2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 says,...
Today's verses are 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15, which read,
v.13 - But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
Paul turns his instruction on the end times and the coming of the antichrist and Christ the Lord to the present situation. Paul reminds the Christians in Thessalonica that they have been chosen by God from the beginning for salvation. The theological term here would be "justification." You have been made right with God through Christ and this was chosen by God from the beginning. It is a really hard human concept to understand but God on His level has the ability to do this. We on our level respond to that calling from Him at the present time. We don't know of all of time but He does.
Being made right with God through Jesus Christ leads to the second theological term "sanctification" which means to continue to be made righteous with God through the instruction of the Holy Spirit through the word of God. Our justification is followed by our sanctification as we live the life that God has chosen us to and we have accepted His call. These two terms "justification and sanctification" go hand in hand.
v.14 - It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul brings in another theological term, "glorification." The Lord Jesus Christ is now at the right hand of the Father but one day we will be with Him and see Him face to face. We will gain that privilege when we are glorified. The only way we are glorified is if we have been justified by the cross (the gospel) and continue to be sanctified by His Spirit through the word.
At glorification we will be in the presence of God and absent from all that is unrighteous. Paul is reminding the Christians in Thessalonica of the pattern of the Christian's life. God has chosen them to be justified - made right through the cross - and they have accepted that call. God has provided sanctification through the Holy Spirit and the word of God to continue to make us right with God as we live our daily lives. God is holding in guarantee our glorification to be with Him forever away from the evils of sin.
v.15 - So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
Paul is telling the Thessalonian Christians to stand firm in what they know from his teachings and writings that come from the teachings of Christ through the Apostles. In the face of all these other voices of information, stand firm in what is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Know of the salvation of the Lord - justification - and live in that salvation - sanctification - to see the salvation for yourself someday - glorification. Don't get caught up in another "so-called" salvation that is not documented and supported fully by the Scriptures.
I have been justified and I am being sanctified and I will be glorified, not by my own doings but by the cross of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit and the coming of Jesus again. This is the life of the Christian that needs to cut through the world of alternatives that we hear.
"Lord, Paul gives us these terms over and over through his letters. I realize that I have been justified and that I will be glorified someday but now is the time to be sanctified. Now is the time for me to live out that justification in the world you have placed me in, good or bad. Thank You again for making it very clear the path and life of a follower of You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.13 - But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
Paul turns his instruction on the end times and the coming of the antichrist and Christ the Lord to the present situation. Paul reminds the Christians in Thessalonica that they have been chosen by God from the beginning for salvation. The theological term here would be "justification." You have been made right with God through Christ and this was chosen by God from the beginning. It is a really hard human concept to understand but God on His level has the ability to do this. We on our level respond to that calling from Him at the present time. We don't know of all of time but He does.
Being made right with God through Jesus Christ leads to the second theological term "sanctification" which means to continue to be made righteous with God through the instruction of the Holy Spirit through the word of God. Our justification is followed by our sanctification as we live the life that God has chosen us to and we have accepted His call. These two terms "justification and sanctification" go hand in hand.
v.14 - It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul brings in another theological term, "glorification." The Lord Jesus Christ is now at the right hand of the Father but one day we will be with Him and see Him face to face. We will gain that privilege when we are glorified. The only way we are glorified is if we have been justified by the cross (the gospel) and continue to be sanctified by His Spirit through the word.
At glorification we will be in the presence of God and absent from all that is unrighteous. Paul is reminding the Christians in Thessalonica of the pattern of the Christian's life. God has chosen them to be justified - made right through the cross - and they have accepted that call. God has provided sanctification through the Holy Spirit and the word of God to continue to make us right with God as we live our daily lives. God is holding in guarantee our glorification to be with Him forever away from the evils of sin.
v.15 - So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
Paul is telling the Thessalonian Christians to stand firm in what they know from his teachings and writings that come from the teachings of Christ through the Apostles. In the face of all these other voices of information, stand firm in what is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Know of the salvation of the Lord - justification - and live in that salvation - sanctification - to see the salvation for yourself someday - glorification. Don't get caught up in another "so-called" salvation that is not documented and supported fully by the Scriptures.
I have been justified and I am being sanctified and I will be glorified, not by my own doings but by the cross of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit and the coming of Jesus again. This is the life of the Christian that needs to cut through the world of alternatives that we hear.
"Lord, Paul gives us these terms over and over through his letters. I realize that I have been justified and that I will be glorified someday but now is the time to be sanctified. Now is the time for me to live out that justification in the world you have placed me in, good or bad. Thank You again for making it very clear the path and life of a follower of You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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