Standing Firm In God’s Grace

Standing Firm In God’s Grace

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or by our epistle. 16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. [KJV]

TEXTUAL BACKGROUND

.. The Church of Thessalonica was established by Paul with Silas and Timothy on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:40-16:3; 17:1-10).

.. First Thessalonians was written by Paul (about 50-51 A.D.) to encourage, exhort, and to assure them concerning the second coming of the Lord - whether alive or dead.

Fear of the Future

Second Thessalonians was written by Paul to the church to address the “false teachers” that had come to Thessalonica and were teaching that the Day of the Lord had already come and gone and that the church of the Thessalonian Christians had missed the Lord’s coming – completely contrary to what Paul had taught at the Church of Thessalonica early – cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 and 4:13-18, 5:1-4.

Context – 2:1-17 – deals with this aspect of fear in the future in particular.

Vv. 1-12 – Coming of the Lord and the wicked circumstances that precludes it.

Vv. 13-17 – of the why of not fearing those evil times.

TEXT

Purpose – just as the Thessalonian Christians were fearful in what they were hearing from these “false teachers” into thinking that God had forsaken them, so too today, do we often become fearful when we hear contrary teaching of God’s Word. And just as the Thessalonians were encouraged by Paul through the teaching of who our God and Savior is, so too today, we who are NT Christians are encouraged by this same message of Paul that our God and Savior will “comfort our hearts, and establish us in every good word and work” because of His sovereign grace.

OUTLINE

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 - Displays the total range of Standing Firm In God’s Grace

I. To the Immovability of the Election of Grace – v. 13.

II. To the Effectiveness of the Gospel Call – v. 14.

III. To the Assuredness of God’s Truthfulness – v. 15.

IV. To the Comfort of God’s Love – vv. 16-17

13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14 whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I. To the Immovability of the Election of Grace – v. 13.

.. First and Foremost –– Thanksgiving is given to God because of His sovereign actions.

NOTE: The Eternal Date of Election – Before the Foundation of the World –

Believers in Christ do not need to fear that they can lose their salvation, because God’s choice is irrevocable. Salvation depends upon God (Jonah 2:9) from eternity past up to and including eternity future.

.. Chosen [election] – Gk. word means: literally to single out, to select, to choose, to take one and leave the other.

A. God does the choosing:

Irrefutable –

Isaiah 46:9-11 | Remember the former things of old, I am God, and there is no other, I am God and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure – cf. Is 44:1-2.

Unchangeable –

Romans 9:10-13 | … When Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) it was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

10 … [W]hen Rebecca … had conceived by one man … Isaac

11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him who calls),

12 it was said to her, the older shall serve the younger.