1. DOUBTS & DISCOURAGEMENT, … They’re making their way through the church in Thessalonica.
a. Soon after Paul’s departure, the false teachers were so quick and so thorough in shaking their faith.
b. DOUBT: Lacking confidence, Distrusting, to consider unlikely.
c. DISCOURAGEMENT: disheartened, lacked confidence
d. James describes the effects of doubts when he says…
James 1.6-8 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
AND that’s exactly where this young church is…
• They lack confidence in the truths surrounding Jesus Christ.
• They distrust the reality of the resurrection.
• They consider the 2nd Coming of Jesus HIGHLY unlikely!
• So Paul opens CH2 with…
I. (2:1-2) Stand Strong
1. (1-2) A Letter was circulating…
a. He says, don’t TREMBLE, don’t be NERVOUS, don’t be filled with ANXIETY over these false teachings & false teachers.
b. Whether they come by word or false letters, don’t believe them… Just dismiss them completely.
NOTE: there is that need as mentioned in 1 Thess 5:21
• “Test all things, hold fast what is good.”
• Don’t just accept what you hear on the radio, or TV but be a student of God’s Word and compare all you hear with the Word.
APP: this is especially true in the basics of the faith.
• Here at Calvary Chapel, there are at least 2 ways you can get grounded & rooted in the basics of Christianity.
• First there is the FOUNDATIONS CLASS on Monday nights.
• Then there is THROUGH MAIL BIBLE BASICS study.
• Both will give you a solid foundation on essentials like faith, love, sin, the nature of God, the deity of Jesus, etc.
Why is this so important? Because the Bible warns us of different WINDS OF DOCTRINE floating through the church.
• And believe me, they do. Let’s over to Ephesians 4.11ff
• These winds are not necessarily false doctrines, but still things that are designed to shake you, unsettle you, & distract you.
• Which naturally leads to deception… look at v3.
II. (2.3-12) Sinful Man
1. (3) Don’t be deceived by any means.
a. This truth is so important to hang on to & understand.
b. Don’t let ANYONE deceive you in anyway.
NOTE: Satan will use ANY & EVERY MEANS that is at his disposal to deceive us.
• He’s not satisfied with a shaken faith.
• He’s not even satisfied with an anxious faith.
• What’s he’s shooting for is a DECEIVED, and ultimately DESTROYED Christian.
John 10.10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
• Satan is not only a liar, but he is also the father of all lies.
• And one of the major attacks he sends is deception.
How do we guard against deception? Know & practice the truth.
• Know the truth about GOD. He loves you and is working in you.
• Know the truth about SIN. It destroys and brings forth death.
• Know the truth about FORGIVENESS. If we confess our sins…
• Know the truth about GRACE. God’s unmerited favor toward us.
• Know the truth about YOURSELF. We’re weak & needy people who need to cling to Jesus every day of our lives walking in the Spirit so that we might not fulfill the lusts of the flesh!
John 8.32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
• Free to be all that God wants you to be!
SO from v3-12 give us the unveiling of events leading up to the Day of the Lord, the coming of Jesus Christ.
• They were shaken and troubled so Paul reminds them of the truth that he taught them earlier – see v5
NOTE: I’m sure some of them as they heard this letter read to them said… OH YEH, NOW I REMEMBER!
• Ever feel that way while studying the Word?
• Doesn’t bring you such great comfort to be reminded of the truths of God’s word!?
• I love it when God reminds me of something I’ve forgotten!
• Look forward to reminders. Let’s flip to 2 Peter 1:12ff
• It’s not repetition for repetition’s sake.
• It’s a godly & spiritual reminder for your spiritual health’s sake!
SO… a few things will occur before the return of Jesus Christ.
#1 – A FALLING AWAY (v3).
• The original word in the Greek here is ‘APOSTASIA’
• It’s where we get our word APOSTASY from.
• It literally means “falling away” or a “TAKING AWAY”
• Which is why you might here 2 different understandings out there on this particular passage.
FIRST there are those that see this as a ref. to the RAPTURE of the church. This falling away, is really a TAKING AWAY of the church.
THEN there are those that see this as a reference to a great departing from true, biblical Christianity by those who call themselves Christians.
• Let’s flip over to 1 Timothy 4:1ff
• Even today we are watching entire segments of the ‘church’ fall away into all sorts of false, unbiblical doctrines.
• Next look at 2 Timothy 3:1ff
So either way you take this passage, you can see that things surrounding the coming of Jesus Christ are happening all around us.
• This falling away, this apostasy, the love of many growing cold.
#2 – MAN OF SIN REVEALED. The son of Perdition.
• We know him as Mr. Antichrist.
• We were introduced to him during our study in Revelation.
• He’s a man who comes on the scene at the beginning of the Great Tribulation period.
• Flip over to Revelation 6:1ff
• This is Satan’s Messiah, His imitation of Jesus Christ.
NOTE: The word ANTI can mean 2 things.
• It can mean AGAINST and it can mean IN PLACE OF.
• That’s exactly what this man will do…
• Come against God and pretend to replace Jesus.
THE BIBLE says when he comes on the scene, the world will embrace him and accept him and elevate him.
• He will be one smooth operator, bringing peace upon the earth.
• Paul says in v4 he will oppose God and exalt himself.
• He will set himself up to be worshipped in the rebuilt Temple.
• He will be filled with Satan himself (v10-11)
ON THE ONE HAND, many think he’s not real.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, many have made it their goal in life to figure out exactly who this character is.
PERSONALLY, I DON’T CARE WHO THE ANTICHRIST IS.
• I’m not looking for him. I’m not studying people. Looking for that sinister gleam in their eyes. I don’t have the time!
APP: We’re in grave error when we waste our precious time looking for the antichrist. We are never instructed to look for him.
Titus 2.11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
So there will be a falling away & a revelation of the antichrist.
• But for now, there is a restraining force on the earth.
2. (6-7) Mystery of lawlessness is already at work.
a. There is RESTRAINT but there is also LAWLESSNESS.
I believe this RESTRAINER is the Holy Spirit ministering in and through the church today.
• The salt of the earth… preserving and flavoring this world.
• The light of the world… bringing truth and love in the darkness.
Don’t misunderstand me, when the church is raptured from the earth, the Holy Spirit will still have an effect on the world
• Just not within the lives of the church.
• It could be that the ministry of the Holy Spirit will revert back to how He ministered during the Old Testament to Israel.
• Once the restrainer is taken out, the lawless one is revealed!
When we studied through Revelation, we walked through the outline of the book…
Rev. 1.19 "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
• We came to the conclusion that the rapture of the church will happen BEFORE THE GREAT TRIBULATION period.
• In CH 5 before the beginning of that 7 year period, John sees a group in heaven singing a wonderful song.
Rev. 5.9-10 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
• The church can sing this song, praising Jesus for His shed blood.
• Then in CH6 opens with a seal being broken and a white horse, the antichrist coming out to conquer.
NOW understand, I believe very strongly that Jesus will come FOR His church, before the GT period!!!
• And that he will return WITH HIS BRIDE in His 2nd Coming.
• You may disagree with me, still be studying it for yourself… that’s OK. We don’t need to break fellowship over it.
• But guys, I pray that you live hopefully, expectantly, and diligently awaiting the SOON RETURN of Jesus Christ.
• I pray that you don’t waste your precious time arguing, and wrestling, but rather spend it evangelizing and loving!
Luke 10.2-3 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 "Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
3. (8-12) Strong delusion.
a. (8) But he’s not going to stick around for long.
b. As intimidating as the Antichrist might appear, when Jesus comes back His brightness will blast him out of the water!
c. Jesus will consume him with the breath of his mouth
d. It won’t be much of a battle at all!
NOW v11, warns of a ‘STRONG DELUSION’ sent by God.
• They’re sent to the same people that were deceived by Satan’s power, signs, and lying wonders.
NOTE: Man has a dangerous curiosity about signs & wonders.
• While Jesus said that sings & wonders would FOLLOW believers.
• Today we see believers FOLLOWING after signs and wonders.
• Don’t be fooled by miracles, signs, and wonders.
2 Cor. 11.14-15 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
• And so like with Pharaoh in Exodus, God will come alongside of those who turn against Him and solidify their decision.
III. (2.13-17) Solid Foundation
1. (13-14) The wonderful care & concern of God.
a. Chosen by God, what an awesome thought.
b. Let’s flip over to 1 Cor. 1:26ff (A favorite of mine)
And then after God’s choice, he set us apart to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Don’t be soon shaken or troubled… your relationship with God is secure and powerful and ongoing!
2. (15-16) Therefore, stand fast.
a. Six times Paul uses this phrase…
b. Stand fast in the faith 1 Cor. 16:13
c. Stand fast in the liberty Galatians 5:1
d. Stand fast in unity Phil. 1.27
e. Stand fast in the Lord Phil 4:1 & 1 Thess 3:8
f. And here, stand fast in the truth.
They didn’t have Bibles then like we have today.
• They were taught through letters & verbally.
• So hold on to the Word, stand strong in it.
• And may the Lord comfort & establish you in every good word & work.
Just like the phrase ‘STAND FAST’, Paul uses this word comfort 6 times in his letter to the Thessalonians.
His heart for them is my heart for us…
• That our words would be comforting & wholesome.
• That our works would be established & effective.
And guys, what could be more comforting than the promise of Jesus being fulfilled… that Jesus could come at any moment, even today to take us to heaven…
