Review When, Where? Review Some Lessons So Far Paul begins the letter boosting their spirit and instilling confidence. Do we do this with one another?

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Loren Norris
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1 1 st st and 2 nd Thessalonians Lesson 9 2 Thes. 1: Review Purpose & Timing A young church facing very strong Jewish opposition Paul was unable to return to them to strengthen and teach them As he writes in 2:18, Therefore we wanted to come to you--even I, Paul, time and again-- --but Satan hindered us. He also wanted to reassure them of his concern for them Didn t want them to think he had abandoned them Or, that he was not aware of the struggles they were going through 1

Do we do this with one another? Do we have faith, love, and hope that are active?

2 Review When, Where? Review Some Lessons So Far Paul begins the letter boosting their spirit and instilling confidence. Do we do this with one another? Do we have faith, love, and hope that are active? Paul was a model of boldness. Are we bold in our approach with the gospel today? We should walk worthy of our calling. Live in a way that gives honor to our God. Let us be constant in prayer and thanksgiving to God. 2

3 Review Some Lessons So Far Are we living lives of holiness? We have been separated unto God and should live like it. We should be excelling (abounding) in our walk with God. Don t be satisfied with where you are. Grow! Strive to do more to please God. Whether we die before He returns or are living at the time, all who believe have a wonderful hope of life eternal with our Lord. The question we need to be most concerned about is not when shall the Lord return, but are we ready for the Lord s return? 2 nd Thessalonians - Themes Some major themes of the letters Their faith appreciation and concern The Day of the Lord Sanctification exhortations unto holiness Further guidance for a young church 3

4 2 nd Thessalonians - Analysis Doctrinal religious statements which taught some Christian concept Personal remarks made concerning Paul or his recipients Practical items of no particular religious nature Morality mainly sins of the flesh Comfort remarks designed to comfort the ones addressed, or features of Christianity that would bring comfort Negative commands, reproofs, rebukes, and warnings 1 Thes. 2 Thes. Doctrinal Personal 31 4 Practical 3 4 Morality 7 1 Comfort Negative

5 Key Lessons How do we handle the relatively minor trials and difficulties we face among those of this world? Do we avoid such trials and compromise to some degree? Let us not be fragile Christians; be strong in the Lord! If we wish to find that eternal rest one day, we must know the Lord and be obedient to His will. The alternative is a fearful thing. Are we doing His will? Are we living for the Lord and letting Him fulfill His good pleasure in us? Or are we living for ourselves? Salutation (1-2) Salutation almost exactly the same. Brings a consistency to their minds it was again from Paul and his companions. Sentiments are timeless; always encouraging They share a relationship in Christ Dual greeting for both Jew and Greek: grace and peace. Peace - Hebrew - Shalom; grace - Greek salutation Grace favor of God and blessings that flow from it Peace tranquility and prosperity; inward or outward 5

6 Prayer of thanksgiving (3-4) What does Paul express thankfulness for? For their faith and love. Praises their faith - it grows exceedingly Their love - in every one of you all, it abounds toward each other Abound pleonazo to superabound; make increase They are active and growing; working together and helping each other Prayer of thanksgiving (3-4) What does Paul boast about? Patience and faith in the face of persecutions Not bowing to the pressures Likely physical and severe What is accomplished in first few verses? Really boosts their spirits Gratitude and boasting - praising their work Instills confidence and spurs them on to growth Shows continued awareness and concern 6

7 Suffering and persecution (4-5) What is said about their suffering and persecution to help them remain faithful? Evidence of their relationship with God Similarly in Phil. 1:27-30 you stand fast in one spirit not in any way terrified by yy your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God The paradox of Christianity what appears to the world as defeat is in actuality evidence of victory Suffering and persecution (4-5) How is our faith? If faced with such, would we try to avoid it How about minor trials? Do we compromise? be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10) His faith is not some fragile thing, to be kept in a kind of spiritual cotton wool, insulated from all shocks. It is robust. It is to be manifested in the fires of trouble, and in the furnace of affliction. i And not only is it to be manifested there, but, in part at any rate, it is to be fashioned in such places. The very troubles and afflictions which the world heaps on the believer become, under God, the means of making him what he ought to be. Suffering, when we have come to regard it in this light, is not to be thought of as evidence that God has forsaken us, but as evidence that God is with us Such suffering is a vivid token of the presence of God. (Leon Morris) 7

8 The final judgment (6-8) How will the tables be turned? Those who trouble you repaid Christians given rest with them and the Lord The Lord will exact vengeance on those who had been persecuting these Christians Will be in flaming fire conveys the measure of vengeance they will face and glory of coming Key message - not to fight back and exact vengeance on their own Patiently endure; don t despair What is necessary (8) Why is a knowledge of God so important? Who would suffer the vengeance of God? Those who do not know Him Those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Knowledge of the Lord s will is important Avoid the Lord s vengeance; live eternally with Him Is ignorance a legitimate excuse? Not according to this verse! Acts 17:27; Psa. 19:1; Rom. 1:20 What is the gospel? - 1 Cor. 15:1-4 8

9 The final judgment (8-10) What more do we learn about the judgment? Will come in flaming fire Disobedient punished - everlasting destruction Destruction olethros - to destroy; a prolonged form; ruin, i.e. death, punishment:--destruction Everlasting aionios - Perpetual, eternal, forever Will not be annihilated as some teach; suffer forever Away from the Lord s presence Presence prosopon - The visage, the front, i.e. the countenance, presence, appearance, face, person. Will not enjoy warmth of His presence and His glory The final judgment (8-10) What more do we learn about the judgment? Faithful will see the face of God in peace (10) He will be glorified and admired by His saints Speaks of but one Day; punishment and glory Multiple comings of the Lord not implied Again reassures the Thessalonians because our testimony among you was believed Giving them the confidence - they will be glorified Has not yet occurred; yet future 9

10 Description of Hell (9-10) What Hell will be like? Punishment everlasting (Dan. 12:1-2, 2, Matt. 25:45-46) 46) Away from the presence of God Unquenchable fire (Matt. 3:12; 13:41-42; 42; 18:8) Outer darkness (Matt. 8:12) Anguish weeping & gnashing of teeth (Mt. 8:12) No relief; death never comes; (Mk. 9:43-48); 48); never any rest (Rev. 14:11) Lake of fire; tormented forever (Rev. 20:10-15; 15; 21:8) Think about dying by fire; release that physical death brings never comes Premillenialism refuted (6-10) How does this further refute the doctrine? Rest for the faithful and punishment for the disobedient >>> one event, not multiple events No indication of a period between tribulation and rest Will not be a secret coming of Christ Revealed apokalupsis - appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation Will be a visible manifestation of Christ Speaks of but one Day 10

11 Prayer for them (11-12) 12) Things they pray for the Thessalonians: God would count you worthy of this calling Must live as they should; Paul is really admonishing them; see Eph. 4:1 Also tying back in with what He has just spoken of If they live as they should, will be counted worthy of heaven God would fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness in you Living for the Lord; letting Him fulfill His good pleasure in them Are we living for ourselves? It s all about the will Must let the Lord work in our lives; seek His guidance Prayer for them (11-12) 12) Things they pray for the Thessalonians: God would fulfill work of faith with power in you Our faith, our trust in God, is powerful thing If our faith is a working active one, God will fulfill it; He will give us rest one day. Name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you Do others see Christ living in us? Do we glorify Him before others? If so, we will one Day be glorified in Him What a blessed day that will be! Paul s prayer is that they will find that rest 11

12 Key Lessons How do we handle the relatively minor trials and difficulties we face among those of this world? Do we avoid such trials and compromise to some degree? Let us not be fragile Christians; be strong in the Lord! If we wish to find that eternal rest one day, we must know the Lord and be obedient to His will. The alternative is a fearful thing. Are we doing His will? Are we living for the Lord and letting Him fulfill His good pleasure in us? Or are we living for ourselves? 12

Stuart Heights Sunday School 2 Thessalonians, Week 2 February 18, Our approach each week will be REAP (read, explain, apply, personalize).

Stuart Heights Sunday School 2 Thessalonians, Week 2 February 18, Our approach each week will be REAP (read, explain, apply, personalize). 2 Thessalonians God s Final Judgment and Glory (2 Thessalonians 1:3-12) Our approach each week will be REAP (read, explain, apply, personalize). Read: God s Final Judgment and Glory (1:3-12) Greeting (1:1-2)