Welcome back! So
glad to have you here once again for another great study from the New
Testament. Today, we’re opening The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to
the Thessalonians. In some Bible versions, you’ll find that at the end of
this letter, it says that it, also, like the first epistle to the
Thessalonians, was written from Athens, so as of this writing, Paul had
still not been in prison.
It seems that the
Thessalonians are going through some confusion because of false teachings,
so the purpose of Paul’s letter is to reiterate the TRUTH and get them back
on the right path. If you think that this sort of thing isn’t still
happening today, let’s look at some of the false teachings that you may have
forgotten about or perhaps didn’t recognize are going on at this very time.
(These are just a few.)
God is not allowed in school, because it infringes on non-believer’s
rights.
If you can find a television show that doesn’t use God’s name in vain,
it must be from the ancient archives.
Adultery is promoted in today’s society instead of prohibited.
Most churches now condone gay and lesbian relationships.
Now here’s a great one. It’s acceptable for public schools to teach our
grade school children sex education, but if they mention Jesus’ name, they
get suspended.
Do you think Paul
would consider these things false teachings? They’re getting worse by the
day. As Christians, these things should horrify us, but it has happened so
gradually and is now so prevalent that it’s the norm. Think back to when the
whole country would stop dead in their tracks if they heard a foul word on
television, and now it’s just a common event. Then there are wars going on
and the reporter tells us of yet another 20 or so men and women dying in
that war that day and the person watching television says Hey, hand me the
remote so I can see if something better is on. Geez! Really, what’s this
world coming to?
Let’s see what
Paul says to the Thessalonians, and reinforce our strength to stay on the
right path in a world where such things are being readily accepted.
From Paul, Silas,
and Timothy,
To the church of
the Thessalonians, in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul expresses
their thanks to God for the brethren and says that they take pride in their
Church because of their growing Faith and Love through the difficulties that
they’re facing. He says, this is a clear sign that God counts them worthy of
His kingdom for what they’re going through. Make a mental note of this. Your
faith and love must continue to grow through all the difficulties that
abound around us in this world today, just as back in Paul’s day.
An interesting
point that Paul makes next is, It is a righteous thing with God to
recompense (repay) tribulation to those who trouble you, and relief (rest)
to you with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from Heaven with His
mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who don’t know God,
and don’t obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, don’t
misunderstand this. This retribution is not to be taken into our own hands.
God does the rewarding both good and bad. Our job is to pray for a change of
heart in those who trouble us (and others) and from that point forward that
they have charity enough to remove a multitude of their sins, enough to
stand blameless before God, just as we hope to. Always remember that God
wants us ALL to be saved, and we should never hope for His
Grace to be kept from
anyone. Matthew
7:2, Jesus said, For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged,
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Now let’s look at
what happens to those souls who choose not to obey the Gospel of our Lord.
Paul says, They will be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be
glorified in His saints, and to be admired by all who believe (because our
testimony among you was believed) in that day.
So, we always pray
for you that our God will find you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all
the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of Faith and power, 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.
What kind of false
teachings were rumored back in Paul’s day, that prompted him to write this
letter to the Thessalonians? You’ll have to come back next time to find out,
right here at Daily Bread!
