Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
Sermon notes
Patient, obedient waiting for Christ’s return is one of the benchmarks of Christian stability, maturity and growth in growth. Cp Luke 12:35-36. This is the good and faithful servant, Matt 25:21, 23.
Paul has a confidence in the grace of God already at work in their lives, v4. This is what it will produce as it develops. It is his confidence in the working of that grace, to produce obedience, that now leads him to speak of a difficult matter of their duty that has to be considered.
He had heard a report of disorderly conduct, v11 that prompts him under the Spirit of God, to write as he does. It is not wrong to act on a report, so long as it is credible and verified. In response he writes a public rebuke of their sin.
I THE BENCHMARKS OF AN ORDERLY CHRISTIAN WALK.
By what standard is a Christian to be judged to be living in a disorderly fashion? It is important that we establish this at the outset.
- The tradition, v6. ‘That which had been handed over’ to them from the Apostles. It is of course a reference to the Apostolic message. Cp Acts 16:4, 1 Cor 15:3, 2Pet 2:21, Jude 1:3, —delivered = same root as tradition.
- The example of the Apostle, v7-10. This had special force with those he had ministered among in person. Yet, the preserved record of his behaviour is equally forceful as we read of it in the Scriptures. There is a specific issue in view here. Some had embraced the error that Christ was to return ‘at any moment’ and so withdrew from employment etc. Paul points to his own record of labour and the principle that supported it, v10. Cp Gen 3:19. He had gone the extra mile to enforce this principle, v8, working even when he could have imposed upon them to support his ministry. Cp 1 Cor 9:6-15. Their duty was to follow his example—ought to follow, v7. Cp 1Cor 11:1.
- Our word by this epistle, v14. The written Scriptures define an orderly Christian life. Here is recorded the statutes of good order that the Christian is to regulate their life by. Specifically, this word was a rebuke of reported activity! Cp v12. There is a deliberate failure to respond to a rebuke of error and persistence in it.
On the basis of these aspects of revelation, God’s people are to regulate their lives. Only as our lives conform to this pattern can we be said to be living in good order.