007 Getting Back on Track

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

As you know Satan had pulled a fast one on the Thessalonian church

Through a false spirit…

Through a false prophet…

Through a forged letter…

Satan had convinced the Thessalonians that they had missed the rapture

And were now under the day of the Lord judgment.

In short, they were convinced that they were displeasing to God

And were now under His divine wrath.

Certainly that is emotionally disturbing,

And certainly Paul wanted to comfort them in that regard.

But Paul’s purpose in writing this letter is not

Just to give comfort and hope to a people who are upset.

There is a greater problem here.

That greater problem is that the church in Thessalonica

Had been de-railed.

They are frozen in fear, and they are discouraged by deception.

And aside from the sympathy we give to someone living in such a state,

The greater problem is that the church of the living God

Has become inactive in the world around them.

It is hard to preach with conviction when you are uncertain of the truth.

It is hard to persevere in good works when you don’t know if God is pleased with them.

This church was limping.

It’s light was dim, it’s salt was weak.

And so much more is required of God’s church than that.

The church of God is not meant to simply exist.

Paul told Timothy that the church of the living God is

“the pillar and support of the truth.”

Jesus said that

“the gates of hades” would not prevail against it.

And certainly we know that we are salt and light

To a lost and dying world as we proclaim the gospel.

The church has a purpose she must fulfill.

But because of her confusion and fear

The Thessalonian church was not fulfilling that purpose.

So not only did Paul write to comfort them,

Paul also wrote to get them back on track preaching the truth

And serving the Lord through their good works.

There are three things we see in this text.

#1 A REMINDER

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

If you remember Paul just finished speaking of God’s punishment

On those who are lost and who do not love the truth.

In verses 11-12 Paul wrote, “For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”

And we learned a harsh truth that God actually

Causes men who do not love the truth to be deceived.

WHY?

“in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth”

So God has a very detailed plan in mind

For those who do not love the truth.

But after hearing such a truth, Paul wants to make sure that

The Thessalonians know that God’s plan for them

Is much much different.

And it is God’s plan for them that Paul reminds them of here.

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren”

While it is true that God will send a deluding influence

To secure the judgment of the wicked,

That is not at all what God has in store for you.

In fact, we thank God for what He has in store for you.

And you will notice that Paul lists three things

That He wants the Thessalonian church to remember.

And incidentally, these are truths that all believers

Need to be reminded of from time to time.

Life is hard just by itself.

But when you factor in the bad encouragement or theology

That we can also get during those bad times,

It can leave a believer feeling rejected even by God.

And so it is important that you and I always remember God’s plan for us.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.”

It is not God’s plan to put His children under wrath.

WHY?

Because Christ died for us.

He already satisfied God’s wrath.

He already paid the penalty for our sin.

He atoned for us.

We can delightfully study those words of Paul:

Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

As believers, as children of God, as those who have been redeemed from sin, we need not fear the wrath of God.

Our destiny is not up in the air…

Our future does not hand in limbo…

God is not watching to see how we finish

To determine whether or not He judges us…

Our future is set.

And certainly you can see where a doubting church like the Thessalonians

Would need to be reminded of such wonderful truths.

Lets look at the three things Paul reminds them of.

1) GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU (13a)

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord,”

Now I know to speak of God’s love is almost a redundant theme today.

In fact, at times it seems that is all we hear about (at the exclusion of His holiness)

But the problem is that God’s love is so used and applied that at times

It even loses its significance an can even be cheapened.

What I want you to understand tonight is that as a child of God

You are especially loved by God in a way that is unique and special, even beyond that of the rest of the world.

Now I know we commonly quote verses like:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

And after passages like those are read people commonly talk about

The love that God has for everyone in the whole world.

Now I am not going to argue against the general and all encompassing love of God.

Certainly the fact that God created all men…

Certainly the fact that God sends rain on the just and the unjust…

Certainly the fact that God provides life and breathe for all men…

Does indeed indicate a manner of love.

But you must also understand that passages like John 3:16 and 1 John 2

Were not necessarily meant to say that God has

The same type of love for all people equally.

Those passages were meant to refute the Jewish notion

That only Jews were loved.

God’s unconditional love that is studied in Scripture

Is a love set upon His children.

It was for His children that Christ atoned…

It was for His children that redemption was made…

It is His children that He has called…

Listen to another often quoted passage about God’s love.

1 John 4:7-14 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”

Notice who John is speaking of as recipients of God’s love.

“so that WE might live through Him”

“He loved US and sent His Son to be the propitiation for OUR sins.”

“He has given US of His Spirit”

WHO IS THE WE AND US IN THAT PASSAGE?

Those who have the Spirit of God.

Now don’t misunderstand me here.

I am not saying that God does not love the lost.

I am not saying that God does not love humanity.

What I am saying is that the love God has for His children

Is a love that reaches much deeper, farther, and greater

Than any other thing.

That is even clear in our text.

For while God is said in verse 12 to be sending a deluding influence

Upon the wicked to ensure their judgment,

God has a completely different desire for His children.

(13) “brethren, beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation”

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE LOVED?

Because God chose you.

Based on no merit of your own, God chose to love you.

That makes you special.

That makes you loved.

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Again notice how specific Paul is.

He didn’t say, “God demonstrates His own love toward all, in that while all were yet sinners, Christ died for all.”

It was you, God’s child that Christ died for.

It was your sin Christ atoned.

He did that for you.

You are blessed, you are loved.

And that is the message Paul is speaking to the Thessalonians.

While God sets His wrath upon the wicked world,

God chose to set His love on you.

And while all the world can have some claim to being loved by God,

No one can claim to be loved by God more than

His chosen children whom He has saved.

GOD LOVES YOU!!!

There is a second thing he wants them to remember.

2) GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU (13b)

And we already read part of it.

“because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”

We just read in the previous passage about God’s plan for the wicked

Who do not love the truth.

God’s plan for them is the deception of the anti-christ

Leading to certain judgment.

But God’s plan for you is different.

God chose you “for salvation”

WHY DID HE CHOOSE YOU?

I have no idea.

We call it grace.

But He did.

God intended for you to be saved.

Paul even shows us how that salvation comes.

“through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”

God chose to save you, and He saves you by

Sanctifying you with His Spirit and giving you the truth to obey.

Here are the Thessalonians, all confused and depressed

Thinking that God hates them and has them under judgment.

Paul says, “No way! God loves you, and we know that because He chose to save you by giving you His Spirit and teaching you His truth.”

And think about that in your life tonight.

Sometimes we walk through hardships or confusing moments,

Where we wonder just what God is doing.

Sometimes (especially if we listen too much to the devil)

We can even be convinced that God doesn’t love us anymore

And we are loathsome to Him.

Let me tell you why that is never true.

God gave you His Spirit.

God has revealed His word to you.

God has sent His Son to die for you.

God chose you when you weren’t even looking for Him.

God’s Love for You God’s Plan for You

3) GOD’S DESIRE FOR YOU (14)

And now, as if salvation wasn’t enough,

Paul tells us what God wants us to get out of the whole deal.

We know God set His love on us by choosing us

And sending His Son to die in our stead.

We knowHe fills us with His Spirit, and gives us His truth.

And Paul says all of those are just means to an end.

WHY DID GOD DO IT?

“It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Having doubts that you are under the wrath of God

And that God is trying to destroy you?

Cast that aside.

If you are His child, a partaker of His Spirit,

Then rest assured God does not desire to pour wrath on you.

God desires for you to “gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This is the destiny of a Christian.

GOD DESIRES FOR HIS CHILDREN TO ACHIEVE GLORY

And as a believer you need to remember that.

If you are His child, then know that God loves you,

God had a plan to save you, and God desires not to destroy you,

But to give you glory.

Remember that.

The Thessalonians needed to.

A Reminder

#2 A REQUIREMENT

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Now Paul just reminded the Thessalonians

About God’s desire and plan for their life.

God is working for your good…

God is working out of love…

God is not destroying you, He is saving you…

“So then…”

In other words if God has your best interest in mind,

Then you need to respond to Him accordingly.

“So then brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”

See, the Thessalonians were convinced that God was angry at them.

That can only mean that the things they were doing was wrong.

That can also only mean that they needed to abandon what they were doing now, and go find what God does want.

But Paul says, “no”.

God is not angry, so you don’t have to change anything.

In fact all you really need to do is hold on.

“stand firm”

Those are great words in the Biblical text.

Just hold to your convictions, don’t waver, don’t run, don’t retreat.

I know it is hard, but trust that God has your best interest in mind

And stand your ground.

“hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”

The word “traditions” there is a little misleading.

Paul is not talking about a method or a practice

Or a way of doing things that should not be altered.

The word “traditions” translates PARDOSIS

It literally means “a handing down”

And it speaks of the truth that God has handed down to us.

He wasn’t speaking of tradition in the sense of make sure

You always have the Lord’s Supper on the 1st Sunday

Of the second month of the quarter.

He was speaking of the revealed word of God

That was being passed down to them.

And Paul says in regard to that word or those “traditions”

You should “hold to” them.

“hold to” translates KRATEO

And it literally means “to be strong”

And so Paul is saying

“be strong in the truth God has passed down to you”

We have already talked about the fact that the reason the Thessalonians were so shaken is because they hadn’t learned the truth.

According to verse 5 of this chapter Paul had already taught them

The truths about the anti-christ and the day of the Lord,

But they had failed to remember it, and as a result they were distressed.

Paul is telling them to remedy that.

He is telling them to be strong in God’s revealed truth.

Learn what God is saying…

Study what God is saying…

Meditate on what God is saying…

I mean, we have here the actual words of God.

We have what the God of all creation wants us to know.

There is absolutely no excuse for not knowing it forward and backward.

Psalms 1:1-3 “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.”

God’s word is beyond valuable to our lives.

And what Paul is saying to the Thessalonians here is that

If God has good plans for you,

If God is working for your glory,

Then by all means stand firm and be strong in all that He is telling you.

If He is leading you to glory,

Then pay attention and hold on to what He is saying.

This is required of you.

We can’t have a church that retreats from the truth of God’s Word.

We can’t have a church that overlooks the truth of God’s Word.

We can’t have a church that got scared and disillusioned and just decided to exist and avoid conflict at all cost.

A Reminder A Requirement

#3 A REQUEST

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

And of you course you realize is this is not a request

For the Thessalonians, this is a prayer request.

Paul is asking for God to intervene in their lives.

And notice how Paul again identifies God.

As “our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,”

Even now Paul reminds of God’s good desires for His church.

We have love and comfort and hope in God.

And here is the request.

That this great God would “comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.”

And please notice Paul is not just praying for comfort and strength.

He is praying for comfort and strength

As they are faithful in good works and in good words.

Paul is pushing the Thessalonians back into the fight.

They were frozen in fear.

They were discouraged in deception.

And as a result, they were putting themselves on the sidelines.

Paul is telling them it is time to get back in fight,

And he is praying that as they do so,

God will “comfort and strengthen” them.

Sure Paul wanted them to gain clarity in their confusion…

Sure Paul wanted them to be comforted of their anxiety…

Sure Paul wanted them to be encouraged of their destiny…

But not just so they could feel better about themselves as they did nothing.

Paul wanted them to bet back to the business of being the church.

He wanted them engaged in good works.

He wanted them preaching good words.

His clarifying truth and encouraging message

Were meant to put them back on track as a church

Fully functioning as salt and light to the world around it.

It is time they get back to business.

And what tremendous encouragement for us as well.

God has been so gracious to give us His truth.

We have been reminded that God loves us.

We have been reminded that God has a plan for our salvation.

We have been reminded that God desires for us to “gain the glory”.

But we aren’t just reminded of those things

So we can sleep better tonight.

We are reminded of those things

So we can face the hostile world without fear.

We are reminded so that we will be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

It is not enough that the we just be comforted,

But our comfort must lead us to commitment.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”