The Second letter of Paul to the Thessalonians continues the theme of holiness and hope. This lesson,is taken from the first chapter. We will join the first five verses with the last last two verses and find seven great goals which we can truly achieve, but only by the grace of God.
Seven Goals in Grace (Part 1)
1 To Enlarge Our Faith
2Th 1:3 Paul sees much to be thankful for in the church of the Thessalonians. He says, ¶ "We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, just as it's appropriate to do, because your faith grows exceedingly..."(2Th 1:3). Faith does not remain just as it was when one first believed and obeyed the gospel. Faith grows. Our faith should be much bigger now than it used to be. Its effect on our own lives, and its influence on others, should be much stronger than it was when it was new.
Greater faith doesn't mean we get more and more gullible, more and more willing to believe myths. A larger faith is one in which we have made more sure the things we may once have believed, even though we then did not understand all the evidence.
One of the main ideas in the New Testament is the need for more and greater faith. For example...
"The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' The Lord said, 'If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, "Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea," and it would obey you'"(Lke 17:5-6).
A man whose child was sick came to Jesus for help. "Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.' Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, 'I believe. Help my unbelief!'"(Mrk 9:23-24).
Paul exhorts the Romans, "It is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light"(Rom 13:11-12).
Likewise, Paul's message to the Thessalonians is about "salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth"(2Th 2:13). That is an ongoing and developing process.
in his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul said that he was ¶ "praying very hard, night and day, that we may see your face; and may perfect what is lacking in your faith"(1Th 3:10). He did not mean to suggest that their faith was weak or poorly. He meant that their faith was ready to grow and this growth was necessary. There is always the potential for more growth in faith. So our first goal is to discover what is lacking in our faith and then to bring our faith to maturity and perfection.
2 To Grow in Love
2Th 1:2-3 Paul adds to faith a second and equally important principle, "...and the love of each and every one of you towards one another abounds"(2Th 1:2). In an ideal world, love grows ever greater.
Jesus shows the extent to which love can go when he says, "Love your enemies"(Mtt 5:43-44).
Paul understands that true love is a love of God, and he gives this benediction near the end of his second letter to the Thessalonians, "May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God"(2Th 3:5).
Paul also knows that true love is a love of the truth. He says that many people are deceived and lost "because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved"(2Th 2:10).
Paul understands also that Jesus himself showed us how far love can go. ¶ "Now on your behalf I'm going to ask something of Jesus Christ himself and God our Father. They loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace; so I ask that they comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work that you do and in every good word that you speak."(2Th 2:16-17). Christ's death for us was an act of great love. So our second goal is to deepen our love for God; for truth; and for the Lord Jesus; and to let that love abound toward others.
3 To Steadfastly Endure
2Th 1:4 Paul adds a third principle to faith and love, namely the hope that encourages us to endure. He says, "We ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure"(2Th 1:4).
James says, "Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."(Jas 1:4).
An Australian prime minister became famous for his saying, "Life wasn't meant to be easy". What he meant was that there is often great value in a struggle. It can strengthen and improve us. This is certainly true of the Christian life.
The Thessalonians were being afflicted by persecution (2Th 1:6). This may not be what troubles us, but most Christians have something difficult to endure. God encourages us to endure and establish our hearts in his love and "eternal comfort and good hope by grace"(2Th 2:17).
Lesson continued...