2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

We combat false teaching by the truth of God’s Word

False teaching is the work of Satan, and it works, but he’s limited

Given authority by God (Job)

False Teaching reminds us of our hope, and His grace

Password Game

Split into two teams

Spaghetti

Boat

Buzz Lightyear

To know the answer, you had to be given what? A correct clue, or correct information right? So, when it comes to living our lives as Christians, how do we know what is true? How do we not get deceived?

The Christians of the early years after Christ’s ascension had belief that Christ’s return was going to be imminent. That it was going to happen very quickly.

Peter thought so, “The end of all things is very near”

Paul, James and John all were in eager anticipation of this as well.

We know that not to be the case, because, well, we exist.

But they were eagerly waiting Christ’s return, as we should be as well.

They weren’t wrong to do so. In fact, Scripture tells us to be ready, that Christ will return like a thief in the night

However, what was happening was, people were coming into their circles, their churches, and alarming and terrifying them saying that Christ had already returned. Or writing letters in Paul’s name (verse 2), or claiming to be Christ returned.

And the Thessalonians were freaking out!

Left Behind

Have you ever been there?

Jaxton - empty clothes on the steps

Or when none of your family answers their phones all day long

Jesus knew this would happen, in fact, He warned us in saying, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray.”

So the Thessalonians were panicking. They thought they had missed it. Which would mean they thought they weren’t truly saved, that their hope had been misplaced.

And that is what Paul is addressing here in Chapter 2.

Now remember, the early church doesn’t have the NT, they have to rely on teachings from people like Paul, or Peter, or the other apostles.

So word of mouth news was very heavily relied upon.

So you can see why they could get confused so quickly.

Just like Password

And he reminds them to not be quickly shaken, to not be deceived, but to remember what he had told them (or other apostles) when he was with them.

Karington and crickets

But he tells them again.

He reminded them that there had to be a rebellion

He reminded them that the man of lawlessness had to be revealed

And that that man will oppose and exalt himself as God.

The AntiChrist

Who is the antichrist?

Romans

The Pope

Hitler

Radical Islam

Gorbachev

Ronald Wilson Reagan

Now, we aren’t entirely sure what this rebellion is:

It could be rebellion of humanity against God

It could be people of the church falling away

Or it could just be the rebellion that will coincide with the appearing of the AntiChrist.

But at any rate, Paul is telling them that that hasn’t happened yet, so they need to have confidence and hope in Christ.

And that they should have confidence regardless (which we’ll get to in a minute)

But Paul tells them to cling to what he has taught them. To hold fast to the truth.

Today, we have this completed words of God, we have the truth. So we have no excuse for clinging to false teachings and false doctrines.

Today, we have this completed words of God, we have the truth. So we have no excuse for clinging to false teachings and false doctrines.

Earn salvation

Give money to a preacher to be saved

Healings

Can I throw in a caveat here. Everything that you read on social media does not mean it is true. Do we all agree here?

I can’t tell you how many people I personally know and believe to be a Christian that share and like Joel Osteen posts and Joyce Meyer articles, it makes me sick.

We have to be vigilant. Satan would love nothing more than to have us trip up and believe in something other than the Gospel.

We have to know the Bible, to know false doctrine, so we must know this.

We can’t just not care and just assume we know what the Bible says. That’s how you get in trouble.

But Paul continues on and says that the antichrist is being restrained

But that the work of lawlessness is already at hand.

So pretty much, the antichrist isn’t here yet, but the works of deception are.

, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.”

But what is restraining it?

I believe God is restraining the antichrist until the appointed time.

God wants as many as possible to come to Him

And He is holding back the short reign of the antichrist until the right time, when God will release him on the earth for his momentary position of power.

See, God is in complete control, and God will give the antichrist

So if God wants people to come to Christ, then He wants to use us to help lead them there. We can’t do that if we live lives of fear and worry and not lives of faith and hope.

The antichrist will deceive people

Verse 9

False signs

Wonders

Power

Wicked deception

And all who do not believe the truth will be condemned

But look at verse 8, Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth.

He is only given power by God, for as long as God wants, until God says that’s enough.

So, can you see why it is so important for us to know the truth? The truth keeps us from deception, which is at hand for all who do not believe the truth.

And the truth is, Christ is victorious. And we must cling to that truth.

Paul was reminding the Thessalonians of this very thing. Cling to the truth of Christ, focus on the Gospel, and forsake all false doctrine.

You see guys, there is more false teaching and false doctrine around today then there has ever been. It is so prevalent. Even churches that you probably drive past every day are teaching bad doctrine. Internet is flooded with false information, it’s literally everywhere. I can’t stress to you enough how important it is to “know” what the Bible says. God’s word tells us that Satan is seeking to devour us, through little changes of doctrine here and there. We have to hold fast to this truth, we have to know this truth.

That only happens by being in it. If I asked you right now how many of you opened your Bible this week, I have a feeling there would be quite a few of you who wouldn’t be able to raise your hands.

So, let’s close with this thought. If you claim to be a follower of Christ, and you didn’t spend any time with Him this week, can you truly claim to be a follower of Christ?

, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believe him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth , and the truth will set you free.”