Living Worthy of His Calling

Introduction:

This past week I was listening to a podcast which reminded me of this story in church history:

Probably doesn’t surprise you that, Church history gives us remarkable examples of believers who stood firm in their faith, even unto death. Among the most inspiring is the story of Perpetua and Felicity, two young Christian women who lived in North Africa around A.D. 203 during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus.

Perpetua was a noblewoman and new mother; Felicity was her servant, eight months pregnant when she was arrested. Both were charged for confessing Christ and refusing to worship Caesar.

While imprisoned, Perpetua’s father pleaded with her to recant, begging, “Have pity on your child!” But she replied,

“Can a vase be called by any other name than what it is? So neither can I call myself anything other than what I am—a Christian.”

Felicity gave birth in prison only days before their execution. When soldiers mocked her for crying out in labor, she answered,

““What I am suffering now, I suffer by myself. But then another will be inside me who will suffer for me, just as I shall be suffering for Him.”

Both women were led into the arena and martyred for their faith—steadfast, fearless, and full of joy in Christ.

Their courage reminds us that genuine faith stands firm in the face of fear. It cannot be extinguished by persecution, pressure, or pain. That same faith was alive in the believers at Thessalonica—a faith that endured suffering, resisted deception, and longed for Christ’s glory.

As we turn to 2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:17, Paul encourages the church not to be shaken by hardship or confusion, but to live worthy of their calling, stand firm in truth, and be anchored in the grace of God.

Recap:

Last week we saw Paul thank the Thessalonians, not correct them. He praised their growing faith, overflowing love, and patient endurance under persecution. Their suffering wasn’t God’s absence—it was His refining work, proving them worthy of His kingdom and pointing to the coming day of righteous judgment. On that day, Christ will return: judgment for those who reject God, rest and glory for those who believe.

Bottom line:

God sees your faith and endurance.

Your trials aren’t wasted—they prove real salvation.

Justice is coming—evil repaid, glory ahead for believers.

Now, Paul turns from future hope to present living. He prays we’d live worthy of that hope today. But some were shaken by false teaching about “the day of the Lord,” so Paul writes to steady hearts—to strengthen faith, correct confusion, and anchor them in truth. After showing what endurance looks like, he shows how to stay grounded in truth and guarded by grace until Jesus returns.

vv. 11–12) Prayer for worthy living.

Paul’s transition from judgement to glory (vv. 3–10) to prayer (vv. 11–12) shows the heart of a true shepherd. Having described what God will do, what He will accomplish, Paul’s prayer is for believers to live worthy lives in the present.

[11] Since the Thessalonian Christians were in the midst of persecution and tribulation, they needed prayer. Here, Paul assured them he and his associates pray alway for them.

“That our God would count you worthy of this calling:” God gives Christians a high calling, mentioned in the previous sentence. The calling is to see Him glorified in us at His coming. Paul rightly prays that the Thessalonians may be counted worthy of this calling, and he shows ways to fulfill this calling.

We live worthy of His call when we fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, living lives touched by His goodness, and displaying His goodness. We live worthy of His call when we fulfill the work of faith with power.

As we have just seen, person must be counted worthy by God. How can a person be counted worthy? No person has any worthiness on their own; no person is perfect. If a person is the be acceptable to God, he has to approach God through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. God accepts a person as worthy ONLY if they come in the name of Jesus Christ—believing and trusting Jesus Christ to save him.

Family it is so important we understand: we can never earn salvation, but we are called to reflect the conduct of the One who has saved us!

God must complete the work of faith in us. We age, deteriorate, die, and decay. We cannot complete anything, not permanently. We can complete something for only for a few short years at most, and even then we cannot complete anything perfectly. Nothing we do is ever perfected. Therefore, if we are to be saved from judgement and given eternal life, God has to take our initial belief in Christ:

and complete the good pleasure of His goodness in us.

and complete the work of faith in us—complete it with omnipotent power.

Paul’s desires that God’s purpose would be fully realized in their lives; that faith would produce fruit. Real faith is never idle; it works, endures, and draws upon divine strength.

[12] Family we live worthy of His call when the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is glorified in us. We understand that this means more than the name of our Lord Jesus as a word, but also as a representation of His character.

We live worthy of His call when we are glorified in Him, when HE alone is our source of glory and exaltation, and who we are in Jesus is more important than who we are in anything else.

The name of Christ must be glorified in us and we in Him. This simply means that:

we must let Him live and move and have His being in us—every day.

we must let and move and have our being in Him—every day.

we must let Him be glorified in us.

There is only one way to escape the divine and righteous judgement of God:

One must trust Jesus Christ as their savior and Lord.

Which means they know God is completing the work of faith in them.

and if they honor the name of Christ and let the Lord glorify Himself in their lives.

Ephesians 4:1 NKJV

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

1 John 3:23–24 NKJV

23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Revelation 3:20 NKJV

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Family, this great work of living worthy of His calling can only happen according to the grace of God. It happens by His power, favor, and acceptance in the work in us, moving along our with our will and cooperation.

Application: A believer who understands coming glory will live for Christ’s glory now. Every prayer, trial, and act of obedience should aim at this goal: “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.”

We are not only witnesses of Christ’s glory; we become participants in it—as He shines through us.

It is solely by the guidance of the Holy Spirit that our life is made to contribute to God’s glory; and thus fruit arising from this must be ascribed to the great mercy of God.–Calvin

Ch. 2 vv. 1–2) A warning against deception:

Paul here addressed questions raised by his first letter, where he instructed the Thessalonians about the second coming of Christ.

False teachers had unsettled these believers about “the day of the Lord.” Paul writes to stead their hearts and remind them the return of Christ would not come secretly or prematurely.

“Now, brethren…we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled.”

The challenge in understanding this chapter comes from the fact that it is a supplement of what Paul has already taught the Thessalonians in words, that we do not know exactly what Paul said to them. Yet the idea is clear enough, that is if we carefully piece together what is being explained.

There are several interpretation of what Paul means by “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him (v.1)” and “the day of the Lord/Christ[NKJV] (v.2).” These phrases have sparked much discussion among scholars and pastors alike, and I believe it is important to understand how they fit within both the historical and prophetic context.

The Preterist Interpretation:

The day of the Lord refers primarily to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, when Christ “came” (symbolically) in judgement against unbelieving Israel.

This view sees Paul’s warning as concerning events already near in his lifetime—the fall of the temple, and the end of the Old Covenant order, and the vindication of the early church.

“The coming of the Lord” in this context is not a bodily return, but a judicial coming—Christ acting in history to fulfill His word.

This interpretation highlights the historical fulfillment of prophecy within the first century.

The view I disagree with the most, as it is the most heretical.

[Summary: “The Day of the Lord” = Christ’s coming in judgment on Jerusalem (A.D. 70).]

The Futurist Interpretation:

The Day of the Lord is a future, literal time of divine wrath and global judgment, culminating in the physical return of Christ.

The Coming of the Lord refers to His bodily, visible return to earth at the end of the age.

Many futurist (especially dispensationalists) distinguish between the rapture (the gathering of the church) and the day of the Lord (the time of judgement which follows).

They interpret 2 Thessalonians 2 as describing future events surrounding the rise of the Antichrist, a global rebellion, and Christ’s ultimate victory.

[Summary: “The Day of the Lord” = a coming time of worldwide judgment; “The Coming of the Lord” = Christ’s second advent.]

This is the approach we will take this morning as this is Calvary Chapel’s view.

The Historicist Interpretation:

The Day of the Lord represents a long, unfolding period of history in which God judges nations and advances His kingdom.

The man of lawlessness is often interpreted symbolically—some have identified him with the papacy or other corrupt religious powers that exalt themselves against Christ.

The “coming” of Christ here marks successive judgements in church history that lead toward the final consummation.

[Summary: “The Day of the Lord” = Christ’s progressive judgments throughout history, culminating in His final return.]

The Amillennial Interpretation:

The Day of the Lord and the Coming of the Lord are synonymous, both describing the final, climactic return of Christ at the end of history.

Amillennialists see the “man of lawlessness” as a representation of the spirit of antichrist, active throughout this present age and finally destroyed at Christ’s appearing.

This view emphasizes that the kingdom is spiritual, presently reigning through Christ’s church, and that the final “Day of the Lord” will bring both resurrection and judgement simultaneously.

[Summary: “The Day of the Lord” = the final day of resurrection, judgment, and renewal at Christ’s return.]

The Postmillennial Interpretation:

Postmillennial interpreters often understand “the Day of the Lord” in 2 Thessalonians 2 as referring primarily to Christ’s coming in judgment upon Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

This event marked the end of the Jewish age, the collapse of the temple system, and the vindication of Christ’s church.

It was a “day of the Lord” in the Old Testament sense—a decisive act of divine judgment in history (cf. Isa. 13:6; Joel 2:1).

The “Coming of the Lord” (parousia) in this passage can describe both His coming in judgment (A.D. 70) and His ongoing manifestation of rule through the advance of His kingdom.

Christ continues to “come” throughout history by the power of the gospel, subduing nations and extending His reign.

Ultimately, this ongoing reign will culminate in His final, bodily return after the success of the gospel in history.

Thus, the Day of the Lord in A.D. 70 inaugurated the kingdom age, while the final Coming of Christ will consummate it.

[Summary: “The Day of the Lord” = Christ’s judgment upon Jerusalem (A.D. 70), inaugurating the gospel age. “The Coming of the Lord” = His ongoing reign in history, culminating in a victorious and final return.]

Application:

Paul’s concern wasn’t that believers could chart every prophetic timeline—it was that they would not be shaken by confusion or fear. False teachings had crept in, and rumors about the “day of the Lord” were unsettling hearts. The same danger exists today.

Family, our stability doesn’t come from knowing every detail about prophecy but from knowing the Lord of prophecy. When uncertainty strikes, we go back to what we know is sure—the Word of God and character of God.

So:

Do not let fear drive your theology—let Scripture anchor your hope.

Do not chase sensational voices—listen to the voice of your Shepherd.

Do not live unsettled—live steady, because Christ is coming, and His promises stand firm.

2 Thessalonians 2:2 NKJV

2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

vv. 3–4 — The Revelation of the Man of Lawlessness

Exposition: Paul warns the church not to be deceived by sensational or false claims about the timing of Christ’s return. Before that day, two major things must occur:

The Falling Away (Apostasy):

Paul gave the Thessalonians a sorrowful prediction about the future scattering of the church, echoing Christ’s warnings in Matthew 24:1–25. Jesus also said:

Matthew 24:10–12 NKJV

10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Paul is not describing one isolated act of rebellion, but a widespread spiritual defection within the visible church.

The term “apostasy” means a willful departure from previously held truth. This prepares believers to understand that even within the church, false teaching and compromise will increase before Christ’s final victory.

The Man of Sin (or Lawlessness):

The reformers though: Paul, wasn’t speaking of one individual, but of a kingdom which was to be seized by Satan for the purpose of setting up a seat of abomination in the midst of God’s temple. They believed it was to be the pope.

Others believe the man of lawlessness is Titus the Roman general who destroyed Jerusalem, or Nero who severely persecuted the church.

Our church holds to this being the Anti-christ, the ultimate personification of the spirit of Antichrist spoken of in 1 John 4:2–3.

1 John 4:2–3 NKJV

2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

Matthew 24:23–24 NKJV

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Application:

Paul’s main concern was not that believers could identify the Antichrist, but that they would not be deceived (v.3).

You cannot accidentally side with the Antichrist.

Family, our task is to stay rooted in the Word so that our faith cannot be shaken by every new voice claiming divine authority. As the Word states:

James 1:27 NKJV

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Stay discerning. Stay anchored. Don’t chase signs—cling to Scripture.

vv. 5–7 — The Restrainer and the Mystery of Lawlessness

Exposition: Paul reminds them that he had already taught these truths in person (v.5). This gentle reminder reveals Paul’s patience—he reproved them in a fatherly way though they had forgotten such crucial things.

Two key ideas emerge:

The Restrainer: Paul does not identify what (or who) restrains evil, leading to multiple views. A few possibilities:

The Roman Empire, which delayed the rise of Antichrist until its fall.

The Gospel’s advance, which must spread through the world before God allows evil to reach full strength (cf. Matthew 24:14).

I believe it to be the Holy Spirit is the One who restrains them.

We should not think that the Holy Spirit would leave the earth during the Great Tribulation. He will be present on the earth during the Great Tribulation because many are saved, sealed, and serve God during this period, and this cannot happen without the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is taken out of the way, not removed.

The Mystery of Lawlessness:

Even in Paul’s day, evil was already “at work”—subtle, secret, and growing. This is what John was eluding too in his first epistle

This mystery represents sin’s deceptive power that works under the surface until it’s revealed openly.

Application: We live in an age when lawlessness is no longer hidden—it’s celebrated. Yet even now, God restrains evil. His Spirit and His church stand as barriers against complete corruption.

When believers live as light in a dark world, I believe we are part of what holds back lawlessness. Live faithfully, proclaiming truth boldly, and remember: darkness has limits—Christ reigns forever.

John 1:4–5 NKJV

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

vv. 8–10 — The Destruction of the Lawless One

Exposition: The emphasis is though the Antichrist’s deception seems powerful, his end is certain. The same “breath of His mouth” that spoke creation into being will destroy all wickedness.

Isaiah 11:4 NKJV

4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.

Even now, the preaching of the gospel is part of that victory—each time truth is declared, the darkness retreats. So Christian do not give in to a loser mentality, we have work to do!

Paul also reveals the counterfeit nature of Satan’s work:

“Power, signs, and lying wonders” — imitations of Christ’s miracles.

Exodus 7:11 NKJV

11 But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

Matthew 24:24 NKJV

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

“Unrighteous deception” — false teaching disguised as spirituality.

Application:

Truth is Christ’s weapon, and it must be ours too.

The Word which saves also slays deception. Stay grounded in Scripture, because the gospel is not just a message to believe—it is a sword to wield.

Ephesians 6:17 NKJV

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

The same Christ who speaks peace to His people will speak judgment to His enemies.

vv. 11–12 — Judgment on Those Who Reject Truth

Exposition: When people persistently reject truth, God allows them to be blinded by their own unbelief.

Romans 1:28 NKJV

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

They “refused to love the truth and so be saved” (v.10). Faith isn’t just intellectual agreement—it’s affection for the truth.

God sends them the lie. It isn’t just any lie, but the lie, the lie which has enthralled the human race since Adam. This is the lie that God is not God, and that we are or can be gods.

“His point is that the last pseudo-Messiah or anti-Christ will embody all that is profane and blasphemous, every conceivable element of impiety; and that, instead of being repudiated, he will be well be welcome by Jews as well as pagans.”–Moffatt

As God gives rebellious man the lie he desires, it isn’t out of His generosity. Instead, it shows God’s judgement on those who reject the truth. As Romans 1 points out, in judgment God may give a man up to the depravity of his heart, to his pleasure in unrighteousness.

“They think that they are acting in defiance of HIm. But in the end they find that those very acts in which they expressed their defiance were the vehicle of their punishment.”–Morris

Application:

Love for truth guards the heart from delusion. If the Word becomes dull to us, deception becomes easier.

Cherish truth—study it, sing it, speak it, and live it—because only those who delight in God’s Word will discern God’s will.

Psalm 119:97 NKJV

97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

John 17:17 NKJV

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

vv. 13–14 — Chosen for Salvation

Exposition: Paul contrasts those who reject truth with those who receive it. He calls believers “beloved by the Lord” — emphasizing God’s sovereign grace.

Family, we must think about the judgments of God on the unsaved in such a way that they become mirrors which show us God’s mercy toward us.

This calling is both divine and active:

“Through sanctification by the Spirit” — God’s ongoing work of transformation.

“And belief in the truth” — our response of faith.

Cross-references:

Deut. 7:7–8 — God chose Israel not for merit but love.

Deuteronomy 7:7–8 NKJV

7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

1 John 4:19 — “We love because He first loved us.”

1 John 4:19 NKJV

19 We love Him because He first loved us.

Eph. 1:4–5 — “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.”

Ephesians 1:4–5 NKJV

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Application:

Salvation is secure because its foundation is divine.

When you feel overwhelmed by the world’s deception, remember: You are not forgotten—you are chosen.

Live from that confidence, not from fear.

Romans 8:38–39 NKJV

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“Had it been possible for you to have had salvation without sanctification, it would have been a curse to you instead of a blessing. If such a thing were possible, I cannot conceive a more lamentable condition than for a man to, have the happiness of salvation without the holiness of it; happily, it is not possible. If you could be saved from the consequences of sin, but not from the sin itself, and its power and pollution, it would be no blessing to you.”–Spurgeon

vv. 15–17 — Stand Fast and Hold the Truth

Exposition: This final exhortation sums up the letter’s heart: perseverance through sound doctrine. Even if the Thessalonians saw nearly the whole world turning away from the faith, they were to keep their footing.

The “traditions” Paul refers to are apostolic teachings, not man-made rituals. They are the revealed truths of the gospel handed down faithfully through Scripture.

1 Corinthians 15:3 NKJV

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Paul wants all who read this letter to consider what he has written up to this point. In this letter, he has given compelling reasons why Christians must stand fast and not be move.

Stand fast because the current distress, the persecutions and tribulations perviously described.

Stand fast because of the coming judgment of this world.

Stand fast because of the strength of the coming deception.

Stand fast because of our glorious destiny.

Family, it is only the anchor of God’s Word which can enable us to stand fast under the weight of our present tribulation, and the weight of our coming glory.

[16–17] Before Paul asked God to do something specific for the Thessalonians, he remembered all God had done for them.

God has loved them, and gave them everlasting consolation and good hope by grace. Teaching us in our own times of intercession and petition, we do well to remember God’s past faithfulness and present blessings. His faithfulness in the past is a promise of His faithfulness for the future.

“God has given us much, and all his past gifts are pleas for more gifts. Men do not plead so. The beggar in the street cannot say, ‘Give me a penny to-day because you gave me one yesterday,’ else we might reply, ‘That is the reason why I should not give you any more.’ But when dealing with God, this is a good plea.”–Spurgeon

Paul asked God to do two things in the Thessalonians Church, an I pray God would to these two things in you this morning.

God to comfort your hearts.

God to establish them in every good word and work.

This is a prayer full of useful and important suggestions:

Jesus is yours.

God is your Father.

God loves you.

God has given you much.

You have everlasting consolation.

It is all by the grace of God.

“Some Christian people think that ‘word’ should be everything and work nothing, but the Scriptures are not of their mind. These professos speak a great deal about what they will do, talk a great deal about what other people ought to do, and a great deal more about what others fail to do; and so they go on with word, word, word, and nothing else but word. They do not get as far as ‘work,’ but the apostle put work first in this case.”–Spurgeon

Application Summary

Discernment: Don’t be shaken by false claims—test all things by Scripture (1 John 4:1).

Devotion: Love truth deeply, for only love for truth guards against deception (Psalm 119:165).

Dependence: Remember, God restrains evil, and Christ will ultimately destroy it (Isa. 11:4).

Delight: Give thanks—you are chosen, loved, and secure in Christ (Eph. 1:4–6).

Determination: Stand firm in doctrine and grace. Hold fast to Christ, not speculation (Phil. 4:1).

Family, our confidence is not in knowing every detail about prophecy—it’s in knowing the One who holds the future.

Stand fast. Hold truth. Let grace rule your heart until the brightness of His coming fills the world with light.

Numbers 6:24–26 NKJV

24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’