2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 - Stand Fast!

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

We are called to stand fast, to persevere in the face of all opposition of the adversary and of our own nature, firmly planted on the rock of our salvation as obtained through the gospel and learned by the teachings of scripture by the written and spoken word of God to us by those whom He has called and equipped to do so.  We are as those believers in Thessaloniki, chosen by God from the beginning (Revelation 13:8, to be saved from our unrighteousness of inherited and ongoing sin in disobedience to our Lord.  We have been called to be made holy in our position in Christ and His righteousness imputed to us and called to ongoing sanctification of gradual personal holiness being worked in us by the Spirit of God living in us according to our response to His guidance and transformative (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18) work in our souls.  We are loved by God if not by others due to our calling of grace and not because we earned any right to stand before the Lord and certainly not because of anything other than the fact we have been created by Him and for Him to worship, honor, and praise.  We have been called through the gospel of the goodness of God’s grace and mercy in His unlimited forgiveness that we might know our solid position in Christ and stand on that Rock on which we continue to build our lives (Luke 8:13, John 17:24, 1 Corinthians 3:11-12, 2 Timothy 2:19) in this sanctification of God’s work in us which He promises to work to completion as Philippians 1:6 assures we sinners saved by grace alone.  We have this good hope by grace grounded in our Father’s love and find eternal consolation in our suffering and failure that we might rise up and walk on in comfort as He establishes us (1 Peter 5:10-11) in Himself.  When all is overwhelming us we remember the assurance, “Stand fast!”

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 - Lawlessness and Delusion

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

As the end approaches for judgment to finally fall on all, there will be ever increasing lies to delude people into refusing to believe the truth and love the lies they live by.  Sin reigns in the unrepentant who remain unregenerate through rejecting Christ and His gospel of grace.  Deliverance will come on the hidden day when the Son of God returns in great power (Matthew 24:30, Mark 13:26) to judge the world in His righteousness (Acts 10:42-43, 17:31, Romans 2:16) as it is written.  We who know the Lord and are found in Him and in His righteousness have the assurance of being accepted by Him in grace on that Day and do not need to worry about when that is o the point of vainly attempting to calculate it based on scriptures out of context and not to be unveiled until the time arrives.  Even the Son in His humanity said that only the Father knows the time of His return (Mark 13:22, 30-31, 32-33), so we are to be concerned with living to please Him in response without being shaken or troubled to the point of assuming we can work out all the details which remain incomplete and purposefully hidden until He appears in the clouds for us.  We are called to watch and pray as we continue to bear witness to the work of Christ Jesus through the message of the gospel of repentance and faith.  We are not to be deceived by those claiming to know beyond what God has revealed, who try to convince us they have figured it out and tell us the day or time of His turn as if reading the times like tea leaves.  When the time comes and the falling away reveals the Antichrist who pretends to be the savior in place of the Lord, then those who worship the creature rather than the creator (Romans 1:25) will be ruled by lawlessness and delusion to their damnation while we who have been rescued with eyes wide open will not be deceived and will wait for the final judgment on all who deny the Lord and refuse to worship Him.  We are told these things to be ready ourselves and about our Father’s business to tell others the good news that provides the only answer to this end for all apart from Christ and His salvation.  Many will continue to mock us and even attack us for the truth in their delusions and lawlessness, but some will have theirs ears opened to stop following idols and turn from their sin of disbelief to trust in the words and work of Jesus Christ who alone is to be worshipped.  For we know that God holds back the outpouring of unrestrained evil until it is time and judgment falls on us all, and so we have hope and trust to endure until the Lord is revealed.  Those who reject Him and His gospel will remain in delusion and lies as they revel in unrighteousness to their own condemnation.  We offer hope and peace with God through all the trials and tribulation that we will live through until then.  Our hope is not to be taken away before those pressing days but to walk through them in the power and peace of our Lord with the gospel moving our feet (Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:15) until His coming back.  Amen.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 - Ambassadors of Grace

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

1 Paul, 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 our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Final Judgment and Glory

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The thankfulness for the people of church of the Thessalonians continues in the second letter by identifying them as being in God their Father and ours as well as being in Christ who is our sovereign Lord and theirs.  This standing is what gives us all who are in Christ, who are in God in Him, true peace in the midst of the tribulation of the world through this evil age.  It is because of the grace of God our Father in the person and work of God the Son as ministered to us by God the Spirit that we have true and lasting peace in all we face, just as those Thessalonians so long ago in the beginning of the church which was not of Rome.  We are also to be commended if we suffer as they did through persecutions and tribulations that press against our souls and hone our faith.  We grow in faith not by healthy prosperity but through these tribulations that test and refine us as gold (Daniel 11:35, Zechariah 13:9) being purified as by fire (1 Peter 1:6-7) of these trials for the sake of the gospel.  The question is how we respond to tribulation, not if we will face it.  Does it cause our trust in the Lord to grow beyond measure and give us ever-increasing love demonstrated to each other?  Does it bear in us the fruit of patience and faith in Christ because we stand firm in Him and are not quickly shaken (Acts 2:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:2, Hebrews 12:28)?  These things demonstrate that the judgment of God against unrighteousness is altogether good and righteous as we suffer for His sake to demonstrate that we have been made worthy by this grace in which we stand.  We are counted worthy of the kingdom because we rest in our Sabbath, Jesus Christ, who is our true rest from our works (Hebrews 4:3-4, 9-10) as we rest in His atoning work for we who are His new creations (Galatians 2:20), just as the original creation ended with this promise by God’s rest on the seventh day.  Christ is our Sabbath (1 Peter 1:13) rest from striving to earn God’s favor by keeping the Law of works that is impossible to do.  We see then that the judgment we have been pardoned from is the good news to answer the bad into which everyone is born.  The unredeemed and unrepentant who reject this gospel and its words of life will be repaid for their opposition to the Lord and we who bear witness of His gospel which they refuse.  They will be punished with the justice of everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power as it is written here.  The Lord God will be glorified in His work in and through we who have taken Him at His word, turning from our sin of rebellion to Him, and who continue to bear witness with our testimony of His work in which we rest.  We pray for one another who are in the Lord just as the apostle gave us the example here to fill out their good works prepared for each of us (Philippians 2:10) to the glory of God who created and recreated us in Himself and allowed us to enter that rest (Hebrews 4:3) in His work as He works in us (Romans 8:28, Philippians 1:6) by grace to honor and exalt His name.  We are truly thankful in this blessing of grace through all adversity because it fills out the sufferings of our Lord as His ambassadors of grace. 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 - Entreaty and Blessings

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Various Exhortations

12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

Blessing and Admonition

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

We see the entreaty to continue to follow Christ as we have been called to do as the summation of this letter to the Thessalonians and to all who have come after them that we may also experience the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The apostle spoke with God’s authority to move the congregation to support all who labor in the word of God and prayer for them (1 Timothy 5:17, Philippians 2:29, Hebrews 13:7, 17) with honor and esteem in love for all they do and sacrifice for the flock.  The entreat also includes correction (2 Timothy 3:16-17) using the word of God for those straying from holiness and godliness according to that word given all of us for order and honor to God and our fellow man.  We are to warn those who act contrary to the scriptures as well as to comfort those who are timid or have doubts and patiently hold up those struggling in their sanctification.  We are called to do all for the good of others and ourselves as we watch over each others souls in true fellowship.  The commandment of God’s will over all these things is to find joy and express it as we continue steadfastly in prayer (Ephesians 6:18-19, Colossians 1:23) with never-ending thankfulness for all the Lord has done for us all.  We are not to stop God’s work by letting sin get in the way of our sanctification as we are conforming to the image of Christ by working our our salvation (Philippians 2:12-13) in awe and reverence of our Sovereign Savior.  We allow God to speak through others and listen to them as they align with scripture as we test what we hear (Acts 17:11) and hold onto the true and good while not giving heed or support to what is wrong and evil in the sight of God.  This is loving fellowship that cares for each other enough to help to keep on the path set before us with the goal of our heavenward calling (Philippians 3:14) in Christ.  The blessings we bestow are those bestowed on us by the Lord; we pray that He would continue to make others holy in body and soul to be as blameless as possible when our Lord returns to reward our faithfulness and bring us to live with Him and the Father forever.  We understand that it is God working in us to make this possible as Philippians 1:6 reminds us.  We also ask for pr as much as we pray for one another that our ministry be effective in Christ to this end.  May we greet one another in this same spirit as is called for here at the end of the letter of love and eternal assurance of Christ’s return as we have peace in these latter days.  We should therefore read these words of entreaty and blessing whole we teach them with conversation, teaching, and preaching (Matthew 28:20) as we all experience the grace of God and His wonderful salvation that answers the bad news of judgment with the good news of deliverance from the penalty of sin! 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 - The Day of the Lord!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

The times and seasons of life until the end of time and beginning of the kingdom come fully to earth are the cause of much speculation as we try to nail down what will happen and when events will occur.  Such imagination often leads to contradict or conflate scripture with our limited understanding of world events and the figurative of the Bible, however, and leads many into believing what suits certain teachings or causes fear, uncertainty, and doubt.  We have some passages like this to calm our doubts and fears with encouragement of the facts of Christ’s return in His time, which is not predictable to the exact day or season.  He will come unexpectedly to judge who have not trusted the word of His gospel (John 3:18, 5:24, 12:48)  and to gather those to Him who did hear and believe through repentance and faith.  These words then are calming and encouraging to we who have ears to hear and understand that we cannot predict His return based on our limited understanding of the various signs described which are meant to indicate the general times of God’s seasons that we may warn others of the impending judgment and the necessity of repentance.  We should not need further writings about the end times because the Lord has already written (1 John 2:26, 5:13) all we need to know and given reassurance that we who are His will be kept throughout the tribulation of the times (Mark 13:19-20) before the return of Jesus Christ.  Like all trials, we who are called out into Christ will be kept through even the final tribulation of suffering as all creation groans (Romans 8:22, 25, Revelation 21:5-6) for renewal.  There is no peace and safety for those who have rejected the gospel, only a certain and sudden destruction as they ignore the message of grace to save and carry on with carousing in the darkness instead of coming to the light of the world and turn from sin to Him.  We who have heard and believe will not be overtaken by the darkness and judgment because we stand in the light of the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 4:6) seen in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:19) and do not need to add to or take away from scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21) to understand the prophecies as we take them for just as much as they reveal.  What matters is to be always vigilant and ready to meet the Lord and to answer to Him through the gospel for certainty of salvation and to have our works done to please Him as prepared for us in accountability for reward or loss (1 Corinthians 3:14-15) of rewards alone.  We are called to live soberly and righteously (Titus 2:11-13) until His return to do the works prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10) in faith that trusts our eternal security of deliverance and love for God and man loved out in response.  We have the helmet of the knowledge of certain salvation that cannot be removed to fight our way through these times of tribulation until He comes back, knowing all who are His are not appointed to the wrath of judgment on our sin because we have been forgiven in Him.  He died for us to prove through His atonement and resurrection that we are His forever.  This is our certainty of hope in the Day of the Lord! 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - Comfort in His Return

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

We have comfort in knowing that Christ is coming back to judge the world (Psalm 9:8, Acts 17:31) and setup His eternal kingdom on earth with us before His face at last (Job 19:26-27)!  Yes, we understand that all who die in Christ have the same hope as we do, having the assurance of Jesus brining all with Him including those already dead and we who are not yet in the grave.  What a blessed hope of this assurance to meet the Lord in the air at His coming when He arrives to bring us all home at last!  He will descend from heaven as promised (John 3:13, Ephesians 4:10) when He ascended back into heaven where He came down to us as a man after first rising in His resurrection from the grave.  The trumpet of victory in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:52, 57) will blow so loud that everyone will hear His announced return as shouts of joy (Psalm 47:1) resound across the universe as the Lord gathers His chosen elect to Himself (Matthew 24:30-31) in His power and great glory.  We will meet Him from out of de and life to always be in His presence at last.  This is the everlasting comfort of this certain hope (Romans 8:24, Hebrews 6:19) we have whether we die now or later, knowing we live forever in and with Him.   Yes, we have the assurance of comfort in His return because we no longer face the penalty of judgment for our sin since we now are covered in the blood of His sacrifice that has paid the price to buy us back from destruction due to nothing we ourselves have done to escape the presence of sin in the life to come.  This is the grace in which we stand (Romans 5:2, 1 Peter 5:12) and the hope that cannot ever disappoint (Romans 5:5) as we find comfort in these words of promise.  Amen. 

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 - Keeping Christ’s Commandments

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Plea for Purity

1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

A Brotherly and Orderly Life

9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

We are called to ever be increasing in pleasing God in Christ by keeping His commandments as we walk in willing obedience to all He spoke and demonstrated to us as He walked and talked among us (Matthew 1:23), just as God our Father did in the cool of the day in Eden’s Garden (Genesis 3:8).  We now have the second chance after falling from grace in the beginning to listen and heed God’s word to us after having been forgiven by sheer grace and offered the opportunity to start over as reborn (Galatians 2:20, 1 Peter 1:23) in this living hope of redemption and reconciliation in His Son!  We read these words to live by in all the scriptures, but especially in the New Testament which explains all of the Bible and its hidden mystery of Christ come to dwell within each of us (1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:26) as promised that we might be able to understand and follow the commandments written on our willing hearts and no longer externally on cold, hard stone.  What does God will for us to do then?  He wants us to be made ever more like Him, more holy, each passing day.  This goal is our sanctification, our being transformed more and more into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18) into holiness and in His righteousness in which we have been brought into to stand (Ephesians 6:13) in this grace.  This means we strive to put sin to death that drives us still (Romans 8:13) as we rely on His presence in us be able to do this by faith and by willing choices to put off sinful thoughts and actions and put on godly ones in their place.  We are called to stop living as the unregenerate who do not know God as we do in Christ, who live for sensual pleasures and bring others down into the more along with them as they pursue what is contrary to the design and will of God for us, such as marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24, Romans 1:24, 26-27) as the only such relationship acceptable to His design for our good and His glory as the mystery of the relationship of the church to Christ is reflected in (Ephesians 5:31-32).  If anyone refuses to accept this purity of holiness in body and soul, he is rejecting God and His Spirit who confirms these things to be true and essential as His children.  Keeping the commandments of Christ then means we listen to God teaching us from His word individually and corporately to show this true godly love to each other instead of seeking personal pleasure for ourselves at their expense.  We are called to ever increase in holiness and willingness in the direction of our life of sanctification as we aim to follow His word and live a quiet life that does not meddle in or gossip about the affairs of others as we bear our own load (Galatians 6:5) and live rightly before our fellow man in the sight of God who called us to Himself in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:20-22, 24).  Are we so striving to keep the commandments of Christ as He taught us?  The apostle was used here to urge the Thessalonians to do this and these words from God echo down the corridors of time to continue to reach our ears to urge us to do likewise. 

1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 - Suffering, Comfort, Prayer

1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 

Suffering for Faith

1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Comfort 

6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— 7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

Prayer for the Church

11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

The Thessalonians learned to suffer for their faith and testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17) just as Paul the aged (Philemon 1:9) had suffered and warned them of the same for lo who are in Christ (2 Timothy 3:12) and live the gospel for Him.   Paul was concerned, however, how they were holding up in the face of such adversity and sent his right hand man Timothy to see for himself and talk reassuringly with them to relay and allay the apostle’s concerns.  We also can demonstrate that care for each other by encouraging and spurring one another on (Hebrews 10:24-25) to continue to do good and bear witness of the gospel in word and action.  We should not be surprised or shaken up when we suffer and face problems in life as children of God for He is hated by many and opposed by the serpent and all under his sway (Galatians 1:4, 1 John 5:19-20) but also that we are protected (John 17:15-18) by the Lord through all these things.  We all are appointed to affliction and pressing circumstances of tribulation for the sake of the Lord and His gospel in varying degrees.  We all are tempted by the tempter to give up and stop living for the Lord Jesus Christ and the good news we have been entrusted with for those with ears to hear us, knowing that we will encounter many opposed to the truth which condemns them as they fight against the goads of the call to repentance and faith for deli from that certain end without Christ.  We should press on to encourage one another to persist in this good fight (1 Timothy 6:12) for the souls of men and women, and not be dismayed or kept away from suffering opposition to reach through the opposition to the ones prepared and willing to hear.  The temptation is to seek only good times and avoid conflict, ridicule, or harm, but we have infinite stakes at hand that move us to not consider our own lives over the eternity of others.  We therefore need to do as Paul and comfort one another as we challenge and encourage the temptation to stop and give in to the desire for personal prosperity instead of the true gospel of suffering to life as the Lord Jesus did for us.  Hearing testimonies of the faith and perseverance of each other encourages us to move forward as well in all the affliction and distress we encounter for the Lord’s sake.  May we also thank God for the faithfulness of one another as the example is set for us here and find ways to teach all things to these we do reach and who are saved by the gospel we bring to them (Romans 10:14-15).  Our prayers then must be for the guidance of God our Father to lead us by His Spirit to bear witness of the work and words of the Son to the ones we need to speak with in the midst of opposition by the adversary and those still under his influence.  The Lord increases our love for others as we serve Him in these ways and establishes our hearts before Him in holiness as we listen and apply His word to ourselves as we anticipate His coming back (Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 2:9, 3:12, Revelation 22:20-21) for all who He calls out to Himself.  Suffering, comfort, and prayer guide and keep us as spiritual disciplines and mindsets throughout this journey until that day, much more than the popular “live, laugh, love” mantra of self indulgence we hear often today.   

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 - Imitation, Not Flattery

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 

Their Conversion

13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

Longing to See Them

17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

The faithful response to the gospel is not flattering the messenger but imitating Christ in that man.  This was the response of the Thessalonians who had heard Paul and been recon to God in Christ Jesus through repentance and faith.  They heard God’s word and received it by that same acceptance which made them accepted in the Beloved.  They did not consider the word to be that of the apostle or any mere mortal man, but as the very word of God given (2 Corinthians 4:6) and spoken through the messenger who bore witness to it as coming from the mind and mouth of the Lord Himself.  That word was spoken by Jesus to the apostles and passed on to us by them, a feat not to see a repeat as some would have us imagine today in some circles.  This word which comes from God is to be welcomed wholeheartedly as it works effectively in us to make us conform to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29, 12:2) as it corrects us and sets us on the right course (2 Timothy 3:16-17) when we stray in sinful disobedience and seek forgiveness (1 John 1:9).  We then are likewise to imitate those who imitate Christ in the church and not those in the world as we suffer for not aligning with the culture and philosophy of men as we are expected to do.  Just as the Jews persecuted the first believers in Christ as they had done to the prophets and apostles before them, so we will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12) when we follow and imitate our Lord as these had suffered for His name’s sake.  Those who persecute the children of God will answer in the end (Luke 18:7-8, Revelation 6:10, 11:18) as the fullness of God’s wrath on those opposing the gospel and His Son will earn to match their sins.  Yes, we who know these things should be pleading with the all to heed this gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 1 Peter 4:17) before it is too late.  This means we build up our fellow believers in the word of God to be equipped for this task no matter the obstacles to reach them in the face of the adversary’s attempts to hinder us.  Others in Christ should also be our “hope, joy, and crown of rejoicing” as they were to these apostles and their co-laborers in the gospel as they looked forward to the Lord’s return and their joy made full in Him now and then.  Are others we minister the word of Christ to seen as our glory and joy?  They should be, just as we are to those who brought us to Christ and discipled us!  May we not flatter those who served us with the word of God in the gospel, but imitate them as they (1 Corinthians 11:1) imitate Jesus Christ our Lord. 

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 - God-focused Conduct

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Paul’s Conduct (cf. Acts 17:1–9)

1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

God-focused conduct ruled this example for us to follow in imitating Christ.  He was purposeful with the gospel and ministry to those he visited as the first verse makes clear.  Paul reminded those Thessalonians he served that what work he had done for the Lord was not lost or without effect in their lives because God had led him to them in the first place.  He compared their good reception and treatment of him and his words and deeds of ministry with that of those at Philippi who had not done well in hearing God through him there.  He also reminded them that even though he was treated shamefully at that other town that he was still holding nothing back in love when he came to Thessalonica with the same message of the words of life in Christ which is the gospel of hope.  He was conflicted and could have after being wary of the same possible response from them but chose to trust God and remained bold in proclaiming and ministering the gospel to them as well.  The example he set was to challenge them as he did the Philippians with the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) as he lived righteously and transparently (Colossians 2:8, 2 Corinthians 2:17, 1 Peter 2:1) before them in his conduct of words and actions.  We are likewise obliged to speak and minister the gospel openly and not try to trick people into belief by methods that hide out true purpose of helping them understand the gospel of Jesus Christ and the things He taught us (Matthew 28:20).  Since God is the one entrusting us with these words of reconciliation to life and knows the motives and intentions of our hearts, we should take these words to heart and seek to speak honestly with love even if it may mean a harsh response of rejection.  We never should be fake or put on an religious act to win people to Christ, but sincerely speak the whole truth as fellow sinners saved by grace and not out to make ourselves look good to anyone or earn points for God in proclaiming the gospel we are compelled (1 Corinthians 9:16) to do and desire to do because of the grace shown us.  Paul did not use his calling as a position of power or demand for recognition but cared for those he ministered to with real compassion and in godly humility as we should also imitate in our minds and hearts.  We should be pouring out our lives as he gave the example just as Jesus Christ poured Himself out (Philippians 2:17, 2 Timothy 4:6, Galatians 1:4, 2:20, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14) to the point of suffering and death for our salvation from the wrath of God on our sins which we are all born deserving.  We should likewise pour ourselves out for others with love and hard labor in telling the gospel and helping others to grow who come to know Him through the message preached and the work of God to convert their souls through repentance and faith in Jesus.  To do this, we cannot continue in sin or try to deceive people into believing but be examples of those who walk worthy of our calling to inspire others to do the same as we are disciples making disciples (2 Timothy 2:2) of honor to God’s kingdom and glory!  Since we are now children of God in Christ, we should help others for their good in spiritual growth as if they were our own children as well just as we see this example to imitate (1 Corinthians 11:1) here.  This is our goal of God-focused conduct. 

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 - Our Good Example

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

We should be like the Thessalonians in living as good examples of the transformative grace of God in our very willing hearts and minds.  We have the grace of God which brings us peace with Him as we know with certainty that we can never be pried loose from His sovereign almighty hand to lose what we cannot and have gained everything in Christ.  The example of these believers was evident in their unwavering faith working in action as they labored with love and hoped with the solid foundation of patience in the work the Lord (Philippians 1:6) was doing and promised to perfect in them as they bore fruit of righteousness in grace.  These fruits apply to all believers down through time since the beginning, just as we have all been chosen, elected by God as the body of believers by faith through repentance.  We then also labor in love and faith in our calling through the gospel with assurance in Hospice mighty power working in us to be examples ourselves in this fine tradition of discipleship as we are taught and teach others (2 Timothy 2:2) all things that the Lord said.  We also follow the Lord and the faithful examples of godly men and women as we hear and accept the word of God taught and preached and find overwhelming joy in hearing and understanding and putting it into the footsteps of our lives as we walk with Jesus Christ our Lord.  This willing obedience of joyful service makes us examples just as the Thessalonians who were prayed for and praised here.  We should follow those footsteps in broadcasting the word of God in the gospel of salvation from sin’s penalty to the forgiveness of sin and security of hope in Him.  Our faith in the grace of Jesus Christ is to be our witness and praise to His glory.  Our message is to turn people from the darkness of idolatry and immortality to the marvelous light (Isaiah 29:14, Acts 26:18, 1 Peter 2:9-10) of the true God who rose from the grave and ever lives (Revelation 4:9-10), the one who alone is to be worshipped because He alone delivers us from the wrath on sin to come in the final judgment at the end of time and beginning of eternity.  Our trust in God’s word, our faith in His work on the cross and out of death into life, this is our message seen in us as we speak the word of truth and hope in love.  It is also our witness of testimony to God’s certain work in the hearts of men and women who hear and turn from idols of sin to Him as they cease their works to earn God’s favor and accept His grace in their place.  We have the example of hope in waiting patiently for the Son of God to return for us just as He returned from the grave back to life as our promise of eternal life in our deliverance from eternal death in suffering for our disbelief and disobedience to His word and design as those made in His image to worship and enjoy Him forever!  This is our good example to follow as we proclaim the good news of God’s grace in Christ Jesus that others may know the only true God (John 17:3, 20:31, 1 John 5:20) and His Son Jesus the Christ.  This is true peace with God (Romans 5:1, 15:13, 2 John 1:2-3) which is found in Christ alone. 

Colossians 4:1-18 - Grace and Greetings

Colossians 4:1-18 

1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Christian Graces

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Final Greetings (Eph. 6:21, 22)

7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

Closing Exhortations and Blessing

16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

18 This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

This book ends with the usual benediction offering prayers for grace and warm greetings of fellowship in Christ Jesus.  The first verse seems to be part of the previous paragraph but also flows into this passage, transitioning from treating servants fairly with the realization that masters of all kinds have a higher Master in heaven who is our Lord God.  This is applicable to those employers who should treat their workers justly without favoritism or discrimination or any overbearing treatment.  If we want to be treated well by the Lord in grace and mercy, then we need to do the same to those under our leadership or employ.  This applies spiritually in the body (James 2:8-9) as well as in the workplace.  May we then be just and fair as we desire to be treated as we also anticipate mercy and grace for what we do not deserve.  We are then encouraged to thankfully pray, earnestly and vigilantly, steadfast and watchful against attitudes and actions which we need to avoid as we put them off and put on godliness in their place.  The prayer most desired by the apostle was to have doors of situations and hearts opened by God for him to bear witness to the gospel that those who are called may hear and turn from sin to Him in repentance and faith to be saved from this perverse generation (Acts 2:40, Philippians 2:15) just as he had been delivered, along with all of us who are now in Christ.  This is a worthy prayer mission that is a godly habit, that we pray for one another to find entrance of the gospel we bear into the hearts and minds of those we are brought before as we go in life as led by God and His Spirit in us.  As we go we also should live wisely and not disgrace the testimony of the Lord (1 Peter 3:15-16, 17) with ungodly conduct, but in humble mind bring hope to the lost and dying.  Suffering for God in doing good is a proper testimony while doing evil is being offensive to God and man and hinders the message of forgiveness and deliverance from sin.  Our speech should therefore answer the questions and attacks alike with grace as salt gives flavor to food.  This is the grace of this passage.  The greetings follow the news of the ministry of the gospel as the apostle calls out specific names of co-laborers who synergistically worked alongside Paul in the gospel.  They shared the work God was doing in each other for encouragement and joy in what the Lord was doing, just as we should be pursuing as well in serving the Lord.  These mentioned here brought comfort and labored wholeheartedly in prayer for all the churches.  They worked for the spiritual growth of the disciples as the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20) commands in making followers though conversion by the gospel message and growing sanctification through teaching all things from the scriptures.  This is our mandated pattern of grace and greeting as well as we read these letters of God’s love and call to Him through each of us as it teaches us through Grace and Greetings how to be good witnesses of the Grace of God in the gospel we bring!