2 Thessalonians series - God Chose us

 

“God Chose us”

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

It is interesting to be the first person in your family to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and to stand firm against misunderstandings about sin, the truth of scripture, and sometimes being ostracized from family and friends. Being the firstfruit for Jesus is celebrated in heaven, but not always in this world. Choosing to serve and obey our Lord Jesus goes coarsely against the grain of today’s culture and ways of the world. Paul knew the cost of following Jesus in his life, and he thanked God for all those who chose as well. Let’s read the first portion of our text, “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul knew the difficulties of living for the Lord Jesus Christ, and he was not ashamed, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” (Rom. 1:16-17; 2 Tim. 1:12) So he gave thanks to God for all those in Thessalonica who held firm to the faith. God predestined them to be the firstfruits of the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul preached. Their salvation was the work of the Holy Spirit, first drawing them to the Father by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God, and it was through the Holy Spirit they were sanctified (made holy) and regenerated. The living of their lives in holiness was a process that meant they had to yield and submit their hearts, minds, and bodies to following Jesus, in word and deed. It was the teaching in the gospel, the truth that had set them free, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32)  Paul had taught them that Jesus is the Truth.

Paul knew the calling of God was on him and all those who choose to follow the truth of the Gospel, and that one day they too would partake in the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. For this was Paul’s goal line, to finish the race of faith and look upon the one in whom he believed. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” “Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don't know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us.(2 Tim. 4:7-8; 1 Cor. 13:12 NLT)

Application - How many times a day do we thank God for the wondrous work he is doing in us and in others? It is no easy task to stand on the truth of the Bible, yet it is in the truth that we are free to live, and have our being, “For in him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28). I know first hand what it is like to be the firstfruit in a family, and to be ostracized for the truth of the Bible. But it is the truth, Jesus Christ, who set all free who believe in him and live in him as we walk in the light of his Word and by the Holy Spirit. The church today must stand firm and unashamed on the Truth of the Gospel. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Rom. 1:16-17)

As first fruits, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit begins with the regeneration of our beings, we become new creations. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor. 5:17)  We have been reconciled to God the Father through Jesus Christ. The salvational work of the cross has given us new life! It is here where the rubber meets the road, because the enemy of God hates all who believe in the Son, Jesus Christ. And this sin-stained world doesn’t love us either, for Jesus said that the world would hate us as they hated him. “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

 God gave his Holy Spirit to us for the power to live victoriously as we stand firm on the truth and to be emboldened in our walk in the Spirit in order to tell others of the Good News of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Are you his first fruit? He has chosen you.

Now, Paul knew that in order to stand firm one needed to be grounded in the foundational teachings of scripture. For without a solid foundation, as Jesus taught, our lives would crumble as did the house on the sand (Matt. 7:24-27). Let’s look at the last portion of the text, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

The church in Thessalonica had already been shaken by a false teaching about the gathering of the church already happening. Paul was a good builder, “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.” And he had endured many storms brought on by the devil and the world. It was this sage advice and scriptural teaching that Paul wanted the Thessalonian church to hold fast too. For the enemy of God had maligned and manipulated the scriptures before, and he now had others who were following in his evil plan by spreading lies. 

Paul also wanted the church to understand the encouragement of the Lord Jesus Christ to the church in the grace of God the Father. The love of God and Jesus for them is eternal and the hope they have in our Lord Jesus Christ will not wane, but will increase as they see the day of his coming to gather the church to heaven. “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.“ “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (1 Cor. 15:51-52; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 3:2-4)

Paul concludes in the text that God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ’s desire is to strengthen the church who was created by them for good works. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  (Isa. 41:10; Eph.2:10)

Paul knew the blessing of encouragement he received through godly men, Ananias and Barnabas, who were directed by Jesus to encourage and strengthen him in his new life in Christ. (Acts 9) And now he was the encouragement to the church.

Application - We are so blessed to be encouraged not only from the Word of God, but through those in the church who encourage us through the trials of life and the victories of walking in the light of our Lord Jesus’ words. As we grow in our faith and understanding of God’s plan and will for all he has chosen. We can take comfort and encouragement through the trials and persecutions we experience by the world. We, like the Thesssalonians are chosen for this day and time to be the light of the Gospel in this dark world. We are strengthened by God for the work he has given us to do, and he has prepared for us by his Holy Spirit. This is one of the reasons for the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church. And the Holy Spirit will fill us with the knowledge of God’s purpose and plans for us, and he will guide us in the truth so that we can stand firm in all that we do and say. We know that we are saved by His grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and God’s love for us is eternal and unfailing. Now we stand on the Word of God these last days, knowing that it is the truth, the only truth we can trust. We can encourage one another and draw strength from God knowing what he has said and promise will come true.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis