Life can be a prize fight. Bell rings, they yank your stool away, and you walk into the ring to face a mountain man who pounds you. Times like that need encouraging words. (Helmet would help too!)
In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 Paul encourages persecuted Jesus’ followers . . .
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2:13,14).
“But” introduces a contrast. Paul has just written about “those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2:10b,11). These are those captive to “the mystery of lawlessness.”
Does God’s action seem harsh? Maybe. But they made a choice: ” . . . they refused to love the truth” (2:10) and “had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2:12). Therefore, in his righteousness, God condemned them in their choice “so that they may believe what is false” (2:11).
In contrast, Paul, Silas and Timothy know they always owe God thanks for the Thessalonians, because sovereignly God “chose [them] as the first fruits to be saved.” God did this “through sanctification by the Spirit and [their] belief in the truth.” God “called [them] through [Paul’s] gospel, so that [they] may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
There’s disagreement over the Greek word the ESV translates “firstfruits.” If aparkay (“firstfruits”), Paul means the Thessalonians are among the first of a great harvest of believers in Christ. If ap’arkays (“first”) Paul means God chose them “from the beginning”. Either is consistent with truth taught elsewhere in Scripture; either translation is permissible.
“God chose you”. God took the initiative in the Thessalonians’ salvation. That they are “beloved by the Lord” implies God chose them without merit on their part. He simply chose to love them.
God chose them to be saved “through sanctification by the Spirit.” In other words, God saves not only by forgiving sinners’ sins, but by the Holy Spirit progressively transforming them into holy people. The believer’s part in the process is just that—“belief in the truth.”
How do they come to faith? By God calling. When Paul preached the good news of Jesus Christ to the Thessalonians, (Acts 17:1-9) God was present literally calling the Thessalonians through Paul’s words. And God’s purpose in it all was “so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Doxa refers to a condition marked by honor, power and striking appearance and, therefore, is translated glory or splendor. This glory belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ; believers are saved to share in it.
What an encouragement Paul’s words must have been to the persecuted Thessalonians! The “cross” now; the “crown” to come. With that “end” in view, Paul urges the church to act on those encouraging words . . .
“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” (2:15).
“Stand firm” comes from the Greek stayko implying stability. In its literal sense it’s translated “stand” and figuratively “be steadfast” or “stand firm”. When Paul connects it to “hold to the traditions that you were taught by us”, he means “stand your ground and keep holding tightly to the teachings we passed on to you. Don’t renounce them and accept the false teachings of your persecutors.”
But how can they do that knowing they’re marked men? Beatings, false legal charges, robbery, mob violence—these have become common occurrences. How much safer to surrender and recant! So Paul concludes with a benediction/prayer . . .
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 (2:16,17).
They have been loved by God who is their Father and by the Lord Jesus Messiah himself. Solely through grace they been given eternal courage and a gloriously good future. Paul prays that God through Jesus would comfort and encourage their inmost beings and cause them to stand firm in every good work and word. Defensively, may they respond to abuse with humility and forgiveness, loving their enemies and praying for them. Offensively, may they continue to “gossip” the gospel and do good to those who do them evil. Despite their suffering, indeed because of it, may they continue to show themselves a model church for the glory of the One who has brought eternal life to them and is coming for them.
What round are we in?
Some of us reading this feel as if we’re getting pounded by a wicked left hook to the jaw or a crush blow to the gut. Life has turned rough and the fight seems endless. Faith feels weak. Our knees are buckling. Maybe it’s persecution. Or illness. Or any one of a hundred “blows” life in this fallen world throws at us.
Paul’s words in this text are for us, also. To read meditatively. To pray as I will now . . .
God, thank You for loving us and from the beginning choosing us to be saved from the guilt and power of sin and the seduction of this passing-away world. Thank you for the sanctifying work of the Spirit and the gift of faith to believe the truth. Thank You for calling us through the gospel, so we might share in the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Enable us to stand firm and hold tightly to the tradition of truth passed down to us from those who saw You and heard You. Please comfort and encourage our hearts so from our inmost being we might stand firm in every good work and word that You might be seen and heard and made much of through us who are little sinners saved for Your glory by Your grace. Amen.
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