Grace, peace and thanksgiving

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4

Sermon notes 

Studies in 2Thessalonians #1: Introduction                            2Thess 1:1-4

The devil has numerous ways to attempt the destruction of the church of Christ. In this instance he had tried the weapon of persecution but these saints had valiantly withstood his opposition and stood fast in the faith until now.

Now however, they stood in danger of a different form of attack. The work was threatened with ruin because of false teaching on the second coming of Christ, 2:1-3. The very doctrine that Paul had used in his first letter to strengthen them in their stand against the bitter opposition of wicked men, was now being perverted and used against them by the agents of the devil—false teachers.

It is for this reason that this second epistle deals with a right view of the promised return of Christ and what impact it is to have upon the lives of believers. This is in contrast to the erroneous and perverted view of an ‘any moment return’ by Christ that had begun to have a devastating effect already upon them, 2:2, 3:11.

I  INTRODUCTORY WORDS.

1. Authors, v1. The same men are in view as were referred to in the first epistle. There is a consistency here. Paul, Silas and Timothy had been involved in the formation of the church, Acts 17:1-4, 14. They had been exercised for its care already: first epistle, sending Timothy back for a time, 1Thess 3:1, 6-7; and now writing again.
2. Time and place. There is no real evidence to indicate when Paul wrote this letter and where from. He had been in Athens when he wrote the first epistle and moved from there to Corinth. It is likely he wrote this letter shortly after the first. The issues raised here are not limited to one time/place in history!

II   IMPORTANT BASIC TRUTHS.

1. Their gospel position. He writes to these believers as a local assembly/church of believers who are in God in Christ. Cp 1Thess 1:1. With only a minor change he uses the same words as before. It is truth that is unchanged by the previous assaults of the devil! Here is truth that needs repeating! The basis of comfort in the current crisis was to begin again with this truth. The union of saints with God in Christ is the bedrock of Christian comfort. In terms of the theme of this epistle, it is the basis of a comforting, sane view of Christ’s return. This is what will make the difference between 1:7-8. There is no more basic thing to consider in view of Christ’s return than this. Many get immersed in the minutiae of eschatology and pay little attention to this vital matter.
2. Grace and peace, v2. Again Paul prays for these Divine resources to be supplied to them. Grace as a term simply includes all of the kindness of God shown to His people. It includes every resource that is needed and which He supplies. God’s people never develop beyond the need for Divinely given grace and peace. They come to us as a result of prayer. Cp Heb 4:15-16. The minds of God’s people have been troubled on this question of Christ’s return. The grace and peace of God will stabilize them again.

II   THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

Paul expresses an obligation to be thankful. He begins this epistle on a happy note! While he will go on to rebuke error and advocate Church censure/discipline against the disobedient, there is much to bless the Lord for about this church.

1. His thankful spirit. It was obligatory! He had to pause to give thanks to the Lord. It was meet or fitting that he did so. Gratitude is always an appropriate response to a consideration of God’s grace in the lives of His saints. No doubt he was desiring to stir them to be thankful too! This thankful spirit is further described, v4. He gloried in them before the churches. His thanks/gratitude to God was public—before God and men.
2. He was thankful for growing faith, v3. Their faith was living and developing. Faith is always evidenced by its works. These saints were actively busy in the service of God so Paul could measure their faith. It was developing exceedingly! Such growth in grace is to be rejoiced in and conversely its absence is to be mourned.
3. He rejoiced in abounding love. This church was filled with mutual Christian love. Every one of you all… Such rapid and large progress in grace—especially in the face of adversity—is a cause to be thankful. Christian love can cool and sour easily.
4. Patience and faith. Faith is again visible in the specific area of endurance. They had pressed on despite the persecutions and tribulations they had to endure. Faith energizes the next step in the Christian path towards the appearance of Christ.