Rely on the Lord

Date: May 8, 2022

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1

Theme: Rely on the Lord

Introduction: By way of background, it is believed that Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians in as little as a year following his last letter to this church (BKC). It’s possible that Paul, Silas and Timothy were in Corinth at the time, similar to when Paul wrote his first letter based on the fact that these three are not referenced together outside of being with one another in Corinth according to Acts 18:5. Within this letter, Paul seeks to encourage the Thessalonians in how they have persevered in the midst of persecution in the first chapter. In the second chapter, Paul will take up the topic of the Day of the Lord again and provide some clarifications based on false teaching that has surfaced. In the third chapter, Paul will provide an admonition about being faithful in employment while waiting for the Lord’s return.

Transition: We’re going to look at the first chapter in 2 divisions: Paul’s Greeting in the first 2 verses and Paul’s commendation in the remainder. In Paul’s Greeting, I want for us to consider …

Rely on the Lord for Grace and Peace (vv. 1-2).

There is a remarkable similarity between the greetings in both of Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians.

Same author.

Same companions.

Same association by Paul of the Thessalonians as a genuine church made up of true believers in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, the reference to ‘Grace and peace’ provides a divergence from his first greeting (v. 2).

Paul includes direct references to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in this association with grace and peace.

In 1 Thessalonians 1, it was an implicit association based on the nearness of the phrase to these references.

Paul wishes to demonstrate to the Thessalonians the ongoing relevancy of grace and peace that can only come from one’s dynamic union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hence, Paul’s repetition demonstrates our need for grace and peace.

Directly associating grace and peace more explicitly with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrates how these can only come from our God.

Referencing God as Father underscores the need to be His child in order to receive grace and peace.

Identifying Jesus Christ as Lord highlights His authority to and ability to make grace and peace available.

Noting both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ emphasizes their unity in providing grace and peace to believers.

Transition: We need God’s grace and peace more and more and the circumstances of the Thessalonians highlight its importance. Let’s move now into the section concerning Paul’s Commendation and consider …

Rely on the Just Lord for Endurance (vv. 3-12).

Rely on the Just Lord to Grow as you endure suffering (vv. 3-4).

Rely on the Just Lord to Grow in a way that others thank the Lord for (v. 3).

Notice, we have another similarity with 1 Thessalonians 1.

Paul begins with gratitude, demonstrating its importance in our prayer life.

In the use of the term ‘ought’, Paul identifies that he felt compelled to show gratitude to the Lord for the Thessalonians.

This term is used 7 times in the NT and gives the impression of obligation.

The faith, love, perseverance, and faithfulness of the Thessalonians that God was producing provided for Paul every reason to be grateful.

Paul also uses the term ‘fitting’ to identify that gratitude was just the right response given the circumstances.

The sense of the word gives the idea of something that is appropriate or deserving.

Additionally, there’s the idea associated with it of wide recognition.

That others have no trouble recognizing what has made someone deserving or, in the case of Jesus’ crucifixion in Luke 23:15 not deserving.

Hence, for our purposes, the progress in faith, love, perseverance, and faithfulness was so very clear and noticeable that there was no doubt.

Paul refers to them as ‘brethren’ calling attention to the role of their family relationship to the Lord as the justification for those things that he’s going to thank the Lord for.

Hence, what Paul thanks the Lord for and proclaims to the Church concerning the Thessalonians could only be attributed to God at work through His children.

Relatedly, if God works this way in His children in Thessalonica, He can do the same in all of His children.

This makes sense if this is attributed to the Lord alone because He is the recipient of Paul’s gratitude.

In other words, Paul would not be directing his praise to the Lord for things that only the Lord can produce in His people if the Lord had not undertaken this work.

Rely on the Just Lord to Abound in Faith.

Paul emphasizes the growth that they experienced in their faith, underscoring just how evident it was that they were growing.

The way that faith is used here, we get the idea of one’s personal trust and confidence in the Lord.

We must seek the Lord to grow in the same way that He grew the Thessalonians’ faith.

Rely on the Just Lord to Increase in Love.

Herein again, Paul emphasizes just how they grew in their love for one another, it was clear for all to see.

Paul uses phrasing here where he means to leave out none of the Thessalonian believers from his characterization of how they all have grown in their love for one another.

If the Lord produced greater love for one another in the Thessalonian church, then He means to do that in all His children.

Recall, this was Paul’s desire for them back in 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9-10.

What a treat for us to be able to reflect with Paul on how God has worked in these believers.

It further gives us encouragement about God’s faithfulness to do the same in our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Rely on the Just Lord to Grow in a way that the Church proclaims (v. 4)

Notice, Paul has now shifted his platform from speaking to the Lord to speaking to the churches.

He’s still demonstrating gratitude to the Lord but now publicly to the churches instead of privately in prayer before the Lord.

His reasons for proclaiming about God’s work in the Thessalonians to the churches concerns their perseverance and faithfulness (BEC).

You see, the context for the development of faith, love, perseverance and faithfulness is both persecution and affliction.

This is fascinating as one would think that difficulty would be a deterrent to spiritual growth.

However, it demonstrates that the growth can come only from the Lord.

One passage of note during my study in Mark 4:17.

This passage concerns the parable of the soils.

Herein, Jesus identifies a type of people who fall away in the midst of persecution and affliction.

However, the Thessalonians have not fallen away but only increased in faith, love, perseverance and faithfulness.

Hence, our encouragement increases about the genuineness of their relationship in the Lord.

We must remember, this is the Lord at work through them.

Rely on the Just Lord Who is Coming again (vv. 5-10).

Rely on the Just Lord Who will give rest to His children (vv. 5-7a).

Paul’s emphasis in v. 5 concerns how suffering reveals what is already in one’s heart.

Thus, where God is working in His children who are headed for the kingdom, it is evident to all that He is the One at work.

This is all about God receiving praise and glory in our lives, especially when we suffer.

Even though suffering is part of life, it’s part of God’s righteous plan that He is working out to ultimately bring in His kingdom of righteousness and peace; therefore, we can trust His plan.

Verse 6 calls to mind that, in God’s justice, He is fair in all His dealings.

One day, the unjust who persecute Christians will receive the just judgment that they deserve from the Lord.

It’s important to understand that this response is prompted by God’s holiness.

In other words, this is not something that we should gloat over that others are finally receiving what they deserve.

This is on account of the fact that, if it were not for Jesus, we would be in the same position.

Therefore, this produces humility in us that we might receive relief from the Lord in His kingdom, when we deserve judgment.

Notice, according to v. 7, relief is more than just release from affliction but when Jesus comes again.

Rely on the Just Lord Who will give recompense to the unjust (vv. 7b-10).

Notice the incredible description of the Lord’s coming again.

He arrives with a powerful entourage that only points out how powerful He must be to control these creatures (v. 7b).

Flaming fire gives the impression of a raging fire whose destruction is nowhere near being extinguished (v. 7c).

Consider how these individuals are described in v. 8.

They do not know God in that they do not know Him as their Father, or have a relationship with Him.

They also have not obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ in that they have not believed the Gospel Message in receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior, repenting of their sins.

Notice how v. 9 describes the reality of their judgment.

It’s eternal, meaning that it’s unending instead of temporary or resulting in their ceasing to exist.

It means that they will forever be separated from the Lord.

In context, to be joined permanently with the Lord is the believer’s hope wherein there is relief!

Therefore, this description only further underscores how dreadful it would be to be separated from the Lord and experience unending distress.

Look at just how all eyes will be on the Savior on that day according to v. 10.

His saints will reflect His glory and praise emphasizing that their position is only attributable to Him.

The marveling that will be done on that day relates to how the Lord’s people will consider all that the Lord has done in His saving and judging and acknowledge that only the Lord can do something like this.

This is something that believers will experience because of how their Lord has worked in their life.

Rely on the Just Lord to glorify your Savior (vv. 11-12).

The implication of v. 11 is that they would live lives worthy of God’s calling.

This would be demonstrated in their transformed desires to please the Lord.

The term translated ‘goodness’ is employed in Galatians 5:22.

Since the Spirit is specifically tied to producing this, only the Spirit could develop this result in our lives.

Thus, Paul is pointing to a transformation of desires that only the Spirit could produce.

We need this because James reminds us how disordered by sin our desires are naturally.

This would also be demonstrated in their confidence and trust in the Lord.

This ability to live worthy can only come from the power of the Lord working through His people as v. 11 concludes; therefore, we need His power to change our desires and increase our faith!

The point of living a worthy life by the power of God is so that Christ would be glorified in us and we in Him.

That Christ would receive all the praise from our lives; our lives demonstrate that only God can do this work!

Our lives would increasingly look like Jesus Christ.

Paul brings his first chapter full circle by having opened with the continued relevance of grace and giving us the reason for such: that Christ would be glorified as we are transformed.

Conclusion: We need this message reminding us to rely on the Just Lord for both Grace and Peace and Endurance. Grace and peace are needed daily and can only come from our Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ. We need endurance for our spiritual development to manifest before all as we wait for the Lord’s coming wherein He will provide relief to His children and restitution to those who neither know God nor have obeyed the Gospel of Christ.