Understand the Things of God

Ever since the fall of man in Genesis 3, Satan has tried to defeat the redemptive purposes of God over and over again. He continues to do so today. He never gives up. In Second Thessalonians 2, Paul picks up this theme as he speaks of one who is coming that will be more evil than anyone who has gone before in all of history. The extent of his power and the evil of his person, both of which he will draw directly from Satan himself, will exceed anything you have ever witnessed. He will be the most powerful and the most wicked man to ever walk the earth. He is called in Scripture by many names, the most known of which is "Antichrist" (1 John 2:18).

Antichrist is a compound Greek word (Antichristos), made up of the preposition anti and the noun Christos. Anti can mean both "against" and "in the place of." Both meanings are appropriate, for the Antichrist will both oppose the true Christ (Christos), and seek to usurp His place. Here in Second Thessalonians chapter 2 Paul calls him "the man of sin" (v. 3) or "the man of lawlessness" (NASB), "the son of perdition" (v. 3) or "the son of destruction" (NASB), and "the lawless one" (v. 8).

Paul wrote these verses to deal with the loss of hope and joy that the Thessalonians were experiencing because of confusion about the end times. He previously gave them instruction about both the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18) and the Day of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:1-11). Yet just a short time later, they had become confused. False teachers had come in among them and deceived them into thinking that they had missed the Rapture and were in the Day of the Lord. They were aware that the Day of the Lord would be God's final judgment on the sinful world and that it was not reserved for them. However, in spite of Paul's instructions in the first letter, the intensity of the persecution they were undergoing continued to increase making them unable to shake the possibility that they had missed the Rapture and were living in the Great Tribulation of God's judgment. Paul wrote to clarify the Word of God on this matter.

"Now, brethren" (2 Thess. 2:1a) marks a transition from his prayer concerns (2 Thess. 1:11-12) to the main doctrinal issue of this letter. He introduces the issue and makes an urgent request of his readers: "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you" (2 Thess. 2:1). "Ask" (v. 1) means "to plead," "implore," or even "to beg." Instead of coming across as authoritarian, intolerant, or overbearing, Paul gently corrected those struggling under this error.

Their struggle came from confusion about the coming of the Lord and the believer's gathering together to Him. Although Paul uses two expressions, he has but one event in mind. In the Greek, Paul uses one definite article, "the" (v. 1) for the two nouns, indicating that the two phrases refer to two elements of one event. The Rapture, or the "gathering together" begins the Day of the Lord. The Tribulation phase follows, along with the judgment of God on unbelievers. This they understood or they would not have been concerned. If they believed they would be raptured after the tribulation, they would have rejoiced that Christ's coming would be soon. Instead, they expected relief (2 Thess. 1:7), and so they were confused because of the severe persecution Satan was bringing upon them.

So, Paul goes on in verse 2 to tell them "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." "Spirit" (v. 2) likely refers to a false prophet claiming direct revelation from God. "Word" (v. 2) or "message" (NASB) refers to a sermon or teaching. "Letter" (v. 2) refers to just that, a written letter supposedly from Paul and his companions that was intended to give apostolic authority for what the false teachers were teaching—that the day of the Lord had begun and they were suffering as a result.

Satan raised up false teachers in Thessalonica who taught in such a way that it sounded good and it seemed to carry authority, yet it only served to reinforce the confusion they were already feeling. These false teachers sought to take away their hope in the glorious return of Christ for them, and to destroy their joy as well. They sought to destroy their trust in God's love, grace, and goodness.

Paul's message: Do not be "shaken in mind or troubled" (v. 2a). "Let no one deceive you by any means" (v. 3a). Even today, many false teachers exist who would have you believe that God would not punish anyone and that all will go to heaven, or that hell doesn't exist, or some other such thing. Others teach that you can lose your salvation, causing alarm to many who are insecure in their faith as a result. No matter what the doctrine that is attacked by these false teachers, Paul tells us to understand the things of God. Let no one deceive you or mislead you. Know the Word and understand the truth. Remain firm in your faith. Amen.

Glorify the Name of Jesus

Over the last several weeks, we spoke of Paul praying that you would be worthy to be called Christian, that you would receive the righteous desires of your heart, and that God would complete the good work He began in you. The fourth thing Paul prayed for concerning the Thessalonian believers reveals the reason he prayed in this manner—why he prayed as he did. The ultimate purpose of his prayer was not for their sake, but that the name of the Lord Jesus would be glorified in them, and they in Him.

That is exactly what First Thessalonians 1:12a says: "That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him." Name "is a reference to the dignity, majesty, and power of the Lord's revealed character" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1978], 316). The phrase "the name of the Lord" reminds us of the same phrase used in the Old Testament where "the name of the Lord" refers directly to Yahweh, the proper name of God (The New International Dictionary of N.T. Theology, Vol. 2, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan,1967], 512-13). And so, this passage identifies Jesus as Yahweh of the Old Testament.

To glorify the name of the Lord Jesus, means to exalt Him and to honor all that He is. What is in view is both eternal glory with Christ and honoring Him in our lives now. First Samuel 2:30 introduces this principle: "The Lord declares… 'Those who honor Me I will honor.'" Also, in John 12:26, Jesus said, "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." So, Paul's thought here is that those who bear the name of the Lord Jesus should honor His name in this life—by the way we live. Then, God will also honor you with the eternal glory of Christ in that Day when He returns to take you to spend eternity with Him. He will also honor you by His caring for you right now.

But note the little word "in" (v. 12a). A.T. Robertson calls this the "en ('in') of mystic indwelling" (Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, 316). Jesus introduced this concept in John 15:4 when He said, "Abide in Me, and I in you." When putting that statement along side John 12:26, "Where I am, there My servant will be also," it is clear that Jesus is talking about being in union with us—living in and through us. Where we go, He goes; what we do, He does. That is the idea. He is in us and we are in Him. Therefore, honor Jesus. "Do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

The ability to glorify the Lord Jesus comes only by "the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:12b). Everything in the Christian life comes by the unmerited favor of God—the grace of God. Apart from God's grace we cannot be saved. Apart from God's grace we cannot live as Christ lived and we cannot honor Him. It is by God's grace through faith that we are saved and it is by God's grace through faith that we are in Christ and He is in us and lives through us. Letting Christ live in and through us is how we honor Him with our lives.

As with Paul, praying for the right things is linked directly with holy living. The godly Puritan John Owen noted, "He who prays as he ought, will endeavor to live as he prays" (The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded, reprint, [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977], 59). Remember, when you pray as you should, you will seek to live for Jesus. You are called to serve God and honor the name of Jesus. Amen.

The Work God Began in You

"Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would… fulfill… the work of faith with power" (2 Thess. 1:11c). Paul goes on to request that God would complete the work of faith He had begun in them. And He prayed that God would complete His work in them with power. Scripture makes it clear that salvation is by faith alone, entirely apart from any works. Yet, Scripture also makes it clear that genuine saving faith works within us to produce spiritual fruit.

James stated this truth in a very forceful way when he said, "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, 'You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead" (James 2:14-26).

Paul knew that their faith was genuine because it produced such works. That is what James was referring to. True faith results in good works. Those works in turn prove your faith. Remember again Ephesians 2:8-10 which says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Saved by grace through faith apart from works. Yet good works were prepared by God to be accomplished in our lives. Faith is proven by works.

Yet the fruit being produced in the lives of the Thessalonians wasn't enough. Paul wanted to see even more. He wanted their work of faith to increase with power. He wanted to see still more righteous deeds in their lives. That is what Paul would ask for you as well—that God would complete the work He has begun in you and that He would complete it with power, making you ever more faithful in serving Him each day. Amen.