**** 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2

Know who you are

2 Thessalonians 1:1–2

Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

People spend money, take trips, seek counselors, turn over a new leaf, and look within to find themselves. People are constantly looking for fulfillment and purpose in life. From the self help talk shows to the psychiatrists who probes the minds of those left discouraged and disillusioned with life, people are trying to find out who they are. Sports teams that struggle are said to be looking for ‘their identity.’

Singers are looking for that special sound that sets them apart and makes their music distinctive. During elections politicians busy themselves trying to portray an image and let the public know who they are and what they believe and what they will do if elected.

As the people of God we know who we were and who we are. We know what we’ve had and what we have. Paul encouraged the church through his welcome and with his wisdom. The Bible teaches us who we are in Christ and what we have from Christ. Do we really know who we are and what we have? This text gives some insights into who we are and what we have. I. The greeting from the servants.

(1) A. Their recognition.

(1a) “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians”

The church at Thessalonica was founded on Paul’s 2nd missionary journey. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were ministers to the Thessalonians. God used these men to instruct, encourage, and challenge the young church in the faith. Silvanus is the Roman name of Silas which was his Aramaic name. Silas journeyed with Paul and ministered alongside of Paul. We read about the faithfulness of Silas in the Book of Acts. So Paul begins with this greeting from the servants. The church would have greatly been encouraged by this letter from the servants of God.

Have you ever been waiting on a letter or package to come in the mail and when you got it you couldn’t wait to open it and read its contents. I believe this is the way the Thessalonians received the word of God. This letter from the servants was addressed to the church of the Thessalonians.

This letter was written probably around 50–52 A.D which would have been a short time after 1 Thessalonians was written. Paul, Silas, and Timothy gives recognition to the people of God. This letter came to the church. This is significant in that Paul recognized that the believers in the city of Thessalonica were the real deal. He did not send this letter to the synagogue, a mosque, or a temple. He did not recognize the validity of other religions. Paul believed that Jesus was the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father but by Jesus. This letter is sent to the church, for the church, and so that the church can know who they are and what they have. Church: (ekklesia) the word means ‘called out.’ God has called us out!

To be called out in a class room means you’re in trouble. To be called out by a referee means you have committed a foul or penalty. To be called out in a courtroom means you are being prosecuted. To be called out by an officer means you have broken the law. To be called out on the job usually means your boss is not happy with you. To be called out carries a negative connotation. In all these instances to be called out is usually justified by what we’ve done.

But to be called out by God means something wonderful. In every instance, to be called out by God is never because of what we’ve done. We are called out by God because of Who He is and because of what He’s done. It is a wonderful thing to be the ‘called out’ of God. God has called us out of darkness, out of our sins, out of harms way, out of an eternity separated from Him in hell. Great Truth: We are not called out by God because we ‘re special; we are special because we’ve been called out by God. Don’t ever let anyone look down on you or ridicule you because of your faith in Jesus Christ. Don’t let anyone look down on or ridicule the church of Jesus Christ. When people talk about the church, they are talking about the called out by God. In verse 1 we’ve notice their recognition. Next, we see:

B. Their reputation. (1b)

“in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:”

Paul not only recognized that these people were the called out by God, but he also gives a word about their reputation of being in God. Paul could boldly say that he knew that the Thessalonians were in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ because the church had a reputation that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ was in them. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 1:2–8, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.” The Thessalonians had a reputation that they loved Jesus and served Jesus.

Paul had no qualms in calling them the church. The Thessalonians lived out their faith and therefore Paul knew that they were in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. IN: the word denotes being or remaining within, with the primary idea of rest and continuance. The church had a reputation of being in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. No other organization, group, cult, or false religion can say that. John MacArthur wrote, “The truth that Christians are in personal, spiritual, and eternal union with god is unique to Christianity; adherents of other religions do not speak of being in their god.” Do you have a reputation that you are in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ? If He is in you then you are in Him! If He dwells in you then you belong to Him and He has saved you and changed you forever. What kind of reputation do we have today? In verse 1 Paul reveals who we are in the greeting from the servants. Next, Paul gives us insight into what we have in verse 2

II. The gifts to the saints. (2) A.

A gift of provision. (2a)

“Grace to you … from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace is a gift from God, it is a provision from the Lord in this life for the next life. Grace: (charis) means favor, benefit, gift, or pleasure. God’s favor has been bestowed upon us in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s desire was that the Thessalonians abide in the grace of God just as they had received the grace of God. How many in this country and world today have taken the grace of God for granted?

People spurn the grace of God, reject the grace of God, and neglect the grace of God all to their doom. Paul was pronouncing a blessing on the Thessalonians that God’s grace and favor would be on them. We can not earn grace, bargain for grace, or buy grace, it is the gift of God. Paul says it is “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Have you experienced the grace of God? Have you received the grace of God?

As the old hymn states, “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.”

God has provided grace to atone for all our sins. The grace of God can forgive every sin that you ever commit. Jesus died on the cross for our past, present, and future sins. He died for all sins and when we receive Jesus we receive the whole grace of God! A little grace will not do us we need all the grace of God! The grace of God is able to save us and keep us saved forever! Amen! Paul lists grace before peace for a reason. Without the grace of God there will be no peace with God. Fred Howard wrote, “Grace is prior to peace in the sense that apart from divine grace people never can experience inner peace, peace with God, or peace with others.” The first gift to the saints Paul mentions is the gift of provision (grace). Next, we see the second gift to the saints:

B. A gift of peace. (2b)

“peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Just as grace is a gift of God from God, so too is the gift of peace. Peace is the gift of God and is from God. Peace is sought after by individuals, families, and countries, but true peace only comes from the Lord. The Thessalonians knew peace and had received peace because they had received the Prince of Peace. When a person trusts Jesus Christ and is born again they receive the peace of God and they also get peace with God. The reason there is so much turmoil in the homes, on the job, in the schools, and in countries is because of sin. Sin separates people from God and brings about immediate unrest. There can be no lasting and genuine peace where the Lord Jesus Christ is not present. Peace is the result of God’s unmerited favor. We can never, never, never find true peace apart from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Jimmy Draper wrote, “We are living today in the most affluent, most enlightened age ever. We have achieved more with natural science, human logic, and intellect than ever before. Yet today we have the highest crime rate, the highest suicide rate, the highest divorce rate, the highest drug rate in the history of the world. Why? Because our men and women reject Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.”

Have you rejected Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace? Do you have peace in your heart? Are you at peace with God and do you have the peace of God? The Thessalonians knew who they were and knew what they had, do we? Do we know who we are and what we have? Jesus came to earth to give Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He died, was buried, and on the third day rose again! He lives today and because of Jesus men and women can experience the grace of God. God wants to shed His grace on you, but we must first recognize who we are without God. We must repent of our sins and trust Jesus alone to save us! We must call upon the name of the Lord with a sincere heart and fully turn away from our sin and rebellion. God is calling for men and women to be saved! He’s calling for the church to live like they have been called out. He wants us to know the peace of God, experience the peace of God, and help others to find peace with God. Are you doing your part to help others find Jesus Christ? What kind of reputation do you have in this world?