2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:18 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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That You Might Share in the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ
Comments for Study 2

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Memory Verse: 2:13
Questions
Introduction
Outline

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I. Stand Firm (2:13-17)

>1. What is the most important choice everyone needs to make? (13)

* 2 Thessalonians 2:13 "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth."

* God states some absolute truths through Paul here. I am loved by God. God chose me. I am a firstfruit. I am waiting to be harvested.

I am saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit. I am saved through belief in the truth. I am not saved by my works.

I received God's call through the gospel. For me that was shortly after high school graduation many years ago. That last sentence is not in the passage.

God called me so that I might share in the glory of my Lord Jesus Christ. He is glory indeed. He is brighter than the sun and more awesome than the greatest beauty and all the wonders of creation.

By God's grace I receive eternal encouragement and good hope. God strengthens me in every good deed and word.

All these magnificent truths in these 5 verses is about me.

Also in these elses I see to stand firm in these truths. I will continue to read and study the Bible. I will not be fooled by the opinions of others. I will believe these truths.

>What are the two ways mentioned in verse 13 that we are saved?

* "through the sanctifying work of the Spirit"

* "through belief in the truth"

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>What is the "sanctifying work of the Spirit"?

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>What are the truths to believe in?

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>2. When do all get to make the choice? (14)

* 2 Thessalonians 2:14 "He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

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>How is preaching the gospel our first importance?

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>What does it mean we will share in Jesus' glory?

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>When will this happen?

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>3. What are we encouraged to do?

* 2 Thessalonians 2:15 "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."

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>What does this mean?

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>4. What has God done for us?

* 2 Thessalonians 2:16 "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,"

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>What can be assured God will do for us in our every good deed and word? (17)

* 2 Thessalonians 2:17 "encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."

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>What have you done with such a great promise?

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II. Request for Prayer (3:1-5)

>5. What is a prayer request that should be said to this very day? (3:1; Luke 10:2)

* 2 Thessalonians 3:1 "Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you."

* Luke 10:2 "He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

* Paul ends his letter with 2 bits of advice, one about people outside the congregation and the other about people in it.

The world does have wicked and evil people. Everyone sins, and a few are evil. Jesus said an evil person does the evil in their heart and a good person does the good in their heart. Here Paul defines an evil and wicked person as one not having faith.

A short while back a friend told me that a particular politician was evil. I thought about this. I was not considering if the person was evil, but if I can rightfully claim someone is evil.

After much thought God showed me that verse. I told him, "You are right. Someone can be evil. But are we in anyplace to claim someone is evil?" I am cautious to label someone evil.

For example, the apostles concluded Saul was evil because he killed and jailed Christians. They wouldn't see him when he first became a believer. Peter eventually did. Perhaps Peter remembered the vision of the unclean animals on the sheet. God said, "Don't call someone unclean that I have made clean." So I am not quick to label someone evil. I will however consider if my actions are evil or good.

Paul asked them to pray that he and his companions be delivered from evil people. It is good to pray for others in the Lord.

Paul gives an encouragement. He says, "The Lord is faithful and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." And, "May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. "

People do evil acts. God can protect me. I remember the beginning of this letter. The Thessalonian Christians were being persecuted. The Lord strengthened them and directed them into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

Yesterday God gave me a rainbow. I remembered all his promises. He delivers.

>What else should we pray concerning the messengers of the gospel? (2)

* 2 Thessalonians 3:2 "And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith."

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>What will happen when we pray to be delivered? (3)

* 2 Thessalonians 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."

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>6. How could Paul be confident in the Thessalonians future?

* 2 Thessalonians 3:4 "We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command."

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>What was his prayer topic in verse 5?

* 2 Thessalonians 3:5 "May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance."

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III. Earn the Bread You Eat (3:6-18)

>7. What kind of brother were they commanded to keep away from? (6)

* 2 Thessalonians 3:6 "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us."

* "to keep away from every brother who is idle"

* "does not live according to the teaching you received from us"

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>Was Paul idle as he went from town to town preaching the gospel? (7)

* 2 Thessalonians 3:7 "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,"

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>Was Paul a beggar, crying and complaining about his troubles and need for money?

* 2 Thessalonians 3:8 "nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you."

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>What did Paul do, even though it was hard labor?

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>8. Did Paul have a right to earn a living amongst the people he preached the gospel and truths of God to? (9a)

* 2 Thessalonians 3:9a "We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help"

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>Why did he know that he should use that right? (9b-10)

* 2 Thessalonians 3:9b-10 "but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

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>What is a busybody?

* 2 Thessalonians 3:11 "We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies."

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>What should they do?

* 2 Thessalonians 3:12 "Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat."

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>9. Is being self-sufficient and doing the Lord's work tiring? (13)

* 2 Thessalonians 3:13 "And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right."

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>What should a self-sufficient believer do around someone who refused to work for a living and why? (14)

* 2 Thessalonians 3:14 "If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed."

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>With what attitude should we do so?

* 2 Thessalonians 3:15 "Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother."

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>10. How did Paul conclude this and all his letters? (16-18)

* 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all."

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>Why might he do that?

* "This is how I write."

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