<H3>Chapter # 3  Paragraph # 1  Study # 3<BR />March 6, 2015<BR />Humble, Texas<BR /><a href="https://www.biblical-thinking.org/DOC-2Th/audio.php?name=2Thess160306.mp3">(Download Audio)</a></H3>

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Thesis:&nbsp;&nbsp;  Paul's confidence is that the Thessalonians are, and will be, doing what is required to maintain and build their reputation of faithfulness to The Lord.

Introduction:&nbsp;&nbsp;  In our studies of this first paragraph we have seen that on-going faithfulness is Paul's large burden.  It is one thing to "believe" a single aspect of the Word of God; it is another thing to continue to believe it so that it runs tentacles outward into multiple other aspects of that Word; and it is yet another thing to continue that same process over time so that "an established faith" results over the entire lifetime of the one who initially "believed".

<ul><li>I. The Larger Context. 
	<ul><li>A. The entire book has a setting in conflict over "the Word of God". 
		<ul><li>1. Paul had taught the Thessalonians about their "blessed hope" when he was with them and in his first letter to them. 
		<li>2. After his departure, false teachers had used deceit to attempt to corrupt this "hope" by denying its major element:  deliverance from the coming wrath. 
		<li>3. At issue:  whether the Thessalonians were going to stand firm on <u><b><i>this</u></b></i> <u><b><i>particular</u></b></i> issue because it was the Word of God. 
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	<li>B. The prior immediate context of <b>2:13-17</b> has the same setting regarding the same basic issue:  will they stand firm? 
		<ul><li>1. At issue is whether the believers will stand fast (<b>2:15</b>) so as to not only escape the coming wrath, but also to acquire the future glory that is extended to those who do so stand. 
		<li>2. Paul's "wish" is that The Lord Jesus Christ, Himself and God our Father would "establish" the heart in the pursuit of the good word and work. 
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	<li>C. The immediately following context has some very strong instructions regarding any who do not remain faithful so that the larger body of the church will. 
	<li>D. And Reality is also in this larger context. 
		<ul><li>1. "Faith" always has a beginning. 
		<li>2. "Faith" always has direct implications beyond the specific issues of what was first believed. 
		<li>3. "Faith" is always opposed by the adversary so that it can be stymied and shut down. 
		<li>4. "Faith" is to be pursued into all of its implications as they grow into conviction over time. 
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<li>II. Within This Larger Context is This Text. 
	<ul><li>A. At issue is whether, or not, "The Word Will Run" and "Be Glorified". 
	<li>B. The necessity for this is whether, or not, The Lord will be "faithful" and whether, or not, His people will be "faithful". 
	<li>C. A more precise issue is whether, or not, The Lord will direct the hearts of His people into the Love of The God and into the Patience of The Christ. 
		<ul><li>1. Regarding the Love of The God, the "believer" has two most dangerous liabilities. 
			<ul><li>a. On the one hand, everyone has a private "most fearful" issue of the heart. 
				<ul><li>1) The Word's solution to this is the reality that perfected love casts out all fear and perfected love develops as the fear is confronted from multiple sides over time. 
				<li>2) The "believer" must hang on to this hope in order for the fear to be defeated. 
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			<li>b. On the other hand, everyone has a "most desirable" issue of the heart. 
				<ul><li>1) The Word's solution to this reality is "taking up the cross daily" so that the desire is put to death. 
				<li>2) The "believer" must hang on to the promise of the joy of life without the idol in order for the desire to be defeated. 
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			<li>c. Satan, by observation, has pretty well figured out what both of these issues are for us so that he will attack through many stratagems to force us to yield in fear or desire. 
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		<li>2. Regarding the endurance of the Christ, the "believer" has one major reality to face:  whether, or not, he/she is willing to pay the ultimate price of fidelity as did Christ at the Cross, just as Peter said in <b>1&nbsp;Peter 2:21</b>. 
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	<li>D. Then there is Paul's encouragement to the Thessalonians. 
		<ul><li>1. He claims to have been persuaded regarding them that they will be "established". 
			<ul><li>a. This "establishment" is revealed by the current "doing". 
			<li>b. This "establishment" will be revealed by the future "doing". 
			<li>c. The "doing", however, is mainly about one issue:  whether the church will purge itself of those whose "faith" is bogus. 
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		<li>2. He claims this in spite of the rather contrary following context wherein he acknowledges the very real possibility that some within the group will rebel. 
			<ul><li>a. The tension raised here is a tension between what God will do in the larger body of the church, and what He will, or will not do, in regard to the individual members. 
			<li>b. The promise is for the church; the application of that promise is for those who will latch on to it by "faith". 
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