criterion for disfellowship

Posted on January 22, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

criterion for disfellowship

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is undisciplined and does not walk according to the tradition received from us

criterion for disfellowship

Notice the criterion for disfellowship here. It is not someone who holds to a different theological position. There is bound to be theological diversity in any congregation. Nor is the criterion the person’s cultural or racial background. Nor is it the person’s social status. Paul does not even emphasize the person’s political views.

No, the criterion for disfellowship is an undisciplined walk. Paul mentions the tradition received. He had previously said:

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote.

Paul taught a lot of theology, but he also taught traditions: ways to act so that the gospel would receive a hearing. The kinds of people who hold to the theology but don’t respect the discipline of Christian living — those are the kind of “Christian” to avoid.

Lord, give us wisdom as to who we do life with.

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cause of confidence

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

cause of confidence

2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:4 We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s care and Christ’s endurance.

cause of confidence

How was Paul confident that the churches he founded would continue to stay true to the gospel, and live the lives he commanded them to live?

  • He trusted the Lord to strengthen them
  • He trusted the Lord to protect them from the evil one
  • He trusted the believers to remain faithful
  • He prayed for the Lord to make their hearts caring hearts
  • He prayed for the Lord to make their hearts strong enough to endure as Christ endured

Such is the nature of our trust in the faithfulness of our Lord.

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prayer partners

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

prayer partners

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 3:1 In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may move forward rapidly and be honored, just like it was with you,
2 Thessalonians 3:2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil humans, because not all have faith.

prayer partners

Do you think that Paul relied on his own ability to follow approved church growth principles so that his ministry was successful? He was diligent and did all he could, but he also knew that all he could do was not enough. That is why he asked his congregations to pray for him. Here he asks for two specific things.

  • He asked that the word of the Lord may move forward rapidly and be honored.
  • He asked to be delivered from the wicked and evil humans who would oppose his message and make trouble for him.

These are not the words of a person who put confidence in his own ability. They were the words of a servant who depended on his master for success, and on prayer partners who would help him.

Lord, give us prayer partners who can pave the way for success in your ministry.

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his follow-up

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

his follow-up

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has cared about us and given us permanent encouragement and good hope by favor,
2 Thessalonians 2:17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good achievement and word.

his follow-up

Paul had been taken from his ministry, and he knew he might not ever get a chance to go back. He did not despair of that. He knew God was in control. So, he simply asked the Thessalonians to stand firm and hold to what he had taught them. He knew they would have to grow in their spiritual lives, but that was out of his hands.

There was one thing he could do, to encourage and strengthen them. He could pray that God take over that follow-up ministry, and that is just what he did in verses 16-17.

Lord, thank you that when we have done our bit, you are there to keep the ministry going.

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God’s work from the first

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

God’s work from the first

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters cared about by the Lord, because from the first, God has chosen you for rescue through sanctification by the Breath and through belief in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:14 He invited you to this through our gospel, so that you might acquire the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s work from the first

If you believe the truth of the gospel, you have much to be thankful for, and others have many reasons to be thankful for you.

  • God has chosen to rescue you.
  • God had breathed his sanctifying Breath into you.
  • God has invited you to share in the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.

I am so thankful that God has done that for you. Let’s you and me determine to stay faithful to him.

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false evidence

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

false evidence

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s achieving energy, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders,
2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the care for the truth and so be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:11 For this reason God sends them an energy that achieves deviation so that they will believe the lie,
2 Thessalonians 2:12 so that all will be condemned — those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.

false evidence

This passage is a warning for this generation. We don’t seem to be as concerned about the truth as we are winning the argument. Paul told the Thessalonians that the apostasy will be empowered, and will manifest “all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders.” It will solidify false teaching by producing false evidence.

For that reason, we need to be more diligent than ever before. We need to base our understanding on what the Bible says, not on other people’s personal experience. Unfortunately, there is very little emphasis on sound exegesis in our generation.

Lord, drive us back to our knees, and to your word.

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best defense against apostasy

Posted on January 16, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

best defense against apostasy

2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 2:5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this?
2 Thessalonians 2:6 And you know what currently prevents this, so that he will be revealed in his season.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already achieving things, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way,
2 Thessalonians 2:8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will eliminate him at the appearance of his coming.

best defense against apostasy

Paul predicts an apostasy to come. There have been numerous explanations of his prediction in this chapter, but I want to draw attention to some assertions from this passage.

First, the apostasy, led by the lawless one will occur between the time of Paul and the second coming.

Secondly, it will not be concluded until Christ destroys the leader of the apostasy at his return.

Until then, you and I need to be careful that we are not deceived. We need to stay true to the word of God, and continue proclaiming the gospel. Our best defense against apostasy is personal faithfulness.

Lord, may we be so true to your word that we allow no falsehood or faithlessness.

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apostasy in the church

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

apostasy in the church

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the lawless human is revealed, the son of destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.

apostasy in the church

Paul was attempting to deal with a false teaching that had infiltrated Thessalonica. Some in the churches there were beginning to teach that Jesus had already come. No, Paul says. One of the evidences that Paul brings forth in support of his claim is this prophecy. Before Jesus returns, there will be apostasy in the church. The church be taken over by someone who does not belong in its leadership. That someone will sit in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Lots of people today think that prophecy is still to be fulfilled, although many of their ancestors were convinced that the apostasy already happened, and that it took a Reformation to get us out of it.

Fortunately, for both of these groups of Christians, the main thing is that we are all looking for the coming of Christ.

Come, Lord Jesus.

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no substitute hope

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

no substitute hope

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters,
2 Thessalonians 2:2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a breath or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come.

no substitute hope

The Thessalonians were being targeted with a false doctrine about the second coming of Christ. Specifically, someone had begun teaching that Christ had already come, and that doctrine had the potential to upset and trouble the believers. One can see why. The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the saved. Without the hope of Christ’s literal return to the earth, the gospel is a promise unfulfilled. Without the coming of its Lord, the church is a sham.

Paul points out that there are three ways this false doctrine could influence the believers in Thessalonica. It could be a general attitude of depression — a feeling that all is lost, because even if Christ was to come, he would not come for them. That was the “breath” Paul was talking about. Or, it could be a message from someone they trusted giving credence to that false teaching. Or, it might even be a letter like the one they are reading, only written by someone else pretending to be Paul.

What could possibly be the motive of such false teaching? One possibility is that some might be teaching that the real hope is the Greek concept of “flying away” as a disembodied spirit when you die. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to trust in the real hope of Christ’s physical return, resurrection, and eternal life as whole persons. That is the blessed hope, and we will accept no substitute.

Either way, Paul encourages the Thessalonians to stand true to their hope in the actual return of Christ. He is our hope. We will accept no substitute.

See Also:

ACST 58: The Gathered

ACST 61: The Advents

ACST 62: The Timing

https://marmsky.com/2011/05/22/when-christ-comes-the-delusion-will-end/

 

 

 

 

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more than banish

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

more than banish

2 Thessalonians 1:8-12 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 1:8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 They will pay the penalty of permanent destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength
2 Thessalonians 1:10 on that day when he comes to be glorified by his devotees and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his invitation, and by his power fulfill your every good intention to do good and your achievement produced by faith,
2 Thessalonians 1:12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the favor of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

more than banish

Some translations weaken the point of this passage by making it seem that all Jesus will do when he comes is banish the wicked from God’s presence forever. Not so. The Greek word oletheros in verse 9 is the same word used for destroying angel in Hebrews 11:28. That destroying angel did not banish the firstborn of Egypt. He killed them.

And the adjective describing the destruction is often translated “eternal”, which is an unfortunate translation in this case. It suggests a perpetual process. Destruction cannot be perpetual. It has to happen, or else it is not destruction. The better translation for aionios in this verse is “permanent.”

Thank you Lord, for your promise to take vengeance with flaming fire and permanently destroy evil when you return.

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