Chapter # 3 Paragraph # 1 Study # 3
March 6, 2015
Humble, Texas
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Thesis: 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: 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".
- I. The Larger Context.
- A. The entire book has a setting in conflict over "the Word of God".
- 1. Paul had taught the Thessalonians about their "blessed hope" when he was with them and in his first letter to them.
- 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.
- 3. At issue: whether the Thessalonians were going to stand firm on this particular issue because it was the Word of God.
- B. The prior immediate context of 2:13-17 has the same setting regarding the same basic issue: will they stand firm?
- 1. At issue is whether the believers will stand fast (2:15) 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- D. And Reality is also in this larger context.
- 1. "Faith" always has a beginning.
- 2. "Faith" always has direct implications beyond the specific issues of what was first believed.
- 3. "Faith" is always opposed by the adversary so that it can be stymied and shut down.
- 4. "Faith" is to be pursued into all of its implications as they grow into conviction over time.
- II. Within This Larger Context is This Text.
- A. At issue is whether, or not, "The Word Will Run" and "Be Glorified".
- B. The necessity for this is whether, or not, The Lord will be "faithful" and whether, or not, His people will be "faithful".
- 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.
- 1. Regarding the Love of The God, the "believer" has two most dangerous liabilities.
- a. On the one hand, everyone has a private "most fearful" issue of the heart.
- 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.
- 2) The "believer" must hang on to this hope in order for the fear to be defeated.
- b. On the other hand, everyone has a "most desirable" issue of the heart.
- 1) The Word's solution to this reality is "taking up the cross daily" so that the desire is put to death.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 1 Peter 2:21.
- D. Then there is Paul's encouragement to the Thessalonians.
- 1. He claims to have been persuaded regarding them that they will be "established".
- a. This "establishment" is revealed by the current "doing".
- b. This "establishment" will be revealed by the future "doing".
- c. The "doing", however, is mainly about one issue: whether the church will purge itself of those whose "faith" is bogus.
- 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.
- 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.
- b. The promise is for the church; the application of that promise is for those who will latch on to it by "faith".
