II Thessalonians 1
Opening statementverses 1-2
Paul – Silvanus – Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
grace to you – and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
Paul compliments their faith amidst persecutionverses 3-6
We are bound to thank God always for you- brethren – as it is meet
because that your faith grows exceedingly
and the charity of every one of you all toward
each other abounds
SO that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God
for your patience and faith in all your persecutions
and tribulations that ye endure
which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God
that you may be counted worthy of the
kingdom of God for which ye also suffer
seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation
to them that trouble you
God provides rest for believers and judgment of othersverses 7-10
And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with HIS mighty angels
in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord
and from the glory of HIS power
when HE shall come to be glorified in HIS saints
and to be admired in all them that believe
(because our testimony among you was believed)
in that day
Paul’s prayer for believersverses 11-12
Wherefore also we pray always for you
that our God would count you worthy of this calling
and fulfill all the good pleasure of HIS goodness
and the work of faith with power
that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you
and you in HIM – according to the grace of our God
and the Lord Jesus Christ
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure. (430 “endure” [anechomai] means suffer, bear with, forbear, to hold up, to hold one’s self erect and firm, to sustain, to bear, or to endure something unpleasant or difficult whether on one’s own behalf or on behalf of someone else)
DEVOTION: Paul is compliments these Christians who have suffered because of their belief in Jesus. Not only does he compliment them to themselves but he compliments them to other churches. He is spreading their fame.
He wants other believers to understand what they are going through and how they have overcome their trials.
He describes them as patient. This is a hard tract to put into anyone’s character. We bring with us from our old nature: selfishness and laziness. So we usually still want the LORD to work immediately on our behalf if someone is giving us a hard time. Yet these believers are patient.
Not only are they patient but their faith is growing. They are learning to lean on Jesus and trust HIM to take care of them through their times of persecution. It is hard to go through some of the things that the LORD allows in our life for our personal growth. Yet HE knows exactly what we can take and will not ever allow the trial or persecution to go beyond what we can handle and still keep our testimony.
HE knows exactly how much strength we have at any given time in our life. We don’t think so at times but HE knows.
CHALLENGE: Our attitude has to be one of trust in HIM. If we genuinely trust HIM we know HE keeps HIS promises.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. (2346 “trouble” [thlibo] means afflict, to press hard upon, to cause great unhappiness for, distress, to suffer hardship, crowd against, or experience difficulty)
DEVOTION: Paul understands the human heart. He knows what these believers are thinking regarding those who are giving them a hard time. He knows they want these individuals dealt with right away.
However, he states that God is going to deal with them in HIS time frame. HE doesn’t always deal with people right away for their sins. HE gives them time to repent. HE is long-suffering with those who are outside of HIS kingdom. HE informs us that HE is not willing that any should perish.
They will perish but after they have been given enough time to reject HIM. HE will be able to show them on judgment day all the opportunities they had to become believers but they refused.
God is a just God. Each person is going to be dealt with on an individual basis and face their own judgment concerning their own actions.
Our actions and attitudes will be judged as well at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is our actions and attitudes toward those around us that the LORD has through the ministry of the Holy Spirit told us to witness to regarding HIS free gift we will be judge.
Remember that we grief the Holy Spirit with our sins. We can also quench the Holy Spirit by our inaction toward those HE has told us to witness to and we failed to do it.
Those we hate should still have an opportunity from us to know who Jesus Christ is and what HE has done for them.
CHALLENGE: Let God deal with them in HIS OWN time.
: 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you as believed) in that day. (2296 “admired” [thaumazo] means marvel, wonder, be amazed, have respect, look up to, or worship)
DEVOTION: In our world we find very few people we can look up to. There are many popular people on our world but not every one of them can be followed. Their lifestyle doesn’t give a good witness to what the LORD expects in a follower of HIS.
So we have to remember the standard set by the LORD regarding who we can look up to in our world. The one person we can all look up to is Jesus Christ. HE gave us an example to follow. HE communicated with the Father regarding HIS needs and thoughts. HE earned our respect as HE went to the cross for our sins not HIS own. HE had none.
Paul gave a testimony of the greatness of Jesus Christ and the church believed his testimony. He also told them about a future day when Christ was going to return for HIS own people.
Those in the church were part of the group. They were waiting for the return of Jesus Christ. Remember there were those who were teaching false doctrine. They were taking the hope of the believers in the church away because of their teachings.
The truth was that when Christ returned they were going to marvel at all the things HE has done for them. They will receive their rewards and a place in the New Jerusalem.
CHALLENGE: Paul is encouraging the believers to realize their place in the kingdom of God. Once they believed the truth they could return to a place of hope.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: (515 “ count worthy” [axioo] means 1 to think meet, fit, right. 2 to judge worthy, deem, deserving. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: There is only one who is worthy of God’s praise, and that is God Himself. This is based on God’s nature and His sovereignty (Revelation 4:11). In fact, we His people are clearly unworthy (Luke 17:10) of His grace and mercy. So what then does Paul mean when he prays for these Thessalonian believers to be counted worthy of their calling?
When our sons were growing up, they sometimes misbehaved. In an effort to make them want to rectify their behavior, we would sometimes say to them, “Act like you are a member of our family (mentioning our family by name)!” By this we meant, not that if they continued to disobey they would no longer be our children, but that their behavior should match their identity. They did not choose us as their parents or our family as their family, yet they were now part of something much bigger than themselves.
In the same way, Paul is not questioning the conversion of these Thessalonian believers. They had no doubt suffered much already for the gospel. But there were on-going struggles in their lives (including the ones that involved sexual purity, which we know about from 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8). So, in this prayer in verses 11-12, Paul is asking God to help them to match their behavior with their identity, especially with the response to their persecutors which they must have struggled based on the affliction already described in this chapter.
One thing we learn from this passage is that there are prayers in the New Testament which we can use as models for praying for one another. This is a great example of just such a prayer (another is Colossians 1:9-12).
CHALLENGE: Who might need you to pray for them today? (Hint: see section below.) Start using the model prayers of the New Testament as guides on how to pray for other believers.
: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1740 “glorified” [endoxazo] means to glorify, adorn with glory, or be honored)
DEVOTION: This word is used only in this book in verses 10 and 12. Paul is praying that the Christians in Thessalonia would bring honor to God through their suffering for their faith.
If his prayer is answered and it will be these individuals will be a testimony to their community of the love of God. They will work together to live lives pleasing to the LORD. They will want the name of Jesus Christ to be honored.
How do they receive power to honor the LORD with their lives through suffering? The word “grace” is found in this prayer. Paul realizes that everything that happens to those who are followers of Christ is happening according to the plan HE laid down before the world began. HE has given each Christian enough grace to help them through any circumstance. Both the Father and the Son are involved in each Christian’s life. They give them strength to do “all things.”
As the testimony of the church moves forward, many will see the lives of the believers and want what they have. They will ask questions. They will listen to people who are dedicated to the LORD. Many will become followers of the LORD. That way the name of Jesus Christ is honored by the Christians at Thessalonia.
There are two locations where all human beings will spend eternity. The place described in verse nine called eternal destruction or hell. Gehenna is a place of torment that lasts for eternity. All those outside of Christ will spend eternity in the lake of fire that is reserved for the devil and his angels. It is a place of punishment. Only those who reject Christ will spend eternity in this place.
For those who have chosen to follow the LORD there is a place called heaven. All those who follow Christ will spend eternity in the presence of the LORD. Those who are going to spend eternity with the LORD are supposed to give and bring HIM honor while they are here on the earth. Even in heaven we will be singing songs of honor to the LORD.
We have a responsibility to daily adorn our lives so that they honor the LORD. When people see us, they should see Christ. Not an easy task in our world, but with the strength of the LORD we can do it. HIS saints or followers honor Christ. When we mention HIS name it is always to give HIM honor. We are not here to take the name of the LORD in vain.
CHALLENGE: Honor the LORD with your time, talent and tithe. These are daily challenges that HE gives us strength to accomplish.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Paul thanks God for believersverse 3
Paul prays always for the churchverses 11-12
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Gospelverse 8
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Fatherverses 1, 2
God our Fatherverses 1, 2
Godverses 1-6, 8, 11, 12
Churches of Godverse 4
Righteous judgment of Godverse 5
Kingdom of Godverse 5
Righteous thing to recompense tribulation to those who troubleverse 6
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Lordverses 1, 2, 7-9, 12
Jesusverses 1, 2, 7, 8, 12
Christverses 1, 2, 8, 12
Lord Jesus Christverses 1, 2, 8, 12
Lord Jesusverse 7
Vengeance with flaming fireverse 8
Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christverse 8
Presence of the Lordverse 9
Glory of HIS powerverse 9
Coming to be glorified in HIS saintsverse 10
Admired in all them that believeverse 10
Goodnessverse 11
Work of faith with powerverse 11
Name glorifiedverse 12
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Mighty angelsverse 7
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Church of Thessaloniansverse 1
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Trouble believersverse 6
Know not Godverse 8
Obey not the gospelverse 8
Punishedverse 9
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Graceverses 2, 12
Peaceverse 2
Thankverse 3
Faith growingverses 3, 4, 11
Charity toward fellow believersverse 3
Patienceverse 4
Persecutionsverse 4
Tribulationsverses 4, 6
Enduranceverse 4
Counted worthyverses 5, 11
Sufferverse 5
Troubledverses 6, 7
Restverse 7
Saintsverse 10
Believeverse 10
Testimonyverse 10
Count worthyverse 11
Callingverse 11
Fulfil all the good pleasureverse 11
Glorify Jesusverse 12
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Paulverse 1
Silvanusverse 1
Letter to the churchverse 1
Brethrenverse 3
Glory in churchverse 4
Churches of Godverse 4
Gospel of Jesus Christverse 8
Last Things (Future Events)
Kingdom of Godverse 5
Lord Jesus revealed from heavenverse 7
Flaming fireverse 8
Everlasting destruction verse 9
In that dayverse 10
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
1: 11-12 Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians in the light of this coming day was that God would continue His work in them making them worthy of their election, growing in their sanctification (goodness) and in their faith. The aim is, as always, the glory of the Lord Jesus. (p. 1892, The MOODY Bible Commentary by Michael Rydelnik & Michael Vanlaningham)
11 Not content with the certainty of coming glorification, Paul now prays for its realization. Human minds wrestle with the problem of praying for something already fixed in the unalterable purpose of God. Yet has not Paul already done this in these Epistles (1 Thess 3:12, 13; 5:23)? Is it not God’s pleasure for saints to cooperate with his ongoing program? (Philippians 2:12, 13). For example, the NT closes on the note of John’s prayer for the already certain return of the Lord Jesus (Rev 22:20).
The purpose of Paul’s prayer is “that our God may count you worthy of his calling.” This probably corresponds to their worthiness for the kingdom mentioned in v. 5. No uncertainty of ultimate acceptance is implied in the prayer. Uncertainty would undercut, not build, assurance for the fainthearted. Though the worthiness of the Thessalonian believers was confirmed (v. 5), certainty in the security of God’s purposes does not diminish the need to keep on praying. Ultimate salvation rests on the sure foundation of God’s faithfulness (1 Thess 5:24), but until its actual accomplishment, Paul continues praying for it (Hogg and Vine, p. 237).
“His calling” is usually regarded by Paul as a past decree (Rom 11:29; 1 Cor 1:26) (Milligan, p. 93; Best, p. 268). To construe it like this here could imply the possibility of falling away from it (Lunemann, p. 198; Frame, p. 239). Yet such cannot happen to those already assured of a future worthiness (v. 5) based solely on the grace of God (v. 12). It is reassuring to know that God’s call is made effective quite apart from human merit (cf. Gal 1:13–15). Instead of limiting the call to what happened before the foundation of the world, the present emphasis on Christ’s return (v. 10) and the eschatological kingdom of God (v. 5) argues for extending the scope of “calling” to include its future outworking at God’s righteous judgment (v. 5).
Paul’s other prayer objective is for God to “fulfill every good purpose [lit., ‘every resolve for goodness’] of yours and every act prompted by your faith.” “Goodness” is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Paul prays for the kind of desire that produces goodness—i.e., the active quality that constantly pursues what is right and beneficial for others. “Every act prompted by your faith” is what he had witnessed in them previously (cf. “work produced by faith,” 1 Thess 1:3). What they had already attained was important, but room for growth was still there (cf. 1 Thess 3:10; 4:1). Realization of these objectives can come only “by his power,” i.e., that of him the prayer is addressed to. (Thomas, R. L. (1981). 2 Thessalonians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 316). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House)
To which end (εἰς ὁ [eis ho]). So Col. 1:29. Probably purpose with reference to the contents of verses 5 to 10. We have had the Thanksgiving (verses 3 to 10) in a long, complicated, but rich period or sentence. Now he makes a brief Prayer (verses 11 and 12) that God will fulfil all their hopes and endeavours. Paul and his colleagues can still pray for them though no longer with them (Moffatt). That (ἱνα [hina]). Common after προσευχομαι [proseuchomai] (Col. 4:3; Eph. 1:17; Phil. 1:9) when the content of the prayer blends with the purpose (purport and purpose). Count you worthy (ὑμας ἀξιωσῃ [humas axiōsēi]). Causative verb (aorist active subjunctive) like καταξιοω [kataxioō] in verse 5 with genitive. Of your calling (της κλησεως [tēs klēseōs]). Κλησις [Klēsis] can apply to the beginning as in 1 Cor. 1:26; Rom. 11:29, but it can also apply to the final issue as in Phil. 3:14; Heb. 3:1. Both ideas may be here. It is God’s calling of the Thessalonians. And fulfil every desire of goodness (και πληρωσῃ πασαν εὐδοκιαν ἀγαθωσυνης [kai plērōsēi pasan eudokian agathōsunēs]). “Whom he counts worthy he first makes worthy” (Lillie). Yes, in purpose, but the wonder and the glory of it all is that God begins to count us worthy in Christ before the process is completed in Christ (Rom. 8:29f.). But God will see it through and so Paul prays to God. Εὐδοκια [Eudokia] (cf. Luke 2:14) is more than mere desire, rather good pleasure, God’s purpose of goodness, not in ancient Greek, only in LXX and N. T. Ἀγαθωσυνη [Agathōsunē] like a dozen other words in -συνη [-sunē] occurs only in late Greek. This word occurs only in LXX, N. T., writings based on them. It is made from ἀγαθος [agathos], good, akin to ἀγαμαι [agamai], to admire. May the Thessalonians find delight in goodness, a worthy and pertinent prayer. Work of faith (ἐργον πιστεως [ergon pisteōs]). The same phrase in 1 Thess. 1:3. Paul prays for rich fruition of what he had seen in the beginning. Work marked by faith, springs from faith, sustained by faith. With power (ἐν δυναμει [en dunamei]). In power. Connect with πληρωσῃ [plērōsēi] (fulfil), God’s power (Rom. 1:29; Col. 1:4) in Christ (1 Cor. 1:24) through the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 1:5). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (2 Th 1:11). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press)
1:11. Paul and his colleagues habitually prayed for the Thessalonians. Their spiritual welfare was always on the apostles’ hearts.
They prayed that their God (the apostles’ and the Thessalonians) would reckon or declare the readers worthy of the calling they had received, to come to God through faith in Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 8:30; Eph. 4:1; 1 Thes. 4:7). Paul consistently made what God has done for believers the basis of his appeals for them to lead lives in keeping with their destiny. Christians do not live worthily in order to obtain salvation but because they have been granted salvation.
A second request was that God would bring to full expression every good purpose of theirs to glorify God, and every act motivated by their faith in God. Both motives and actions have their source in God (Phil. 2:13); thus they are accomplished by His power. (Constable, T. L. (1985). 2 Thessalonians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 716). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
Their worthiness (v. 11a). In 2 Thessalonians 1:5, Paul had stated that he wanted them to be worthy of the kingdom when they entered glory in the future. But here he emphasized their present situation. God’s calling was in grace and love, and Paul desired that they might live up to that calling (see 2 Thes. 2:13–14).
Trials do not make a person; they reveal what a person is made of. When our faith is tried, we are revealing our worth (1 Peter 1:6–9). God certainly knows our hearts even before we are tried, but we do not know our own hearts. And others do not know what we are worth. We need to pray that God will build our worth and make us more valuable Christians because of the trials we have endured.
Their walk (v. 11b). “That by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act promoted by your faith” (niv). Character must lead to conduct. Paul prayed that they might have a resolute will, empowered by God, to do what He wanted them to do. Obedience and service do not spring from human talent and efforts, but from God’s power as we trust Him.
Paul had linked faith with love (2 Thes. 1:3) and endurance (2 Thes. 1:4), and here he linked it with power. If we believe God, we will receive His power in our lives. We cannot be victorious in tribulations if we only trust ourselves; but we can be victorious through trusting Him.
When I travel, I carry an electric razor that can store up the energy and run for perhaps two hours without any outside source of power. It is especially useful when I visit the mission fields.
While preaching for a week at a summer conference, I noticed that my razor was losing power. In fact, one morning it operated so slowly that I was convinced it was broken. Then by evening, it had picked up speed again. A few minutes investigation revealed the problem: I had plugged the razor into a socket that was controlled by a wall switch. When my wife had the desk lamp on, my razor was storing up power; when the light was off, the razor received no power.
That incident taught me a spiritual lesson: it is easy (by force of habit) to trust a source of power without checking to see if the switch is on. Paul was praying that his friends might “have the switch on” and, by their faith, receive the power needed to endure suffering and glorify God.
Their witness (v. 12). Jesus Christ will be glorified in His saints when they return with Him (2 Thes. 1:10); but He should also be glorified in our lives today. Unbelievers blaspheme His name (1 Peter 4:12ff), but believers bless His name and seek to glorify it. The amazing thing is that the believer who glorifies Christ is likewise glorified in Christ, “glorified in you, and you in Him” (niv).
How can this be done? “According to the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thes. 1:12). Grace and glory go together, as do suffering and glory (see Pss. 45:2–3; 84:11; Rom. 5:2; 2 Cor. 8:19; 1 Peter 5:10). As we receive His grace, we reveal His glory.
“ ‘There is no peace,’ saith the Lord, ‘unto the wicked’ ” (Isa. 48:22). No rest for the wicked! But there is rest for those who trust Christ and seek to live for His glory. For the Christian, the best is yet to come. We know that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 195–196). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
1:11 we pray … always. Paul’s prayer life is exemplified 4 times in this letter (cf. v. 12; 2:16, 17; 3:1–5, 16). Here he prayed as he did in v. 5, that they might behave in ways consistent with their identity as Christians (cf. 1Th 2:19; Eph 4:1; Col 1:10), living up to their calling to salvation (cf. Rom 8:30; 11:29; Gal 4:13–15; 1Co 1:26; Col 1:3–5; 1Th 2:12) with lives marked by goodness and powerful works of faith. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Th 1:11). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 11. Wherefore also we pray always for you, &c.] Not only observe the above things to your comfort, to support you under sufferings, but we add our prayers, and not only now, but always, that you may be among them in whom Christ will be glorified and admired; in order to which we most sincerely pray, that our God would count you worthy of this calling. The Syriac version reads, your calling, as in 1 Cor. 1:26. The Vulgate Latin reads, his own calling, meaning their effectual calling. This is indeed of God, and not of man; and is owing, not to any previous worthiness in man, as appears from the instances of Matthew the publican, Zaccheus, the Apostle Paul, the Corinthians, and others, but entirely to the free grace of God, who counts them worthy, not for any worthiness there is in them; but vouchsafes, as the word may be rendered, this blessing of grace, their effectual vocation, of his own good will and pleasure: but this cannot be meant here, because these persons were partakers of that grace, God had called them to his kingdom and glory; unless the sense of the petition is, that God would cause them to walk worthy of the vocation with which they were called, which becoming walk is owing to the grace of God: or else the meaning may be, that God would grant unto them perseverance in the grace, by and to which they were called, that so they might enjoy eternal glory; which though certain, should be prayed for by saints, both for themselves and others: the words may be rendered, that our God would count you worthy of the call; of the call of Christ when he shall be revealed from heaven, and come a second time; for then will he first call the saints out of their graves, as he did Lazarus, and they shall hear his all-powerful voice, and come forth to the resurrection of life, the first and better resurrection, which those that have part in will be secure from the second death; this the apostle was desirous of attaining to himself, and prays that God would vouchsafe it to others; of this Job speaks in ch. 14:15. And next Christ will call the righteous, when raised and set at his right hand, to inherit the kingdom and glory prepared by his father for them; and happy are those who by the grace of God will be counted worthy of this call! or rather by calling here is meant, the ultimate glory itself, which the saints are called unto; this God gives a right unto in the justifying righteousness of his son, and makes meet for by his own grace; and the thing itself is a free-grace gift of his through Jesus Christ. In this sense calling seems to be used in Eph. 4:4 and to this agrees the Ethiopic version here, that God may impart unto you that to which he hath called you; and that is eternal glory, which though certainly and inseparably connected with effectual vocation, may, and should be prayed for: and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness; not providential, but special goodness; not the good pleasure of his strict justice in the condemning of the wicked, denying his grace to them, and hiding from them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, which is a part of his good pleasure, even of the good pleasure of his righteousness; but this is the good pleasure of his grace and kindness in Christ Jesus, and intends the whole of his gracious designs towards his people: and to express the free, rich, sovereign grace of God in them, the apostle uses a variety of words, calling them his pleasure, his good pleasure; and, as if this was not enough, the good pleasure of his goodness; and desires that all of it might be fulfilled; it consisting of many things, some of which were fulfilled, and others remained to be fulfilled. It consists of the choice of persons in Christ, and the predestination of them to the adoption of children, which is according to the good pleasure of the will of God; the redemption of them by Christ, in which are displayed the exceeding riches of his grace; the free justification of them by the righteousness of Christ; the full pardon of all their sins, and their adoption into the household of God, and their regeneration, of rich grace, and abundant mercy; all these instances of the good pleasure of divine goodness were fulfilled in these persons; what remained were the carrying on and finishing the work of grace upon their souls, and their enjoyment of the heavenly glory: and for the former, in order to the latter, the apostle prays in the next clause, and the work of faith with power; faith is not only an operative grace, see the note on 1 Thess. 1:3. and is attended with good works; but it is a work itself, not of man’s, for he cannot produce it in himself, nor exercise it of himself; but it is the work of God, of his operation which he works in his people; it has not only God for its object, and therefore the Arabic version reads, the work of faith on him; but it has God for its author: and this now, though it had growed exceedingly in these believers, was not as yet fulfilled or perfect; something was still lacking in it; wherefore the apostle prays that he who was the author would be the finisher of it: and this will be done with power; not of man’s, for this work is neither begun, nor carried on, nor will it be finished by the might and power of men; but the same hands which laid the foundation of it, raise it up, carry it on, and give the finishing stroke to it; it is done by the power of God, and so the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, by his own power; which is greatly displayed in the production of faith at first; for a poor sensible sinner, in a view of all his sins, and the just deserts of them, to venture his soul on Christ alone for salvation; for a man to go out of himself and renounce his own righteousness, and trust to the righteousness of Christ for his justification before God, and acceptance with him, is owing to the exceeding greatness of God’s power to them that believe; and the same power is seen in enabling faith to do the things it does; see Heb. 11 and in encouraging, supporting, and maintaining it under the most difficult circumstances, as in the case of Abraham; and to make it stand fast under the severest persecutions, and at the hour of death, and in the view of an awful eternity, when it receives its full completion. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 253). London: Mathews and Leigh)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Now that is the kind of thing that is being said at the present time: “It does not matter what people may teach. Though they may deny the very essence of Christianity, if I like them, if I am attracted to them, if I can talk easily to them, then that is what counts.” (From Saving Faith, a sermon on Romans 10:3 by Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
What do we look for when we look for someone to serve on the board? In many small churches, struggling to find enough individuals to fill the various ministry needs within the church, the job requirements for the board member may look something like this : Necessary requirements: A warm body. Preferred requirements: Regular attendance (i.e. comes to church regularly on Christmas, Easter, and communion Sunday – after all we need someone to pass out the Communion elements), previously involved in some ministry of the church (like being an usher), related to someone else in the church (have to keep it in the family), not a newcomer (depending on the church, this may mean a person who has come two Sundays or someone who has been in the church for thirty years or more), and significant financial contributor (the more a person gives, the more likely the person will be appointed). I deal requirements: Likes the pastor and is like by the pastor. (p. 43, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
Jesus uses the miracle feeding of the 4000 as a teaching tool for His disciples.
INSIGHT
After feeding the 4000, it is obvious that the disciples do not understand the significance of the event. Jesus says, “When I fed the 5000, how many loaves did you pick up afterward?” His disciples reply, “Twelve.” Then again, “When I fed the 4000, how many loaves did you pick up afterward?” “Seven,” they answer.
“Do you not yet understand?” the Lord asks them.
Then, some days later, Jesus is alone with the Twelve, and He asks them, “Who do you think I am?” Peter replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Finally, progress! (Quiet Walk)
THE DESIRE TO SIN
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. John 17:15
The church and the Christian and the gospel are not so much concerned about removing the occasions for sin as removing from man the desire to sin. “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil…. Sanctify them” (John 17:15, 17). Our Lord is saying in effect, “I am not so concerned that You should take the occasion for sin away, but that You should take out of the man the desire to take advantage of the occasion.”
Do you see the difference? The gospel of Jesus Christ does not so much take the Christian out of the world as take the world out of the Christian. That is the point. “Sanctify them”: whatever the world is like around and about them, if the world is not in them, the world outside them will not be able to affect them. That is the glory of the gospel; it makes a man free in the midst of the devil’s work in this world.
Or let me put it like this: The gospel is not so much concerned about changing the conditions as about changing the man. Oh, the tragedy of the folly and the foolishness that has been spoken about this! People say, “But surely you must clear up the slums before these people can become Christians?” My friends, one of the most glorious things I have ever seen is a man who has become a Christian in the slums and then, though remaining in the same place, has transformed his home and house there. You need not change the man’s conditions before you change the man. Thank God, the gospel can change the man in spite of the conditions.
A Thought to Ponder
The Gospel of Jesus Christ does not so much take the Christian out of the world as take the world out of the Christian.
(From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 17-18, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
In a Moment of Time
“And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.” (Luke 4:5)
It is interesting that there are just three “moments” mentioned in the New Testament and that there are three different Greek words so translated, each used one time only in the Bible. Furthermore, each of these three “moments” is used in a context that is anticipatory of the future.
First of all, Satan tempted Jesus by flashing before His eyes a vision of the whole world, offering it to Him immediately without His having to endure the cross, if He would rule it for the devil. Here the Greek word for “moment” is stigme, meaning a “point,” like a period after a sentence. In an infinite “timeline,” it would be just a dot on the line, a “point” in time. Satan’s apparent dominion over this world, though it lasts six thousand years or so, is only a moment compared to eternity, and Jesus knew this was a poor bargain.
One day, in fact, He will return to reclaim the world from Satan. At that great day, “we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). In this passage, the unique word is atomos, meaning an indivisible particle. That is, in an “atom of time,” too instantaneous to measure, we shall be changed to be like Him in “his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).
Right now, however, our bodies are weak and easily beset with pain and sickness. Nevertheless, we are assured that “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). The word here is parautika, referring specifically to the present moment. What we must endure “here and now” is so brief compared to the eternity “then and there” that it is not even “worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
|
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.