Daily Bread: Tues 9th, Dec, 2008

Todays reading is from the 2nd letter to the Thessalonians.

1-3 The Second Letter to the Thessalonians

Read it here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/

2Th 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 1:3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing

Paul greets the church in the usual manner. Paul thanks God for their faith, that it is increasing and bearing fruit as it should. Again we see the connection between truth, that is right theology, right beliefs, and deeds, love in action.

2Th 1:6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
2Th 1:7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
2Th 1:8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
2Th 1:9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
2Th 1:10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

Paul makes it clear that persecution will come, but those that do it will suffer. Overcoming it is a great testimony to Christ's Gospel. Paul says here that those that do not believe and OBEY, will suffer greatly. This would mean all people, even those that have not heard the good news as, all are sinners, and sin is not disbelieving in Jesus, although that is a sin, sin primarily is lawslessness, breaking God's laws and commands.

2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
2Th 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Paul moves on to talk of the last days, the return of Christ. Some had taught that it had already occurred, Paul was refutting that claim. The Spirit of the anti Christ is increasing in our day, it is paving the way for THE anti Christ to appear.

2Th 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
2Th 2:10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
2Th 2:11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,
2Th 2:12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

So few understand this. If they see a so called miracle or a teaching that impresses the eyes or the senses, they think it is of God, yet we must test it to see if it is of God. We shall know it is, if it abides by the clear teaching of scripture. We see that God actually hands these people over to their delusion. It is a punishment for their lack of love for Christ and discernment of error.

2Th 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

He praises God they are not deceived like the people he has just mentioned. Chosen by the Father, through the son, by sanctified by the Spirit. Notice the belief in the truth, not a mere interlectual assent, but a living breathing, discerning faith.

2Th 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
2Th 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,
2Th 3:8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
2Th 3:9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.

A striking passage for today. A direct command to stay away from lazy brethren! Only 2% of professing Christians today regularly verbally share their faith. This is a stark warning that though they may be saved, we are not to fellowship with just anyone.

2Th 3:15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

How we need a reformation today, churches are not buildings, they are devout, born again believers, serving Christ together, actually obeying him, letting him determine truth.


Martin R Gough.