Peace and Grace from Christ for Perseverance in Doing Difficult Good [Family Worship lesson in 2Thessalonians 3:13–18]

What use ought we make of a genuinely apostolic, inspired letter? 2Thessalonians 3:13–18 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should persevere in obeying God’s words, from God’s servants, by God’s own personal grace.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.08.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ 2 Thessalonians 3:13–18

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:13–18

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the apostle call them in 2 Thessalonians 3:13? What does he urge them not to become? In what might they be in danger of growing weary? To what sort of person does 2 Thessalonians 3:14 refer? What word, specifically, does he not obey? What two things are they to do with him? Why? As what are they not to count him (2 Thessalonians 3:15)? How are they to think of him? what are they to do to him as a brother? Whose action does the blessing in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 summon? What, specifically, does this verse call him? What will He give them? At what times? In what ways? Who will be with them? How many of them? Who writes 2 Thessalonians 3:17? Why does he do so with his own hand? What does it show about this letter? From Whom does the final blessing come in 2 Thessalonians 3:18? What title/Name is He given here? What comes from Him? To whom does it go? To how many of them? How does the letter conclude?

What use ought we make of a genuinely apostolic, inspired letter? 2 Thessalonians 3:13–18 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should persevere in obeying God’s words, from God’s servants, by God’s own personal grace.

Perseverance is necessary for those who wish to do good. The apostle urges them not to grow weary in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 precisely because it is so easy to grow weary. The situation that he’s just been addressing is a great example: providing uncomfortable accountability for disorderly brothers. The apostle has had words for many different people in many different situations in this letter. All of these are covered by 2 Thessalonians 3:14, but there is perhaps a special focus on the lazy ones covered in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12. 

We see this especially by the command at the end of 2 Thessalonians 3:14 “do not get mixed up with him, that he may be ashamed.” It parallels closely the command in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 that they “withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly.” Doing hard things in relationships can become wearisome quickly. 

But we must not grow weary! It would be lazy just to write him off. It’s easy just to “count him as an enemy” (2 Thessalonians 3:15). The anonymity and immediacy of social media may have amplified it, but the laziness of just counting a brother as an enemy is nothing new. To refuse to, but keep “warning him as a brother” takes perseverance.

This perseverance comes from Christ. How can we persevere in pursuing peace? The Lord of peace Himself will give us peace in every way (2 Thessalonians 3:16). The peace of heart that we need to persist in our efforts. The peace of restored relationships and brethren recovered from their sin as a fruit of the Lord’s blessing on those efforts. Ultimately, it is the Lord Himself Who is with us (verse 16), so that from Him we who deserve only curse receive blessing, and from Him we who have only weakness in ourselves receive strength. This is that “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” with which the letter concludes (2 Thessalonians 3:18).

This perseverance Christ gives by His Word. Here is the great reason to distinguish true Scripture from all other writing. Men’s words cannot avail, because we need not just instruction but almighty, divine grace. And so Paul makes sure that every letter that he writes bears this seal of authenticity: the weak-eyed apostle writes the final greeting in his own, characteristic hand (2 Thessalonians 3:17, cf. Galatians 6:11). The church was recognizing inspired Scripture as it was written (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:37), because it was dependent upon the grace of the God of that Scripture.  He is the One Who has given Himself to us in Christ, and He does so through His Spirit’s blessing upon the Word.

In what good-working have you been in danger of growing weary? Where can you get perseverance for it? How can the good-working be effective? How do your habits show this hope?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank You for giving us such good work to do as loving one another and helping one another obey You. Forgive us, when we either slouch into accommodating each other’s sin, or else lazily write each other off as enemies. Grant that we would recognize Your grace, and indeed Yourself, as our only hope, and make us to persevere in doing good, we ask in Your Name, Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH1B “How Blessed the Man”

Three Commands for Helping Brothers Who Won't Work [Family Worship lesson in 2Thessalonians 3:6–12]

How do we show charity to those unwilling to work? 2Thessalonians 3:6–12 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that loving those who refuse to work means helping them love the Lord Jesus and His people.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.08.04 Hopewell @Home ▫ 2 Thessalonians 3:6–12

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6–12

Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of statement is 2 Thessalonians 3:6? In Whose Name? What must they do from certain brothers? Which ones—how are they walking? According to what are they not walking? Who had not walked this way (2 Thessalonians 3:7b)? And who should follow them (2 Thessalonians 3:7a)? What else didn’t the apostolic team do (2 Thessalonians 3:8a)? What did they do, and when (verse 8b)? Why (verse 8c)? What else were they doing for the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 3:9)? When in Thessalonica, what had the apostolic team commanded (2 Thessalonians 3:10)? What have they heard about some (2 Thessalonians 3:11)? What didn’t they do in their disorderliness? What were they being, in their disorderliness? Whom does the apostle command in 2 Thessalonians 3:12? Through Whom? That they do what? And eat what?

How do we show charity to those unwilling to work? 2 Thessalonians 3:6–12 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that loving those who refuse to work means helping them love the Lord Jesus and His people.

Withdraw from every disorderly brother, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-9. This is the first of three commands that are the main teaching of this passage. This isn’t excommunication; the person in question is still called “brother” in 2 Thessalonians 3:6. But there is a distance to be maintained, which is indicated by the word “withdraw.” This may just be a necessary precaution to keep the brother from applying too much pressure or to keep the tenderhearted believers from giving in to it. 

The disorderliness here is wanting to eat without working. It is contrasted to the apostles’ conduct (2 Thessalonians 3:7); even they paid for their food by laboring and toiling night and day, so that they might not be a burden (2 Thessalonians 3:8). One of the themes of this letter has been that God uses us in one another’s sanctification. Surely, part of that sanctification is trying not to be a burden to others! When God’s difficult providence makes us an opportunity for our brother’s generosity, that’s one thing. But when God’s providence gives us the ability to work, He gives us an opportunity to put our brother first as well.

If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11. Here is the second command. Again, the word “disorderly” features in verse 11. This being “disordered” is evident from the vocabulary at the end of the verse, which can be rather literally translated: not working-at-all but working-around. The idea seems to be that they were going around meddling in other people’s business instead of being busy with business of their own. So, not only were they unwilling to contribute, but they were actually hindering others! For things to be ordered, their intentional un-working-ness should be properly matched to un-eating-ness.

Work in quietness and eat their own bread, 2 Thessalonians 3:12. This is the third and final command that holds our passage together. This particular laziness was tied to a desire to be meddlers in others’ business, so the corrective work is quiet work. Note that this command is given in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as the first one was. Love for Christ must be the driving force behind our love for others. But Christ does more than command. He helps! And that is implied by the addition of the word “exhort” here. Our Lord Jesus was diligent, and those who He saves and makes to be like Himself will also be diligent.

In what ways are you tempted to be lazy? When might “helping” someone actually be hurting him?

Sample prayer:  Lord, You are always working and accomplishing all Your holy will in this world. Forgive us for when we enable others to hurt themselves or disregard others. And forgive us for when we would prefer to be meddlers rather than workers. Grant that we would be diligent like You, through our Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH1B “How Blessed the Man”

Realizing that We're in a Battle, and Who Wins it, and with What Weapon [Family Worship lesson in 2Thessalonians 3:1–5]

What is the main issue in Christian life and ministry? 2Thessalonians 3:1–5 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God glorifies His Word in our lives and ministries by using it to direct our hearts in that persistent love that keeps obeying Him, despite all efforts of men and demons to dissuade us.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.07.28 Hopewell @Home ▫ 2 Thessalonians 3:1–5

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:1–5

Questions from the Scripture text: With what word does 2 Thessalonians 3:1 begin? What does the apostle call them? What does he ask them to do? For whom? What does he say is doing the running? What are they to pray would happen to the Word among the apostolic team? Among whom else is the Word of the Lord being glorified? From what men do they ask to be delivered (2 Thessalonians 3:2)? What do unreasonable and wicked men not have? Who, however, is faithful (2 Thessalonians 3:3)? What two things will He do for the Thessalonians? What does the apostolic team have concerning them (2 Thessalonians 3:4)? In Whom is this confidence? About what are they confident? Into what two things does the apostle pray/pronounce that the Lord would direct their hearts (2 Thessalonians 3:5)? Whose love? Whose patience?

What is the main issue in Christian life and ministry?  2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God glorifies His Word in our lives and ministries by using it to direct our hearts in that persistent love that keeps obeying Him, despite all efforts of men and demons to dissuade us.

The battle for obedience. Not all have faith. This statement in 2 Thessalonians 3:2 is obvious enough (especially in light of 2 Thessalonians 1:8) that he is almost certainly referring to those in the church (as the man of sin himself is “in the temple of God” in 2 Thessalonians 2:4). What do these unreasonable and wicked men do? They attempt to prevent the apostolic team from preaching the Word as they have been called to do (2 Thessalonians 3:1). In this, they are like the evil one (end of 2 Thessalonians 3:3), who attempts to prevent believers from doing what God’s Word commands (end of 2 Thessalonians 3:4). There is a battle on for proclaiming the Word. There is a battle on for obeying the Word. And if we are not on the right side of this battle, then we are on the wrong side of it.

By Whom the battle is won. Believers exert themselves in the Christian life, so it is important for us to be reminded that we are not the ones who win the battle. It is by the Lord that His Word runs swiftly, and by the Lord that His Word is glorified. This is why 2 Thessalonians 3:1 is a prayer request. 

It is by the Lord that hearts persevere in that love of God that produces obedience (cf. 1 John 5:1–5). This is why 2 Thessalonians 3:5 is a benediction/prayer request. Further, by the parallel, we discover that this love for God comes from God, just as our steadfastness comes from Christ. We do not have these in ourselves; they must come from Him. Not all have faith (2 Thessalonians 3:2), but those who do have faith get it from the faithful God (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Obedience comes from the heart, and it is the Lord Who directs the believer’s heart (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

Through what He wins the battle. Sadly, I’ve heard people who love learning and obeying the Bible be accused of idolizing the Bible. Well, if glorifying the Bible were wrong, God Himself would be guilty, according to 2 Thessalonians 3:1, and that wonderful statement we often quote from Psalm 138:2, “You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name.” God glorifies His Word by making it the means through which Christian life and ministry advances. 

How are you battling for the Word to be proclaimed and heard? How are you battling to obey the Word? How does your prayer life reflect that God must win these battles? How do your Bible-reading and preaching-hearing habits reflect that God has appointed His Word as the means by which He wins?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for the fellowship that you gave the Thessalonians and the apostolic team in the battle for the Word to be proclaimed, heard, believed, and obeyed. Forgive us for when we are not aware of that battle or participating in it ourselves. Make Your Word to run, and direct our hearts into love from You and steadfastness from Christ, so that Your Word may be glorified in us through Jesus Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP46 “God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength” or TPH244 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”

Standing Fast in Every Good Word and Work by Being Held Fast by the Triune God [Family Worship lesson in 2Thessalonians 2:15–17]

What enables a Christian to stand fast? 2Thessalonians 2:15–17 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are made to stand fast in God’s teaching, from God’s love, lived out by God’s work.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.07.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ 2 Thessalonians 2:15–17

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:15–17

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the apostle call them in 2 Thessalonians 2:15? What two commands does he give them? To what are they to hold fast? By what two methods were these traditions taught? To Whom does 2 Thessalonians 2:16 appeal? By what four words is He called, and what does each imply? To Whom else does it appeal? What does it call Him? Whom has the Father, specifically, loved? What two things has Jesus given them in behalf of the Father? What sort of consolation? What sort of hope? By what mechanism or principle? What does he pray that Jesus would do to their hearts (2 Thessalonians 2:17)? In what two things does he pray that Jesus would establish (strengthen) them?

What enables a Christian to stand fast?  2 Thessalonians 2:15–17 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are made to stand fast in God’s teaching, from God’s love, lived out by God’s work. 

Hold on to God’s teaching. In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, we heard that we have been set on the path to glory by the loving, eternal intentions of God toward them. That’s the end and the beginning, but what are we to do in the moment? A great part of the Christian life is just standing (cf. Ephesians 6:13–14!). With a glorious eternal end guaranteed by everlasting electing love, that’s what the apostle commands them to do: stand! But how?

By holding onto traditions. Now, we must not think that these are traditions of men, as if things might be added centuries later to which 2 Thessalonians 2:15 applies. The word ‘traditions’ points not to the idea that these teachings come from man, but that these teachings come from God. They came by Word (“logos”) and by epistle. This is special revelation. The Holy Spirit using ordained servants to proclaim words that are from Jesus Christ. And not words that are just for the Thessalonians, but words that are to continue to be handed on.

Christian ministry is teaching-based ministry. The Christian life is a teaching-based life. Standing comes by holding on to the teaching that is from Jesus.

Be held onto by God’s love. In Philippians 3:12, the apostle talks about pressing on to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of him. There is a similar “mutual holding” going on here. The Thessalonian brethren can hold onto God’s Word, because it is the Triune God Who holds onto them.

Grammatically, the verbs are singular, so the “Himself” in 2 Thessalonians 2:16 underlines to us that it is especially the Son Who has loved us. He is the Lord: YHWH, the Creator, the covenant God, the God of the bush in Exodus 3, the One Who pours out His Spirit and upon Whose Name we call to be saved from Joel 2. He is Jesus, YHWH Who saves. He is the Christ: the prophet like Moses, the Priest forever like Melchizedek, the forever-king from the line of David. And it is He Himself Who loved us. Who gave us everlasting consolation (paraklesis) and good hope by grace. 

We can hold onto the Word because everlasting, Triune love holds onto us in the Lord Jesus Christ!

In which God works in our works. This Triune love does a Triune work. The Son has given everlasting “paraklesis” (2 Thessalonians 2:16) in which He “parakletes” their hearts (beginning of 2 Thessalonians 2:17), which of course reminds us that He does so especially by His Spirit. In this, He acts in conjunction with “our God and Father.” 

But our standing is not inactivity. No, we are to speak every good word. And, we are to do every good work. And the work of the Triune God in comforting our hearts doesn’t make us passive but rather strengthens us in speaking and doing every good thing.

How do you distinguish what transitions to hold onto? Why is it that for these specific traditions, you can hope to have strength? How does the passage set this dependence over/against passivity?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for how often we feel like giving up, giving in, or becoming passive and inactive. Remind us that not only are we required to hold onto Your Word, but we may be assured of speaking every good word and doing every good work because You, our Triune God have loved us and strengthen us.

Suggested songs: ARP46 “God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength” or TPH243 “How Firm a Foundation”

How the Reformed (Biblical) Doctrines of Grace Produce Thanks, Evangelism, and Praise (Family Worship lesson in 2Thessalonians 2:13–14)

What is the point of salvation, and what does that demand of us? 2Thessalonians 2:13–14 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s loving, eternal election of some unto salvation demands thanksgiving, evangelism, and praise. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.07.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14

Questions from the Scripture text: What is the apostolic team indebted to give to Whom (2 Thessalonians 2:13)? How often? For what (whom!)? What does the apostle call them? What had God done in this love, when? For what had He chosen them? Through what would this salvation come? By Whose work? Through what mechanism? What role had the apostolic team been given (2 Thessalonians 2:14a)? For what ultimate end (verse 14b)? 

What is the point of salvation, and what does that demand of us?  2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God’s loving, eternal election of some unto salvation demands both His praise by declaring His ultimate power and glory and our participation by establishing second causes. 

A debt of gratitude. Here is one of the great statements in Scripture of what we now call the “Reformed” (formed back again according to the Bible, correcting errors of men) doctrines of grace. ▫All salvation began with the love of God. “brethren beloved by the Lord.” ▫This love and election is before time. “God from the beginning chose you for salvation.” ▫Faith is the alone mechanism. “through […]belief in the truth.” ▫Preaching is the appointed means. “to which He called you by our gospel” ▫Sanctification is a necessary component. “through sanctification” ▫The Spirit is great Accomplisher. “by the Spirit” ▫The glory of the Son is the ultimate end. “for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

And since salvation is entirely from the free pleasure of a loving God by the free actions of an all-powerful God, it places us under a debt, concerning believers. We are obligated to give thanks. Always. It may be difficult for our ungrateful, fleshly hearts to produce. But it’s not complicated. God, Who is under no obligation to do so, is gladly saving sinners that deserve His wrath. So, we who neither deserve or could accomplish this salvation, are under obligation to give Him thanks.

A privilege of participation. This is not to say that we do nothing in salvation—only that none of it is done in our own goodness or power. 

Belief in the truth is real and necessary. No one is saved without being counted righteous (justified). No one is counted righteous except in Jesus. And the only way to be in Jesus, and to be counted righteous in Jesus, is through faith in Him. One must hope entirely in what Jesus has done and not at all in what we or anyone else has done.

Sanctification is real and necessary. The blessedness into which we are saved is one that is only experienced as a blessing if we are holy. The wicked shall experience the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power forever (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:9). The difference is that, in an unholy state, this experience will be “destruction”). Those whom the Spirit gives the true hope of the gospel are led by the Spirit to purify themselves as He is pure, to live as the children of a holy God (cf. Romans 8:9, Romans 8:13–15; Hebrews 12:14; 1 John 3:2–3). This is different than in justification, because in sanctification there is grace-sustained effort. 

Preaching is real and necessary. We are given the privilege not only of participation in our sanctification, but sometimes in the moment of another’s abandoning of his own works and hoping only in Christ and Christ’s works. We can almost hear the apostle’s wondering gratitude as he writes, “to which He called you by our gospel”! This work of everlasting love and almighty power incorporated and used the apostle’s preaching. What a privilege and honor!

A purpose of praise. At what does this all aim? “The obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He is already infinitely glorious, of course. But this magnifies and praises that glory. That was God’s aim in planning and accomplishing our salvation. And it should be our aim in calling others to faith, and even in coming to faith ourselves. It is all for the glory of God in Christ!

How/when do you give thanks? For whose salvation? How are you participating? Unto what end?

Sample prayer:  Lord, how great is the generosity of Your grace and the power of Your grace! Forgive us for when we think as if we have determined or accomplished any of our salvation or others’ salvation. And how generous You are to include and involve us in parts of it. Forgive us for when we fail to participate, or to acknowledge that it is Your goodness and power that are at work even in our participation. Grant unto us to be continually thankful, to the praise of Your glory in Christ, in Whom we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the LORD” or TPH98A “O Sing a New Song to the LORD”

Be Unshakeable, Untrickable Lovers of Truth and Haters of Unrighteousness (Family Worship lesson in 2Thessalonians 2:1–12)

What should believers watch out for, with reference to reports about Christ’s return? 2Thessalonians 2:1–12 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the unpredictable and sudden return of Christ comes in its own time, so that the elect may be saved, the reprobate hardened, and the great enemy of Christ devastatingly destroyed. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.07.07 Hopewell @Home ▫ 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12

Questions from the Scripture text: Concerning what does the apostle now wr te (2 Thessalonians 2:1)? Where had he explained this before (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11)? What is he concerned they might soon do (2 Thessalonians 2:2)? What had another letter apparently pretended to be? What had that letter said about the day of Christ? What does he now tell them not to allow in 2 Thessalonians 2:3? But what must come before that day? And who must be revealed? Of what is he called “the son”? What does he do (2 Thessalonians 2:4)? Above what does he exalt himself? And where does he exalt himself? How do we know that this isn’t new information to them (2 Thessalonians 2:5)? What was restraining the man of sin’s revelation (2 Thessalonians 2:6)? But what is already at work (2 Thessalonians 2:7)? And how long will the restraining occur? When the man of sin has been revealed as the lawless one, how is he consumed (2 Thessalonians 2:8)? How is he destroyed? How did this lawless one come in the first place (2 Thessalonians 2:9)? What does he have at his disposal? What happens to those whom he deceives (2 Thessalonians 2:10)? What did they not receive, that resulted in their gullibility? By not receiving love of the truth, what doesn’t happen to them? Who sends them what in 2 Thessalonians 2:11? What do they believe instead of the truth? What ultimately happens to them (2 Thessalonians 2:12)? In what did they have pleasure? 

What should believers watch out for, with reference to reports about Christ’s return?  2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the unpredictable and sudden return of Christ comes in its own time, so that the elect may be saved, the reprobate hardened, and the great enemy of Christ devastatingly destroyed. 

Don’t be troubled. The church has always had its share of troublers. In this particular case, the apostle’s encouraging words about Christ’s return and believers’ resurrection (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11) seem to have spun off various “prophetic” claims (2 Thessalonians 2:2—“by spirit or by word” claiming the same authority as Paul’s “as if from us”). Some may have been self-deceived, and others were frauds, declaring that the day of Christ had arrived. Indeed, the implication is that someone even circulated a forged apostolic letter that lacked Paul’s signature closing (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:17). 

A cursory glance at the shelves of “Christian” bookstores in late 20th or early 21st century America would have been enough to know that the same sort of troublers still trouble the church. So the apostolic request at the end of 2 Thessalonians 2:1 and beginning of 2 Thessalonians 2:2 is one that we would still do well to heed: do not be shaken in mind or troubled.

Don’t be deceived. There are two events that had not occurred by the time of the this letter, making it a certainty for its recipients that Christ would not yet return: the falling away and the revealing of the man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Now, the warning not to be deceived cuts doubly. For the man of sin himself is a deceiver (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

The apostle is confident that his readers know what he means, because he has spoken to them about this in person (2 Thessalonians 2:5). Indeed, this clues us in to the fact that it is a teaching that the church already had, almost certainly in Matthew 24:9–14. 

But the falling away described in Matthew 24:9–13 is one that has marked various parts of the church almost continuously for two thousand years now. And it must be within the church. For, they are offended and betraying one another because they are hated for Jesus’s Name’s sake (Matthew 24:9–10). And false prophets, who promote lawless living in the church, lead even to the backsliding/cooling of the love of many (Matthew 24:11–12). Certainly, in the Matthew context, there was a particular falling away in connection with destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15–22), and this is probably the falling away to which the apostle refers now in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. But even after that, Jesus Himself (Matthew 24:23–26) warns against the same deception as the apostle is here warning against.

So, it has often been this way in parts of the church, and the vigilance that Paul called for then is still called for today: do not be deceived! Don’t get caught up in predictions or announcements of the end. Keep living for Christ. Don’t let following God’s law slide. Don’t let love grow cold. He is still coming. Endure to the end (cf. Matthew 24:13). And the days of being in danger of deception will continue until the gospel has been preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations (Matthew24:14).

Love the truth; hate unrighteousness. It’s not difficult to figure out how the man of sin will tempt people to live. To begin with, he is called the man “of sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and “the lawless one” in 2 Thessalonians 2:8. And those who are taken in by him have “pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12). He tells “the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:11), which is in keeping with that first great lie, “you shall not surely die.” And there have been preachers throughout the ages who assured people that they might sin safely.

With respect to the man of sin himself, much of the language here is borrowed from Daniel 7 and 8, and must be harmonized with Revelation 13 and 17. The man of sin cannot be the same as John’s one beast, who is a composite of Daniel’s four beasts, which are themselves kingdoms. But, he is an actual man as Daniel also had described; he opposes Christ, exalts himself, sits as if God in the temple of God, is personally destroyed by Christ. These are all personal actions. There is a “mystery of lawlessness” already at work at the time of Paul’s writing (2 Thessalonians 2:7), just as there were already many antichrists at the time of 1 John 2:18. 

The fact that many conservative, Reformed ministers and scholars disagree about the identity of this man leads to what this author thinks is a clear deduction: he hasn’t been revealed yet. Our passage describes not his coming so much as his being revealed. And the apostle assumes that it will be obvious when he is revealed, because his not having yet been revealed is the basis for the impossibility of the day of Christ having arrived.

So, how do you prepare for a day that you don’t know when it’s coming? In at least two ways. The first is directly from 2 Thessalonians 2:10: love the truth. If you love the truth, you will not be pulled in when the man of sin is exalting himself above God from within the church (2 Thessalonians 2:4b). If you love the truth, you will be saved. And if you love the truth, you will follow the second way: hate unrighteousness. For, 2 Thessalonians 2:11 tells us that it is those who do not believe the truth, and who therefore have pleasure in unrighteousness, who will all be condemned. Love the truth and hate unrighteousness, and you will be prepared for the revelation of the man of sin. Love the truth and hate unrighteousness, and you will be prepared for the return of Jesus Christ.

The Lord sends strong delusions (errors/wanderings) into His church (2 Thessalonians 2:11), which exposes those who are in the church but not of it (cf. 1 John 2:19). Be prepared for that too. Love the truth, and hate unrighteousness.

How have you been tempted to focus on when Christ might return, rather than upon preparing for His return and desiring His return? What are you doing to foster love of the truth? What are you doing to maintain and foster hatred of unrighteousness?

Sample prayer:  Lord, just as You did not want the Thessalonians to be troubled or deceived by false prophecy, so also You do not want us to be troubled or deceived by false prophecy. But we are easily impressed by spiritual-sounding things and easily distracted by predictions about Your return. Forgive us our gullibility. You told the Thessalonians that love of the truth would protect them from being shaken in mind or deceived, but we confess that our love of the truth is small. O forgive us! And do not let us have pleasure in unrighteousness, lest we be condemned with those who are consumed with the breath of Your mouth and destroyed with the brightness of Your coming. Preserve us for that day, so that Your Name would be glorified in us, and we would be glorified in You, which we ask in Your Name, our Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the LORD” or TPH98A “O Sing a New Son to the LORD”

2022.06.30 Hopewell @Home ▫ 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12

Read 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the apostolic team do (2 Thessalonians 1:11)? How often? That God would count the Thessalonians as what? And that God would fulfill what? With what sort of works from them? For what Name (2 Thessalonians 1:12)? That what might happen to that Name? in whom? And who else would be glorified in Whom? According to what?

What is an apostolic way of praying for believers who are enduring persecution?  2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when believers are suffering persecution, one of the main things to pray for them is for their holiness. 

The previous six verses had described God’s goodness to count the Thessalonians worthy of the kingdom for which they suffered (2 Thessalonians 1:5). Now, the apostle prays for them to receive that very thing. The “His” in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 is supplied by our translators, but it is not in the original. The apostle might be praying that God would fulfill all the goodness that pleases Him. But, it reads more naturally that by His power, He would fulfill every one of their good pleasures that comes from their faith. 

That is to say that even as it is God Who has given them faith, and it is God Who has given them whatever good desires they have, so also it must be God Who supplies the power by which they can act from this faith and good desire. If we want others to do good works, then it is well to tell them what good works are and to urge them to do them. But it is even more vital to pray for them, for it is God who “fulfills” it all by His power.

If our ultimate goal is “that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified,” then this is how we will pray for believers under pressure. That this opportunity to see Christ’s glory shine in their actions would be fulfilled. Indeed, it is an extraordinary grace of God that His chosen way of being glorified in believers is that believers would be glorified in Him. In Jesus, the Thessalonian believers would be empowered to believe and to do that which is good. This is glorious! And by doing so in them, Jesus would show Himself glorious.

There is no room here for questioning God’s providence in persecution. The apostle, and those who follow him by the same Spirit, will be too busy marveling at “the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” and praying that that He would be glorified for it.

What difficult situation are you in? For what desire for good or work of faith does this situation present an opportunity? How would Jesus be glorified in you through this? How would you be glorified in Him? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, when we are suffering we often forget that we are being counted worthy to suffer for the kingdom and to live for Your kingdom. Forgive us for missing opportunities to show Your glory in our good purposes and works of faith. Turn our hearts toward glorifying You, and fulfill those good desires, we ask, through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”

2022.06.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ 2 Thessalonians 1:5–10

Read 2 Thessalonians 1:5–10

Questions from the Scripture text: Of what is their endurance of tribulation “manifest evidence” (2 Thessalonians 1:5)? For what is God fitting them? How are they learning to treasure it? What else is a righteous thing of God in 2 Thessalonians 1:6? And to give what to whom in 2 Thessalonians 1:7? When? What will Jesus’s return be like (2 Thessalonians 1:8)? On whom will He take vengeance? What does “not knowing God” look like? What shall they receive (2 Thessalonians 1:9)? From Whose presence? From what glory? How else will He be glorified (2 Thessalonians 1:10)? How did they get to be in the company of admirers? 

How can believers’ afflictions be reconciled with the righteousness of God?  2 Thessalonians 1:5–10 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God displays His righteousness both in the glorious fury that the wicked get from Him and in the glorious delight that His saints get from Him. 

God is righteous to fit the justified for glory (2 Thessalonians 1:5). What are the Thessalonians’ patience and faith (2 Thessalonians 1:4) proof of? 2 Thessalonians 1:5 says that they are proof of God’s righteous judgment in counting believers worthy of the kingdom. The patiently believing saints have been justified in Christ; Christ has earned the kingdom for them. And they are being conformed into the image of that same Christ, as God suits them for the kingdom to which they are coming and for which they are suffering. Believers must not underestimate the usefulness of trials in fitting us for glory (cf. Romans 5:3–5, James 1:2–4) and making us value glory as worth suffering for (cf. Romans 8:17–18, 2 Corinthians 4:17). Troubles may tempt us to question the justice of God, but the reality is that troubles are a mechanism by which God justly prepares the justified for the glory that Christ has earned for us.

God is righteous to trouble troublers (2 Thessalonians 1:6). Even in our English translation, we can see the symmetry of God’s judgment. This is why verse 6 says that it is righteous of God to afflict the afflicters of His people. The extent of that affliction, we will see in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9. Here, the point is that God isn’t being righteous only with His people as they are prepared for glory by affliction, but also with the wicked—none of whose actions will fail to be addressed.

God is righteous to end saints’ troubles and give them rest (2 Thessalonians 1:7). On the bright(er) side, even these necessary afflictions come to their end. That’s the “momentary” part of “light and momentary” in and 2 Corinthians 4:17. “When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,” the time for His people’s suffering has come to a permanent end. The language of being “revealed” is a reminder that He is always there, always enthroned, always attended by those mighty angels. What should believers fear from men (cf. Psalm 56)? Rest is coming. Perfect, permanent relief from all our troubles. 

God is righteous to God-sized vengeance on God-sized sin (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Once the Lord Jesus has been revealed (2 Thessalonians 1:7), and this revelation is in “flaming fire” (2 Thessalonians 1:8), there is no ignoring Him ever again. Indeed, all who have not known Him as God will be punished by Him as God for having failed to “obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 8). When God reveals Himself as Jesus, the Savior of Sinners, it demands a response of trusting in Him and worshiping Him. There are some who have not known Him. There are others who hear of Him but don’t believe. The latter, of course are more culpable. Once He is revealed, they will be in His presence and glory forever, and they will be acutely aware of how completely they deserve the destruction that comes from His presence and from the glory of His power.

God is righteous to give God-sized blessing to God-justified saints (2 Thessalonians 1:10). Finally, that which makes hell unendurable for the unbeliever in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 is what makes heaven heavenly for the believer in 2 Thessalonians 1:10. Not only will the Lord be glorified in His saints, but He will give us the capacity to admire Him, and He will satisfy that desire. Those who have “believed the testimony” are those who have “obeyed the gospel,” and the Lord Jesus will be their delight for unending ages.

What troubles are you having right now? What are they accomplishing for you? How long will they last? What will you receive at their end? What will they receive who have afflicted you?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we bless You for revealing Yourself in the gospel. Forgive us for when we harbor doubts of your fairness in our afflictions. Forgive us our impatience and discouragement. Grant us eyes to see Jesus by faith, and to wait until faith becomes sight. Forgive us for not admiring Him enough now, and sanctify us until the day that we will get to perfectly admire Him forever, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the LORD” or TPH98A “O Sing a New Song to the LORD”

Factoring God into Our View of Believers' Preciousness, Power, and Praiseworthiness (Family Worship lesson in 2Thessalonians 1:1–4)

How are we to think and feel about true congregations of Christ’s church? 2Thessalonians 1:1–4 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are to think of churches as being united to God through Christ, dependent upon God in Christ, unto the praise of God in Christ, by showing the power and goodness of God in Christ. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.06.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ 2 Thessalonians 1:1–4

Read 2 Thessalonians 1:1–4

Questions from the Scripture text: Who were the apostolic team from whom this letter came (2 Thessalonians 1:1)? To whom was it addressed? In whom was it written (and in whom was it to be received)? What two benefits/blessings does 2 Thessalonians 1:2 pronounce upon them? From Whom do these two things come? In what condition does the apostolic team find themselves at the beginning of 2 Thessalonians 1:3? To do what (are they bound)? When? What do they call the Thessalonians? How do they commend this thanksgiving? What about the Thessalonians' faith makes this thanksgiving fitting? What about the Thessalonians' love makes this thanksgiving fitting? How pervasive among them is this sort of love? What else does the apostolic team do (2 Thessalonians 1:4)? Among whom? For what two characteristics? Under what circumstantial difficulties?

How are we to think and feel about true congregations of Christ’s church?  2 Thessalonians 1:1–4 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are to think of churches as being united to God through Christ, dependent upon God in Christ, unto the praise of God in Christ, by showing the power and goodness of God in Christ. 

Paul (and Silvanus and Timothy) thinks of the Thessalonians as having their existence in God as Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He uses an adjectival form of their city so that the way 2 Thessalonians 1:1 reads makes it almost sound like God is their location. The Lord identifies Himself with His people. He has united them to Himself. They ought to be precious to us as part of His preciousness to us. 

Paul thinks of the Thessalonians as living in dependence upon God’s goodness and power. Rather than greet them from himself, the apostle greets them with grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s grace is His blessing for those who deserve only curse and His strength for those who possess only weakness. His peace is the commitment of His whole self to our whole good. 

These are things that cannot come jointly from God and the apostle. They come only from God. By describing them as coming jointly from God as Father and Jesus Christ as Lord, the apostle makes a strong claim that Jesus Christ is God. But He is not just deity in the abstract; He is deity upon Whom believers’ lives rest in strong, safe dependence. 

Just as the apostle found them precious for God’s sake, he has a sure hope for them according to the working of God’s power in them. It is this working of God in them upon which the success of the apostolic letter hinges. The same is true for us. We read God’s Word because we trust the God of the Word to use it as He works powerfully in us.

Paul thinks of the Thessalonian believers as credits unto the divine grace. Indeed, when he thinks of them, he feels himself to be a debtor, under an obligation that must be paid. That’s what the word “bound” means in 2 Thessalonians 1:3. What God has done in them demands thanksgiving and praise unto God. Thanksgiving when talking to God directly (verse 3) and praise of God’s work in them when talking to others (2 Thessalonians 1:4).

This is “fitting” (properly merited) because it is from God that their “faith grows exceedingly” (2 Thessalonians 1:3). Their heart of faith toward God is something that only God can produce, and that is a proper cause of thanksgiving and praise!

It is from God that their love abounds each one toward each other (verse 3). It’s one thing when some of them love some others dearly, but this is a love produced by God (and therefore in all of the believers) in which they love others for God’s sake (and therefore they love all believers). Their heart of love toward one another is something that only God can produce, and that is a proper cause of thanksgiving and praise!

And it is from God that they maintain patience and persistence even under persecutions and afflictions (tribulations, 2 Thessalonians 1:4). Grace and peace are not found in the absence of trials but believing, patient enduring of them. Their heart of patience under trial is something that only God can produce, and that is a proper cause of thanksgiving and praise!

Dear reader, if we believe in the Jesus Christ as our Lord and God, and if we know the Father as God our Father, then let us think properly of other believers: valuing them as united to our God, praying for and ministering to them as those who will be preserved and prospered by God, and giving thanksgiving and praise to God for the heart that He gives them toward Himself, toward others, and in their circumstances!

Whom should you love with a similar love as the apostle had toward the Thessalonians? Why? How? What hope do you have for them, or for yourself? How do you express that hope or seek to obtain it? How are you going about identifying the fruit of God’s gracious work in others? How are you responding to it when you see it?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for joining us to Yourself through Jesus Christ. Forgive us, for when we forget what a wonderful thing a believer is in his union with Christ, and when we fail to treasure them for their connection to Him. We thank You that You are graciously at work in us and other Christians. Forgive us for when we either think that our own power can add to this, or when we are doubting and anxious about them. Help us to give thanks and praise for what You have done, and strengthen us by this thanksgiving and praise to expect more of Your work until it is completed in Christ, in Whom we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH409 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”

Sanctification, part 1 (2021.01.03 Sabbath School in WCF 13)

This was the first class in WCF 13, "On Sanctification"