Skip to content 2 Thessalonians 1-3: The Promise of God's Justice Sep 19 · 15 min ...more
2 Thessalonians 1-3: The Promise of God's Justice
September 19, 2025 · 15 min
Explore the balance of enduring persecution with patience, trusting in God’s righteous judgment.
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Family Research Council is serving in the kingdom of God by championing faith, family, & freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview.
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Standing Firm in Faith and Truth 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Today, we're gonna take an entire book. We're gonna read second Thessalonians chapters 1 through 3, verse 15 of chapter 2. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the0:21 traditions which you were taught whether by word or our epistle. What Paul's saying here to the Thessalonians, don't let go of the truth. Keep standing on the word. What a great verse.0:33 Paul is writing this. He's still in Corinth. Remember, he was there for about 18 months. We looked at his first letter to the Thessalonians, which he wrote after Timothy brought him word of how they were growing in their0:44 faith, in in in the face of great persecution and tribulation. Shortly thereafter, he writes this second letter to deal with apparently a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of what he had0:55 communicated to them about the coming day of the Lord. Now some there in Thessalonica thought that the, the end of the world had begun or was about to commence, so they had stopped working. And that's what1:07 he's talking about here about those their conduct being idle, not doing the things they should be doing. And they were just standing around waiting for the rapture. Paul had to correct that behavior because it was1:18 hindering the work and the witness of the church. Now chapter 1 speaks of what we need to persevere through persecution. That theme continues from the first letter to the Thessalonians. Verse1:30 3, we are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly and the love of every 1 of you all abounds toward each other. So that we1:42 ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure. Sounds like what James wrote in in 1 that, you know, we we should1:54 thank God in these tribulations because it it creates patience and endurance. And that's what was happening here with the Thessalonians. They were growing in their faith. Their faith was growing exceedingly. As we've2:04 seen in the book of acts, persecution drives true believers to prayer which strengthens their faith as we rely upon God. And there was this giving love, this abounding love was a2:16 charitable caring love, helping 1 another. You know, there is sometimes a natural inclination in the fallen nature of man to hunker down and and look out only for2:28 ourselves. I I I've seen this in, the natural disasters that I've been a part of in the last 20 years as I've seen this happen. What a contrast because the church gives2:40 and serves and helps in the midst of these difficulties, and it is a tremendous witness to the presence of the holy spirit in the in believers. Alright. There is a2:51 grounded patience. Their patience and endurance of the persecution and tribulation was something that Paul boasted about of them because it revealed that they were rooted in God's justice. So what does3:03 that mean? Well, let's look at verse 5, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer. Since it is a righteous thing with3:15 God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. They had a grasp of3:27 God's justice. Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord. Now, it may not be today. It may not be tomorrow, but God will repay.3:39 We persevere in persecution and tribulation when we rest in God's promise of justice, and we do not plot out our own revenge. Difficult, but that is kingdom living.3:51 Verse 8, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. That day is coming. And that's 1 of the reason we wanna share the gospel, To keep4:03 those who are in darkness from staying in that darkness and walking out of that darkness into the light. Because these shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of4:15 his power. That's hell Being separated forever from God. No hope. No hope. When he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints and to be admired4:26 among all those who believe because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore, we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good4:38 pleasure of his goodness and work of faith with power. That the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified. Here's the purpose. That the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in4:50 him according to the grace of our God in the Lord Jesus Christ. A glorifying of God. This is our purpose, to glorify God in every situation. And Paul told them that by5:02 enduring the persecution and the tribulation, they were bringing glory to God. Now, chapter 1 here, Paul is commending them. In chapter 2, he begins to correct them. Look at verse 1.5:14 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of of the Lord, Jesus Christ in our gathering together to him. Alright. This is the what we talked about last time in first5:25 Thessalonians, the rapture, the, then then the coming of the Lord. He's not coming to the earth in the rapture. The the church, those dead in Christ, those who are alive in Christ and remain will be5:37 caught up in the air with him. Alright. Some thought this was already happening or it was about to happen. So he's correcting them. He says, we ask you not to be soon shaken in minor troubled5:49 either by spirit or word or by letter as if from us as though the day of Christ had come. So some false teachers had begun to spread deceptive deceptive teachings about Jesus's return saying it was imminent.6:02 When and then we should live with urgency, and they were there and they should be, but not to the point of just sitting along the side waiting. We're to be working until he comes. Now, we've seen this even in our6:14 day when people sell their possessions, they quit their jobs, and they go sit up on the hill waiting for Jesus. It's disruptive to the church's mission, and it brings unnecessary reproach upon the church, which is6:24 dishonoring to the Lord. Verse 3, let no 1 deceive you by any means for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed the son of perdition. Now, certain things must6:36 happen first, a falling away. This is the great apostasy, the turning away from God that opens the door to the advancement of the man of sin, the son of perdition, the antichrist.6:48 Now, we we actually see this apostasy happening today. It is happening. I believe these things are beginning to fall into place. We have this deconstruction of the faith, people walking away from the faith, the great6:58 apostasy. We have we have a a in many cases, those that support a faith, but not an orthodox faith rooted in the word of God. It is an7:10 apostasy. Now, verse 4, who opposes, this is talking about the the this the the antichrist, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called7:21 God and that is worshiped. So that he sits as God in the temple of God showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? Paul apparently7:33 taught on this topic when he was with him. And if Paul taught about it, we should be teaching about it as well. So people know what is going on. Again, some false teachers though either in the way of a fraudulent letter7:44 or someone teaching saying that Paul said this, and he didn't say it. Verse 6, and now you know what is restraining that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of7:55 lawlessness is already at work. We see that. Lawlessness is growing in our country. Only he who now restrains will do so until he's taken out of the way. Now, the spirit of lawlessness is already at8:07 work. It has been at work since the garden, but it has been kept in check. But once the power that restrains is gone, it's Katie bar the door. So what's that power that restraints? Now,8:19 there's some debate among scholars as to what Paul is referring to when he talks about 1 restraining. Some scholars suggested in civil government rooted in the moral law8:31 of God, while others say it is the church and the Holy Spirit. Now, frankly, I do not see those 2 in conflict, but in concert. It is the presence of the church. The church is individual believers in8:43 which the Holy Spirit dwells. The presence of which shapes and informs government when we're involved. Pray, vote, stand. Not just civil government, because often that we hear the word government. And8:55 if you've not participated in my god in government course, I encourage you to to do that because I teach a lot about this. You can find it on the Stand Firm app. But government is not just civil government, it is self9:06 government, it's family government, and it's church government. These are God ordained institutions. And when aligned with the word and the will of God, it trains evil. But in the spirit of9:18 evil, which Paul says is already at work. But as we are seeing today as faith and obedience to God recedes, lawlessness advances. Each 19:29 of us each 1 of us living in obedience to the word of God has the power to restrain evil. Now, all of this, it's9:41 a call to the church to be faithful to the word of God and to restrain that spirit of lawlessness until the Lord returns in his timing. Alright. Verse 8. And9:53 then the lawless 1 will be revealed whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming. The coming of the lawless 1 is according to the working of Satan, and with all10:03 power signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason, God10:15 will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie that they all may be condemned who do not believe the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness. So, how does Satan pull this thing off? This great10:27 conspiracy. Alright? Deception. And frankly, a lot of these conspiracies we hear are conditioning people to be deceived. Remember, Jesus warned us when he10:39 was telling his disciples about the signs of the end time. Over in Mark chapter 13, he says, take heed that no 1 deceives you. So how is it that we are being deceived? Look again at verse 10. How does10:51 deception take root? Verse 10. Because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. They rejected the truth. They rejected Jesus Christ. They rejected his word. Jesus is the11:03 way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father but by him. By rejecting Jesus, you reject the truth and by rejecting the truth, you embrace the lie. There is no middle ground,11:15 and this takes you down a path of destruction and deception. Now I hear the question quite frequently about the the policies being advanced today that are totally depraved and detached from reality. Like, the11:27 whole gender debate. Alright? How is it that this is even happening? How is it that we can't tell the difference between a boy and a girl? Here's the answer right here. You reject11:39 truth, and you will be led down this path of deception. Look again when he writes in verses 11 12. And for this reason, God will send them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie.11:51 That they may all be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. So how do you stay off? How do we stay off this deadly path of deception? Verse 1512:03 of second Thessalonians chapter 2. Therefore, brothers, stand fast and hold the traditions, the the precepts, the ordinances which you were taught whether by word or our epistle. Here's the answer, the12:15 word of God. That is why the Family Research Council that's why as the head of a public policy organization here in our nation's capital is encouraging Christians to be in the word of God. It is the12:27 only way that we're going to be kept from deception. Jesus said that deception is going to be so strong that it is even going to allure many of his followers and the love of many will12:38 grow cold. We have to be anchored in the word of God. Alright, chapter 3 very quickly, Paul asked for prayer. Look at this, I love this, verse 1 chapter 3, finally brethren pray for us.12:51 And I would ask you pray for me, Pray for me. And he says this, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified just as it is with you. He was so thankful for what had happened13:02 with the Thessalonians that they the word of God had taken root even in the midst of that persecution. He was only there for 3 weeks preaching, but yet the word of God had taken root and transformed them. And he said,13:14 pray that the same thing happens to others. Pray that the word of God will advance and be as fruitful as it was with you. Quickly, 2 more verses. Read the whole chapter. Great chapter short, but we're almost out13:26 of time here. Verse 3, but the Lord is faithful who will establish you and guard you from the evil 1. That's like the Lord's prayer. Lord, keep us from evil. The Lord the Lord13:38 Jesus, if you're a believer, he's sitting at the right hand of the father interceding for you. Verse 13 though, we gotta hold on to that promise, but as for you brethren do not grow weary in doing good. The13:50 Lord is faithful so don't grow weary, keep standing. Father, we thank you for your word and and and Lord, such a timely word. I thank you that even at this moment that we are in14:02 the New Testament and we're seeing the the the opposition and the difficulty that the church faced. But Lord at the same time, Lord, the the remarkable growth and the faithfulness in persevering,14:13 the strength that came. Father, may we not grow weary, but may we hold on to your promises and may we see as well your word go forth and bring forth a great14:25 harvest even in this day. For we pray and ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and until next time. Keep standing on the word.14:40 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you14:52 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at f r c dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Standing Firm in Faith and Truth
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