Encouragement: Believe, practice truth
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
The Glory of the Lord
The Glory of the Lord
The church then and the church now are waiting for the glory of the Lord to be revealed. The church then had some misconceptions. Paul has addressed those and it brings to us some great truths for application today as it did for them then.
Misconception - Christ had already come
Paul gave teaching on things that had to transpire before the return
A falling away, apostasy must occur (2The2:3)
Man of sin, man of lawlessness has to be revealed (2The2:3)
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
apostasy (expand); Man of lawlessness (expand) -keep it brief
(Glory of the Lord picture)
(Glory of the Lord picture)
There is a blessing to received when Christ comes (2The1:10)
Paul’s prayer, as should ours be, for the blessing to be received (2The1:11-12)
below not on the screen, just read the passage though
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I’m glad to bring you a message tonight, that was reserved for this morning, but God wanted to use Nick this morning for a message so I shifted this one til tonight.
In this message may I address the question what is necessary for obtaining the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (2The2:14)?
We need to know and believe the truth (2The2:13-14)
We need to guard the truth (2The2:15)
We need to practice the truth (2The2:16-17)
Believe the truth
Believe the truth
Without a doubt Paul loves and gives thanks for this young church. He gives many accolades for their love, received in much tribulation, but that their love still went out. You may see, read some of Paul’s love (1The1:2, 2:13, 3:9, 2The1:3) and in our passage today.
13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(God’s Love picture)
God loved them and loves us, this holds to be true today; may we believe it (v.13; Jn3:16; Rom5:8)
God loved and sent the Son (Jn3:16)
From the beginning God chose (v.13; Eph1:4-5; 1Pt1:2)
God so loved the world
Sent His Son to die for the sins of the world (Rom5:8)
God demonstrated His love through the begotten So, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. He died for the whole world, but the whole world does not accept Him. But His love for the world does not change, nor does His being just, so man must chose.
God chose them; and God chose you (2The2:13; Eph1:4-5; 2Pt1:10; 2The2:15, 2The1:7-9; 2The1:10; 2The2:14; 1Pt1:2)
God’s grand plan to save sinful man through the only begotten Son, was always His plan through the church.
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
(God chose you picture)
Now, since the church was Gods plan, and you are the church, be sure of your election, being a part of the church by being diligent as it says in 2Pt1:10
He sent the begotten Son to save us, when He returns it will be to relieve the afflicted, and to deal out retribution on those who do not obey the gospel. You, the saved, the afflicted will be gloried with Him one day as this speaks of in 2The1:7-10
Sent the Son as was His plan so through the calling of the Spirit we may obey the Son and that God’s grace and peace be ours to the fullest measure as stated in 1Pt1:2.
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
Because of such a great salvation, because of God’s predetermined plan Paul reminds them to standfast.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God Set them apart (2The2:13; 1The4:23; 1Pt1:2; Jn16:7-11)
(Set apart picture)
God set them apart by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, the same Spirit that sanctified you when you responded to the gospel message.
Sanctified with a purpose (1The4:2-3) says to abstain from sexual immorality. but Peter says to be holy (1Pt1:16); sanctified by the sprinkling of His blood as noted (1Pt1:2)
Sanctified because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit of sin (Jn16:7-11) spoken to the Apostles recorded for us!
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1the4:
Set apart because God called them
7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
(God called picture)
God called them through Gospel (2The2:14; Jn17:17; 2The1:10)
Called them through the gospel (expand)
Called them through the truth of the Word (Jn17:17)
17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
Called through the word given to the apostles and was believed (2The1:10)
1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
God called the church through the gospel message the apostles delivered and recorded and proved by their signs and wonders. He today uses the Word and the preaching of the Word for faith comes by hearing. Salvation comes from believing and obeying the gospel. When obeying you are sanctified and set apart as God’s beloved, as God’s elect (the church)!
1the2
In order for God to fulfill His eternal plan He chose to send Paul, Silas and Timothy to Thessalonica (2The2:1) an eternal plan played out in time. God chose to use human instruments as His messengers. He chose YOU! God gives glory to the saved and that brings us to the next item.
God gave them glory (2The2:14; Jn17:22-24; Rom8:29-30)
Called out, set apart so that you can be God’s instruments to receive God’s glory at the revealing of Jesus Christ. That is what this book is about is preparing for the return of the Lord; it is great to know not only are we to receive Gods glory, we are the glory of the Son in us!
No more beautiful picture then in the pray offered by Jesus to the Father advocating for the apostles and we get to learn, glean, apply from their words.
22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;
23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
God’s eternal plan played out in time, at the right time Christ died for us, at the right time Christ was revealed and the church was revealed and one day soon His return will happen, until them may we remember.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
called, that is what you are if you are in Christ Jesus!
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Called to be conformed, not just for you, but for many who have been called by the gospel message.
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Called to be justified, justified so to be glorified! But when there is good news there is bad news too. If you don’t believe, if you don’t respond, then our loving God will respect your choice and He will still be just and:
10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,
2the
12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
They will be judged by the just judge by the Word of God because they have believed the lie, believed the false and retribution will be paid for it. Hell is for real as is heaven, Hell was not created for you, so don’t go there, you have a choice!
Looking out there are many who have obeyed the truth, so be sure to keep guard of it, that is our next point
Guard the truth
Guard the truth
You would guard and protect your family, right? Paul calls for the church then, and for us today, to guard the truth. The truth of God’s Word is well worth guarding for you are putting your eternal life and hope in it.
15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
(clear and present danger -1 picture)
There is a clear and present danger for we know:
We know of the falling away (2The2:3) and the of the man of lawlessness (2The2:3)
we have already discussed the falling away and the man of lawlessness, but there is much more we can learn:
Paul and the other apostles warn of this clear and present danger, it was present then and is present today (1Jn2:18-24; 1Jn4:1-3; 2Pt2:1-3; 1Tim4:1-2; 2Tim3:1-9)
There are in these day antichrists who have gone out, and even come into the church, unnoticed that want to destroy (1Jn2:18-24) God works the the truth of His word, Satan uses lies and deception to oppose the truth. He uses even Christian colleges who do not teach the full counsel of God and have a form of godliness but lack the power since they are not teaching the truth. This is the devils playground.
John also speaks of testing the spirits to see if they are true (1Jn4:1-3) you test them by the Word , for there are many spirits, many false prophets, so you can see this clear and present danger
Look what Peter has to say.
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
(expand on that one)
3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
So, what are you doing to protect, to guard the truth? We need to follow the traditions as laid out in the scripture. The scripture is spirit filled and not invented by man but handed down to man from God. Handed down so we can pass it on to others.
(Protect the truth picture)
Protect the truth with the Word (2Tim3:15-16; 1Cor15:1-6; 2Tim2:2)
We know the truth is found in the Spirit inspired scripture that is there to equip every man (2Tim3:15-16)
We know the truth is of first importance and has handed down, the truth being the gospel message (1Cor15:1-6)
The truth that we need to learn and to hand down to others (2Tim2:2)
Standfast,do not move away from the truth of the Gospel (1Cor16:13; Col1:23)
so may we remember
13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Don’t allow yourself to be moved away: Check this out:
23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
That clear and present danger is real, and the best way to protect the truth is to practice it!
Practice the truth
Practice the truth
It is not enough to just have knowledge, to know the truth and even to believe it. It is good to guard it when you believe it but if we do not put what we believe into action we are only fooling ourselves (Jm1:22-25). Look at these verses at what Paul wants to convey to them.
15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,
Stand firm knowing, believing and applying so not easily deceived)
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
Paul wants God to encourage them (2The2:16)
Paul wants God to comfort theme (2The2:16-17)
Paul wants God to strengthen them (2The2:17; also ref 1the4:1, 4:10)
(Encourage and strengthen picture)
Encourage, comfort, strengthen for every good work, so, walk in a manner pleasing to God (1The4:1) let your love grow (1The4:10);
(below not on the screen, keep it that way and just read it)
1 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.
10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,
Paul goes on in (v.10) to say, to urge them to do, to excel still more.
May we be established by words and may it result in works (Eph2:8-10; Tit2:11-15; 1Jn3:18)!
The God who called us, who saved us, establishes us as the church to accomplish His good works by sharing the Good News and sharing love for one another.
We are not saved by works (Eph2:8-10) but works, good works are evidence of our salvation (Tit2:11-15); words are followed up by deeds (1Jn3:18)
(Invitation slide -1 - Jesus is coming soon picture)
May we be a people who know the truth, protect the truth but not fall short of applying the truth, personally then bring and live it out as the church today! Put the truth into practice and God will be faithful to complete the good work in you and though you until the day of Lord Jesus when He comes for His church.
invitation (invitation slide-2) song (exit slides)