Faith in the Gospel Provides Security

Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, in chapter 1:2-5, gives impressive testimony as to how they had responded savingly to the calling of the gospel, but they were failing to live in the security that faith in the gospel provides.

According to verse 2 they were being shaken in mind and alarmed. They were losing the stability, strength and calmness that Christians should have in times of trouble.

His first approach to restoring this loss of balance was to teach the Thessalonians some truth that would remove the deceit that lay at the root of their instability. According to the end of verse 2 they had fallen for the erroneous idea that the Day of the Lord had come and they had been left behind. So what’s the solution for paralyzing fear of the future? Paul points them back to the gospel and the secure salvation that it provides. The gospel of the kingdom of God takes care of all three tenses of life – past, present, and future.

1. Knowing that in the Eternity Past, God Chose Us to be Saved – 2:13b

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits (from the beginning- NKJV) to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

Paul is for the most part reaffirming or reemphasizing points he has already made, whether in person or in the first letter. In many respects 2:13-14 (which touch on God's love, choice, and calling, salvation and sanctification, the work of the Spirit, and the glory of the Lord Jesus) are a condensation of 1 Thessalonians 1:4-8 and 2:12-13. Here, as there, Paul grounds his advice about present problems in their past experience. He also implies that one way of dealing with apprehension about the future is to remember what God has done in the past.

In the eternity of the past God loved us before we had physical existence and chose us to be saved. Then he effectually called us in time, causing us to hear the gospel, believe the truth and be sanctified by the Spirit, with a view to our sharing Christ's glory in the eternity of the future. In a single sentence the apostle's mind sweeps from "the beginning” to "the glory.” There is no room in such a conviction for fears about the future. Let the devil mount his fiercest attack on the feeblest saint, let the Man of Lawlessness be revealed and the rebellion break out, yet over against the instability of our circumstances and our characters, we set the eternal stability of the purpose of God. We glance on to 2 Thessalonians 3:3 and declare with Paul, “The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you.”

In 2 Thess. 2:13-14, Paul swept through the features of salvation, noting that believers are "beloved by the Lord," chosen for salvation from eternity past (cf. Rev 13:8; Rev 17:8), set apart from sin by the Spirit, and called to eternal glory, i.e., the sharing of the very "glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul's main point in this section was to remind the Thessalonians that there was no need to be agitated or troubled (2Thess. 2:2), thinking they had missed the Final Coming of the Lord and were experiencing the Day of Lord’s judgment. They were destined for glory, not judgment.

Note the summary of the salvation experience that the gospel of God had provided:

A. God loved them - 2 Thess. 2:13a; 2:16b - God’s work of salvation began with His sovereign, uninfluenced, undeserved love. Jesus and the Father loved believers from all eternity. It is not love alone that saves us, for God has a general love for the whole world, and yet the whole world is not saved. But those who are saved are the objects of his special love.

Because that love was permanently and irrevocably given to believers, we can live safe and secure from all alarms, with eternal comfort and good hope that he who began a good work in us will complete it. Grace has brought us in and will continue to lead us on and eventually home! “O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Ps. 136:1)

B. God chose them - 2 Thess. 2:13b – God’s love was the basis for His election of believers (Eph. 1:4-5). God’s electing love is not conditioned on any merits or morals in its recipients, as Moses reminded Israel: “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deut. 7:7-8).

Flowing out of God’s predetermined love is His sovereign choice of believers, whom He has chosen … from the beginning for salvation. God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4); He “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Tim. 1:9). The redeemed are those whose names were “written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain” (Rev. 13:8; cf. 17:8).

The doctrine of God’s sovereign, elective love has many practical benefits. The most relevant to Paul’s purpose in this passage is that it provides security (Phil. 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”).

C. God set them apart - 2 Thess. 2:13c - The word sanctify means “to set apart.” There is a progressive sanctification that makes us more like Jesus Christ (1Thess. 5:23). But the sanctification Paul mentioned here probably refers to the Spirit’s work in leading the unbeliever to faith in Christ. “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit” (1Peter 1:2). It is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction to the sinner (John 16:7-11).

Paul's portrayal of the Christian faith reveals a Christianity that is far from passive. When we embrace Jesus Christ as Lord, we begin a lifelong journey of active faith. Our journey begins when we exercise faith by believing the truth (2:13). It progresses as we aggressively "stand firm" and "hold to" the truth (2:15). We will not rest until we reach our ultimate destination when we "obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2:14). This perfectly describes the Spirit's work of sanctification. He sanctifies us positionally when we respond to the gospel and are saved. He sanctifies us progressively as we yield to Him and are transformed into Christlikeness. We will be perfectly, or entirely sanctified when we receive the reward of our faith and stand in the presence of King Jesus.

E. God called them - 2 Thess. 2:14a - In order for God to fulfill His eternal plan, He sent Paul, Silas, and Timothy to Thessalonica to preach the Word of God. What was ordained in eternity was accomplished in time. God used human instruments to bring the Gospel to the lost; and by trusting Christ, these people proved their “election of God” (1Thess.1:4). The call of God went out to the whole city, but it was effective only in those who believed the truth and trusted Christ. There is a serious and sincere general call that accompanies the proclamation of the gospel. But the only ones who respond are given a special, effectual call that creates in its hearer a desire both to will and do of his good pleasure!

F. God gave them glory - 2 Thess. 2:14b – All of those gospel realities lead to the ultimate goal of God’s redemptive plan that believers may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 1:10, 12). That firm statement of the security of salvation reveals that God loved, chose, called, and transformed believers for the purpose of eternally reflecting the glory of Christ to them and through them (cf. 1 John 3:1–2; Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:42–49; Phil. 3:21). Since no purpose of His can be thwarted (Job 42:2), nothing can separate believers from His saving love (Rom. 8:35–39). What began in eternity past reaches its climax in eternity future: we share in the glory of God (John 17:24; Rom. 8:29-30). What begins with grace always leads to glory.

Thus in verses 13 and 14 we have “a systematic theology in miniature,” a marvelous summary of the scope of God's purposes with His believing people. He has shown us that salvation “originates in a divine choice, is wrought out by divine power, is made effective through a divine message, and will be perfected in divine glory.”

Talk about amazing! What sin makes impossible, grace makes possible. What we could never do on our own, God does for us at Christ's expense. Paul describes the source of our salvation when he writes these words to Timothy: "He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began" (2 Tim 1:9).

The Thessalonian believers needed the security that only God could give. God chose them for salvation "from the beginning." Because their names were etched indelibly in the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev 13:8), they were in no danger of experiencing the wrath of God. If the Thessalonians' future depended on them, then they had every reason to fear. But Paul sought to reassure them that their future depended on God, and as he tells them repeatedly in both letters, God is more than capable to bring to completion the work that He begins.

Through the gospel, the Thessalonians had the Triune God on their side. God the Father elected and called them, the Lord Jesus died to redeem them, and the Holy Spirit was sanctifying them. Armed with an understanding of their future security, the Thessalonian believers had no reason to lose heart over the claims of the false teachers.

2. Knowing that in the Responsibility of the Present, We Are to Stand Firm in the Word of God – 2:15

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” 

The human factor in God’s sovereign, loving election and regeneration is faith in the truth. Salvation is “by grace … through faith” (Eph. 2:8). It is those who “believe in the Lord Jesus [who] will be saved” (Acts 16:31). To the Romans Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Rom. 10:9–10).

Anticipating if he had said enough to overcome the shaking and the alarm in the church at Thessalonica about the coming times of apostasy, with its supernatural powers of delusion, Paul continues to build gospel truth into their minds which will dislodge errors and instill the security and stability they need.

What gives this security, stability, and calmness of soul that God means for his people to have? Paul tells us 2:15: "…stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter."

So when circumstances arise that alarm you, when wickedness is in high places, and when the winds of error start to blow you off your stability, the key is to take hold of something and to hold it fast - namely, the traditions that were taught by the 1^st Century apostles, i.e. the truth of the gospel of God. In other words, learn to daily preach the gospel to yourself!

“These shaken and fearful of the future believers are admonished to stand firm and hold to the traditions which they were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from Paul and his companions (cf. 1 Thess. 3:8).

Tradition isn’t necessarily bad, but it can be mechanistic, and it can become legalistic. It can be a way of trying to MANAGE a relationship with God as opposed to HAVING a relationship with God. For tradition, it depends on what the tradition is and the motive behind it.

For sure Paul did not have in mind a body of extrabiblical tradition that is equal to God’s revelation in Scripture; in fact, the Bible condemns such human tradition (Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:3, 6; Mark 7:8–9, 13; Col. 2:8). The question of tradition was a critical issue between the Pharisees and Jesus. They chided Him for breaking with some of their cherished traditions regarding the Sabbath (Luk_6:1-11) and rituals associated with eating (Mar_7:1-16). Jesus made a sharp delineation between "the traditions of men" and "the commandments of God."

The Greek word translated traditions literally means “things handed down” and refers here to divine revelation (cf. 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:2), whether given by word of mouth or by letter. The Thessalonians were to hold fast to what God had handed down, both orally and in writing, through Paul and the other apostles. Believers must hold fast to the “faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3; cf. 1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:14). (John MacArthur)

3. Knowing that in the Security of the Future, We Can Live in the Eternal Encouragement of Good Hope Through Grace – 2:16-17

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”

The pronoun translated “Himself” stands in the emphatic position in the Greek text, which could be translated, “Now may Himself our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father.” The pronoun governs both Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, viewing both as the source of comfort. That provides powerful evidence of Christ’s deity; He is fully equal with the Father in person, power, and respect.

A. Three Components of God's Support – 2:16 –

(1) loved us;

(2) gave us eternal comfort;

(3) gave us good hope.

The NKJV says in verse 16 that God has given us “everlasting consolation.” The Greek word is “paraklēsin”. This is the word used to denote the Holy Spirit in John 14:16, 26. This word was used of one's counsel in a lawsuit, and carried the idea of one called alongside to strengthen, encourage, and support. Thus, God, in Christ, has acted once and for all to give us His strength and support. The adjective "everlasting" further underscores the fact that God's support of us cannot ever be weakened or withdrawn through any circumstances.

God's support provided us with "good hope by grace." In an age of growing despair and hopelessness, we need to daily experience how powerful God’s “good hope, grounded in grace” is. His hope will never disappoint us or let us down.

Out of these three components of God's support there are two continuing products:

A. Comfort (in) our hearts – 2:17a

B. Establishment in every good word and work - 2:17b - The one who has been faithful in the past will prove to be faithful in the future, and this gives us courage and hope to remain faithful in the present. Reassured by what God has done and strengthened by what the Holy Spirit is now doing (2:13, cf. 1 Thess. 1:6; 4:8), we persevere in hope, looking to the time when faith will become sight, to the time when the Lord Jesus will be revealed in all his splendor and glory.

C.Strength for Good Works and Words Comes by Praying for God to Make the Word Effective in Our Lives – 2 Thess. 2:15-17

In verse 15 Paul tells us to stand firm and hold fast to the Word. Then in Verses 16-17 he prays that Jesus and the Father would strengthen us in every good work and word. So he shows that there is a connection between holding to the Word and praying for God to make the Word effective.

Question? Is there a concrete and practical way by which God imparts the kind of encouragement and hope that Paul speaks of, or does it merely come in some mystical manner? Paul elsewhere brings clarity to this question by saying that God gives encouragement and hope to his people through his truth in Scripture: "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity" (Rom. 15:4-5). The Christian's confidence about present and future salvation is inseparably linked to one's awareness of God's Word.

However, we must keep this in mind, the Word of God, without the help of God through the Word, is not sufficient, In 2:16, Paul speaks a blessing or a benediction. Notice that he calls on God to do the comforting and strengthening. So in verse 15 he says to us: "Stand firm." How? By holding fast to the Word! But in verse 17 he says, "Lord Jesus and God the Father, strengthen them for every good word and work." So how does our strength for good works and good words happen? By Bible study and meditation on the Scriptures alone? No. By prayer alone? No. By prayer for God to make the Word effective in our lives. Word and Spirit.

John Calvin sums up what Paul has written in a most reassuring way, as he writes, “But when God calls us to salvation and stretches out His hand to us, when Christ offers Himself to us for our enjoyment by the teaching of the Gospel, and when the Spirit is given to us as a seal and pledge of eternal life, we are not to grow despondent, even though the heavens should fall. ... The calling of God should defend us against all occasions for stumbling in such a way that not even the total destruction of the world should shake, much less destroy, our constancy.”