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“BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH"

Thesis: To teach the hearer more fully concerning the apostasy of the church in order to instill a firmer confidence in the scriptures and a more fervent desire to obey the NT from the heart unto eternal life.

Text: 2 Thess 2:1-15

Introduction,
1. Today we be looking at the 2nd epistle which Paul wrote to the new congregation at Thessalonica; it was probably written from Corinth (as was the first epistle) during his 1 ½ year stay there (Acts 18:11) during the 2nd missionary journey in about AD 53, not long after the 1st epistle was penned.

2. The purpose of the 1st epistle is very similar to the 2nd, to exhort them towards faithfulness in the face of severe persecutions and to straighten them out concerning some more misconceptions about the Lord’s 2nd coming.

3. What we do learn in this letter, is that it appears that the reason for the misunderstandings, at least in part, were the assertions of false teachers (2 Thess 2:2:3a), it seems that they were teaching that the Lord’s coming was just about to take place, thus some quit their jobs and were depending on others to feed them (3:10), and at the same time they were becoming busybodies in their times of idleness (3:11).

4. There are also a lot of misunderstandings concerning the Lord’s 2nd coming today, but we should be able to go through this text and at least come to a better understanding of why these misconceptions still exist, therefore we will look at . . .
1) The Misconception (2 Thess 2:1-2)
2) The Man of Sin (2 Thess 2:3-12)
3) The Mandate (2 Thess 2:13-15)

I. THE MISCONCEPTION (2 Thess 2:1-2)

A. (v 1)

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him;

Here we see Paul “beseeching” them, this basically means “begging” them to pay attention to the things he is about to set forth, let us always remember that all scripture is inspired of God (2 Tim 3:16-17), as men are driven by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:20-21), these are not Paul’s opinions, but God’s words (1 Thess 2:13), which he received by revelation from Christ (Gal 1:12).

1. What this concerned was the 2nd coming of the Lord which was discussed in the 1st chapter; there it spoke of the persecutions that they were enduring, and that the persecutions were signs of the Judgment to come, in which Christ would come with the mighty angels in flaming fire rendering vengeance upon the that know not God and obey not the gospel of Christ (which included those that troubled them; 2 Thess 1:6-9).

a. In other words, endure the persecutions, for the score will be settled at the 2nd coming.

2. Note the phrase “our gathering together unto Him” this refers to what we studied in 1 Thess 4:16-17.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; 1Th 4:17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

a. Its also important to notice that the bible teaches 2 literal comings of the Lord, the first one when He became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), and was that perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world, and a second time He will come apart from the matter concerning the forgiveness of sins, but rather in the final Judgment (Heb 9:27-28).

Heb 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; Heb 9:28 so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.

b. Multiple comings of the Lord are just not taught in the bible, these are things concocted by men in an attempt to force their doctrines into the biblical text.

c. The teaching in the bible is a lot simpler than most people make it out to be, yet in an attempt to make it seem to uphold their false beliefs many have concocted mazes of theories which would make an average person’s head swim with dizziness, we need to heed the inspired words of Paul in 2 Cor 11:2-3.

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

B. (v 2)

2Th 2:2 to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;

It seems that some were teaching that the 2nd coming of the Lord was “just at hand.”

1. There are differing translations for this word “enistemi” which is translated “just at hand” in the ASV

a. KJV – “at hand”
b. ASV – “just at hand”
c. NKJV – “had come”
d. YLT – “hath arrived”
e. ESV, NASB, LITV, - “has come”
f. RV – “now present”

2. To me these versions all seem to give the same basic idea except for the NKJV where “had come” which seems to be looking backward, while the others are looking at the present time or slightly forward. This is a perfect active indicative verb which is a little complex to properly translate, especially considering that this is an active verb, it represents a perfected action, yet it is still active, I believe that Lightfoot’s rendering of this word is probably the best, “that the day of the Lord is imminent.”

a. There are 6 other times that this word occurs in the NT, 1 time it is translated “shall come” (looking slightly forward) and the other 5 times (Rom 8:38; 1 Cor 3:22; 7:26; Gal 1:4; Heb 9:9) it is translated “present” therefore considering it is an active verb (it is continuing) “is imminent” is again about the best rendering.

3. Paul warns them not to be troubled “by spirit” (this would refer to those that would falsely assert that they were speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit as seen in 1 John 4:1). 1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

a. “Or by word,” this refers to normal teaching (they wouldn’t claim that they were speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit).

b. “Or by epistle as from us” this implies that there may have been false epistles circulated back then that were claimed to be from the apostle Paul, but were not, this helps us to better understand why he personally signed each epistle and makes the statement that his signature was a sign of the epistles genuineness (2 Thess 3:17).

c. If it didn’t have his signature, and was claimed to be his, it wasn’t the word of God,

d. There are a lot of bible versions out today that claim to be the word of God, yet they say contrary things, therefore we know that they cant all be the word of God, we must get as literal a bible version as we can possibly use, and then we still need to be wary in some cases, for many false doctrines are being taught through these so called modern versions, the truth is concerning bible versions, older is for the most part is better, this is what I would consider the order of versions in accuracy.

i. YLT
ii. ASV
iii. RV
iv. KJV
v. LITV
vi. NKJV
vii. NASB
viii. ESV

e. I wouldn’t recommend using any bible that is not on this list, and I would be careful with some of them that are on it (because there are no perfect versions).

4. It seems that some were troubled concerning these false reports that the coming of the Lord was just at hand, and had quit working (3:10-11).

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat. 2Th 3:11 For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.

a. Why worry about such things of this world since they are about to be burnt up (according to 2 Pet 3:10),

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

b. Yet they did worry when chow time came, they heeded food to sustain them, thus they became an unnecessary burden to others.

c. And they were becoming gossips seeing that all they had was idle time “waiting” for the Lord.

d. We need to wait for the Lord also, but we need to be waiting in a manner approved of God, living a life directed by God, according to the gospel of Christ, always being watchful and ready, being set apart “from” the ways of the world, and set apart “to” the service of God, the Lord Himself said (Mt 24:42, 44).

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh. Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

II. THE MAN OF SIN (2 Thess 2:3-10)

A. (v 3a)

2Th 2:3a let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first,

The warning concerning the being deceived concerning the 2nd coming of the Lord is now broadened to any man; no matter whatever someone says or does, the Lord is not coming at this time, they are some that assert today (full preterists; AD 70 doctrine) that Paul taught that he expected the Lord to come during his lifetime, this passage directly refutes this.

1. The “falling away” here is the word “apostasia” this means “a defection from the truth”; in John 17:17 we learn that God’s word is “Truth”, this apostasy has been prophesied of abundantly in the NT (Mt 7:15-20; Acts 20:29-30; 1 Tim 4:1-3; 2 Tim 3:1-8, 2 Tim 3:3-4; 2 Pet 2:1-3; 3:1-7).

2. Its important to keep in mind, that “the faith” that system of faith, the gospel of Christ, the new covenant was once and for all time delivered in the 1st century (Jude3), there is no different gospel that was going to delivered then or ever (Gal 1:6-9).

a. It was fully revealed, confirmed and recorded in the 1st century, yet we see people partaking in all types of things not seen the NT and calling them Christian.

b. We see people making reference to what is described in the NT as the infant church, as though there was going to be a different church, one that was fully grown, in compared to that one; these people are just attempting to justify their unauthorized practices, Jesus is the only Head of His church (Eph 1:22-23; 5:23), and the entire and completely sufficient and simple commands for it are in the NT and no where else! (Mt 28:18; Col 3:17).

3. Let us take a closer look at the examples of this apostasy as it is brought forth in the bible, it would come about within the eldership (Acts 20:29-30),

Act 20:29 I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; Act 20:30 and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

a. History teaches us that by AD 150 distinctions were made in the eldership, in other words one elder was put in a higher position than the others and given the title “bishop.” History also bears out that these changes continued to grow into an elaborate system of hierarchy, of which we can find nothing in the NT, which ultimately resulted in a supreme head of the church on earth when Boniface III was given the title of universal bishop or pope in AD 606.

b. The NT plan for the church is autonomous (self ruled) house congregations (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phile 2), whose only head is Christ (Eph 1:22-23), Who exercises his authority (Mt 28:18; Col 3:17) only through the word revealed in the NT, this is the only standard that will bring all His followers together as one (John 17:20-21)

Joh 17:20 Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; Joh 17:21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.

c. And another mark of this apostasy would be a forbidding to marry (1 Tim 4:3a),

1Ti 4:3a forbidding to marry

d. It is no secret that the catholic church has commanded a separate and celibate priesthood, while the NT teaches us that all the apostles except Paul were married (1 Cor 9:5), and marriage is to be had in honor among all (Heb 13:4), and this includes church evangelists.

e. Also there would be a commanding to abstain from certain meats (1 Tim 4:3b),

1Ti 4:3b and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.

f. There was also a time period in which the catholic church commanded its followers to eat only fish on Fridays

B. (v 3b)

2Th 2:3b and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,

Note that the man of sin is a result of the apostasy, not the man of sin resulting in the apostasy, this will help your understanding of this matter, the church fell away which resulted in “the man of sin”.

1. Some manuscripts read “the man of lawlessness”; “lawlessness” is basically something that someone does contrary to law, the law of Christ (Gal 6:2) that perfect law of liberty (Ja 1:25), the bible plainly teaches that Christians are under Law (Rom 3:27; 8:2, 4, 7; 1 Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2; Heb 8:10; 10:16; Ja 1:25; 2:8, 12; Isa 2:3), those that don’t believe such ought to read the 1st epistle of John, it was purposed to refute the claims of antinomian (“against law”) Gnostics, and if you believe you are not under law (as opposed to “the Law of Moses” for we are not under Moses but Christ; Mt 17:5; 28:20; Gal 5:4; Col 3:17) this epistle is meant for you, read it, believe it, and obey.

a. When God says through His apostles and prophets that a woman in not permitted to have dominion over a man in areas of religion (1 Tim 2:12) and you practice otherwise, you have committed “lawlessness.”

b. When the bible states that Christ is the Head over all things to His church (Eph 1:22-23; 5:23), and your religion has a human head, or a home office which heads a number of congregations, you have committed lawlessness

c. When the bible states that Christ’s followers are to “sing” unto God with grace in you hearts, making melody with those same hearts (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16) and you will to make melody with machines because it sounds better to you in your worship of the Most High you have committed lawlessness.

d. We could apply this to any number of modern errors that are being practiced this day, but the end results are all going to be the same, if a person does not repent and obey the truth, as the Lord prophecies (Mt 7:21-23).

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work lawlessness.

2. The phrase “the man of perdition” basically means the man of “damnation” this man and all those that follow him will be committed to the eternal fires of hell, the Lord taught the same about following the teachings of the Pharisees (Mt 15:13-14).

Mat 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up. Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit.

B. (v 4a)

2Th 2:4a he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped;

This man is opposed to God, against God, therefore we could call this man an “antigod’ or “antichrist.”

1. He “exalts himself” against God, while God says “humble yourselves” (Ja 4:10).

Jam 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

2. “That is worshipped” here is literally “an object of worship” it is no secret that the pope accepts worship from his subjects; “the kissing of the pope’s foot” the characteristic act of reverence by which many of the faith did honor him as the Vicar of Christ, is found as early as the 8th century, while Peter, Paul and the angels rejected worship (Acts 10:25-26; 14:13-15; Rev 22:8-9).

C. (v 4b)

2Th 2:4b so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.

We need to understand that the temple at Jerusalem was destroyed according to the word of Christ (Mt 24; Mk 13; Luke 21) in AD 70, 1st century Christians assembled in their own homes (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phile 2), the only building seen in the NT are the people (1 Cor 3:9)

1Co 3:9 For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry, God's building.

1. The church, those obedient to Christ through the gospel are “God’s building” the temple of God (1 Cor 3:16)

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

a. Thus this is not speaking of a person that literally sets in the temple at Jerusalem (as many premillennialists may assert) but rather is speaks of one in the church that sets himself forth as God

b. The head of the catholic church has at times been addressed as “the lord god pope;”( The title "Lord God the Pope" - these words appeared in the Canon Law of Rome. "To believe that our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he is decreed, is to be deemed heretical." (The Gloss extravagances of Pope John XXII Cum. Inter, tit XIV Ad Callem Sexti Decretalium, Paris, 1685),

c. And when he sits in his chair and speaks as what is called “ex cathedra” he claims to speak “for God” setting himself forth as “the vicar of Christ”;

2. yet “anyone” that claims to be able to forgive sins, of which only God can do (Mk 2:7), that legislates for God, which only God can do, that attempts to usurp the authority only held by Christ and makes law for people that profess to follow Christ can fit into this description.

3. For even the apostles of the 1st century only bound and loosed that which was already bound and loosed in heaven (Mt 16:19; 18:18), and that was completely revealed, confirmed and recorded some 500 years before any such thing as the pope was known (John 16:13; Jude 3).

4. I think it is safe to say that this refers not to just one man, but rather to a succession of men that would fit this mold, biblical use of language permits us to call a series or group of men by the term "man of sin."

a. For example, Peter says, "Fear God. Honor the king" (1 Pet. 2:17). Did he refer to one particular king or the whole succession of kings in any given land?

b. Jesus said, (Matt. 5:25) . . .

Mat 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

c. Who is that adversary, that judge, and that officer -- or, is it all the individuals who fit that description and fill that particular office (which are figures depicting the Judgment to come)? To ask it is to answer it, and for the same reasons I feel the "man of sin" is parallel to “the king” "the judge," or "the officer."

d. It’s important to note that this is not a sign of which, when it took place, the Lord’s 2nd coming would occur. But rather this is a prophecy that would have to be fulfilled, and then “after it was fulfilled”, the Lord could come at any time, a time of which only the Father knows (Mt 24:36).

Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only.

D. (v 5)

2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

This teaching about the falling away and the man of sin was already taught to them by Paul in just that short period in which he was there establishing the congregation at Thessalonica before he was ran out of town (Acts 17:1-10a), yet someone had convinced some of them differently

1. The same is true today, seeing that we have limited and differing mental capabilities we need to keep bringing these truths up in order to keep them fresh in one’s mind, or some may fall prey to the various wolves in sheep’s clothing or false doctrines which we see today.

D. (v 6)

2Th 2:6 And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.

And they also were aware of some restraining force that kept this falling away from taking place.

1. There are 3 major views of what specifically this restraining force was . . .

a. 1) It was the Roman Empire; when the Roman empire collapsed in AD 476, of which the apostate church took over the reigns of said government including its armies, which it used to destroy any and all that would not submit to their man made brand of Christianity, multitudes were slaughtered in the name of so called Christianity.

b. 2) It was the Apostle Paul himself; Paul’s work in spreading the gospel and defending it as an unsubjective entity kept the workers of error in check, but after his martyrdom, their evils and errors spread more freely.

c. 3) It was the word of God; as long as the scriptures and the knowledge of them had free run in society the apostate church was unable to deceive all, there would remain at least remain a faithful few, but when the Word of God was locked up in dead languages (Latin) in the dark ages, and the bible forbidden to the common people (it was literally chained to the pulpits), the apostate church was able to run roughshod over most of the followers of Christ who were kept in their ignorance.

d. It is likely that any or all of these were that restraining force, and all line up with this text, but for the fact it is not mentioned, might lead us to believe that it refers to the Roman Empire, who would be none to happy if they read a copy of this epistle speaking of their demise, it probably would have heighten the persecutions against the church.

E. (v 7)

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.

The mystery (that which was previously hidden, but had been revealed through the inspired Paul) concerning lawlessness was already working in the 1st century; we see many “antichrists” already in the world in NT times (1 John 2:18), and there was the infamous Diotrephes who received not the apostle John (3 John 9), and Paul’s apostleship was constantly being called into question, it was just a matter of time, when “that” which restraineth, the “one”, the “he” would be taken out of the way, and the departure (apostasy) would be freed up to be well under way.

F. (v 8)

2Th 2:8 And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming;

When the restraining force is gone, the man of sin, the man of perdition, the lawless one, who thinks himself to be as God, while actually being opposed to God, will be fully revealed, he will be more clearly manifested.

1. There have been numerous individuals and groups throughout the centuries that have recognized the fallacies of the catholic system and have attempted to do what is right and paid dearly for it at the hand of their armies and councils.

a. But when the Lord does come, that person will be dealt with by the Lord, this probably implies that this is not talking about one pope in particular, but rather all those that held that man made office of error, yet there more than likely will be one pope alive when the Lord does come, and he also will have to stand before the Lord.

b. It is likely that “the breath (“pneuma”; which ought to be translated “Spirit”; as seen in the KJV) of His mouth” refers to the word of God (Rev 1:16; 19:15; 21), when the reformation movement came about in the 1500’s and the NT was stripped out of dead languages, and the bible was given back to the common man, that at that time this man of sin received a head wound (the apostate leader was slain) and was no longer able to deceive all those attempting to follow Christ, and the final death blow (“brought to nought”) would be administered by the Lord and His 2nd coming.

G. (v 9)

2Th 2:9 even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

In the Greek, the word “lying” modifies “power” “signs” and “wonders” in other words all these are false, they are not true biblical miracles.

1. The man of sin operates by the power of Satan with fake miracles, there are no genuine bible miracles attached to him.

a. Catholics have long claimed that they have seen miracles, such as various appearances of Mary, images which bleed on special occasion, birds and fish congregating to hear their preaching when the people were uninterested and so on.

b. The Charismatics of today also claim to produce and see miracles which are always somewhere else or unprovable, all these are empty assertions, which have the devil as their ultimate source.

c. True miracles delivered and confirmed God’s word (Mk 16:20; Acts 14:3; Heb 2:4), God’s word has been fully delivered and confirmed (John 16:13; Jude 3), therefore true miracles have ceased and their purpose fulfilled (Dan 9:24; Micah 7:15; Zech 13:2; 1 Cor 13:8-10; Eph 4:8-14).

d. God’s true power is not the miracles, but rather the gospel, which is able to save and transform imperfect man into a person fitted for eternity with a most holy God (Rom 1:16; 12:2).

H. (v 10)

2Th 2:10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish (are perishing; ASV footnote); because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

The ones involved in the great apostasy, personified as the “man of sin,” would use deceit of every kind in order to gain followers and retain authority over them.

1. Even today, as it has been throughout the ages, we see religious bodies bringing about some new thing to attract followers, whether it be family centers for Christ, children’s entertainment for Christ, role reversal days for Christ, bake sales for Christ, bingo for Christ, whatever for Christ, it is the cross of Christ that attracts “all” His faithful followers, and there is none outside of “all” Jesus stated (John 12:32) . . .

Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.

2. In the apostate church we seen the institution of man made religious holy days in order to attract the unconverted and their monies into their systems (Christ mass, Easter, ect).

a. We saw with the building of a false hierarchy, at the same time a laity system was being established, those who were not saved, (yet deceived into believing that they were) but were actually in the process of perishing, because they love not nor obeyed the truth, the word of God (John 17:17), but rather the traditions of men, unto their own demise, even though they have been warned (Col 2:8).

Col 2:8 Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:

I. (v 11)

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:

If one genuinely loves the truth, he will obey its demands (1 John 5:3).

1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1. Yet, when one learns the truth, but through a belief in no absoluteness of that truth, through procrastination, or through the influence from others, and does not obey it, the truth’s appeal to one’s heart will gradually lessen, and God will permit him to accept a way of his own choosing, which will lead to eternal demise (v 12), there is a certain point when it is reached that God gives people over to them selves, we see this in the OT and the NT ( 2 Chro 30:7; Acts 7:42; 13:46; Rom 1:24, 26. 28).

2. People today have pleasure in various sins accepted by society, and therefore they follow religions that teach they are OK, instead of what God’s word states.

a. They can’t believe that God wouldn’t want them to be happy in an unscriptural marriage (Mt 5:32; 19:9).

b. They can’t believe that when God said sing, He meant only that (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16).

c. They can’t believe that a believer’s immersion is necessary for salvation (Mk 16:16; John 3:5-7).

d. They can’t believe that women can’t hold positions of authority over men in the church (1 Tim 2:12), nor speak in the assembly (1 Cor 14:34).

e. The list goes on and on, they seem to forget Jesus’ words “not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42) we are subject to God (Rom 10:3; Ja 4:10), not the other way around.

J. (v 12)

2Th 2:12 that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

If one desires to do the will of God, he will be able to do so, Jesus said (John 7:17).

Joh 7:17 If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself.

1. The people talked about in this context, did not have a desire to know the truth; they did not love nor believe it, therefore they stand condemned (Mt 7:21-23).

2. Rather than believe the truth and obey it, they had pleasure in unrighteousness; they had a greater desire to gratify their own selfish appetites, than to do the will of God (Heb 11:24-25; Rom 1:32).

3. The end result will be the same for all that call Christ Lord, yet do not the Father’s will (Mt 7:23).

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work lawlessness.

a. Let us therefore not have pleasure in lawlessness, but rather in righteousness, so we won’t be found following “the man of sin” (Ps 119:172).

Psa 119:172 Let my tongue sing of thy word; For all thy commandments are righteousness.

III. THE MANDATE (2 Thess 2:13-15)

A. (v 13)

2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

In contrast to those who “received not the love of the truth and took pleasure in unrighteousness” Paul turns to the Thessalonians, he was thankful for them, we also ought to be thankful for those that love the truth enough to follow it, to defend it, and to endure the hardships that go hand in hand with it.

1. He also reminds them that they are loved of the Lord, God loves the whole world (John 3:16), yet most of the world does not reciprocate that love with an active faith (1 John 4:16; John 14:15), some altogether ignore God’s word; others are hearers only; but others hear, believe and obey from the heart, and produce fruit, some thirty, sixty, some even a hundred fold, these are represented as the good ground (Luke 8:15).

2. God chose them from the beginning, before the foundation of the world God purposed a plan, that every person who was of a certain type (class), those with good and honest hearts (Luke 8:15), who would respond to the gospel call, these would be holy and blameless through adherence to the gospel (Eph 1:3-4).

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: Eph 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:

b. Those who weren’t chosen, are represented in “the parable of the sower” (Luke 8:4-15) as the wayside, the rocky and the thorny soil, these weren’t chosen because of various reasons of their own doing, one let Satan take the seed away from their hearts because they didn’t believe at all, others believed and were tempted with sinful desires and fell away, some fell away because of that persecutions that come about because of the word of God (Mk 4:17), others still let the cares riches and pleasures of this life lead them away from following God whole-heartedly.

c. The point is that God chose them through their response to the gospel, not arbitrarily, without their will being involved.

3. And those that believed were sanctified of (by) the Spirit, they were set apart for God’s purposes by the Spirit, it doesn’t state in this text just how that takes place, yet when we go through the list of things the Spirit does, the same things are attributed to the Spirit’s sword (Eph 6:17), that Spirit revealed and confirmed word of God, Jesus taught concerning sanctification (being set apart; John 17:17).

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.

a. As one hears, or reads God’s will for the Christian and applies that will to their lives, they are set apart for God’s holy purposes, being transformed more and more each day into the likeness of God, thinking like God thinks, acting like God acts, being fitted for one’s eternal life in heaven (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 4:16; Eph 4:23; Col 3:10; Tit 3:5).

B. (v 14)

2Th 2:14 whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The gospel has a built in call (John 3:16-21).

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. Joh 3:17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. Joh 3:19 And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. Joh 3:21 But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.

1. And those that remain faithful unto death (Rev 2:10) can look forward to their everlasting reward in the eternal phase of the kingdom of God, as did Paul (2 Tim 4:7-8).

2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: 2Ti 4:8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.

a. Being faithful is depicted as a process (2 Cor 4:16; 2 Pet 1:4-11).

2Co 4:16 Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is (being) renewed day by day.

2Pe 1:4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust. 2Pe 1:5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; 2Pe 1:6 and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; 2Pe 1:7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. 2Pe 1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Pe 1:9 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 2Pe 1:10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: 2Pe 1:11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

C. (v 15)

2Th 2:15 So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.

Here is the conclusion of the matter, instead of falling away, likened to the coming apostasy, stand fast, and hold the traditions.

1. Here traditions refer to the inspired precepts of the apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2:42), the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9), which originate from the Father (John 12:49; 17:8, 14). a. Which were transmitted orally at first, through preaching, and then were written down by the inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21) and they are Scripture (2 Pet 3:16).

b. We can thank God that we have His word today, life comes from life, that living and active word from the living God, which produces spiritual life (John 6:63).

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.

c. And that life begins the same way it did in Paul’s day, there is but one faith (Eph 4:5), and only one plan of salvation, which enables one to enter into that faith.

One must . . .

Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17);

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Believe that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 8:37; John 8:24); and that God rewards those that earnestly seek after Him (Heb 11:6).

Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5) leave that old man behind, don’t try and drag him along

Confess Christ before men (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9), showing all that you are not ashamed of Him or His words (Luke 6:46).

Be baptized into Christ (Gal 3:27) into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) unto (for) the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; 22:16); at which point God adds you to the church (Acts 2:47) translates you into the kingdom (Col 1:13) adds you to the one body (1 Cor 12:13).

And live a life that is holy in all aspects, (1 Pet 1:15) loving and following God’s instructions, which are righteousness (Ps 119:172), as it is written (2 John 6)

2Jo 1:6 And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it. The Lord Himself said (John 14:15) . . .

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.


"That in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written"

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