explain who or what is happening.

                                                        viii.      The group whom the Lord will inflict vengeance on and repay for their wickedness is those who do not know God and those who have not obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

                                                            ix.      Jesus said that there is no way to the Father but through Him. He also said that if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father. Jesus’ words are very clear and we noticed this in Acts as well. The chokepoint for knowing Yahweh… is through believing on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

                                                             x.      But what do we do with this phrase, obey the gospel? Isn’t the gospel by grace, through faith, in Christ and not of works? If we are obeying the gospel, doesn’t that mean we are earning it somehow?

                                                            xi.      [Slide 12] Paul addresses this in Romans 10:16.

                                                          xii.      Paul, speaking of the hope for salvation for the Jews, says this… “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord who has believed what he has heard from us?” So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

                                                        xiii.      So, we see here very clearly that to not obey the gospel is to not believe the word of Christ as communicated from Christ to His apostles.  

                                                        xiv.      And the gospel does demand belief or unbelief from every single man, woman, and child. You cannot hear the gospel and leave undecided. Why? Because even faith is a gift of God. The gospel is either embraced or it is rejected. There is no third option.

                                                          xv.      All who do not believe the gospel and submit to Christ as their Savior and their Lord, do not know God, and all will fall to the flaming fire of Christ’s vengeance.

                                                        xvi.      But what will be the outcome of the flaming fire punishment? Is this just speaking of physical death?

b.       [Slide 13] 9 - They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction,

                                                               i.      This verse is incredibly important to a proper understanding of the fate of the unbeliever. IT IS HUGE!

                                                             ii.      To help us I’ve broken the verse in to two parts so we can get everything out of it we need to.

                                                           iii.      There is a movement growing in Christendom, affecting even those in our circles of theology.

                                                           iv.      It is the belief in annihilationism. This belief is that the punishment that God gives to unbelievers is designed to burn away their sin debt to the extent that when it is finally paid, they would be consumed and cease to exist.

                                                             v.      They cite God’s love and mercy and show how many passages that refer to this judgment reference fires burning for eternity but not necessarily those who are in those fires being consumed eternally.

                                                           vi.      This verse is an absolute wrecking ball to that belief.

                                                          vii.      Let’s break this down word by word.

1.       They – This is the subject of the sentence. Those who do not know God because they have not obeyed the gospel.

2.       Will suffer – This is a future active indicative verb, there is no suggestion of conditionality here, meaning it isn’t uncertain or possible only when certain conditions are met. To suffer means to pay, to experience, to atone for or to endure.

3.       destruction – This is not the next word in the English sentence but this is the direct object. This is what they will suffer or endure. Destruction here means ruin, corruption, or death. I do grant that ruin, corruption, and death, at least as we know it, all end. A think cannot be in the process of ruining forever. Eventually it comes to ruin. I grant this… but let’s keep going.

4.       The punishment – This is an adverbial accusative. Meaning it modifies the verb to suffer while also applying to the direct object. What are they suffering? A certain kind of destruction. What kind? Punishment means:  Penalty, or the consequences of their actions. A corruption, ruin, or death that is just or right. It is fitting. They suffer what they have earned.

5.       Eternal – This is an adjective, meaning it modifies a noun. Eternal modifies the direct object, destruction in this sentence. Eternal means without end, perpetual, everlasting, or for an age.

6.       Proponents of the annihilationist view suggest that the meaning “for an age” should be taken here and this supports their view. However, nothing in scripture indicates to us that the next age ever ends. In fact, the scripture seems to tell us that the next age is forever. Which doesn’t actually help prove their case.

7.       So, the ruin they suffer, the death they experience, the corruption they endure… is everlasting or perpetual or for the entire duration of the next age which is unending.

8.       Meaning what?

9.       Those who do not obey the gospel and know God, will endure everlasting death as the righteous consequence of their unbelief. Even though we see death as an end… the adjective “everlasting” means by definition that it does not end.

10.   Therefore, they will not be annihilated.

11.   When we’ve been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun… they will have been there 10,000 years no closer to paying for what they’ve done.

12.   And remember how Paul said that God considers the teaching of retribution to be just… if indeed God requires eternal death from those who are unbelievers, that means that sin in general, especially the sin of rejecting Christ, is a sin that cannot ever be paid by humans. Even if they were given an eternal age to do so.

13.   This should sharpen our understanding of God’s perspective of sin.

                                                        viii.      But now Paul adds another phrase that is just as important for us to dissect. And it is still in verse 9.

                                                            ix.      I told ya – HUGE VERSE.

c.       [Slide 14] away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

                                                               i.      First, observe that this is another couplet. The presence of the Lord and the glory of His might are parallel in their structure. The glory of His might is necessarily part of and an expression of His presence.

                                                             ii.      But again, we see another interpretational difficulty.

                                                           iii.      What is meant by “away from.”

                                                           iv.      There are three basic options but in a sense all of these say essentially the same thing.

                                                             v.      In my opinion what makes the most sense given the rest of the context of the New Testament, is that eternal death and being separated eternally from the presence of God are in essence the same thing.

                                                           vi.      However, arriving at this conclusion poses a small dilemma for us.

                                                          vii.      We often confess that God is omnipresent. What does that mean?

                                                        viii.      Well, the prefix omni means all and the suffix, present, means at a particular place. When we combine those thoughts, we get the idea that God is everywhere. And this also includes that God is not only every place but every place at every time. God is everywhere and everywhen.

                                                            ix.      God’s presence then is not able to be limited by any created limitation. Time, Space, Matter- were all created by God and cannot limit His presence.

                                                             x.      This is all well and good – but what do we make of this verse?

                                                            xi.      If unbelievers suffer the penalty of eternal destruction which is being “away” from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, where and when in creation is God not present?

                                                          xii.      Does this mean that God is not truly omnipresent?

                                                        xiii.      No. It doesn’t. There are two clues in this verse that help us here.

                                                        xiv.      First, and less obvious, is the parallel phrase “and from the glory of His strength,”

1.       Paul’s inclusion of this phrase requires us to think of God in parts and pieces. He is a unified God and is One, but the unbeliever is specifically away from an aspect of God’s character. Specifically, His glorious strength.

2.       Meaning what?

3.       He won’t rescue them. God will never choose to use His strength to save them.

4.       Well, how could He if He isn’t present with them?

5.       Exactly…

                                                          xv.      [Slide 15] But the best clue is actually the word translated here “presence.”

                                                        xvi.      But this word is not merely being in the same place. Instead, this word is, being in front of or face-presence.

1.       Consider this, if you walk in the break room at your job and 1 person is facing the coffee machine getting coffee and another person is staring at some posters on the wall, and another is playing on their phone – would you conclude as you walked in that these co-workers were enjoying each other’s company?

2.       No. Of course not. Its possible they hate each other and are trying hard to ignore each other.

3.       If you walked in and they were all sitting around a circle table looking at each other… before you even knew if they were talking to each other, you’d assume some level of closeness or comradery.

                                                       xvii.      Paul is not saying that the unbeliever will be cast away from the spatial presence of God. For God is everywhere. As David says, if I make my bed in hell, you are there.

                                                     xviii.      Instead, Paul is saying that the KIND of God’s presence is radically different than the presence He gives to His elect. More on that in a moment.

                                                        xix.      His presence to them is also now, tragically, different than the kind of presence He had for them on earth.

                                                          xx.      God sends rain upon the just and the unjust. He causes the sun to shine on the wicked and the righteous. God’s presence in the lives of the unbeliever in this life is one of relative closeness. Paul told the Athenians at the Areopagus that the Lord is not far off.

                                                        xxi.      But after the Lord Jesus returns, part of the flaming fire, part of the eternal destruction, is being cast away from the benevolent and powerful presence of God.

                                                       xxii.      In other words, God is still present. But He limits His presence there. It is not a merciful presence. It is not a saving presence. It is, instead, only a presence of justice and wrath.

                                                     xxiii.      So, we’ve seen the fate of the wicked. What about the fate of the righteous? What is their rest?

d.       [Slide 16] 10 - when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

                                                               i.      This is the third couplet Paul introduces in as many verses. Therefore, we should not assume that the saints and the believers are two different groups but just like those who disobey the gospel are the same as those who do not know God, and just as the glory of God’s might is an expression of His presence, so also saying “all who have believed” is another way of describing Christ’s holy ones.

                                                             ii.      Notice too here that eternal death is to be cast away from the face-presence of God and His saving power… while eternal life is… what? What is the “rest” of the believer?

                                                           iii.      John 17:3 says that eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

                                                           iv.      Can you know Christ and God better than when you see Him face to face? So, what is eternal life?  

                                                             v.      It is Christ. It is seeing Christ face to face.

                                                           vi.      Indeed, the glory of Christ is on display in the very presence of His saints. They glorify Him. All those who believed on Him will marvel at Him on that day.

                                                          vii.      And in that glory and marveling, they will know eternal life. They will know eternal rest in His presence. And as Paul said in the previous letter, they will never be apart from Him ever again.

                                                        viii.      Then notice that Paul returns to the Thessalonians. He’s been speaking in broad terms since verse 8. But He brings it all the way back to them…

                                                            ix.      Paul actually interrupts his thought to tell them “and that is you! You believed! You will join us there too!” When?

                                                             x.      On that day. On the day of the Lord when Jesus is revealed from heaven.

e.       [Slide 17] Summary of the Point: So, Paul’s second point is an expansion of His first point. God will punish the wicked and reward the righteous when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven. And if this is true, then God’s judgments are indeed just and he will count the Thessalonians worthy of that kingdom because they are showing the evidence that He is already reordering their lives by their growth in faith and love and endurance through suffering for His kingdom. So, what must we do? We must trust that the justice of the Lord is right. We must comfort, hope, and even fear that He will give to every man what they have earned on that great and terrible Day of the Lord.

 

Conclusion:

So, what have we learned today CBC that refines our beliefs and guides how we live?

 

Basics of Faith and Practice:

[Slide 18] Paul expresses his pastoral care for the Thessalonian church who though growing leaps and bounds in their faith, are experiencing increased persecution because of it. In his desire to comfort them and address their concerns about the Day of the Lord, he explains to them that their growth is evidence that God is reordering the world and will count them worthy of His kingdom. Afterall, if God considers the law of retribution to be right, he will repay those who afflict them and give them rest. In fact, God considers the law of retribution right to such a degree, that He will judge all men and rightly reward them for what they have done whether punishment for wickedness or reward for righteousness. He will do this at the Day of the Lord and the revelation of Christ from heaven. In that sense then, Paul challenges the Thessalonians to trust in the perfect justice of God. Not just in who He gives what, but also in His timing of that justice. We too must trust in the perfect justice of God.

 

But what does it mean to trust in His justice? What does this passage mean for us?

 

1.)    [Slide 19] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the justice of God is perfect.

a.       As I mentioned in the opening prayer, we usually have no complaints about God’s justice when it is delayed in mercy for us.

b.       Isn’t that interesting?

c.       When I am the sinner who has wronged another… when I am the wretch who has fallen into sin again and must repent and turn back to the Lord…

d.       I have no complaints about the mercy of God to delay justice for me.

e.       When we were first converted to Christ, we had no complaints about the delayed merciful justice of God so that He could lavish grace upon us to call us to Himself through faith in Christ.

f.        Typically, the only time we have complaints about the justice of God, is when we are the ones being abused and harmed by others. When we are being afflicted or persecuted – that is when we wonder if God is ever going to do something.

g.       In this regard, we are like little children. Trust me I know.

h.       I know what it is like to be the one who is the judge and who is responsible to dole out justice and attempt to set things in order the way they should be.

i.         But I also have two little sinners in my home who are constantly complaining about how I implement justice.

j.         Of course, my justice is NOT perfect. So, maybe they have something to complain about.

k.       But God’s justice…

l.         Oh friends.

m.     His Justice is perfect. Not only in its timing but also in its extent. God will not punish the righteous to the same extent as the wicked.

n.       And don’t forget that on the other side of mercy is wrath. God mercifully permitting others to afflict us or persecute us is also storing up wrath for themselves on the day of judgement.

o.       Though God defers justice, He never cancels it. Though God transfers justice, He never skips it.

p.       Even our sins were not canceled or skipped. Our sins were paid for. The suffering of eternal death… was paid for at the cross by Christ. Christ could pay the eternal death for His people because He was God. And God only accepted His payment because He was human.

q.       God is always Just. And His Justice is always perfect.

2.)    [Slide 20] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm our growth in faith, love and endurance through suffering are evidences of God’s reordering of the world.

a.       God’s justice is also a long game.

b.       If we take the idea of Justice and keep ourselves from defining it too narrowly as only punishment, we can see that God’s justice is actually the reordering and righting of a world gone topsy turvey.

c.       In that sense, when the Lord grows us in His grace to deepen our faith and knowledge of Christ and expand our love for one another, and produce steadfastness and endurance through trials, afflictions, and persecutions…

d.       When God does this in us and we see genuine spiritual growth in our lives – this is the evidence that God is truly and perfectly just.

e.       Why?

f.        Because He is reordering… you.

g.       How are we described prior to conversion?

h.       We are described as dead in sin, lost, lame and blind.

i.         But now we are not only alive but growing, we have been found, we are walking in a new life, and we have seen the light.

j.         God brings order to our chaos.

k.       God’s justice is really nothing more than this.

l.         God will have His creation ordered, one way or another.

m.     One way or another all people will kneel before Christ and confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

n.       But my friend, if He is not doing this in your life today… If he is not reordering you… today…

o.       If God is, for now, showing you mercy and allowing you to sin and to reject Him…

3.)    [Slide 21] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that God’s delay in justice implies His approval.

a.       Be warned friends.

b.       Be warned straying Christian. Be warned Christian in name only. Be warned unbeliever.

c.       God’s permittance of your sin… is not approval. It is mercy.

d.       Mercy is when you do not get what you have earned.

e.       What have we earned by sinning against a holy God?

f.        What is sin?

g.       Sin is any lack of conformity to or breaking of the law of God. Sin is also idolatry which is rejecting or ignoring God in the world He created and instead worshipping something He created.

h.       How should sin be dealt with?

i.         If I created a pot for holding water and it no longer held water… If I designed an app to calculate tips and it always calculated it wrong… If I wrote a book about fixing toilets that was completely false and outdated – what should I do with the things I created?

j.         Since they aren’t good for anything … They are only good for garbage.

k.       The rightful reaction God should have toward us in sin is to immediately and eternally punish us with death.

l.         God’s mercy is allowing people to sin and even endure in sin without immediately casting them into the lake of fire.

m.     He withholds that justice – not because He approves of what we are doing, but because He is merciful.

n.       Don’t be fooled that what you can get away with is somehow ok with God.

o.       We have a culture built on the delusion that God permits things BECAUSE He is loving and accepting. This is a lie. God permits things in mercy, and also in wrath.

p.       God did not destroy the Amorites until what… until their sins earned their destruction.

q.       Sometimes God, mercifully, allows us to sin, so that we EARN our destruction.

r.        That is why I say mercy and wrath are a two-sided coin. They go hand in hand. 

s.        Sometimes, especially for God’s people, mercy is NOT letting us get away with something sinful.

t.        The point is… God’s delay in Justice isn’t always what it seems. We don’t know the mind of God.

u.       So, what should we do?

4.)    [Slide 22] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” As believers, we must trust every aspect of God’s perfect justice.

a.       God has given us explicit promises and commands that we should trust and follow – regardless of what is happening around us or in us.

b.       We are commanded to walk worthy of the calling we’ve been given.

c.       My friends… God’s justice is always perfect. So, we should trust that HE WILL SORT IT OUT.

d.       Let’s not worry about who is getting away with something or who is hiding something.

e.       This is a general caution to all those conspiracy theorists out there.

f.        Listen, I don’t really care if you believe in conspiracies. I don’t really care if you think that there is a secret world government steeped in devil worship and paganism. Because you know what – you might be right!

g.       But don’t spend a lot of time worrying, fretting, or mobilizing to fight against it. Why?

h.       God’s justice is perfect. How are YOU going to improve on it? Exactly?

i.         What DOES God require of you? Live righteously, humbly, and be merciful. Grow in faith, in love for one another, and endure trials and hardships with dependance on Christ.

j.         And then couple this holy living with gospel witness. Make disciples.

k.       This job description of the church as a whole is able to be applied both in a society built on the bible and a society that worships Satan and everything in between.

l.         God is reordering YOU. He is executing His justice on YOU. And that is all the evidence you need to trust that He will reorder the whole world when the Lord Jesus returns.

m.     Be what God has called you to be and trust that God will sort out who gets what… at the end of the age.

n.       But remember genuine Christ follower…

5.)    [Slide 23] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God will reward His people with eternal life, seeing Christ face to face and knowing Him.

a.       Eternal life is knowing God and His Son.

b.       In many ways that begins today. For today you can know God and His Son through the gospel and His revealed Word.

c.       But in another way, real and true knowledge of God and His Christ happens especially, and fully when we see Him face to face.

d.       John says that when we see Him, we will be like Him.

e.       Paul says when we see Him He will be glorified in us as we marvel at His splendor. And we will always be with Him from that day forward.

f.        Oh Christian… one day, you will know justice. All will be right. And because of what Christ has done, you will be rewarded with His glorious and wonderful presence.

g.       That is what that New Kingdom is all about. God living among His people… forever.

h.       What a comfort. Just a few more weary days…

i.         But what if you are a Christian in name only? What if you are an unbeliever? It is just a few more empty days… until what?

6.)    [Slide 24] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” God will punish unbelievers with eternal death away from His merciful and saving presence.

a.       Friends, I don’t want you to suffer eternal punishment. Why?

b.       Not because God is a big meanie who will dole it out. Not because God is unjust to require eternal punishment for sin. Not because God sacrifices Love in order to punish.

c.       God is merciful, just, and love and will still punish unbelievers with eternal death. And His doing so is still merciful, loving, and just.

d.       Why don’t I want you to suffer eternal punishment?

e.       Because that was my fate too.

f.        I was on my way to destruction too. With each sin, I ran hastily and greedily to the fires of hell, tripping over God’s mercy and correction, until finally His grace stopped me in my tracks and showed me His love for me.

g.       God will punish unbelievers with eternal death.

h.       Every human being’s life has been filled, whether they recognize it or not, with the mercy and saving power of God all around them. God gives common grace to all men and allows them to live in His creation – even if they reject or ignore Him.

i.         But one day He will remove that merciful and saving presence and will only surround the wicked with His Just and wrathful presence.

j.         My friends, let today be the day of your salvation. If your heart is stirred to fear and shame… If you are afraid of the just punishment of God and ashamed of your sin against Him… If you recognize all that Christ did for you by taking your punishment and providing your righteousness… then I implore you to cry out to Him in faith.

k.       Confess that He is Lord, believe He is the risen Savior, appeal to Him in trust and dependance… And you will know the justice of God as He begins to reorder your life to fit His Kingdom.

l.         It is not too late.

m.     Talk to an Elder after the service, even before I am finished. Talk to an Elder if you need to obey the gospel.

 

[Slide 25 (end)] Let me close in a prayer by the reformer Myles Coverdale. An English reformer who helped William Tyndale translate the bible into English and actually produced the first printed and complete English translation of the bible called, The Coverdale Bible.

 

O merciful God, preserve our hearts from pride, conceit, and shameful covetousness. Give us grace to abide in your holy work assignment, and to be thankful for your grace. As we keep in mind how easy it is to fall, help us to walk in your fear before you.


For if we stand, we must be careful not to fall, and not look down on those who as yet do not stand.


Help us to continue in your grace, for we have nothing that we did not receive from you. And if, in weakness, we do fall, put your hand under us, Lord. Do not let us despair in sin, but cause us with repentance and sorrow for our offense to turn back to you.


Keep us from despair and from betraying your dearly beloved Son. You send him to us through your gospel. And without him we have no safeguard, but only eternal death and damnation. Keep us from that, good Lord! For your mercies' sake. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Benediction:

May He Who is your light, your strength, your song
and cornerstone,
Prepare you for the fiercest drought and storm;
Quiet your fears and cease your strivings;
That you may know the heights of His love And the depths of His peace.

 

Until we meet again, Grace and Peace to you.]]></description>
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				<title><![CDATA[02 II Thessalonians 1:1-4 Delightful Duty]]></title>
				<category>Podcast</category>
				<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher C. Freeman]]></itunes:author>
				<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Title: Delightful Duty Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4 FCF: We often struggle in submitting to the Lord’s work to grow and preserve us. Prop: Because it is a delightful duty to praise God for an enduring and maturing church, we must be a church who endures]]></itunes:subtitle>
				<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Title: Delightful Duty

Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4

FCF: We often struggle in submitting to the Lord’s work to grow and preserve us.

Prop: Because it is a delightful duty to praise God for an enduring and maturing church, we must be a church who endures in spiritual maturity.

 

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. In a moment we’ll begin reading from the Legacy Standard bible in verse 1. You can follow along in the pew bible turning to the page listed on the screen behind me, or you can follow along in whatever version you prefer.

 

Today we officially begin our exegesis of the second letter to the Thessalonian church from Paul and his companions. If you missed last week, we did look at the introductory material for the book providing the key themes and basic outline. I’ll remind you that there is a fuller outline of the book available on the entry way table. I do reserve the right to make changes to that outline at anytime as I go through the book in a more detailed study. So, some things might get moved around a little or not work out the way I thought they should have - but for the most part this outline will provide a good birds eye view of where we are headed.

 

With that being said, let’s just get right into the book. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Most Gracious Father, we thank You abundantly for Your steadfast love and faithfulness to Your people. Not only do you save us from sin and death, and rescue us from Your holy and righteous wrath, but You do also sanctify us and conform us to the likeness of Your dear Son whom You gave as a substitute. We bid You to send Your Spirit among us today and meet with us to teach us from Your Word. We ask that You would give us the graces we need to live this life enduring in spiritual maturity so that we can be a beacon to a dark world. Teach us we pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “Moving in the right circles is not the same as making progress.” John Blanchard

 

“Many spiritual experiences are possible which do not in and of themselves produce maturity. Rather, it is our response to experiences which will determine our progress in maturity.” Sinclair Furgeson

 

“Some people’s religion reminds me of a rocking horse, which has motion without progress.” Rowland Hill

 

[Slide 3] “Progress is a tide. If we stand still, we will surely be drowned.” Harold Mayfield

 

“Just as the sinner’s despair of any help from himself is the first prerequisite of a sound conversion, so the loss of all confidence in himself is the first essential in the believer’s growth in grace.”  A.W. Pink

 

“All our progress and perseverance are from God.” John Calvin

 

Let these words prepare your mind for the exposition of the Word of God.

 

I.)                  It is a delightful duty to praise God for an enduring and maturing church, so we must be a church who grows in faith and love. (1-3)

a.       [Slide 4] 1 - Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 - Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                               i.      Paul’s introduction here is almost identical to his introduction to the first letter....]]></itunes:summary>
				<description><![CDATA[Title: Delightful Duty

Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4

FCF: We often struggle in submitting to the Lord’s work to grow and preserve us.

Prop: Because it is a delightful duty to praise God for an enduring and maturing church, we must be a church who endures in spiritual maturity.

 

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. In a moment we’ll begin reading from the Legacy Standard bible in verse 1. You can follow along in the pew bible turning to the page listed on the screen behind me, or you can follow along in whatever version you prefer.

 

Today we officially begin our exegesis of the second letter to the Thessalonian church from Paul and his companions. If you missed last week, we did look at the introductory material for the book providing the key themes and basic outline. I’ll remind you that there is a fuller outline of the book available on the entry way table. I do reserve the right to make changes to that outline at anytime as I go through the book in a more detailed study. So, some things might get moved around a little or not work out the way I thought they should have - but for the most part this outline will provide a good birds eye view of where we are headed.

 

With that being said, let’s just get right into the book. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Most Gracious Father, we thank You abundantly for Your steadfast love and faithfulness to Your people. Not only do you save us from sin and death, and rescue us from Your holy and righteous wrath, but You do also sanctify us and conform us to the likeness of Your dear Son whom You gave as a substitute. We bid You to send Your Spirit among us today and meet with us to teach us from Your Word. We ask that You would give us the graces we need to live this life enduring in spiritual maturity so that we can be a beacon to a dark world. Teach us we pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “Moving in the right circles is not the same as making progress.” John Blanchard

 

“Many spiritual experiences are possible which do not in and of themselves produce maturity. Rather, it is our response to experiences which will determine our progress in maturity.” Sinclair Furgeson

 

“Some people’s religion reminds me of a rocking horse, which has motion without progress.” Rowland Hill

 

[Slide 3] “Progress is a tide. If we stand still, we will surely be drowned.” Harold Mayfield

 

“Just as the sinner’s despair of any help from himself is the first prerequisite of a sound conversion, so the loss of all confidence in himself is the first essential in the believer’s growth in grace.”  A.W. Pink

 

“All our progress and perseverance are from God.” John Calvin

 

Let these words prepare your mind for the exposition of the Word of God.

 

I.)                  It is a delightful duty to praise God for an enduring and maturing church, so we must be a church who grows in faith and love. (1-3)

a.       [Slide 4] 1 - Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 - Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                               i.      Paul’s introduction here is almost identical to his introduction to the first letter.

                                                             ii.      He lists himself and his two companions as the authors of the book. Although we know Paul is the primary author with Silas and Timothy providing input.

                                                           iii.      Then he clearly marks out who he is writing to.

                                                           iv.      He writes to the church of the Thessalonians.

                                                             v.      He says that their church is “in” God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                           vi.      Paul once again reminds this largely gentile church that they have inherited a covenant relationship with the God of Israel whereby they are safely “IN” Him.

                                                          vii.      Furthermore, there is one word variation between this greeting and the one from 1 Thessalonians. Paul began with God The Father and here it is God OUR Father.

                                                        viii.      Once again, this shows us that gentile Christians are in the same relationship to Yahweh as Jewish Christians. Jews were known as the children of Israel and were often described as God’s children in the Old Testament.

                                                            ix.      For Paul to refer to the entire church as God’s children is to break down the hard black line between Israel and the church. The fact of the matter is that Redeemed Israel and the church have much more in common then they don’t. We could say that they are virtually synonymous. Not identical, not without distinction. But broadly they are the same.

                                                             x.      And once again Paul gives his standard greeting, especially to churches experiencing hardship or persecution.

                                                            xi.      He prays for or hopes for grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus.

                                                          xii.      Once again, grace is God’s power which He grants to people according to His free will, to enable them to receive or do something which they are unable to get or do for themselves.

                                                        xiii.      And peace can mean peace with men but more than likely carries the Jewish idea of completion and being set to order. That all things would be made right for them.

                                                        xiv.      God alone is the author of these things and He gives these in His timing and according to the counsel of His will alone.

                                                          xv.      With his general greeting done, Paul moves right to the topic at hand.

b.       [Slide 5] 3 - We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is only fitting,

                                                               i.      Once again, we are struck with the generally positive tone of this letter.

                                                             ii.      Some of you were around when we studied Galatians, which was Paul’s first letter he ever wrote.

                                                           iii.      If we compared Paul’s tone from this book with Galatians, we would see a fairly stark contrast.

                                                           iv.      It isn’t difficult to see why. The Galatian church was in the midst of succumbing to heretical teaching that put the requirement of circumcision and becoming a Jew as a prerequisite for any gentile to become a follower of Christ.

                                                             v.      But the Thessalonian church is in no such position.

                                                           vi.      Moving on with this verse…

                                                          vii.      Sometimes when we use the word “ought” we subtly imply that we are not currently doing something.

                                                        viii.      “I ought to exercise more” means, “I am not exercising as much as I should.”

                                                            ix.      However, this is actually a slang usage of the word “ought.”

                                                             x.      “Ought” is actually a great word when you understand that it means obligation or duty.

                                                            xi.      So, Paul is actually saying “We are obligated to give thanks” or “It is our duty to give thanks”

                                                          xii.      Paul is not confessing to the Thessalonian church that he and his companions don’t give thanks to God for them always like they should.

                                                        xiii.      Instead, Paul is saying the opposite of that.

                                                        xiv.      He is saying that they are duty bound, obligated, and feel it necessary to always give thanks to God for them.

                                                          xv.      And he is saying that it is fitting for them to be duty bound to give thanks to God for them.

                                                        xvi.      Well, why?

c.       [Slide 6] because your faith is growing abundantly,

                                                               i.      So, the positive tone of the letter is really tied to their meteoric growth as a church.

                                                             ii.      Though they are less than a year old in their faith, it is growing rapidly.

                                                           iii.      It would be important for us to understand what Paul means by faith here. Because he will use the word twice in this context and each time is different.

                                                           iv.      Faith here takes on the meaning of believing and obeying the teachings from Christ as communicated to them by the evangelists. It is not merely confessing the right things, it is actually growing in the knowledge of Christ to the extent that they are conformed to Him. 

                                                             v.      Therefore, the evangelists have the delightful duty to praise the Lord and be thankful to Him for their growing faith.

                                                           vi.      We noticed this in 1 Thessalonians and we should again notice it here.

                                                          vii.      First, we recognize that there is a cooperative nature to our sanctification.

                                                        viii.      We are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We are told to spur each other to good works. We are commanded to walk worthy of the name we’ve been called to.

                                                            ix.      There is no doubt that there is some level of Christian responsibility associated with our growth in our faith.

                                                             x.      But Paul again minimizes that human side of the equation. He wants to thank God always for the rapidly growing faith of the Thessalonians.

                                                            xi.      In fact, if we look at the language here, we see that he is not thanking God for their effort to grow their faith, He is thanking God for their faith growing rapidly.

                                                          xii.      This is the lesson we take away…

                                                        xiii.      Even our growth in spiritual maturity is ultimately because it is God who works in us to will and to do His good pleasure. God provides the desire and the power to obey Him.

                                                        xiv.      This is why Augustine said, “Give what you command and command what you will.” By this he means that because God gives us the ability to obey Him, He can then command us anything He wishes.

                                                          xv.      But for what else is Paul duty bound to praise the Lord?

d.       [Slide 7] and the love of each one of you all toward one another increases all the more,

                                                               i.      Again, Paul is not thanking God for their efforts to love each other. He is thanking God for the results of their love for each other increasing all the more.

                                                             ii.      In his first letter to them, if you remember, Paul actually prayed for these things to happen and expressed his hope and desire that God would grow these in them. And after hearing that his prayer was answered and God did indeed grow them in faith and cause their love to abound more and more, he has the delightful duty to thank God for this.

                                                           iii.      John says we love because He first loved us. Scholars debate whether John means

1.       We love God because He first loved us

2.       We love others because God first loved us

3.       Or, both.

                                                           iv.      I tend to see it through the systematic lens of all of the scriptures and conclude that it must be both. Clearly, we cannot love God unless He loves us first and opens our eyes to the truth. And clearly, we cannot rightly love other believers if we do not follow the first command to love God with all we are.

                                                             v.      It is therefore, very much, a house of cards. In order to love other believers properly, we must love God with everything we are. And in order to love God, He must have loved us first.

                                                           vi.      Therefore, what Paul says here is crystal clear.

                                                          vii.      The only reason that their love is increasing toward one another, is because God is giving them grace and growing them in their faith and love.

                                                        viii.      Of course there is a human side. We can resist and even quench the Spirit. Paul warned about that in the previous letter.

                                                            ix.      But when we say what Augustine said, we recognize that so long as God is giving us the desire and power to do what He has commanded, then He can command anything from us.

                                                             x.      The Thessalonians had learned this quickly. And for that, Paul has the delightful duty to unceasingly thank the Lord.

e.       [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: Paul then is expressing his thanks to God for the abounding grace of God to grow these Thessalonians in their faith and love. As we saw from the first letter, they were already growing in faith and love. So, they are enduring now in that growth and that makes it his delightful duty to thank God for them. Above physical health, financial solvency, honor, or general maturity, there is nothing that requires a spiritual leader to praise God more than when an individual believer or a church as a whole is graced by God to endure and grow in spiritual maturity. Negatively, there is nothing more disheartening to a spiritual leader than when an individual believer, or the church as a whole, resists or quenches the leading of the Lord. With this in mind, we must follow the example of the Thessalonian church and be a church who grows in faith and in love for one another. It must be something that continues here, in every single person. No one should think they have arrived and have no need to grow because they are saved from hell. Instead, all who are saved from hell are given a desire to live for heaven. We must continue to deepen our knowledge of Christ and to grow in conformity to Him and in our love for those who are His bride with us.

 

[Slide 9 (blank)] Transition: What is the result of the growth of the Thessalonian church’s faith and love? What is the impact that God’s grace to them has had on the universal church?

 

II.)                It is a delightful duty to praise God for an enduring and maturing church, so we must be a church possessing enduring faith amid persecution and affliction. (4)

a.       [Slide 10] 4 - so that we ourselves boast about you among the churches of God

                                                               i.      The words “so that” communicate a result of the previous thought.

                                                             ii.      Paul and his companions are obligated to give thanks to God because of the rapidly growing faith and the increasing brotherly love of the Thessalonian church.

                                                           iii.      The result of the evangelists’ thanksgiving for their growth is that the evangelists are continually pointing to the Thessalonians as an example of what God can do.

                                                           iv.      Paul is not boasting in his effective teaching and leadership, he is not boasting in the Thessalonians’ submission or obedience, he is boasting in Christ and the supernatural change that God can work in His people.

                                                             v.      This isn’t a boast of comparison; this is a boast of praise.

                                                           vi.      So, he isn’t going around Corinth saying, “Why can’t you all be more like the church Thessalonica?”

                                                          vii.      Instead, he is going around saying, “Look at what God is doing with His people in Thessalonica!”

b.       [Slide 11] for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

                                                               i.      The word the LSB translates “for” here doesn’t imply a causal relationship.

                                                             ii.      We might be tempted to see Paul boasting about them because of their perseverance.

                                                           iii.      However, other translations render this as “about” or “concerning” which communicates a content-related connection.

                                                           iv.      Paul is boasting not because of their perseverance but about their perseverance.

                                                             v.      Again, this is emphasizing the result and not necessarily the effort or action.

1.       The Puritan Theologian and commentator John Gill said this about this verse:

2.       [Slide 12] “the apostle elsewhere advises not to glory in men, but only in the Lord; nor was this his practice contrary to his advice, for he did not boast of these persons with respect to their carnal things; he did not glory in their flesh, nor in their riches, nor wisdom, nor strength, nor any external gift; he gloried indeed of their graces, and of the exercise and increase of them: but of these not as of themselves, or as owing to him, and his fellow ministers, but as instances of the grace of God, and for which he gives thanks to Him”

                                                           vi.      The fact that the Thessalonians are persevering, they are remaining strong, they are enduring.

                                                          vii.      That is why he is boasting. But not for that alone.

                                                        viii.      Here we have the second usage of the word faith. And here the word does not mean the teachings of Christ and their obedience. Rather here it means trust.

                                                            ix.      They trust in the promises of Christ and therefore they endure. In fact, there is a necessary relationship between endurance and faith. Many commentators have noted this down through the ages even back to the Reformation.

                                                             x.      Endurance is produced by faith and faith increases in strength as it endures.

                                                            xi.      The Thessalonians’ faith is holding fast and THAT is the content of the boast.

                                                          xii.      And what makes it all the more praise worthy, is that they are enduring persecutions and afflictions.

                                                        xiii.      It is one thing to hold fast to faith and endure when life is difficult. It is quite another to hold fast and endure in your faith when you are actively being treated poorly or harmed because of it.

                                                        xiv.      Entire letters in the New Testament are written to people who are considering abandoning their faith because it is causing these kinds of reactions.

                                                          xv.      Paul is seeing their faith grow in spite of the violent reactions of those around them.

                                                        xvi.      Hence the reason he boasts. 

c.       [Slide 13] Summary of the Point: Paul’s next point provides a natural transition into the first topic he wishes to address with the fledgling church. Persecution. But before he gets to that, he wishes to let them know that their perseverance and their faith in the midst of the afflictions and persecutions they are facing, has provided all the content Paul and the evangelists need to boast in the Lord and what He is doing in them. This then is a repackaging of what he has already said. Enduring spiritual growth is something for which spiritual leaders MUST be thankful to God. And they even express that thanksgiving in a public way. Like toward other churches.  Therefore, we must also be a church who possesses enduring faith amid persecution and affliction.

 

Conclusion:

So, what have we learned today CBC that refines our beliefs and guides our lifestyles?

 

Basics of Faith and Practice:

[Slide 14] Paul greets the Thessalonian church and goes right to commending and praising the Lord for all that has been done in their assembly. The evangelists are thankful to God and are publicly praising God for the Thessalonian church’s endurance in spiritual maturing even amid persecution and affliction. Spiritual leaders are obligated to praise God for an enduring and maturing church. It is a wonderful duty. Nothing could delight them more than an enduring and maturing church. So how do we become an enduring and maturing church for which God can be praised? We must be a church who grows in our faith and in our love for one another and we must be a church that endures and is faithful amid persecution and affliction. When we submit to God doing these things in us, we become salt and light on the earth and all men must glorify our Father in heaven.  

 

But what are some tangible ways that we can apply this to our lives today? How can we start putting this in to practice today?  

 

1.)    [Slide 15] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that God alone is to be praised and glorified for our growth.

a.       If we are to confess orthodox Christian faith, we must believe that salvation is of the Lord alone.

b.       This is the doctrine of monergism. Monergism comes from the combination of two words, mono meaning “one” and ergon meaning “work.” When combined the word means literally, “The work of one.”

c.       However, even within Christendom, the battle rages on to keep this doctrine pure and free from human contribution.

d.       Many strands of Christendom would heartily confess that salvation is of God alone but paradoxically attempt to include man’s effort in the equation somehow.

                                                               i.      God alone saves us but we must do good works to keep ourselves saved.

                                                             ii.      God alone saves us but we don’t need Him to help us get that salvation.

                                                           iii.      God alone saves us but we must do something to get it from Him.

e.       These are a few examples of certain flavors within Christianity that meddle with this doctrine.

f.        It is important to emphasize that even if we believe in the doctrine of monergism that does not require us to assume that mankind has no agency or responsibility. We’ll talk about this in a second.

g.       But someone who truly believes that salvation is all of God understands that human agency and responsibility must happen AFTER God has already done the work to predestine, foreknow, elect, call, draw, and regenerate a person from being dead in sin to being able now to believe on Christ.

h.       [Slide 16] John 1:12-13 says “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God.”

i.         [Slide 17] Let me give you the Chris paraphrase of this. To everyone who has received Christ as their Savior and Lord, before they received Him, He gave them the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name, indeed God Himself, by His will alone, birthed them into His family so they could believe on His name and receive Him as Savior and Lord.

j.         Human agency and responsibility to believe on Christ is only possible after God does something in each of us individually.

k.       But this doesn’t stop at Justification or conversion. In fact, as we go forward into sanctification, we see something similar happening.

l.         In Philippians 2, Paul commands the Philippian church to work out their salvation. This is a mining term meaning to take a pick axe and work out from the rubble the precious jewels found within.

m.     But then Paul says to do this with fear and trembling. With awe and humility. Why?

n.       Because the one who works IN YOU to will and do His good pleasure is God.

o.       In other words, even in sanctification, God is already working in you to provide your desire to obey His commands… AND… He is working in you to give you the strength to do His commands.

p.       Therefore, we must conclude that even in our growth in Christlikeness and love… we cannot glory in our own efforts. Why?

q.       Because God gave us the desire and the power to do it. All we really did… was not say no. What then is left to brag about?

r.        [Slide 18] If you are getting any glory for your justification or your sanctification… then your theology is wrong.

s.        God alone is to be praised for what we are and what we are becoming.

t.        But… we have another guardrail to raise up here to make sure we don’t go too far.

2.)    [Slide 19] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that we cooperate with God in our enduring spiritual maturity.  

a.       Christian agency and responsibility still exist even in this framework.

b.       Even when we understand that the desire and power for us to obey God comes from God Himself, that doesn’t mean we passively do nothing.

c.       If I need to swing a pick axe and have the desire to swing it and the power to swing it but never swing it… does the work get done?

d.       Of course not.

e.       This is the image we have in the scriptures. We have a responsibility to do all the Lord has commanded us. But we know full well that we would never desire to do what He commanded, nor would we ever possess the power to do what He has commanded if He did not provide it to us.

f.        This is why we set out to obey Him in awe and humility. The task is too great and we are not disposed to it. Yet He has changed us and He is with us giving us grace to do what He has commanded.

g.       With that in mind then… what is the “work out our salvation” application this morning?  

3.)    [Slide 20] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must grow in faith and love toward one another.

a.       It is required of all God’s children to grow in faith and love.

b.       Some of those that fell on the Roman Catholic side of the Reformation expressed great concern over the idea that God had declared someone to be righteous rather than made them righteous.

c.       Their concern was that if it was not our responsibility to keep ourselves in a state of righteousness, but it was in fact true that God legally judges us to be righteous in spite of us still being sinners, that this would lead to Christians liberally sinning.

d.       The fact that the early church dealt with this corruption of license as written by Jude and Paul actually serves to prove the Reformers to be correct.

e.       If the apostles truly taught that we had to keep ourselves righteous then it is hard to imagine a group rising up within that teaching that suggested that they can live any way they wish.

f.        It makes much more sense to understand that God has declared us righteous based on Christ’s work alone, and then commands us to live in obedience.

g.       Indeed, with the gift and sealing of the Holy Spirit upon us, God has provided all that we need to do just that.

h.       But some today see their confession of Christ as a destination and not the start of a journey. They believe that once they have confessed Christ, they have arrived where they need to and don’t really need to grow or that growth is mostly optional as they wait for Christ to return.

i.         However, the whole of the New Testament resolutely stands against this idea.

j.         The apostles are insisting, in literally every letter, that the churches they write to continue to grow in their knowledge of Christ and their devotion and obedience to God and love for one another.

k.       So how do we do this? How do we grow in faith and love?

l.         God grows His children through what we call the ordinary means of grace.

m.     He has given us His Word which contains for us the Words of life. He has given us access to His throne room and bid us come boldly in prayer to Him. He has given us the church a place of mutual discipleship and accountability.

n.       Read your bible, pray every day and You’ll grow, grow, grow. I think I’d adjust the words a bit to say…

o.       Study your bible, pray without ceasing, and don’t forsake the gathering of God’s people… and you’ll grow, grow, grow…

p.       Ok so all those words won’t fit in the song… but that is how we grow. Both in faith and in love.

q.       If any of those items are lacking, our growth in faith and love for others could be stunted or we might actually see decline.

4.)    [Slide 21] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must possess enduring faith amid persecution or affliction.

a.       Another action we should take as a result of the example of the Thessalonian church, is to make sure that our faith in the promises of God are grounded and solid enough to endure affliction and persecution.

b.       We are warned in the parable of the soils, that one such soil that looks like it is good to produce a crop, is actually rocky and shallow soil. We wouldn’t know it at first, but as the heat comes and scorches the plant, it can’t go deep in the soil to find water. And so, it burns up.  

c.       Jesus explains the meaning that these folks are people who received the gospel message with readiness but when persecution arises, they don’t have the roots to hold fast and endure it.

d.       We must be sure our soil is soft and that our roots can go deep.

e.       We have entire branches of Christendom teaching that you can just make a 1 time decision to pray a prayer and that will forever insure your spot in heaven. Or they teach that if you join God’s team or give enough money God will give to you earthly prosperity.

f.        But the New Testament assures us of the opposite. That we will suffer. In fact, in Paul’s previous letter to the Thessalonians he said, that it is the destiny of believers to suffer for the name of Christ.

g.       My friends, if you are going to be a friend of the real Jesus then you better get used to the world hating you. Because it will. It will hate you so much that it may even what you dead. It may want you dead in such a way that it believes it is righteous to kill you to save the world from your Jesus.

h.       And it will take more than a 1-time decision and a prayer you repeated, for you hold fast to this Jesus.

i.         Are you ready to endure such hatred? Are you ready to endure such affliction?

j.         We can be preparing now. We can practice on minor difficulties and inconveniences. We can practice trusting the Lord when we are sick, or when we lose our jobs, or when we suffer loss of property or relationships.

k.       This will help to train us for the greater afflictions and persecutions that are yet to come.

5.)    [Slide 22] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” Elders, we are duty bound to recognize, and publicly praise the Lord for those who are enduring in spiritual maturity.  

a.       Men, we have the delightful duty to recognize and publicly praise the Lord for those who are growing and enduring.

b.       And so, I want to break off everything right now and apply this immediately.

c.       We know that many of you are growing and the Lord is teaching you and making you more like Him.

d.       We, just this week at our Elder meeting, without me hinting at this application, prayed thanking the Lord for the growth we’ve seen among you. But let us do it publicly and give God glory for what He is doing.

e.       Can I have the Elders stand and pray in praise to the Lord for what He is doing to grow us here at CBC?

6.)    [Slide 23] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God gives grace for help in time of need.

a.       Perhaps you were thinking as we prayed that we certainly weren’t thanking God for you. Because you could stand to grow a lot more.

b.       Perhaps you have been stalled out for a while and your fire has gotten cold.

c.       Perhaps you’ve been phoning in your Christian walk for a bit and you wish you could get excited about it again – but it just isn’t happening.

d.       Let these words be a comfort to you.

e.       God gives grace for help in time of need.

f.        God commands you to approach His throne boldly to seek mercy and find grace for help.

g.       If you are truly His child, He desires to supply you with all you need to do as He pleases.

h.       It is time for you to boldly and diligently seek Him. It is time for you to cast yourself once again at His feet and beg for His aid.

i.         He stands ready for you friend.

j.         But perhaps you have tried this. Perhaps you have begged and pleaded for God to stir you up for months… maybe even years.

k.       Maybe… you are asking for the wrong thing.

7.)    [Slide 24] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” Look what God makes in those who are truly His children! If you are not growing… if you are not enduring… you are not His child.

a.       It is plain and simple folks. The ones whom the Lord loves, He chastens.

b.       The ones He has given His Spirit to, will be conformed to Christ.

c.       It is possible to be dry for a season. It is possible to be overcome with sin. It is possible to be lethargic and sick for a time.

d.       But if the Lord isn’t chasing you down, disciplining you, and restoring you to growth in grace…

e.       If your faith has grown ice cold and Jesus has taken a back seat to money, fame, power, or just daily life…

f.        My friends – at some point you have to start wondering…

g.       Maybe I’m not sick. Maybe I’m still dead.

h.       Look what God makes His children to be in the church of Thessalonica. Look what God does.

i.         My friends, if He is not doing it in your life… Maybe you aren’t His child.

j.         What if that is true?

k.       Repent of your apathy and idolatry. And confess Christ as Savior and Lord of your life. Submit to His commands and put Him as your one and only King.

l.         Then you will see growth. You will know of grace first hand.

m.     Come see an Elder today if you desire this for yourself.

 

[Slide 25 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the church father Paulinus Pellaeus, a man born with much wealth and family, only to see it all taken away from him and never returned in this life. His prayers are marked by their thanksgiving to God in spite of all that was taken from him in this world.

 

If I am truly wise, I should now rejoice in the place that you, O Christ, have approved for me. After all, you are preparing far better things now than I had before. Before, I thought your approval meant prosperity. Before, my home was abundant in luxury. Before, I flourished in status amidst throngs of crowds and clients.


I now regret that I once loved all those things that were doomed to perish. But with old age I finally recognize (to my profit) that by the loss of earthly and failing riches I might learn to seek rather those things which will endure forever.


It is indeed late, O God. But nothing is ever too late with you.


You will always show compassion. And you know how to help those who do not know how to help themselves-because you anticipate our prayers even before we ask, and you provide good things for us beyond what we seek.


You also refuse many selfish, misguided prayers, though you are ready to grant even better things to those wise enough to prefer your gifts to their own wishes.


For how much better did you know me and my character-better than I did myself. You saw when I stepped out on a task that was beyond my strength. You gave me something better, by blocking my plans.

 

By your mighty hand and foreseeing power, you directed all things.

 

We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Benediction:

May He Who rides a white horse, Who is called
Faithful and True.
Whose Eyes are like a blazing fire, and upon his head
are many crowns.
Who is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and
Whose name is the Word of God.
Keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus with the peace of God that transcends all understanding.

 

Until we meet again, Grace and Peace to you.]]></description>
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				<title><![CDATA[01 II Thessalonians Introduction]]></title>
				<category>Podcast</category>
				<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher C. Freeman]]></itunes:author>
				<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Title: Introduction to 2 Thessalonians Text: 2 Thessalonians Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. After spending several weeks dissecting 1 Thessalonians thought by thought, it would be good for us to review what we]]></itunes:subtitle>
				<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Title: Introduction to 2 Thessalonians

Text: 2 Thessalonians

 

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1.


After spending several weeks dissecting 1 Thessalonians thought by thought, it would be good for us to review what we have learned. However, Paul kind of does that for us with his follow up book to the Thessalonian church, called 2 Thessalonians. So rather than do a review sermon, we’ll continue on to Paul’s second letter to this church.

 

Now I don’t want you to get the impression that 2 Thessalonians will be boring or merely a rehashing of all that we’ve already learned. In fact, this letter takes what we’ve seen already and adds to and expands upon it.  

 

And of course, as is our custom with smaller books like this, after I introduce it, we will read through the entire letter so we can see all that Paul says in 1 reading.

 

But before we dive in to all the details about this book – let’s take a moment to ask the Lord to be with us as I introduce this book to you.

 

[Slide 2] Series or Two Independent books?

Since the books have so many related themes, and since many elements of this introduction are repeated from 1 Thessalonians, one might wonder why I chose to introduce the two books separately.

 

Similarly to 1 and 2 Peter, 1 Thessalonians is fairly lacking for discrepancies or differences of opinion regarding authorship, date, and occasion. But 2 Thessalonians is another matter entirely. We’ll get to some of these discrepancies very soon.

 

But it should be said as a reminder that these letters are certainly NOT two independent books. Not only were they written to the same audience, but they were probably written within months of each other, as we’ll discuss in a moment. And as we’ve said, many of the themes opened in 1 Thessalonians are elaborated on or at least mentioned in 2 Thessalonians.

 

We should very much view them as we view 1 and 2 Corinthians. They are two letters which build on each other and address issues a particular congregation faced in a particular point in time.

 

Of course, since the bible is living and active, even though the original audience received the letter this way – we not only receive the same message when we put ourselves in their shoes and see it through their eyes, but we also gain more layers of spiritual insight and understanding since we have the entire and completed revelation of God to us in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments.

 

Throughout our study I will endeavor to see from the text what the Thessalonians saw – but not stop there. We must see how this message fits with the whole context of the Scriptures and how the themes of all the scriptures pour into this letter.

 

But let’s start unpacking some of the things that are… disputed.

 

[Slide 3] Authorship:

One of the first items the early church councils considered when deciding whether or not a book should be received as Scripture is whether or not it was written by a trusted member of the early church community.

 

This is one of the reasons that the book of Hebrews was one of the last to be received, because the human author remains unknown.

 

That being said, who is the author of 2 Thessalonians?

 

Early church fathers and biblical scholars up to the mid 1900s had always almost universally accepted that the words written in verse 1 are accurate and that Paul the apostle wrote both the f...]]></itunes:summary>
				<description><![CDATA[Title: Introduction to 2 Thessalonians

Text: 2 Thessalonians

 

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1.


After spending several weeks dissecting 1 Thessalonians thought by thought, it would be good for us to review what we have learned. However, Paul kind of does that for us with his follow up book to the Thessalonian church, called 2 Thessalonians. So rather than do a review sermon, we’ll continue on to Paul’s second letter to this church.

 

Now I don’t want you to get the impression that 2 Thessalonians will be boring or merely a rehashing of all that we’ve already learned. In fact, this letter takes what we’ve seen already and adds to and expands upon it.  

 

And of course, as is our custom with smaller books like this, after I introduce it, we will read through the entire letter so we can see all that Paul says in 1 reading.

 

But before we dive in to all the details about this book – let’s take a moment to ask the Lord to be with us as I introduce this book to you.

 

[Slide 2] Series or Two Independent books?

Since the books have so many related themes, and since many elements of this introduction are repeated from 1 Thessalonians, one might wonder why I chose to introduce the two books separately.

 

Similarly to 1 and 2 Peter, 1 Thessalonians is fairly lacking for discrepancies or differences of opinion regarding authorship, date, and occasion. But 2 Thessalonians is another matter entirely. We’ll get to some of these discrepancies very soon.

 

But it should be said as a reminder that these letters are certainly NOT two independent books. Not only were they written to the same audience, but they were probably written within months of each other, as we’ll discuss in a moment. And as we’ve said, many of the themes opened in 1 Thessalonians are elaborated on or at least mentioned in 2 Thessalonians.

 

We should very much view them as we view 1 and 2 Corinthians. They are two letters which build on each other and address issues a particular congregation faced in a particular point in time.

 

Of course, since the bible is living and active, even though the original audience received the letter this way – we not only receive the same message when we put ourselves in their shoes and see it through their eyes, but we also gain more layers of spiritual insight and understanding since we have the entire and completed revelation of God to us in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments.

 

Throughout our study I will endeavor to see from the text what the Thessalonians saw – but not stop there. We must see how this message fits with the whole context of the Scriptures and how the themes of all the scriptures pour into this letter.

 

But let’s start unpacking some of the things that are… disputed.

 

[Slide 3] Authorship:

One of the first items the early church councils considered when deciding whether or not a book should be received as Scripture is whether or not it was written by a trusted member of the early church community.

 

This is one of the reasons that the book of Hebrews was one of the last to be received, because the human author remains unknown.

 

That being said, who is the author of 2 Thessalonians?

 

Early church fathers and biblical scholars up to the mid 1900s had always almost universally accepted that the words written in verse 1 are accurate and that Paul the apostle wrote both the first and second letter to the Thessalonians.

 

Both letters also include Silvanus and Timothy as authors. We dealt with the topic of co-authorship in our introduction to 1 Thessalonians. We settled on Paul being the primary writer or dictator of the writing, but with Silvanus also called Silas and Timothy making contributions along the way.

 

But in the mid 1900s a few scholars began turning the tide of historical opinion concerning Pauline authorship. Paradoxically the modern arguments against Pauline authorship conclude that 2 Thessalonians is both too similar to 1 Thessalonians and also that it is too different.

 

In the too similar category, some scholars say that themes and structure are reproduced in 2 Thessalonians so well, that what we have is less likely a second letter and more likely a letter written at the same time but to a different audience. Or perhaps a letter written later by a different author adopting the persona of Paul, attempting to not stray too far from what he had already said.

 

In the too different category, we mainly find the argument that the eschatology in 1 Thessalonians points to an immanency of Christ’s return, as though it could happen any time, and in 2 Thessalonians we find an eschatology that points to things that must happen before Christ returns.

 

However, when we analyze the similarities and differences, we are not forced to conclude that Paul did not write this at all. In fact, it seems quite far fetched to come up with these explanations. It is much easier to conclude that the similarities center around the author addressing the same purpose around the same time. And the differences can easily be explained by understanding how we humans tend to pendulum swing and need to be taught two sides in order to keep us where we should be.

 

As an illustration, the differences we see in the letters are guardrails to keep us on the road. The similarities are the destination we are traveling toward.

 

When all is said and done, it becomes quite clear that there is no reason to doubt Paul being the author of this book.

 

So, who is the original audience?

 

[Slide 4] Original Audience:

Well, let’s look at the red arrow on this map.

 

Thessalonica is a city situated on an ideal natural harbor on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea. Four major Roman roads intersected at the city. Thessalonica became the capital city of the province of Macedonia in 168 BC and served as a vital place of trade and political activity in Macedonia. It was also classified as a free city, given the right to govern itself under the Roman Empire.

 

It was to this city that Paul fled after being poorly treated in the city of Philippi by those who employed a slave girl infected by an unclean spirit of divination. Paul exorcised the demon and left her masters with no way of continuing to make money. So, they rose up and made it a racial issue citing that they were trouble makers because they were Jews. Paul and Silas were beaten without a trial and imprisoned. They were released because of their status as Roman Citizens but the city magistrates begged Paul and Silas to leave. So, they traveled 100 miles south to Thessalonica.

 

In our intro to 1 Thessalonians we dealt with the discrepancy of Luke recording in the book of Acts that Paul’s visit to Thessalonica was only 3 weeks, when both these letters seem to indicate that the visit was longer. We explained this by simply pointing to the fact that Luke was not particularly interested in clearly indicating chronological specifics. And in Acts 17 there is actually plenty of room in the language to account for a month or even a few month’s stay in the city before they were run out.

 

Paul and Silas were forced to flee to Berea.

 

This brings us to the occasion of 1 Thessalonians. Paul had pastoral concern for the fledgling church and from Athens (The blue arrow on the screen) he sent Timothy to them to check on them while he went on to Corinth (The green arrow on the screen). When Timothy and Silas arrived in Corinth, joining Paul, that is when Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church the first time.

 

So, what prompts Paul to write again to this church and when does he write?

 

[Slide 5] Occasion: What is happening in Thessalonica

What is happening in Thessalonica that prompts Paul to write this letter?

 

Throughout the first letter, we noted that the Thessalonians had endured some affliction and persecution. No doubt from friends, family members, and the community as a whole seeing their abandonment of the pagan gods as a threat to the safety and prosperity of the entire city.

 

What is clear from the very outset of 2 Thessalonians, is that this persecution has rekindled. We are not given specifics, but it is safe to conclude that being ostracized and shunned is no longer the ceiling of persecution they are experiencing.

 

Indeed, if we remember from 1 Thessalonians, Paul warned that believers are ordained to suffer for the name of Christ. It is actually part of our destiny to suffer for Christ’s sake.

 

2 Thessalonians then is MORE focused on providing comfort and encouragement to a church experiencing heavier persecution from outsiders.

 

But there is also a lingering issue of idle busybodies infecting the church and a lingering misconception about the Day of the Lord.

 

So when did he write this?

 

[Slide 6] Date:

Because Paul references his time in Athens in 1 Thessalonians as if it were a past event, and because Paul indicates that it was not a long time since they had been with the Thessalonians, we can guess that Paul probably wrote 1 Thessalonians from Corinth.

 

We have archeological evidence of when Gallio served as a proconsul in the city of Corinth, and because Paul has an altercation with Gallio we can reasonably assign a date to the composition of 1 Thessalonians.

 

Gallio was proconsul from AD 51 to AD 52. This gives us a date of right around AD 50-51 for the composition of 1 Thessalonians.

 

But what about 2 Thessalonians?

 

While it is surely possible that Paul could have written this letter years later… several factors support Paul writing this very soon after writing 1 Thessalonians.

 

First, we see that his companions are the same. In Acts we note that Paul is frequently sending his companions on errands to churches they have visited before while he stayed in another city. The fact that Silas and Timothy are still with him and co-authoring this letter, seems to indicate that it is the same setting as 1 Thessalonians.

 

Second, the themes of this letter are so similar, even down to the unruly lazy mooches who are busybodies, that one wonders if the issues endured, why would Paul wait a significant amount of time to write again to address them?

 

Third, in 2 Thessalonians Paul references difficulties he is facing with people who do not believe. Now if Paul is in Corinth, we know that Paul spent 18 months in Corinth. That is the longest he has spent in any city in the whole missionary journey thus far. We also know that although in the early months he did face some problems, once the proconsul Gallio renders his verdict, Paul spends the remainder of his time in Corinth in relative peace.

 

This means that if we do conclude that Paul is writing from Corinth, the problems he faces most likely are early in the ministry there. Which would indicate to us that 2 Thessalonians was written mere months after the first letter.

 

What is his purpose in sending the letter?

 

[Slide 7] Purpose: How Paul addresses what is happening in Thessalonica

Paul addresses his concern for this fledgling church as they face a significant uptick in persecution from without and persistent busybodies from within.

 

1.)    The first way Paul addresses what is happening in Thessalonica, is by encouraging them with the assurance of God’s justice on those who are persecuting them and the assurance of their being glorified at Christ’s return.

2.)    Then he desires to assuage some of their fears about the Day of the Lord. Given the persecution, they are afraid that they are in the midst of the Day of the Lord already. Without contradicting what he said in his previous letter, Paul reminds them that there are some events that yet need to occur before the Lord returns.   

3.)    Finally, Paul addresses once again the lazy busybodies who continue to mooch from the church. He points to his example and encourages them to execute church discipline upon any member who continues to refuse to listen to his instruction on the matter.  

 

So, what are some key themes we will see in this letter?

 

[Slide 8] Key Themes:

Because of the occasion and purpose of the letter, several themes come to the forefront as major talking points for the apostle Paul.

 

1.)    God’s Ultimate Justice

2.)    The Glorification of Believers

3.)    There seems to be an indication that they are hearing contradictory messages from various sources, some of which are claiming to be Paul himself.

4.)    The Man of Lawlessness

5.)    [Slide 9] Standing firm on the gospel and holding fast to the things he taught them

6.)    Deal a final blow to those who are idle busybodies. Make sure it stops one way or another.

7.)    Thanksgiving, peace, prayer, and endurance.

 

[Slide 10] Words and concepts to keep an eye out for:

 

1.)    Righteous Judgment

2.)    Lawlessness vs. Righteousness

3.)    Chosen

4.)    Traditions

 

 

[Slide 11] Theological Challenges and Spicy Topics

 

1.)    God’s Omnipresence and destruction away from his presence.

2.)    Eternal destruction to unbelievers or annihilation?

3.)    What is the apostasy?

4.)    Who is the man of lawlessness?

5.)    [Slide 12] Who is the one who holds him back?

6.)    God sends a strong delusion? Isn’t that lying?

7.)    Should we really execute church discipline on people who…

a.       Are lazy

b.       Don’t follow traditions

c.       Are busybodies

 

[Slide 13] Outline of 2 Thessalonians

 

I.)                  Greetings and Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (1:1-4)

a.       Greetings in the Lord from 3 companions (1)

b.       Wish for grace and peace from God. (2)

c.       Continued prayer of thanksgiving for them. (3-4)

II.)                [Slide 14] Encouragement against the persecution they face (1:5-2:2)

a.       God will give them rest and righteously judge those who are persecuting them (1:5-12)  

b.       The uptick in persecution does not mean the Day of the Lord has come. (2:1-2)

III.)               [Slide 15] Instruction concerning what needs to happen before the Day of the Lord. (2:3-12)

a.       The Apostasy and the Man of lawlessness must come (2:3-5)

b.       When will this happen and how does Christ’s return relate to it? (2:6-12)

c.       But this will not happen for those to whom God has chosen (2:13-15)

d.       Benediction closing out this instruction section (2:16-17)

IV.)              [Slide 16] Application section for the here and now. (3:1-18)

a.       Prayer for the evangelists in Corinth (3:1-2)

b.       Hope for their protection too. (3:3-5)

c.       Definitively deal with the unruly idle busybodies (3:6-15)

d.       Salutation (3:16-18)

 

Read 2 Thessalonians

[Slide 17 (end)] And with that, I’d like to ask for 3 readers to come up and read a chapter from the book of 2 Thessalonians. It is first come first serve, so the first three to make their way forward to this front pew will get to read.

 

While they come forward to fill the queue, let me pray and ask the Lord’s blessing on the reading this morning as well as the study we are about to embark upon.]]></description>
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				<title><![CDATA[19 I Thessalonians 5:23-28 Abandoned, But Not Alone]]></title>
				<category>Podcast</category>
				<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher C. Freeman]]></itunes:author>
				<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Title: Abandoned, But Not Alone Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 FCF: We often struggle feeling alone while we strive for wholeness. Prop: Because God gives all we need to make us whole, we must grow in holiness. Scripture Intro: LSB [Slide 1] Turn in your b]]></itunes:subtitle>
				<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Title: Abandoned, But Not Alone

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28

FCF: We often struggle feeling alone while we strive for wholeness.

Prop: Because God gives all we need to make us whole, we must grow in holiness.

 

Scripture Intro: LSB

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. In a moment we’ll read from the Legacy Standard Bible starting in verse 23 and going to the end of the book. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer.

 

Today we will wrap up the book of 1 Thessalonians. Paul has, essentially, finished what he desired to say to the fledgling church in Thessalonica. He has encouraged them. He has rebuked them. He has corrected them. He has instructed them.

 

We’ll save our final overview of the book until after we complete 2 Thessalonians. There are so many themes that overlap that it is wiser to just wait until we have completed both letters to draw final conclusions.

 

Now, he finishes his letter to them with the second wish-prayer to God for them. He concludes with a benediction.

 

So, what does Paul pray for? Let’s find out.

 

Please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

God of peace. You are our everything. In You we have life and hope. In You alone we have wholeness and holiness. In some ways You have already made us holy by setting us apart as Your people. In other ways You are still making us holy by continually pressing us into the mold of Christ and conforming us to His standard. And yet in other ways You must and will make us perfectly holy and blameless when we shed this body and are given new, glorified bodies for Your eternal kingdom. But what is clear to us Father… is that without You we are without hope. I pray that you would refine us with Your word today and teach us the helps we have in this life to be holy and blameless. May we see the promises of Your word and take comfort and assurance to press on toward the prize of our Savior. We pray this in His name… Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “When our holiness is perfect, our happiness shall be perfect; and if this were attainable on earth, there would be but little reason for men to long to be in heaven.” Thomas Brooks

 

“Many of us would pursue holiness with far greater zeal and eagerness if we were convinced that the way of holiness is the way of life ad peace. And that is precisely what it is; there is life and peace no other way.” J.I. Packer

 

[Slide 3] “The ethical demand for holy living is inseparable from what is freely given in the gospel.” Geoffrey B. Wilson

 

“Christ comes with a blessing in each hand: forgiveness in one, holiness in the other.” A.W. Pink

 

“There is no holiness without a warfare.” J.C. Ryle

 

“The beauty of holiness needs no paint.” Matthew Henry

 

Let these words prepare your mind for the exposition of the text this morning.

 

I.)                  God, who called us, will completely sanctify us at Christ’s return, so we must grow in holiness. (23-24)

a.       [Slide 4] 23 - Now may the God of peace Himself

                                                               i.      Paul now hastens on to the end of his letter to the Thessalonian believers.

                                                             ii.      But far from being a throw away goodbye, let me just take you through the richness of this benediction....]]></itunes:summary>
				<description><![CDATA[Title: Abandoned, But Not Alone

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28

FCF: We often struggle feeling alone while we strive for wholeness.

Prop: Because God gives all we need to make us whole, we must grow in holiness.

 

Scripture Intro: LSB

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. In a moment we’ll read from the Legacy Standard Bible starting in verse 23 and going to the end of the book. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer.

 

Today we will wrap up the book of 1 Thessalonians. Paul has, essentially, finished what he desired to say to the fledgling church in Thessalonica. He has encouraged them. He has rebuked them. He has corrected them. He has instructed them.

 

We’ll save our final overview of the book until after we complete 2 Thessalonians. There are so many themes that overlap that it is wiser to just wait until we have completed both letters to draw final conclusions.

 

Now, he finishes his letter to them with the second wish-prayer to God for them. He concludes with a benediction.

 

So, what does Paul pray for? Let’s find out.

 

Please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

God of peace. You are our everything. In You we have life and hope. In You alone we have wholeness and holiness. In some ways You have already made us holy by setting us apart as Your people. In other ways You are still making us holy by continually pressing us into the mold of Christ and conforming us to His standard. And yet in other ways You must and will make us perfectly holy and blameless when we shed this body and are given new, glorified bodies for Your eternal kingdom. But what is clear to us Father… is that without You we are without hope. I pray that you would refine us with Your word today and teach us the helps we have in this life to be holy and blameless. May we see the promises of Your word and take comfort and assurance to press on toward the prize of our Savior. We pray this in His name… Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2] “When our holiness is perfect, our happiness shall be perfect; and if this were attainable on earth, there would be but little reason for men to long to be in heaven.” Thomas Brooks

 

“Many of us would pursue holiness with far greater zeal and eagerness if we were convinced that the way of holiness is the way of life ad peace. And that is precisely what it is; there is life and peace no other way.” J.I. Packer

 

[Slide 3] “The ethical demand for holy living is inseparable from what is freely given in the gospel.” Geoffrey B. Wilson

 

“Christ comes with a blessing in each hand: forgiveness in one, holiness in the other.” A.W. Pink

 

“There is no holiness without a warfare.” J.C. Ryle

 

“The beauty of holiness needs no paint.” Matthew Henry

 

Let these words prepare your mind for the exposition of the text this morning.

 

I.)                  God, who called us, will completely sanctify us at Christ’s return, so we must grow in holiness. (23-24)

a.       [Slide 4] 23 - Now may the God of peace Himself

                                                               i.      Paul now hastens on to the end of his letter to the Thessalonian believers.

                                                             ii.      But far from being a throw away goodbye, let me just take you through the richness of this benediction.

                                                           iii.      First, let’s start with the title Paul gives to God.

1.       As he does in three other benedictions, Paul uses the title “God of Peace” to govern this benediction to the Thessalonians.

2.       This title is exclusively used by Paul and the writer of Hebrews a total of 8 times in the New Testament. It is always used in a context where the writer addresses a group of believers who are being persecuted or afflicted for their faith or experiencing trouble or disorder.

3.       Since Paul was Jewish, and the writer of Hebrews obviously has strong roots to Judaism, we might expect there to be an Old Testament connection.

4.       Curiously, the title “God of Peace” is not found in the Old Testament.

5.       The closest we might find is “The Lord is Peace” or “The Lord is our Peace” which is the name Yahweh Shalom.

6.       Now the word Shalom is a rather theologically rich word.

a.       It is used over 350 times in the Old Testament and is often translated peace.

b.       However, the semantic range of this word – and its theological implications do not merely mean the cessation of hostility.

c.       Rather, this word in the Old Testament means… wholeness or completeness.

d.       Shalom means, to be restored to proper order, to be perfectly put back together, and to be reconciled to a right relationship.

e.       In fact, it might be entirely appropriate for us to say that Shalom… means salvation, restoration, and redemption.

f.        God, The Lord, is the bringer of… Shalom. He is the God of… Shalom.

g.       He alone brings order, He alone makes someone complete or whole, and He alone reconciles relationships.

7.       Let’s keep the theological significance of Shalom in mind as we proceed in this context.

8.       May this God of peace…

b.       [Slide 5] sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                               i.      What is clear here, is that God being a God of peace is not simply God stopping people from afflicting the Thessalonian church.

                                                             ii.      That is certainly part of it.

                                                           iii.      Actually, as we get to 2 Thessalonians, Paul will assure them that those who are persecuting them and rejecting God will be destroyed by being cast away from the grace and mercy of God.

                                                           iv.      But the focal point of God being a God of peace, is not actually toward those who are afflicting these believers.

                                                             v.      It is toward the Thessalonian church.

                                                           vi.      They are not complete. They are not whole. They are not put together. They are not fully sanctified or holy. They are not perfectly blameless.

                                                          vii.      But the God of Shalom… The God of wholeness. The God of completeness. The God of order…

                                                        viii.      Paul prays that that God would sanctify them entirely or make them complete in their holiness.

                                                            ix.      That their whole person might be kept or preserved completely or entirely blameless at the Lord Jesus’ coming.

                                                             x.      Most likely the triad body, soul, spirit, is an idiom to express the complete person rather than to try to make a doctrinal point about the composition of the being of man.

                                                            xi.      God’s peace is always about the putting down of His enemies. But the first enemy on that list, is the ordering of His people who have been disordered. The completing of His people who are not whole.

                                                          xii.      God being a God of peace… is first… reconciling us into a right relationship with Himself. Which is far more than simply forgiving our sin.

                                                        xiii.      It is making us… holy. Blameless. Righteous.

                                                        xiv.      Paul prayed for this in chapter 3 and he told them it was God’s will for them in chapter 4.

                                                          xv.      And it is God’s will for all His children.

                                                        xvi.      God does NOT save us simply to populate His Kingdom with people who are forgiven sinners.

                                                       xvii.      God saves us to populate His Kingdom with Christ-like, Righteous Lawkeepers.

                                                     xviii.      God doesn’t just calm the storm in us… He brings us to shelter.

                                                        xix.      God takes what is broken, incomplete, and chaotic. And He not only stops it from breaking, losing pieces, and being chaotic. He also fixes, completes, and orders us.

                                                          xx.      Because, make no mistake, to be what God created us to be, and to not be a broken image bearer, we must be holy and blameless.

                                                        xxi.      And just in case we wonder if this is up to us or if there is any possibility that this may not happen for those who are His elect… Paul continues.

c.       [Slide 6] 24 - Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.

                                                               i.      The call to which Paul refers here is the effectual call of the Holy Spirit. It is the call that convicts us of our sin, enlightens our minds to know of Christ and His work, it renews our wills, and persuades us and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.

                                                             ii.      The same God who calls His people to salvation in the first place… is faithful and will make sure that the work of renewal, ordering, and completing… is finished.

                                                           iii.      Paul is about to write the letter of Romans. He is a few years away from writing it.

                                                           iv.      But in Romans he says that the God who calls us, justifies us, and the God who justifies us, glorifies us.

                                                             v.      This is essentially saying the same thing.

                                                           vi.      In Philippians, which he will write about a decade from when he wrote this, he says that the same God who began the work of salvation in us by calling us… will eventually finish the work of salvation in us by glorifying us.

                                                          vii.      As Jude says… He will present us faultless before the throne of God.

                                                        viii.      It is upon these teachings that we arrive upon the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. That since it is God who saves us and not ourselves – God is faithful to keep us and preserve us.

                                                            ix.      This doesn’t deny that we have a responsibility to live holy and blameless lives.

                                                             x.      Nor does it deny that there are some who might appear to be genuine believers who eventually fall away.

                                                            xi.      But it certainly does eliminate anyone on that day standing before the throne and claiming that they were holy because of their own efforts.

                                                          xii.      God forbid!

                                                        xiii.      All who stand before that throne, on that day, who are presented holy before God – they will all throw their crowns at Jesus’ feet… why? Because they know He… and He alone… completed them. He reconciled them to God. He, the Prince of Peace, brought them to the God of Peace.

d.       [Slide 7] Summary of the Point: The church in Thessalonica was the poster child of what the gospel could do. It took a bunch of pagans who were worshipping idols and caused them to abandon them all to follow Jesus and live very different and holy lives. But the cultic superstition and city loyalty that permeated the Roman Empire at the time led their friends, families, and their community to abandon them because of their allegiance to Jesus. Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians are largely encouragement. He expresses His thankfulness to God that they are continuing to walk in a way that pleases God. But he also calls them to continue in this life. To pursue holiness and blamelessness. Something they knew would be quite difficult. And so, in this final wish-prayer that Paul offers for them, he pleads with the God of Shalom… The God of Wholeness to make them whole. The God of Order to order them. And he reminds them that because God is faithful… and has called them… He will surely do this. Though abandoned by men… they are not alone. God will make them complete in holiness and blamelessness at Christ’s return. This does not encourage complacency or laziness though. Instead, it encourages them to do what Paul has said and continue to live holy and blameless lives, knowing that God will do this in them.

 

Transition:

[Slide 8 (blank)] But God is often so difficult to see in these matters. When we are feeling alone and desperate, sometimes it is difficult to feel His watch care over us. What a comfort to know that although He is all we truly need, He has also supplied the church to help us…

 

II.)                Believers are used of God to disciple one another, so we must grow in holiness.  (25-28)

a.       [Slide 9] 25 - Brothers, pray for us.

                                                               i.      Paul up to this point has had his eye on the future kingdom.

                                                             ii.      He prays that God would get them ready for the return of Christ.

                                                           iii.      This is a theme that features heavily in this letter, literally occurring, in some form, in every single chapter.

                                                           iv.      But as any good pastor should do, and as Paul has done throughout this letter, he also needs to leave them with some practical and specific applications for the here and now.

                                                             v.      He begins by exhorting them to pray for them. For the evangelists. For Paul, Silas, and Timothy.

                                                           vi.      If you remember, Paul began the letter letting the Thessalonians know that they were always praying for their church and their faith.

                                                          vii.      Now Paul seeks that the Thessalonian church continue to follow their example and pray for their ministry as it continues in Corinth.

                                                        viii.      For the next 18 months or so, Paul will continue in Corinth with many challenges and ultimately the Lord will bless and establish a thriving church in one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire.

                                                            ix.      They need prayer.

                                                             x.      Indeed, all God’s people need prayer in every context that they continue to walk in His ways and bear witness to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

                                                            xi.      If we are to endure in this life, with all the trials and troubles we face, we must pray for one another and seek the Lord to sustain us.

b.       [Slide 10] 26 - Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

                                                               i.      Now we come to one of the best pick up lines in scripture for single Christian men.

                                                             ii.      You know… the bible says to greet all the brothers with a holy kiss 😊

                                                           iii.      Seriously though, we should wrap our heads around what, exactly, Paul is commanding here.

                                                           iv.      First, the command to greet actually sheds light on what a holy kiss really is.

                                                             v.      No doubt this is a standard form of greeting that close friends or family would give to one another in the Roman Empire at this time.

                                                           vi.      Probably something similar to the cheek to cheek kisses we observe in Italian and Spanish cultures today, although it could include kisses to the forehead as well.

                                                          vii.      More than likely, the kiss would not be given to the opposite gender. There are actually some early writings about church order that expressly refer to this kiss being the kiss of peace only offered to those of the same gender.

                                                        viii.      The fact that Paul calls this a holy kiss is most likely meaning that it is a kind of expression of love that would not be common among people who are not of close blood relation. Therefore, making it extremely different that people of various backgrounds would use this expression of deep love toward one another.

                                                            ix.      There is really no need for us to follow this command literally in our context today. We do not share the cultural implications of a kiss shared among close family.

                                                             x.      This is, however, one defense of an element we continue to keep in our worship services… the greeting or fellowship time.

                                                            xi.      This does not preclude us from fellowshipping, shaking hands, hugging, or even kissing outside of the worship service – but I think the argument could be made that each of these final exhortations could and perhaps should be viewed in a worship setting.

                                                          xii.      Certainly, corporate prayer for the evangelists could and perhaps should be the scope of what Paul means and it would not cut against what he commands.

                                                        xiii.      And although we haven’t gotten there yet – certainly reading Paul’s letter would be appropriate in a worship setting – since it is scripture.

                                                        xiv.      So, in a worship service it is entirely appropriate and, even, expected to have a time of fellowship and sharing of the mutual love we have in Christ.

                                                          xv.      Of course, a kiss in our culture is not always an expression of deep familial love. Indeed, a kiss could communicate a completely different and often inappropriate message today.

                                                        xvi.      But a handshake in our culture is not considered crossing any lines of appropriateness. And even hugging in mutually agreed upon contexts and manners is relatively innocuous.

                                                       xvii.      Still – the holy kiss is an excellent command of Paul that demands the church love each other like family, not just in words but in outward expressions of love – and what a wonderful thing for the Thessalonian church to be commanded. They have felt abandoned by friends and family. So, Paul encourages them to seek that level of intimacy among those who share the blood-bond in Christ.

                                                     xviii.      Paul is commanding them to find those connections among their fellow worshippers.  

c.       [Slide 11] 27 - I implore you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

                                                               i.      The third and final command Paul leaves them with in the letter is that they have this letter read aloud to all the brothers.

                                                             ii.      This is, of course, meant for all the church.

                                                           iii.      Certainly, the Elders would have been the primary recipients of the letter and it is assumed that they would read it to all. But Paul makes it explicit.

                                                           iv.      Some commentators suggest that since the pronoun switches to I instead of we that Paul writes this in his own hand. However, nothing in the text suggests this. In fact, other places Paul does this, he actually calls it out that he is writing in his own hand.

                                                             v.      It could be him writing it – but we might never really know.

                                                           vi.      Paul may or may not have known his words were inspired by God at the time of his writing them. I don’t think he gives this command with the weight of “this is the Word of God – read it to everyone.”

                                                          vii.      But I do think that Paul very much wishes every single person in the church to know what he has written. Especially because the tone of the letter is so positive.

                                                        viii.      But also, because there are some groups of people, like the unemployed mooches, who need to hear his rebuke in a public worship setting.

                                                            ix.      Finally, Paul ends his letter with another bookend.

d.       [Slide 12] 28 - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

                                                               i.      Paul began his letter praying that God gives them grace and peace.

                                                             ii.      And lo and behold, he ends his letter wishing them peace and grace.

                                                           iii.      Grace, according to Paul, is the heart beat, the lifeblood, the energy, the fuel that produces a Christian who grows in holiness and godly character.

                                                           iv.      In Philippians Paul says that God works in us to desire to do His will and to be able to do His will.

                                                             v.      That is a long way of saying that God’s grace is what makes it possible for us to work out our salvation.

                                                           vi.      There is no greater wish or hope you can express toward a believer, that God gives them grace.

                                                          vii.      We should eliminate the expressions “good luck, take care, take it easy” or any other trivial well wishes we give to Christians. Instead, we should say… “Grace to you” or “Grace and Peace” 

                                                        viii.      And with that – Paul concludes his first letter to the Thessalonians.

e.       [Slide 13] Summary of the Point: Certainly, the Lord’s faithfulness in completing us in holiness and blamelessness is all we truly need. But even Paul recognizes his need of fellow believers. Certainly, all of this includes The Lord. Who are we praying to for other believers? Who binds us so closely to one another? To whom has Paul consistently pointed in this letter? But there is an unmistakable and welcome element here of mutual Christian discipleship and care that the Lord has given His people.  As the writer of Hebrews says, we must spur one another to love and good works. So, we have flesh and blood around us, indwelled by God’s Spirit, who care for us and strive to help one another be holy and blameless. Therefore, since we all have one another, helping us to grow in holiness, we have no excuse. Let us grow in holiness… together.

 

Conclusion: So, what have we learned today CBC that refines our beliefs and orders our lifestyles?

 

Basics of Faith and Practice:

[Slide 14] As Paul closes out his first letter to the Thessalonians, in recognizing all that he has called them to do, he expresses a prayer, a benediction, seeking the God of peace… of wholeness to make them whole. This is the universal testimony of the New Testament for all those who are elect of God. God’s desire, and God’s plan for His people, is that they be glorified. That they be made completely whole in holiness and blamelessness. It isn’t just about sins we’ve committed… it is about being a people who are truly righteous. Christ has purchased this for us from a legal standpoint – but God is still making us into this and will complete that when Christ returns. In this, Paul tells us that we are not alone. The God who has called us to this… will do it. Why? Because He is faithful. He has also given us a community of people who are experiencing the exact same completing. And indeed, He has commanded the church to disciple each other and be His instrument to make each other whole. With the church around us, and God with us, that is all the confidence we truly need to step out and be different from the world and live a blameless and righteous life toward godliness.

 

But what does all this mean for us today? How then shall we live?

 

1.)    [Slide 15] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that God is faithful to complete the work He began in us.

a.       One major doctrine of the reformation that is still being discussed today is whether or not salvation is by faith alone or by works plus faith.

b.       Although it is somewhat unfair to say that Roman Catholic dogma teaches that salvation is faith plus works – when you boil it down, that is essentially what it is teaching.

c.       Some within the Roman Catholic church may disagree with that or bristle against it – but you don’t actually have to look far to prove the point. A simple reading of the council of trent will prove this out quite easily.

d.       The entire Roman Catholic system is really based on this idea that Christ provides an atonement for sin, but access to that atonement, that bank of merit, is given to those who perform outward works of righteousness.

e.       The discussion actually flows out of whether the bible teaches that at conversion we are made righteous or whether we are declared righteous.

f.        When we are converted are we put in a state of perfection and it is up to us to keep ourselves there, or are we declared to be perfect legally as God continues to make us more righteous?

g.       Today’s passage is one of many in the New Testament that puts quite a large stumbling block in the way of Roman Catholic teaching.

h.       I contend that you cannot read this text and come away thinking that all of God’s people are made righteous at conversion and must simply maintain that status by the way they live.

i.         Instead, what I think is clear in this text, is that God will eventually save all His people and perfect them. And it doesn’t depend on them doing anything at all.

j.         This conforms to the New Testament as a whole placing the entire redemption of His people squarely on the shoulders of God.

k.       Faith then, is the means by which God connects a person to the work of redemption that Christ completed in His obedience to the law and His death and resurrection.

l.         Faith unites us to the headship or representation of Christ. And preceding this faith is the call of God upon someone who lacks it. The effectual call of the Holy Spirit regenerates us and persuades and enables us to receive faith in Christ.

m.     Both the Roman Catholic and Protestant doctrines desire the same thing. They want people who live holy lives.

n.       But Roman Catholicism sees the living of a holy life in conjunction with faith, as means to salvation. The reformers stood on the scripture alone to assert that Christ alone saves us, and we access Him by grace, through faith. Living holy lives is what necessarily follows from someone who has received faith in Christ.

o.       All of this to say that doctrine matters.

p.       What you believe has necessary consequences to how you live.

q.       Believing that faith and works is what saves you leaves a person with little hope that they will actually be worthy enough to enter heaven… a place that only people who are perfect as God is perfect… will enter.

r.        I’m convinced that is how the doctrine of purgatory came about. It wasn’t until the 1200s that this teaching was formalized and I think it came about because people were convinced that they were doing quite a poor job at completing their faith with their works. So, they had to have a back up plan for people who did really well – but not good enough.

s.        In fact this passage flies directly in the face of the teaching of purgatory. Because Paul does not mention… in any way… that God will sanctify them at Christ’s return through pain and suffering. In fact, such a statement would have been completely deflating to people who were ALREADY suffering. How much suffering does God require to pay for our sins? He crushed His Son, allows us to be put through trials on earth and then we must also be purified in a place of torment? Is this really what the scriptures teach?

t.        I think not. Instead, the scriptures teach that Christ’s atonement is sufficient for all the sin of His people. Every single one. It covers all our sin. Not most. Not many. All.

u.       Believing that faith alone is what saves, leaves us with infinite hope that by Christ’s perfection we will inherit His Kingdom. But it also inspires us to pursue holiness since we know that since God called us and will surely make us holy at Christ’s return… we should pursue holiness now.

v.       If God gave you a vision that in 10 years you would be the best baker ever – wouldn’t that assurance give you the confidence to go and bake to the best of your ability?

w.     If God gave you a vision that the girl you liked would be your wife and that you would have many children and grandchildren and live a long and happy life together… would you then sit in your home and wait for her to come to you?

x.       NO! You would go to her and ask her out immediately!

y.       God is the one who calls. God is the one who justifies. God is the one who will complete us. And that spurs us to live in obedience to Him.

2.)    [Slide 16] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the church is a community of people given by God to disciple one another toward holiness.

a.       So, we have seen that just because God will do something at Christ’s return doesn’t mean we can sit on our hands and wait for Him to do it.

b.       And certainly we understand that He will help us right now.

c.       But it still feels like we are alone sometimes.

d.       God has not left us alone though.

e.       In fact, the whole community of the church is given to us to spur one another to holiness.

f.        We exist to pray for, love, and teach each other to obey all that Christ commanded.

g.       We are truly not alone.

h.       And although God promising to perfect us and make us whole should be enough…

i.         We are weak. We often need flesh and blood to help us.

j.         And God has given His church, a community of beggars showing each other where they have found bread.

k.       No, we are not alone.   

l.         We are instruments in the Master’s hand, designed to help each other.

3.)    [Slide 17] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must be holy and blameless.

a.       So since the God of wholeness will make us whole and since He uses His church to help each other live holy and blameless lives…

b.       No believer has an excuse for willfully sinning or conforming to the world.

c.       We all must kill sin in our lives and come out from the world and be separate from it.

d.       We must be odd. We must be different. We must be blameless and righteous.

e.       The helps we have been given by the faithful God of peace and His church only propel us toward this end.

f.        We must pursue living lives that are holy.

g.       From what we watch and wear all the way to what we cherish and value and everything in between. We should be different.

h.       If godless people are passionate about it – there is a good chance we should be fleeing it.

i.         If everyone is doing it – we should probably advocate that no one, does it.

j.         We must live our lives according to the revealed will of God found exclusively in His Word.

k.       We must be honest. We must value life. We must be content with what God has given us. We must be generous, even to those who hate us. We must pray for those who despise us. We must love and honor even those who desire our demise. We must be satisfied with our spouses and not long for lustful passions. We must work hard for God’s glory and not a paycheck. We must pursue peace – even with those who want to war with us. We must not strive to make a name for ourselves but for Christ and Christ alone. We must put His Kingdom above any other. We know we can’t serve God and money. We must fight for change first in our hearts and then in other believers and then finally in the world.

l.         My friends… do you understand?

m.     We must take everything this world values, filter it through the scripture and throw out everything that doesn’t make it through the sieve. Which I daresay would be most of it.

n.       Jesus has told us, Be holy as I am holy. Be blameless.

o.       Are you blameless? Probably not yet.

p.       There is more work to be done.

4.)    [Slide 18] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must encourage one another toward holiness and blamelessness.

a.       This isn’t just something we do in our own lives. We must also strive to do this in one another.

b.       Through prayer, brotherly love, and teaching and preaching of the scriptures we must spur one another toward holiness and blamelessness.

c.       But this isn’t the American way.

d.       We just mind our own business, keep to ourselves, and everything is fine.

e.       Oh my friends – let this never be said of us at CBC.

f.        Your holiness is my business. And mine is yours.

g.       Your blamelessness is my business. And mine is yours.

h.       We ought to commit ourselves in service to one another, not to constantly find fault, but rather to patiently encourage and help each other to live lives pleasing to our King.

i.         That is what the church is for.

j.         We are surrounded by enemies. But so often the church eats its own.

k.       Now I’m not talking about ignoring doctrine to form some silly union that won’t last. The only thing that binds us together for any length of time… is sound doctrine.

l.         But let us focus on discipling each other. In love. In gentleness. In meekness.

5.)    [Slide 19] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” If we are elect of God, the God of peace will make us whole at the return of Christ and will grow us toward that progressively until then.

a.       If I asked everyone to bow their heads and close their eyes and put their hands up if they felt like they were still broken, missing pieces, and not quite what God wanted them to be… I’d wager that almost every hand would shoot up.

b.       Indeed, any hand that wouldn’t go up… should.

c.       No one is perfect yet.

d.       There is one brand of Christianity today that believes that upon conversion you are perfected in Christ and that you no longer sin. This is a later development of a teaching that said that a Christian can grow into a state o perfection whereby they no longer sin. It is interesting to note that the founder of this belief readily admitted in his writings… all the way up to his death… that he never quite attained that next level of Christianity whereby he no longer sinned.

e.       Even those who would say that at salvation we no longer sin… take a very narrow view of sin indeed. The only thing they would count as sin are purposeful, intentional pursuit of sin. I think in that way, I would agree that Christians should not be people who pursue sin. However, I think we all can attest that it is still sin… even when we are ambushed and caught unawares and do unintentionally sin. David prayed that God would forgive… even the sins he did not know he committed.

f.        Oh we still sin. We hate it… but we do it still.

g.       And so a message today telling us to be holy and blameless can be quite disheartening.

h.       I’m sure the Thessalonians felt a bit downcast as Paul commends them but then tells them to keep going. They hadn’t gotten there yet. They hadn’t arrived.

i.         What a comfort to know… that the God who predestines us, the God who elected us before the foundation of the world, will complete us. He won’t leave us… unfinished.

j.         Wow.

k.       Take comfort Christian. The God who began this work in you will be faithful to complete it.

6.)    [Slide 20] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” We are all broken, lost, and incomplete. Only the God of Peace can make you whole. Only the Prince of peace can reconcile you to God.

a.       This week, my girls all woke up at the same time. I got some coffee for Kadie, and we all sat in the bedroom and chatted about various things.

b.       At one point the conversation turned to the necessity of Christ paying for our sins. I pointed out that many people believe that they can earn God’s pleasure and peace with God by simply doing good things.

c.       We investigated that truth together. I asked them… what are sins against God? We arrived at the answer that all sin against God is rebellion. It is treason against God and His rule of His creation.

d.       When we lie, steal, have pride, or are mean to each other… these acts are directly opposed to God’s character and the order that God established in creation.

e.       Indeed, the scars of His ordering in creation continue to exist even in sinful men as we all have some semblance of what is right and wrong written on our hearts.

f.        After a quick explanation of what treason was, I asked them what they thought the penalty for committing treason against our nation should be. They said… death.

g.       Then I asked what it means to obey God. I quickly followed up with, Is obeying God extra credit or is it simply doing what He expects?

h.       They said – doing what He expects of us.

i.         So then I said… would it be right for God to forgive us of treason simply because we did many more things that He expected of us? They said no.

j.         I asked if I went before a judge and was convicted of murdering someone, and I plead with the judge to check my record and observe that I had given to the poor, was kind to my neighbor, paid my taxes, went to church, and read my bible… should the judge let me go even though I murdered someone?

k.       They said no.

l.         I said, this is why our good works will never be enough to please or appease God. God is a good judge. He will ALWAYS punish our sins.

m.     The only question…  my friends… is will you be the one punished or has another been punished for you?

n.       Only God can save you from the plight you are in. God has taken the punishment of the sins of His people and has laid them upon His Son. The Prince of peace purchased their reconciliation. The God of Peace… is the only One who can make you… whole.

o.       And He unites you to that atonement… by grace, through faith, in Christ.

p.       Has the Spirit called you today? Have your eyes been opened to the truth of the gospel?

q.       I beg you… Turn from your sin and believe on Jesus Christ. Follow Him and endeavor to obey all He has commanded. And God will start putting you back together again.

r.        Don’t leave today without letting someone know that you are now a believing one. 

 

[Slide 21 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the Reformer John Calvin.

 

Almighty God, you fortified your servants the prophets with the invincible power of your Spirit. Now would you make us humble, knowing what they taught-that we may learn to willingly submit before you and so gladly receive and accept what you offer.

 

Sustain us by your hand so that we rely on your power and protection, so we may be equipped to fight the world and Satan. May we all, in whatever position or job we find ourselves, rest in your power. May we not hesitate to expose our very life to danger, whenever necessary. And with courage may we fight and persevere in our battles to the end.

 

Then, when we finish our course, we will ultimately come to that blessed rest which is reserved for us in heaven, through Christ our Lord. We pray this in His name… Amen.

 

Benediction:

May our God who has sworn by Himself

Upon whose oath you may depend

Who bears His own on eagle's wind;

May He strengthen you and help you,

May He uphold you with His righteous hand.

 

Until we meet again… Grace and Peace to you.]]></description>
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				<title><![CDATA[01 The Reasonableness of the Resurrection]]></title>
				<category>Podcast</category>
				<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher C. Freeman/John Tillotson]]></itunes:author>
				<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[[Slide 1] John Tillotson [Slide 2] Born 1630 to a Puritan Clothier Graduated Cambridge in 1650 and was made a fellow of his college in 1651. He identified himself with the Presbyterians until the Act of Uniformity in 1662. He devoted himself to the study]]></itunes:subtitle>
				<itunes:summary><![CDATA[[Slide 1] John Tillotson

[Slide 2] Born 1630 to a Puritan Clothier

Graduated Cambridge in 1650 and was made a fellow of his college in 1651.

He identified himself with the Presbyterians until the Act of Uniformity in 1662.

He devoted himself to the study of the patristic writers, especially Basil and John Chrysostom.

His preaching tended to be far more practical rather than theological as a result of his studies.

He earned his doctorate in Divinity in 1666.

In 1672 he became the dean of Canterbury.

Through various connections with Lady Russell and Princess Anne, he was made clerk of the closet to the king in 1689, showing the level of confidence both William and Mary had in him.

Soon after this he was elected as the Archbishop of Canterbury, but accepted the position with extreme reluctance and actually deferred his appointment to the position, at his request, until 1691 where it became official.

Shortly before his death he published four lectures on the Socinian controversy to make it clear that he had no sympathy for the Socinian heresy.

Ultimately it was his attempt to reform several abuses in the Church of England that led to a political movement known as the Jacobites pursuing him with insults and reproach until he died in November of 1694.

[Slide 3] We are not sure when this sermon was preached in his career, but it has often been preached on Easter Sundays throughout the last 300 years or so. You will notice his style as he attempts to show how reason is not an enemy to the Christian doctrines of the Resurrection.

I chose this sermon because it touches both the thinkers and philosophers among us and also has quite a practical punch at the very end. Truly something for everyone.

As much as possible I left the language and spelling the way it was in the original. I have only made small modifications for clarity.

[Slide 4 (blank)] So let me pray, and when I say amen every word that follows will be  Doctor John Tilloston’s from his sermon entitled The Reasonableness of a Resurrection.

 

 

[Slide 5] Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?—Acts 26:8.

The resurrection of the dead is one of the great articles of the Christian faith; and yet so it hath happened that this great article of our religion hath been made one of the chief objections against it. There is nothing that Christianity hath been more upbraided for withal, both by the heathens of old and by the infidels of later times, than the impossibility of this article; so that it is a matter of great consideration and consequence to vindicate our religion in this particular. But if the thing be evidently impossible, then it is highly unreasonable to propose it to the belief of mankind.

I know that some, more devout than wise, and who, it is to be hoped, mean better than they understand, make nothing of impossibilities in matters of faith, and would fain persuade us that the more impossible anything is, for that very reason it is the fitter to be believed; and that it is an argument of a poor and low faith to believe only things that are possible; but a generous and heroical faith will swallow contradictions with as much ease as reason assents to the plainest and most evident propositions. Tertullian, in the heat of his zeal and eloquence, upon this point of the death and resurrection of Christ, lets fall a very odd passage, and which must have many grains of allowance to make i...]]></itunes:summary>
				<description><![CDATA[[Slide 1] John Tillotson

[Slide 2] Born 1630 to a Puritan Clothier

Graduated Cambridge in 1650 and was made a fellow of his college in 1651.

He identified himself with the Presbyterians until the Act of Uniformity in 1662.

He devoted himself to the study of the patristic writers, especially Basil and John Chrysostom.

His preaching tended to be far more practical rather than theological as a result of his studies.

He earned his doctorate in Divinity in 1666.

In 1672 he became the dean of Canterbury.

Through various connections with Lady Russell and Princess Anne, he was made clerk of the closet to the king in 1689, showing the level of confidence both William and Mary had in him.

Soon after this he was elected as the Archbishop of Canterbury, but accepted the position with extreme reluctance and actually deferred his appointment to the position, at his request, until 1691 where it became official.

Shortly before his death he published four lectures on the Socinian controversy to make it clear that he had no sympathy for the Socinian heresy.

Ultimately it was his attempt to reform several abuses in the Church of England that led to a political movement known as the Jacobites pursuing him with insults and reproach until he died in November of 1694.

[Slide 3] We are not sure when this sermon was preached in his career, but it has often been preached on Easter Sundays throughout the last 300 years or so. You will notice his style as he attempts to show how reason is not an enemy to the Christian doctrines of the Resurrection.

I chose this sermon because it touches both the thinkers and philosophers among us and also has quite a practical punch at the very end. Truly something for everyone.

As much as possible I left the language and spelling the way it was in the original. I have only made small modifications for clarity.

[Slide 4 (blank)] So let me pray, and when I say amen every word that follows will be  Doctor John Tilloston’s from his sermon entitled The Reasonableness of a Resurrection.

 

 

[Slide 5] Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?—Acts 26:8.

The resurrection of the dead is one of the great articles of the Christian faith; and yet so it hath happened that this great article of our religion hath been made one of the chief objections against it. There is nothing that Christianity hath been more upbraided for withal, both by the heathens of old and by the infidels of later times, than the impossibility of this article; so that it is a matter of great consideration and consequence to vindicate our religion in this particular. But if the thing be evidently impossible, then it is highly unreasonable to propose it to the belief of mankind.

I know that some, more devout than wise, and who, it is to be hoped, mean better than they understand, make nothing of impossibilities in matters of faith, and would fain persuade us that the more impossible anything is, for that very reason it is the fitter to be believed; and that it is an argument of a poor and low faith to believe only things that are possible; but a generous and heroical faith will swallow contradictions with as much ease as reason assents to the plainest and most evident propositions. Tertullian, in the heat of his zeal and eloquence, upon this point of the death and resurrection of Christ, lets fall a very odd passage, and which must have many grains of allowance to make it tolerable: He said “it is therefore very credible, because it is foolish, and certain, because it is impossible. And it is necessary the Christian faith should be thus disgraced by the belief of impossibilities and contradictions.” I suppose he means that this article of the resurrection was not in itself the less credible because the heathen philosophers [objected] at it as a thing impossible and [contradictory], and endeavored to disgrace the Christian religion upon that account. For if he meant otherwise, that the thing was therefore credible because it was really and in itself foolish and impossible; this had been to recommend the Christian religion from the absurdity of the things to be believed; which would be a strange recommendation of any religion to the sober and reasonable part of mankind.

I know not what some men may find in themselves; but I must freely acknowledge that I could never yet attain to that bold and hardy degree of faith as to believe anything for this reason, because it was impossible: for this would be to believe a thing to be, because I am sure it can not be. So that I am very far from being of his mind, that wanted not only more difficulties, but even impossibilities in the Christian religion, to exercise his faith upon.

Leaving to the Church of Rome that foolhardiness of faith, to believe things to be true which at the same time their reason plainly tells them are impossible, I shall at this time endeavor to assert and vindicate this article of the resurrection from the pretended impossibility of it. And I hope, by God’s assistance, to make the possibility of the thing so plain as to leave no considerable scruple about it in any free and unprejudiced mind. And this I shall do from these words of St. Paul, which are part of the defense which he made for himself before Festus and Agrippa. the substance whereof is this, that he had lived a blameless and inoffensive life among the Jews, in whose religion he had been bred up; that he was of the strictest sect of that religion, a Pharisee, which, in opposition to the Sadducees, maintained the resurrection of the dead and a future state of rewards and punishments in another life; and that for the hope of this he was called in question, and accused by the Jews. “And now I stand here, and am judged, for the hope of the promise made unto the fathers; unto which promise our twelve scribes, instantly serving God, day and night, hope to come; for which hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.” That is, he was accused for preaching that Jesus was risen from the dead, which is a particular instance of the general doctrine of the resurrection which was entertained by the greatest part of the Jews, and which to the natural reason of mankind ([even though] the heathen … were prejudiced against it), hath nothing in it that is incredible. And for this he appeals to his judges, Festus and Agrippa: “why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?”

Which words being a question without an answer, imply in them these two propositions:

[Slide 6] First, That it was thought by some a thing incredible that the dead should be raised. This is supposed in the question, as the foundation of it: for he who asks why a thing is so, supposeth it to be so.

Secondly, That this apprehension, that it is a thing incredible that God should raise the dead, is very unreasonable. For the question being left unanswered, implies its own answer, and is to be resolved into this affirmative, that there is no reason why they or any man else should think it a thing incredible that God should raise the dead.

I shall speak to these two propositions as briefly as I can; and then show what influence this doctrine of the resurrection ought to have upon our lives.

First, that it was thought by some a thing incredible that God should raise the dead. This St. Paul has reason to suppose, having from his own experience found men so averse from the entertaining of this doctrine. When he preached to the philosophers at Athens, and declared to them the resurrection of one Jesus from the dead, they were amazed at this new doctrine, and knew not what he meant by it. They said, “he seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods, because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection.” He had discoursed to them of the resurrection of one Jesus from the dead; but this business of the resurrection of one Jesus from the dead was a thing so remote from their apprehensions that they had no manner of conception of it; but understood him quite in another sense, as if he had declared to them two new deities, Jesus and Anastasis; as if he had brought a new god and a new goddess among them, Jesus and the Resurrection. And when he discoursed to them again more fully of this matter, it is said that, “when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, they mocked.” And at the twenty-fourth verse of this twenty-sixth chapter, when he spake of the resurrection, Festus told him he would hear him no further, and that he looked upon him as a man beside himself, whom much learning had made mad. Festus looked upon this business of the resurrection as the wild speculation of a crazy head. And indeed the heathens generally, even those who believed the immortality of the soul, and another state after this life, looked upon the resurrection of the body as a thing impossible. Pliny, I remember, reckons it among those things which are impossible, and which God himself can not do; and in the primitive times the heathen philosophers very much derided the Christians, upon account of this strange doctrine of the resurrection, looking always upon this article of their faith as a ridiculous and impossible assertion.

So easy it is for prejudice to blind the minds of men, and to represent everything to them which hath a great appearance of difficulty in it as impossible. But I shall endeavor to show that if the matter be thoroughly examined, there is no ground for any such apprehension.

I proceed therefore to the second proposition, namely, that this apprehension, that it is an incredible thing that God should raise the dead, is very unreasonable: “why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” That is, there is no sufficient reason why any man should look upon the resurrection of the dead as a thing impossible to the power of God; the only reason why they thought it incredible being because they judged it impossible; so that nothing can be vainer than for men to pretend to believe the resurrection; and yet at the same time to grant it to be a thing in reason impossible, because no man can believe that which he thinks to be incredible; and the impossibility of a thing is the best reason any man can have to think a thing incredible. So that the meaning of St. Paul’s question is, “why should it be thought a thing impossible that God should raise the dead?”

To come then to the business: I shall endeavor to show that there is no sufficient reason why men should look upon the resurrection of the dead as a thing impossible to God. “Why should it be thought a thing incredible (that is, impossible) with you, that God should raise the dead?” which question implies in it these three things:

[Slide 7] 1. That it is above the power of nature to raise the dead.

2. But it is not above the power of God to raise the dead.

3. That God should be able to do this is by no means incredible to natural reason.

First. This question implies that it is above the power of nature to raise the dead; and therefore the apostle puts the question very cautiously, “why should it be thought incredible that God should raise the dead?” by which he seems to grant that it is impossible to any natural power to raise the dead; which is granted on all hands.

Secondly. But this question does plainly imply that it is not above the power of God to do this. Tho the raising of the dead to life be a thing above the power of nature, yet why should it be thought incredible that God, who is the author of nature, should be able to do this? and indeed the apostle’s putting the question in this manner takes away the main ground of the objection against the resurrection from the impossibility of the thing. For the main reason why it was looked upon as impossible was, because it was contrary to the course of nature that there should be any return from a perfect privation to a habit, and that a body perfectly dead should be restored to life again: but for all this no man that believes in a God who made the world, and this natural frame of things, but must think it very reasonable to believe that He can do things far above the power of anything that He hath made.

Thirdly. This question implies that it is not a thing incredible to natural reason that God should be able to raise the dead. I do not say that by natural light we can discover that God will raise the dead; for that, depending merely upon the will of God, can no otherwise be certainly known than by divine revelation: but that God can do this is not at all incredible to natural reason. And this is sufficiently implied in the question which St. Paul asks, in which he appeals to Festus and Agrippa, neither of them Christians, “why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?” And why should he appeal to them concerning the credibility of this matter if it be a thing incredible to natural reason?

That it is not, I shall first endeavor to prove, and then to answer the chief objections against the possibility of it.

And I prove it thus: it is not incredible to natural reason that God made the world, and all the creatures in it; that mankind is His offspring; and that He gives us life and breath, and all things. This was acknowledged and firmly believed by many of the heathens. And indeed, whoever believes that the being of God may be known by natural light, must grant that it may be known by the natural light of reason that God made the world; because one of the chief arguments of the being of God is taken from those visible effects of wisdom, and power, and goodness, which we see in the frame of the world. Now He that can do the greater can undoubtedly do the less; He that made all things of nothing, can much more raise a body out of dust; He who at first gave life to so many inanimate beings, can easily restore that which is dead to life again. It is an excellent saying of one of the Jewish rabbis: He who made that which was not, to be, can certainly make that which was once, to be again. This hath the force of a demonstration; for no man that believes that God hath done the one, can make any doubt but that He can, if He please, do the other.

This seems to be so very clear, that they must be strong objections indeed, that can render it incredible.

[Slide 8] There are but two that I know of, that are of any consideration, and I shall not be afraid to represent them to you with their utmost advantage; and they are these:

First, against the resurrection in general: it is pretended impossible, after the bodies of men are resolved into dust, to re-collect all the dispersed parts and bring them together, to be united into one body.

The second is leveled against a resurrection in some particular instances, and pretends it to be impossible in some cases only like when that which was the matter of one man’s body does afterward become the matter of another man’s body; in which case, say they, it is impossible that both these should, at the resurrection, each have his own body.

The difficulty of both these objections is perfectly avoided by those who hold that it is not necessary that our bodies at the resurrection should consist of the very same parts of matter that they did before. There being no such great difference between one parcel of dust and another; neither in respect of the power of God, which can easily command this parcel of dust as that to become a living body, and being united to a living soul to rise up and walk; so that the miracle of the resurrection will be all one in the main, whether our bodies be made of the very same matter they were before, or not; nor will there be any difference as to us; for whatever matter our bodies be made of, when they are once reunited to our souls, they will be then as much our own as if they had been made of the very same matter of which they consisted before. Besides that, the change which the resurrection will make in our bodies will be so great that we could not know them to be the same, tho they were so.

Now upon this supposition, which seems philosophical enough, the force of both these objections is wholly declined. But there is no need to fly to this refuge; and therefore I will take this article of the resurrection in the strictest sense for the raising of a body to life, consisting of the same individual matter that it did before; and in this sense, I think, it has generally been received by Christians, not without ground, from Scripture. I will only mention one text, which seems very strongly to imply it: “and the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and the grave delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to his works.” Now why should the sea and the grave be said to deliver up their dead, if there were not a resurrection of the same body; for any dust formed into a living body and united to the soul, would serve the turn? We will therefore take it for granted that the very same body will be raised, and I doubt not, even in this sense, to vindicate the possibility of the resurrection from both these objections.

First, against the resurrection in general of the same body; it is pretended impossible, after the bodies of men are moldered into dust, and by infinite accidents have been scattered up and down the world, and have undergone a thousand changes, to re-collect and rally together the very same parts of which they consisted before. This the heathens used to object to the primitive Christians; for which reason they also used to burn the bodies of the martyrs, and to scatter their ashes in the air, to be blown about by the wind, in derision of their hopes of a resurrection.

I know not how strong malice might make this objection to appear; but surely in reason it is very weak; for it wholly depends upon a gross mistake of the nature of God and his providence, as if it did not extend to the smallest things; as if God did not know all things that He hath made, and had them not always in His view, and perfectly under His command; and as if it were a trouble and burden to infinite knowledge and power to understand and order the least things; whereas infinite knowledge and power can know and manage all things with as much ease as we can understand and order any one thing; so that this objection is grounded upon a low and false apprehension of the Divine nature, and is only fit for Epicurus and his herd, who fancied to themselves a sort of slothful and unthinking deities, whose happiness consisted in their laziness, and a privilege to do nothing.

[Slide 9] I proceed therefore to the second objection, which is more close and pressing; and this is leveled against the resurrection in some particular instances. I will mention but two, by which all the rest may be measured and answered.

One is, of those who are drowned in the sea, and their bodies eaten up by fishes, and turned into their nourishment: and those fishes perhaps eaten afterward by men, and converted into the substance of their bodies.

The other is of the cannibals; some of whom, as credible relations tell us, have lived wholly or chiefly on the flesh of men; and consequently the whole, or the greater part of the substance of their bodies is made of the bodies of other men. In these and the like cases, wherein one man’s body is supposed to be turned into the substance of another man’s body, how should both these at the resurrection each recover his own body? So that this objection is like that of the Sadducees to our Savior, concerning a woman that had seven husbands: they ask, “whose wife of the seven shall she be at the resurrection?” So here, when several have had the same body, whose shall it be at the resurrection? and how shall they be supplied that have it not?

This is the objection; and in order to the answering of it, I shall premise these two things:

[Slide 10] 1. That the body of man is not a constant and permanent thing, always continuing in the same state, and consisting of the same matter; but a successive thing, which is continually spending and continually renewing itself, every day losing something of the matter which it had before, and gaining new; so that most men have new bodies oftener than they have new clothes; only with this difference, that we change our clothes commonly at once, but our bodies by degrees.

And this is undeniably certain from experience. For so much as our bodies grow, so much new matter is added to them, over and beside the repairing of what is continually spent; and after a man come to his full growth, so much of his food as every day turns into nourishment, so much of his yesterday’s body is usually wasted, and carried off by insensible perspiration...

It is true indeed the more solid parts of the body, as the bones, do not change so often as the fluid and fleshy; but that they also do change is certain, because they grow, and whatever grows is nourished and spends, because otherwise it would not need to be repaired.

2. The body which a man hath at any time of his life is as much his own body as that which he hath at his death; so that if the very matter of his body which a man had at any time of his life be raised, it is as much his own and the same body as that which he had at his death, and commonly much more perfect; because they who die of lingering sickness or old age are usually mere skeletons when they die; so that there is no reason to suppose that the very matter of which our bodies consists at the time of our death shall be that which shall be raised, that being commonly the worst and most imperfect body of all the rest.

These two things being premised, the answer to this objection can not be difficult. For as to the more solid and firm parts of the body, as the skull and bones, it is not, I think, pretended that the cannibals eat them; and if they did, so much of the matter even of these solid parts wastes away in a few years, as being collected together would supply them many times over. And as for the fleshy and fluid parts, these are so very often changed and renewed that we can allow the cannibals to eat them all up, and to turn them all into nourishment, and yet no man need contend for want of a body of his own at the resurrection for he has any of those bodies which he had ten or twenty years before; which are every whit as good and as much his own as that which was eaten.

[Slide 11] Having thus shown that the resurrection is not a thing incredible to natural reason, I should now proceed to show the certainty of it from divine revelation. For as reason tells us it is not impossible, so the word of God hath assured us that it is certain. The texts of Scripture are so many and clear to this purpose, and so well known to all Christians, that I will produce none. I shall only tell you that as it is expressly revealed in the gospel, so our blest Savior, for the confirmation of our faith and the comfort and encouragement of our hope, hath given us the experiment of it in his own resurrection, which is “the earnest and first-fruits of ours.” So St. Paul tells us that “Christ is risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.” And that Christ did really rise from the dead, we have as good evidence as for any ancient matter of fact which we do most firmly believe; and more and greater evidence than this the thing is not capable of; and because it is not, no reasonable man ought to require it.

Now what remains but to conclude this discourse with those practical inferences which our apostle makes from this doctrine of the resurrection; and I shall mention these two:

[Slide 12] The first for our support and comfort under the infirmities and miseries of this mortal life.

The second for the encouragement of obedience and a good life.

1. For our comfort and support under the infirmities and miseries of this mortal state. The consideration of the glorious change of our bodies at the resurrection of the just can not but be a great comfort to us, under all bodily pain and sufferings.

One of the greatest burdens of human nature is the frailty and infirmity of our bodies, the necessities they are frequently prest withal, the manifold diseases they are liable to, and the dangers and terrors of death, to which they are continually subject and enslaved. But the time is coming, if we be careful to prepare ourselves for it, when we shall be clothed with other kinds of bodies, free from all the miseries and inconveniences which flesh and blood is subject to. For “these vile bodies shall be changed, and fashioned like to the glorious body of the Son of God.” When our bodies shall be raised to a new life, they shall become incorruptible; “for this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality; and then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory.” When this last enemy is conquered, there shall be no “fleshly lusts” nor brutish passions “to fight against the soul; no law in our members to war against the laws of our minds”: no disease to torment us; no danger of death to amaze and terrify us. Then all the passions and appetites of our outward man shall be subject to the reason of our minds, and our bodies shall partake of the immortality of our souls. It is but a very little while that our spirits shall be crusht and clogged with these heavy and sluggish bodies; at the resurrection they shall be refined from all dregs of corruption, and become spiritual, and incorruptible, and glorious, and every way suited to the activity and perfection of a glorified soul and the “spirits of just men made perfect.”

2. For the encouragement of obedience and a good life. Let the belief of this great article of our faith have the same influence upon us which St. Paul tells it had upon him. “I have hope toward God that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust; and herein do I exercise myself always to have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward man.” The firm belief of a resurrection to another life should make every one of us very careful how we demean ourselves in this life, and afraid to do anything or to neglect anything that may defeat our hopes of a blest immortality, and expose us to the extreme and endless misery of body and soul in another life.

Particularly, it should be an argument to us, “to glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits”; and to use the members of the one and the faculties of the other as “instruments of righteousness unto holiness.” We should reverence ourselves, and take heed not only how we defile our souls by sinful passions, but how we dishonor our bodies by sensual and brutish lusts; since God hath designed so great an honor and happiness for both at the resurrection.

So often as we think of a blest resurrection to eternal life, and the happy consequences of it, the thought of so glorious a reward should make us diligent and unwearied in the service of so good a Master and so great a Prince, who can and will prefer us to infinitely greater honors than any that are to be had in this world. This inference the apostle makes from the doctrine of the resurrection. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Nay, we may begin this blest state while we are upon earth, by “setting our hearts and affections upon the things that are above, and having our conversation in heaven, from whence also we look for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.”

[Slide 13 (end)] “Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do his will, working in us always that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”[1]

 


[1] John Tillotson, “The Reasonableness of a Resurrection,” in The World’s Great Sermons: Hooker to South, ed. Grenville Kleiser, vol. 2 (New York; London: Funk & Wagnalls, 1908), 135–154.]]></description>
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				<title><![CDATA[18 I Thessalonians 5:16-22 Unconditional Trust]]></title>
				<category>Podcast</category>
				<itunes:author><![CDATA[Christopher C. Freeman]]></itunes:author>
				<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Title: Unconditional Trust Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 FCF: We often struggle trusting God unconditionally. Prop: Because God’s will for us is to trust Him unconditionally, we must trust His leadings regardless of our circumstances. Scripture Intro: L]]></itunes:subtitle>
				<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Title: Unconditional Trust

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

FCF: We often struggle trusting God unconditionally.

Prop: Because God’s will for us is to trust Him unconditionally, we must trust His leadings regardless of our circumstances.

 

Scripture Intro: LSB

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. In a moment we’ll read from the Legacy Standard Bible staring in verse 16. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer.

 

As we’ve pointed out, and as our sign out front has said and the sides for this series have shown – the first letter to the Thessalonians is tied together by the three cardinal Christian virtues of faith, love, and hope.

 

In fact, we have seen Paul talk about all three of these virtues in various ways since the beginning of the book. And since he began chapter 4, he has analyzed faith, love, hope, then hope again, then back to love, and today he will get back one more time to their faith.

 

Thoroughout the letter he has spoken about their work of faith and how their faith was not shaken even though they were afflicted. He talked about how the word of God is at work in them because they believe and are continuing to believe. He did say that their faith needs to be completed but as it is, they already have a faith that is working since they know and trust God’s commands and walk in order to please Him. They do this because they know that setting aside His commands is not setting aside man’s traditions… but God Himself.

 

So today, Paul will do what he can to complete their faith. Paul will give them 8 more commands all designed to illustrate what trusting God, without condition, really looks like.

 

Please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Faithful Father, You are worthy of our unconditional trust. You are all powerful. You are all knowing. You are all good. You are all loving. You are Holy. You are Just. You… are Sovereign. Because of who You are, we can and indeed we must trust You without reservation. But we are weak Lord. And our trust is feeble. We ask that You would use Your Word and Your Spirit’s power to show us today how we can trust You. Teach us Lord from this, Your holy word. We pray this in Jesus’, The Word’s name… Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2]

“What is faith unless it is to believe what you do not see?” Augustine of Hippo

 

“Belief is not faith without evidence but commitment without reservation.” Leighton Ford

 

“Faith is an activity of the whole soul bringing into movement the intellect, the emotions, and the will, and anything less than this is not biblical faith.” Iain Inglis

 

[Slide 3] “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. It is so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.” Martin Luther

 

“Faith, to put it simply, is the conviction that God does not tell lies.” Frank Retief

 

“What is faith but obedience to the commands of Christ?” Salvianus

 

“Faith is reason at rest in God.” C.H. Spurgeon

 

“Faith is self-surrender to the great Physician leaving of our case in His hands. But it is also the taking of His prescriptions and the active following of His directions.” Augustus H. Strong

 

These thoughts summarize what we will see today in the text of scripture. Let’s look.

 

I.)                  God’s will for His people is to trust Him uncond...]]></itunes:summary>
				<description><![CDATA[Title: Unconditional Trust

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

FCF: We often struggle trusting God unconditionally.

Prop: Because God’s will for us is to trust Him unconditionally, we must trust His leadings regardless of our circumstances.

 

Scripture Intro: LSB

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. In a moment we’ll read from the Legacy Standard Bible staring in verse 16. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer.

 

As we’ve pointed out, and as our sign out front has said and the sides for this series have shown – the first letter to the Thessalonians is tied together by the three cardinal Christian virtues of faith, love, and hope.

 

In fact, we have seen Paul talk about all three of these virtues in various ways since the beginning of the book. And since he began chapter 4, he has analyzed faith, love, hope, then hope again, then back to love, and today he will get back one more time to their faith.

 

Thoroughout the letter he has spoken about their work of faith and how their faith was not shaken even though they were afflicted. He talked about how the word of God is at work in them because they believe and are continuing to believe. He did say that their faith needs to be completed but as it is, they already have a faith that is working since they know and trust God’s commands and walk in order to please Him. They do this because they know that setting aside His commands is not setting aside man’s traditions… but God Himself.

 

So today, Paul will do what he can to complete their faith. Paul will give them 8 more commands all designed to illustrate what trusting God, without condition, really looks like.

 

Please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read.

 

Invocation:

Faithful Father, You are worthy of our unconditional trust. You are all powerful. You are all knowing. You are all good. You are all loving. You are Holy. You are Just. You… are Sovereign. Because of who You are, we can and indeed we must trust You without reservation. But we are weak Lord. And our trust is feeble. We ask that You would use Your Word and Your Spirit’s power to show us today how we can trust You. Teach us Lord from this, Your holy word. We pray this in Jesus’, The Word’s name… Amen.

 

Transition:

[Slide 2]

“What is faith unless it is to believe what you do not see?” Augustine of Hippo

 

“Belief is not faith without evidence but commitment without reservation.” Leighton Ford

 

“Faith is an activity of the whole soul bringing into movement the intellect, the emotions, and the will, and anything less than this is not biblical faith.” Iain Inglis

 

[Slide 3] “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. It is so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.” Martin Luther

 

“Faith, to put it simply, is the conviction that God does not tell lies.” Frank Retief

 

“What is faith but obedience to the commands of Christ?” Salvianus

 

“Faith is reason at rest in God.” C.H. Spurgeon

 

“Faith is self-surrender to the great Physician leaving of our case in His hands. But it is also the taking of His prescriptions and the active following of His directions.” Augustus H. Strong

 

These thoughts summarize what we will see today in the text of scripture. Let’s look.

 

I.)                  God’s will for His people is to trust Him unconditionally, so we must always live in light of God’s sovereignty. (16-18)

a.       [Slide 4] 16 - Rejoice always;

                                                               i.      Paul begins this next set of exhortations with three commands using 7 Greek words.

                                                             ii.      The first two words, are rejoice always.

                                                           iii.      Paul exhorts his readers, who are experiencing affliction from unbelievers around them, to rejoice.

                                                           iv.      What does it mean to rejoice?

                                                             v.      The word rejoice comes from the word for joy. It means to be glad, to be joyful.

                                                           vi.      Joy is one of those words that looking outside the scriptures won’t actually help us understand it any better.

                                                          vii.      The Dictionary definition of the word is simply a feeling of great happiness or pleasure.

1.       But when we pull such a definition back into the text, it is difficult to imagine that Paul would be commanding the Thessalonians to govern their own feelings to the extent that they are greatly happy…always.

2.       Emotions are reactions and are rarely stable. For Paul to demand that people be emotionally, greatly happy all the time, seems a little farfetched.

3.       It further disconnects us from clear teachings that tell us to mourn for our brothers and sisters who are hurting, and the example of Christ who wept at the death of His friend Lazarus.

4.       Was Jesus greatly happy at this moment? Can you be happy and mourn at the same time?

                                                        viii.      But when we assess the greater context of the scriptures and note how biblical writers use the word joy, we come to a starkly different definition of the word entirely.

                                                            ix.      Biblical joy is gladness that transcends earthly circumstances, bad or good. To the extent that a believer can experience true joy even when they are unhappy.

                                                             x.      If I were to create a definition of my own based on the biblical data, it would be the following:

1.       [Slide 5] Biblical joy is gladness and contentment rooted in a pure trust in God’s sovereign hand to work all things for the good of the believer and His own glory.

2.       Joy then is not an emotion at all. Rather it is a state of being that is rooted in trusting what God has promised.

3.       Indeed, Paul lists joy as a fruit of the Spirit in the book of Galatians, indicating to us that joy actually comes from God and not from ourselves.

                                                            xi.      So having joy is part of our interior transformation as we are conformed to Christ.

                                                          xii.      When we insert this definition back into Paul’s command here, we see that he commands them to rejoice always because he is confident that they are the elect of God. He saw the gospel come to them in power and he has heard of their example and their enduring faith.

                                                        xiii.      Therefore, to expect them to be joyful in every circumstance, is to expect them to live as though they are a true believer.

                                                        xiv.      Which brings us to the inescapable, albeit uncomfortable conclusion…

                                                          xv.      Real Christians are expected to rejoice always.

                                                        xvi.      To the extent that if a person claims to be a Christian and has lost their joy… we can’t encourage them without also investigating whether or not they are true believers?

                                                       xvii.      Paul continues…

b.       [Slide 6] 17 - pray without ceasing;

                                                               i.      Though we translate this in three words, the Greek command is still only two.

                                                             ii.      We could translate it, “pray unceasingly” if we wanted to maintain the word count.

                                                           iii.      Just as joy is related to trusting God– so also is prayer.

                                                           iv.      Spending unending hours in prayer to a god you don’t believe is able to do what you ask of him or is not good enough to give you what is best for you – would be a foolish activity for anyone.

                                                             v.      Old Testament prophets poke fun at pagan worshippers sending prayer toward their dead gods who cannot of their own power or will give anything to those who worship them.

                                                           vi.      And so, we must pray in faith, believing that God is good and rewards those who diligently seek Him.

                                                          vii.      Many people know this verse. It is only 3 words after all.  

                                                        viii.      But I should point out that the word unceasingly can also be rendered incessantly or resolutely.

                                                            ix.      It is difficult to know whether Paul intends that they should be frequently praying or if they should be fervently praying, or both.

                                                             x.      Logic tells us that if we were constantly praying it may be difficult for us to accomplish much else.

                                                            xi.      But since I don’t think that is a real concern for many in this room – I cannot dismiss the likelihood that Paul does refer to frequency of prayer here.

                                                          xii.      Generally speaking, the more you trust someone, the more you speak to them. And with the God of the Universe – the more you trust Him, not only the more you pray, but even the content of your prayers encompasses every area of life. Not simply praying for big wants – but even praying to praise Him. To thank Him. To commune with Him.

                                                        xiii.      Therefore, I must conclude that both frequency and fervency are validated in the scriptures. We must be a people of prayer.

                                                        xiv.      But I would wager that this is, more than likely, a glaring deficiency in most of the people in this room today.

                                                          xv.      We ought to pray first and act second. But so often we act first… and most of the time our first action is to worry and fret. And then down the line…maybe… and occasionally we also pray.

                                                        xvi.      One more exhortation before Paul breaks to give us a doctrinal foundation for them…

c.       [Slide 7] 18 - in everything give thanks,

                                                               i.      Three words in Greek.

                                                             ii.      So, we must rejoice always, pray always, and certainly we must also always be giving thanks.

                                                           iii.      If faith is a cardinal Christian virtue, then thankfulness is a necessary outcome for all who have faith.

                                                           iv.      How can you believe all that is reported to us in the gospel and the scriptures, how can you believe all that God says about Himself and us in His Word, how could anyone truly trust God and not be thankful?

                                                             v.      Yet some of the most complaining, grumbling, dissatisfied people I know… go to churches every Sunday and call themselves Christians.

                                                           vi.      If we truly trust God – there is never a reason to be ungrateful. Why?

                                                          vii.      Because we are always NOT getting what we deserve! ALWAYS!

                                                        viii.      Therefore, not only must faith produce perpetual rejoicing and incessant prayer… it must also produce unconditional thanksgiving. That in all states we find ourselves in – we are thankful to God for His promises that all things work together for good to those who love Him.

                                                            ix.      Finally, Paul undergirds all these exhortations with truth…

d.       [Slide 8] for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

                                                               i.      Faith is not believing a list of facts.

                                                             ii.      Faith is trusting God so much that His will for you becomes reality.

                                                           iii.      God’s will for His people – those who truly believe – is to be a people who always rejoice, incessantly pray, and are giving thanks in all circumstances.

                                                           iv.      But notice that none of this would be possible if we were not… in Christ.

                                                             v.      How are we in Christ?

                                                           vi.      By Faith alone we are united to Christ.

                                                          vii.      If we believe, we work out our faith in fear and trembling knowing that God provides the will and the power to do what He desires of us.

e.       [Slide 9] Summary of the Point: Once again, we are forced to look at the broader context to find the doctrinal foundation upon which Paul places these three commands. He hasn’t left us rudderless though. He clearly states that God’s will for those in Christ Jesus are to do these three things. This certainly points to the fact that these Thessalonians are trusting God’s commands and desirous to do as He wills for them, which is nothing more than the working out of genuine saving faith. God’s will of course, is for His children to trust Him unconditionally. And Paul points out three commands that apply that truth in every situation we face in life. We must rejoice, pray, and give thanks, always. Our circumstances do not determine how we live… Because our God is the same regardless of our circumstances. Our faith is not placed on our circumstances… It is only in God and His Word. May God’s word be true and all else be a liar.

 

Transition:

[Slide 10 (blank)] But Paul is not done issuing commands. He has given three which consider what it means to trust God unconditionally in light of all of life’s circumstances. Paul will now follow up with 5 more commands, still considering how we must trust God unconditionally, but with a different emphasis. Let’s look.

 

II.)                God’s will for His people is to trust Him unconditionally, so we must believe and obey His instruction. (19-22)

a.       [Slide 11] 19 - Do not quench the Spirit;

                                                               i.      Immediately we are struck with a different formation of the commands given.

                                                             ii.      Not two words but four in the Greek. And one of them… is “not”.

                                                           iii.      So, this is not a command to do something, it is a command to not do something.

                                                           iv.      Some scholars insist that Paul is saying to stop doing this… but that force is not necessary here. We need not assume that this is happening in the Thessalonian church. It is possible – but it could just as easily be a warning ahead of this temptation.

                                                             v.      We also see a slight change in the nature of the command.

                                                           vi.      Paul is not pointing to characteristics or attributes that should be in a believer and how they should conduct themselves.

                                                          vii.      Now he seems to be pointing to something else entirely.

                                                        viii.      But the doctrinal underpinnings are still the same.

                                                            ix.      Because they are working out their faith – because they trust the Lord, because they are looking at His commands and doing them – which is what genuine faith is – there are at least two things that they must not do.

                                                             x.      First, they must not quench the Spirit.

                                                            xi.      Spirit here, because it is preceded by the article, seems to indicate that this is talking about the Third person of the Godhead.

                                                          xii.      If he were talking about the inner man, we might expect Paul to say do not quench your spirit. Instead, he says, the Spirit.

                                                        xiii.      To quench is literally to extinguish, to stifle, as if putting out a flame.

                                                        xiv.      But adding up the definitions of these words does not actually help us to arrive directly at what Paul means.

                                                          xv.      What does it mean to quench the Spirit?

                                                        xvi.      Let me tell you that scholars are quite divided over this.

                                                       xvii.      Unfortunately, we do not have the time to go into all of the options, so let me just tell you what I think quench the Spirit means and if you really want to know the other options, you can join us on Thursday night and we can discuss all the other available options.

1.       Quenching of the Spirit is the ignoring or refusing to listen to the Spirit’s leading.

a.       The Spirit primarily leads us through the Word of God.

b.       The Spirit also leads us through the wise counsel of other believers.

c.       The Spirit also leads us through providence and even our own desires.

2.       So, to stifle the Spirit would be to ignore or refuse His leading upon our lives.

3.       What are some of the things the Spirit does to lead or guide us?

a.       The Spirit illuminates the scriptures to us.  Which are able to make us wise and rebuke, reprove, correct, and instruct us in righteousness so that we are equipped for every good work.  (1 Cor 2:14; 2 Tim 3:15-17)

b.       The Spirit convicts us of sin. (John 16:8)

c.       The Spirit guides us to all truth and reminds us of what the Lord Jesus taught. (John 6:13)

d.       The Spirit also gave visions and leadings and directions to the apostles throughout the book of Acts.

4.       What are some examples of quenching the Spirit?

a.       Walking away from the study of the scripture and determining not to believe or do what the Spirit has clearly revealed.

b.       Ignoring counsel from various spiritually mature believers who are saying essentially the same thing – so that you can do what you want.

c.       Ignoring or refusing subtle impulses to do good and God honoring things.

d.       While it may be true that not all voices that whisper to you are God’s Spirit…

                                                                                                                                       i.      Certainly, a demon or your flesh would not advise you to share the gospel with someone on the side of the road, right?

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Certainly, a demon or your flesh would not advise you to help a widow or orphan in their distress, right?

                                                                                                                                   iii.      Certainly, a demon or your flesh is not whispering for you to drop everything and pray for someone, right?

e.       [Slide 12] We must listen closely and obey the Spirit’s leading in our lives. Again, this happens PRIMARILY through His illuminating the scriptures to us.

                                                     xviii.      A person who trusts God unconditionally will listen for and obey the leading and direction of the Spirit on their lives.

                                                        xix.      This command then, is generally pointing to the Spirit’s leading… but then Paul gets specific.

b.       [Slide 13] 20 - do not despise prophecies,

                                                               i.      This point then, is actually a subpoint of what it means not to quench the Spirit. Why?

                                                             ii.      One way that the Spirit clearly leads us is through the preached Word of God.

                                                           iii.      Before we go on to talk about what this means, we need to go down a rather large rabbit trail in order to address how another branch of Christendom misapplies this command.

                                                           iv.      Some in the charismatic movement have used this verse to legitimize and even push back against those who would be critical of their claim at having received new revelation from God.

                                                             v.      I think a fair treatment of this text actually does lend itself to their interpretation. Now before you throw tomatoes or burn me at the stake let me explain.

1.       Paul wrote this in the early AD 50s.

2.       The New Testament canon is not complete yet.

3.       In fact, the only books written up to this point are James and Galatians. That’s it.

4.       For the next 40 years, the New Testament will continue to be written by Paul himself along with Luke, Matthew, Mark, John, James, an unknown writer of Hebrews, Peter and Jude.

                                                           vi.      So, Paul telling the Thessalonians not to despise prophesies is absolutely telling them not to despise God’s Word coming in new revelation both concerning what has already been written and what has yet to come.

                                                          vii.      But there are two pieces of information that cut against the Charismatic’s claim that this verse should prevent people from despising their prophesies.

1.       First, the list of those who had yet to write their books in the New Testament, to which Paul is referring, is a rather elite list made up of either apostles or those who are intimately connected to the apostles.

a.       This boils down to how the church is apostolic.

b.       The Nicaean creed states that there is one holy catholic and apostolic church.

c.       As we’ve stated before, catholic simply means universal and is not actually referring to the denomination of Roman Catholicism.

d.       But some denominations believe that for this creed to be true there must be a succession of apostleship.

e.       Meaning that when one apostle dies, another must take their place.

f.        And the church must continue to submit to the teachings of that apostle as if they were teachings from Christ Himself.

g.       However, this view is wrong on every point.

h.       It is not true that the creed insists this be so, nor is it true that the scriptures teach that there is a succession of the apostleship, nor is it true that what the apostles taught ought to be unconditionally accepted as Jesus’ words.

                                                                                                                                       i.      The creed merely insists that the church is apostolic. Meaning it is formed upon the teachings of the apostles. This actually cuts against the succession of apostleship and new revelation since the creed implies that this teaching is already established and set by the time of the creed’s writing.

                                                                                                                                     ii.      As for apostolic succession, when Judas Iscariot was being replaced, there were some key qualifications that they looked for in his replacement. First, that they were a follower of Christ and second that they were able to bear witness to the risen Christ having seen Him after His resurrection.

1.       Some might say, “yes but Paul never saw the risen Christ except in a vision, and James and Barnabas were never commissioned by Jesus yet they inherited the title, apostle.”

2.       This is actually proving my point. What about Luke, Stephen, Apollos, Pricilla, Aquilla, Phillip, Mark, Timothy, Titus, or any number of other named and influential people in the New Testament that are NOT given the title apostle?

3.       And where do the scriptures indicate to us that Paul, James, and Barnabas replaced dead members of the original 12?

4.       The fact of the matter is – that the scriptures do not indicate that to us at all.

5.       Clearly apostleship was something only gifted to a select few for a specific purpose.

6.       Meaning what?

7.       There are no apostles today nor was it ever God’s intention to continue the apostolic office.

8.       There is no one alive that we must listen to as if the very words they spoke were directly from God.

9.       Instead, the bible becomes our final authority.

                                                        viii.      So that is the first item that the Charismatics must square with if they are to use this verse…

                                                            ix.      So, what does this command mean for us if we have no new revelation coming to us?

                                                             x.      Well, prophesy does not ONLY include the prediction of the future or new revelation.

                                                            xi.      All you have to do is go back to the Old Testament and read two or three of the minor prophets. Eventually you come to realize that they not only say similar things, but that most of what they are saying is referring back to what God has already said.  

                                                          xii.      So just like walking away from the study of the scriptures, ignoring what the Spirit revealed, would be quenching the Spirit so also walking out of a sermon dismantling everything that was said and ignoring or refusing to obey what is clearly from God… is despising prophesy.

                                                        xiii.      Those who truly trust the Lord listen to the Spirit and also those whom God has gifted and anointed to preach His Word.

                                                        xiv.      But I said before that there are two pieces of information that cut against the Charismatics’ claim, and that even the apostles did not expect people to unconditionally believe what they taught as Jesus’ words. Let me prove this by going to verse 21.

c.       [Slide 13] 21 - but examine all things;

                                                               i.      Even Paul himself did not expect unconditional trust in what he preached to everyone.

                                                             ii.      When the Bereans took what he said and sought the scriptures to test it – they were not rebuked for their action.

                                                           iii.      Indeed, in Galatians Paul concedes that even if he would come and teach a different gospel, that they should not listen to him.

                                                           iv.      So, the apostles did not lean on their own authority or revelation but only on what Christ had given.

                                                             v.      And to that end – all teaching and all leadings must be examined. They must be tested.

                                                           vi.      When you study the scriptures… do not lean on your own understanding.

                                                          vii.      Every week I test what I think the text says against what Christians have thought the text said for the last 2000 years. And you know what sometimes, even in this sermon… I had to alter what I think. Why? Because no one else thinks it.

                                                        viii.      This isn’t an echo chamber – this is preserving the doctrines that have been handed down to us from Christ to His apostles and now to us by God’s preserved Word.

                                                            ix.      We must strive to examine all teachings and leadings.

                                                             x.      And therefore, we are right to look suspiciously on those who claim to have a new Word from the Lord. Not just because we believe that doesn’t happen… but also because it is right to examine everything that is said.

                                                            xi.      Then what do we do with them?

d.       [Slide 14] hold fast to that which is good;

                                                               i.      If they are good teachings… if they conform to what Christ has said and what the whole of the scriptures reveal.

                                                             ii.      If the leadings are from the Spirit of God and directing us in paths of righteousness.

                                                           iii.      If the preacher expounds the text and reveals what God has clearly said…

                                                           iv.      Then we must hold fast to that which is good.

                                                             v.      We must cling tightly to what has been shown to be God’s Word and the Spirit’s clear leading.

                                                           vi.      But what if after examination, it doesn’t seem to be what God has revealed?

e.       [Slide 15] 22 - abstain from every form of evil.

                                                               i.      We must cast aside everything that is evil.

                                                             ii.      If it is not of God – then who else could it be from? It is either of Satan or of men.

                                                           iii.      If it is of Satan, then it is evil.

                                                           iv.      If it is of men, then it could be amoral… or it could be evil.

                                                             v.      So, if we determine that what is being whispered in our ear, or preached from the pulpit, is contradictory to what God has taught in the scriptures… we must abstain or keep away from, be distant from it.

                                                           vi.      Flee it.

                                                          vii.      Now some translations say “abstain from every appearance of evil.” This is one potential meaning for this word.

                                                        viii.      The implication would be that everything that even appears to be evil should be fled from.

                                                            ix.      Preachers have, for years, bound the consciences of Christians by the misuse of this verse.

                                                             x.      You shouldn’t have ear buds in because it might appear to others that you are listening to bad music. You must not go to the movie theater because it may appear that you are going to a trashy movie. You must not go into a bar or restaurant with a bar because it may appear that you are going to get drunk.

                                                            xi.      However, when we look at this in the context of this passage and the rest of the scriptures, we cannot allow this interpretation to stand.

1.       Paul is clearly talking about prophesies and not Christian lifestyles.

2.       So, if this word means appearances, a more accurate interpretation would be that when we cannot conclusively prove something is contradictory to God’s Word, but it seems off or new or something we’ve never heard before… we should keep away from it until it becomes clearer.

3.       This was essentially Gamaliel’s wise advice concerning the Jesus sect. He said to the Sanhedrin that if it is from men, it will die out but if it is from God they don’t want to be caught opposing it. So, he advocated releasing Peter and John and waiting to see what happens.

4.       When a teaching seems odd but does not directly contradict the scriptures – we should keep away from it and wait it out.

                                                          xii.      However, there is good reason to NOT interpret the word as “appearances” and rather as “kinds” or “forms” as most modern translations render it.

                                                        xiii.      In this Paul is teaching that when we find a teaching that contradicts what God has already said, and is therefore evil, we must abstain from it or keep away from it – regardless of what form that evil teaching takes.

                                                        xiv.      Even evil teaching that does not directly impact the gospel of Jesus Christ but still contradicts what God has said… must be abstained from or fled.

                                                          xv.      One example of this might be the teaching that Christians are not permitted to marry. They must remain celibate. This does not directly impact the gospel – but it is still a doctrine that must be rejected and fled from.

f.        [Slide 16] Summary of the Point: Paul strives to help the Thessalonians work out their faith by completing what is lacking in it. They must trust God unconditionally and to do that they must believe and obey His instruction. We too must obey God’s leadings and instructions through His Spirit. We must be sure not to stifle or despise what He teaches us and instead listen and obey. Certainly, we must test to make sure that these things are from God and if not, we must flee them. But all that is from God we must hear and heed. This is trusting God unconditionally.

 

Conclusion:

So CBC, what have we learned today that informs and corrects our beliefs and guides and shapes our lifestyles?

 

Basics of Faith and Practice:

[Slide 17] The Thessalonians have been elected by God and are working out their faith by knowing and trusting in God’s commands to the extent that they walk in them. Therefore, Paul gives them 8 exhortations here to help them continue to trust God unconditionally. The first three deal with how they should carry themselves in all of life’s circumstances. If they truly trust God unconditionally, they will always rejoice, they will incessantly pray, and they will continue to give thanks regardless of the circumstances. The next five commands reveal how they should trust God by hearing and heeding His instructions and leadings. They should not quench the Holy Spirit or despise prophesies but should examine all teachings and hold fast to that which is good and keep away from evil teachings in all forms.

 

But how do these exhortations press against us today? How can we apply this specifically to us?

 

1.)    [Slide 18] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” God’s will for His people is to trust Him unconditionally.

a.       Why was man created?

b.       Why did God choose to save some and unite them with His Son?

c.       The bible isn’t silent. Man in general was created to glorify God. And the elect of God are saved so that for all eternity we will glorify God for His grace.

d.       God is not only the creator, He is all powerful, He is all knowing, and He cannot be told no, His will cannot be thwarted. His decrees cannot be undone.

e.       What does that mean?

f.        God always gets what He has willed.

g.       This doesn’t mean that God never allows men to disobey Him. But it does mean that somehow man’s disobedience is actually part of God’s will for the world. It contributes to His ultimate plan for His creation.

h.       Why am I pointing out all these things?

i.         Mostly to show that it is absolutely foolish for anyone who claims to be God’s child, to doubt Him.

j.         God is wholly worthy of our absolute, explicit, and unconditional trust. What He has promised, He will do. What He has decreed, will be.

k.       Not one single molecule in all of creation is able to alter His decrees or His will.

l.         If you believe in this God, if you are united to Christ by faith – then nothing should be able to shake our trust in this God.

m.     But talk is cheap isn’t it. And trust is not just lip-service.

n.       What does unconditional trust in God mean for our lives?

2.)    [Slide 19] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must stop allowing our circumstances to dictate how we live.

a.       Paul commands the Thessalonians to always rejoice, incessantly pray, and give thanks in all circumstances.

b.       In other words – what we are currently experiencing in life should have absolutely no bearing on how we respond. Why?

c.       Because we are not trusting in our circumstances going the way we want them to. We are trusting in a God who is in absolute control over all things, to the extent that even if everything around us is burning to the ground – we can rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Because God has not changed!

d.       But friends, people who call themselves Christians are often some of the most negative, joyless, anxious fearful, complaining, bunch of malcontents that you have ever met.

e.       God forbid this be true of us! Let it never be CBC!

f.        The first thing we must recognize regarding all of this, is that this is primarily a faith issue and NOT a behavioral issue.

g.       The sermon today is NOT telling you to buck up, say your prayers, and count your blessings.

h.       The sermon today is challenging you to get a better picture of the All powerful, all knowing, All good, all loving, Holy and Perfect God, who rules the whole of His creation, and who cannot be thwarted in anything He has determined to do, who cannot lie, and always keeps His promises.

i.         My friends – FAITH is the issue here.

j.         Why are you negative? Why are you joyless? Because you don’t trust God. That why.

k.       Why are you anxious? Why do you fear? Because you don’t trust God.

l.         Why do you complain? Why aren’t you content? Because you don’t trust God.

m.     Don’t go home and try to be more joyful, or set your alarms to pray every hour, or build a habit of giving thanks WITHOUT FIRST… reflecting on the character and nature of this Holy God we serve!

n.       For when you get a good look at who God is… I’d wager that joy, prayer, and thanksgiving will be all the more achievable to us. For how can we not trust this God unconditionally? How can we not rejoice, when this God has got us? How can we not pray, when this God invites us into His throne room? How can we not be thankful, when this God has promised our good in all things?

o.       But trusting God is not just about our lifestyles – it is about listening for His leading…

3.)    [Slide 20] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must listen for God’s leading and instruction and obey it.

a.       Part of trusting God is hearing and heeding His direction upon our lives.

b.       Perhaps you’ve played the game where you and a partner work together to get through a maze. The catch? One of you is blindfolded, and the other is not.

c.       Listening to your partner’s commands comes down to trust. Do you trust them to lead you safely through the maze.

d.       Although a crude example, this is a picture of what it means to trust God unconditionally.

e.       He has given us His Spirit.

f.        His work, among other things, is to guide and lead us into the paths of righteousness. He reveals the truth to us and convicts us of sin. He leads us and directs us to wisdom helping us to know God’s will for our lives.

g.       We must let the Spirit burn in us. We must not douse Him by refusing to obey His leading.

h.       Instead, we must listen. We must heed what He shows us in God’s Word, or through wise counsel, or through promptings.

i.         But one other aspect of this is that we must listen and heed the preaching of the Word of God too. The Spirit of God speaks through the preached word of God. Not that all that preacher says is the Spirit speaking – but that the Spirit actively impresses upon believer’s hearts, God’s guidance and conviction through the preached Word.

j.         So love preaching that hurts. Love preaching that is faithful in expositing the Word of God. Love preaching that pokes and pushes, that destroys and builds up, that edifies and encourages, that spurs and leads.

k.       Of course we must test everything.

l.         And in order to truly test everything – we must be well-versed in the teachings of the scriptures. We must be catechized.

m.     But if it is from God – cling to it like oxygen.

n.       If not, flee it like the plague.

o.       But again, all this comes down to whether or not you trust the Lord.

p.       Trust in God means listening for His leading and following it.

q.       If you don’t… stop claiming you trust Him.

4.)    [Slide 21] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God’s Sovereignty is not just about salvation – it is the basis for our unconditional trust.

a.       I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… the beauty of the doctrine of God’s absolute sovereignty is not actually in the doctrines of salvation.

b.       I certainly hold to that and if you don’t – you should keep searching the scriptures… because it is absolutely true.

c.       But the beauty of this doctrine is actually that is serves as the basis for our unconditional trust.

d.       If something can undo God’s promises or His will… then we can never really trust God.

e.       God promises that all things work together for our good – but if someone uses their free will to sin, and God has no control over their free will, and that person takes something from us… how could we ever imagine that this is for our good? How could God guarantee that it is for our good if He couldn’t stop them from doing it?

f.        But if God is in absolute control, even over the wills of men, and allowed this person to take something from us – we can still rest assured that God is working it out for our good.

g.       God’s sovereignty over everything is the only sure foundation we have to trust Him without condition.

h.       In fact, if God isn’t actually in control of everything – we probably shouldn’t trust Him unconditionally. Because He is making promises He cannot keep.

i.         But take comfort in the fact that God is in absolute control. And thus, all His promises to us – are certain.

5.)    [Slide 22] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?”  The world is confused by people who are always joyful, always praying, always thankful, and always living their life by an ancient book that still speaks to them. But maybe you’ve moved from confusion… to longing.

a.       Let me tell you the world is not always rejoicing. There is so much depression and despair in the world, and I don’t see it changing any time soon.

b.       We can’t accuse the world of always praying either. Oh sure someone will comment, thoughts and prayers, but the dirty little secret is that most of the time their thoughts and prayers, occurred right then in the message they sent you.

c.       No, the world is generally an anxious place. Last year alone the world collectively spent around 23 billion dollars on anxiety and depression treatments. 5 billion of that was in the United States alone.

d.       It is clear that rather than rejoicing or praying to a God who is faithful – the world prefers to live in depression, fear and worry and pay people money to try to get them out.

e.       And no the world is anything but a thankful place. Everyone is complaining about something. Everyone is discontent about something. No one is happy with what they have. They are always looking for one more dollar. One more car. One more job.

f.        But perhaps you know Christians who seem like they are always rejoicing. Instead of worrying and fretting they are always praying and trusting the God they pray to. Perhaps you know a Christian who, rather than always looking for what more they can get, they are always thankful and content with what they have.

g.       To most people – that is really strange. Most people see someone like that as… slightly off their rocker.

h.       But maybe you are starting to see that this is what trusting in the Living God does to people?

i.         And maybe… you want that too.

j.         I’d love to introduce you to our God who is worthy of unconditional trust. Talk to me, or to another Elder before you leave today.

 

Let me close with a Palm Sunday prayer by the church father Ephriam The Syrian.

 

Praise him who comes, and is to come! Hosanna to the Father's mighty Son, here and in the highest.

 

Praise him who once humbled himself in love to save our human race. Praise him for his Father's boundless grace!

 

Who would not stop to see and wonder at how low your love bent down? A donkey once carried you, here on the earth. You, in your might and holiness! And in your pity for us, you serve and bless our fallen race.

 

This day is joy-filled for all creation. My glad soul will sing a song of praise, and wave branches of thanksgiving that were once just palm branches, thrown in front of you by children.

 

Now we own your hidden majesty, and we cry with those children:

 

Hosanna to the Son of David!

 

And in the name of this Son of David, God’s people say… Amen!

 

Benediction:

May the Lord guide you always;

May you be like a well-watered garden,

Like a spring whose waters never fail.

When you cry for help, may the Lord always say,

'Here am I'

 

Until we meet again… go in peace.]]></description>
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