Established in the Work of God

Second Thessalonians 2:16-17 says, "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. This prayer with which Paul closes this chapter is in slight contrast to the command of verse 15. We cannot make the command to stand firm on the Word of God effective by our own power. We cannot carry out this command apart from God. Only God who chose you and saved you by His sovereign will can empower you to stand firm. Likewise, it is God who will "comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work" (v. 17).

Note verse 16a: "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father." The pronoun Himself is singular and stands in the emphatic position in the Greek text. Therefore it refers to both "our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 16a) and "God our Father" (v. 16a), the first two persons of the Trinity. It could properly be translated, "Now may Himself our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father" (v. 16a). The pronoun governing both the Son and the Father indicates that Paul views both as the source of comfort, strength, and encouragement. It also gives irrefutable evidence of Christ's deity. Jesus is fully equal in every way with the Father.

Paul goes on to remind us that God is the one "who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace" (v. 16b). The NIV says God is the one "who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope" (v. 16b). Taken together with verse 17, Paul is saying that Jesus and the Father have loved you from all eternity. Because of that love, by grace God has saved you and given you eternal comfort and hope in Christ. Now Paul prays that Jesus Christ and God the Father will comfort and strengthen your hearts "in every good word and work" (v. 17b).

God loves you. God saves you. God makes you steadfast in the Word. God makes you like Christ and establishes you in His work. That is the progression of this passage. You were created "for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). Paul prays that God and Christ will comfort you as you live for Christ, looking forward to that great hope of His return. He also prays that God and Christ will establish you and strengthen you in the work He has for you.

Lovers of the truth believe the truth of God, stand firm on the Word of God, and are established in the work of God. Such is the picture of a disciple who is truly following and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Does what you believe in your heart have such an effect upon your life that others can see it? For those who are lovers of the truth it does. Let Christ have such a hold on your life. Live for Him each day. Amen.