2 Thess 1. Walking in God’s Presence Without Having to Die.

Class Outline:

Thursday July 13, 2023

Title: 2 Thess 1. Walking in God’s Presence Without Having to Die.

 

Athanasius: (297 - 373 A.D.) “The good God has given mankind a share in His own image, that is, in our Lord Jesus Christ, and has made even themselves after the same image and likeness. Why? Simply in order that through this gift of godlikeness in themselves they may be able to perceive the image absolute, that is the word Himself.”

 

Athanasius understood man’s whole existence as being able to see God.

 

In the church we are brought into the presence of God apart from death. How does one go right into the presence of God without dying? Through the cross of Christ, through whom we die and are raised again.

 

Php 3:20-21

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

 

God has a program for human history that is broken up into ages or dispensations. Christ is the center of every age. In this age He indwells every believer and every believer sits with Him in the heavens.

 

In this age, we walk in the presence of God without first dying.

 

This is a life of consistent increase in faith, hope, and love despite all the pressure in life from other sources. And this was a mystery in the past.

 

2TH 1:3-4

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

 

We are God’s crop that never stops growing. Do you realize what kind of life this is? You never stop growing in faith and in love. Life and your relationships are always getting better despite the troubles and tribulations of life.

 

This was in fulfillment of what Paul exhorted them to do.

 

1TH 4:1-3

Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification;

 

1TH 4:9-10

Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more…

 

Are faith and love a burden or an amazing discovery?

 

2TH 1:3 and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;

 

The increase of agape love means that your relationships, of all kinds, will be consistently changing for the better. Just like with increasing knowledge and faith, can you imagine how exciting this makes life?

 

Now think of so many in the world who have no love.

 

2TI 3:1-5

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

 

As with faith that is loved for its portal to God, so love, when it is divine, must consistently increase.

 

Therefore, life should be one of increase. Not the increase of wealth and possessions and reputation but faith, hope, and love.

 

Satan, from what seems to be pure hate and malice, attempts to stop the increase of your harvest. God’s power in you is more than sufficient.

 

2TH 1:5-10

This is [Here is …] a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. 6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed — for our testimony to you was believed.

 

God is allowing the bad guys to run amok for a while. Do not let them take away your life of increase - an exciting life of daily new horizons. Of course, that is a life of obedience.

 

2PE 2:19

by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

[cuffs prop]

 

1CO 2:9
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him."
[NLT]

 

JOH 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

 

EPH 3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

 

This doxology is stated after Paul prays that we would know the love of Christ to its breadth, length, height, and depth.

 

JOH 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

 

ROM 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

1JO 5:4

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.

 

When that one stands in the temple, the apostasy of the mystery age (time between the advents) will reach its peak. When the Lord returns, He will slay that one with the sword from His mouth. What a glorious day that will be. Until then…

 

2TH 1:11-12

To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

2TH 2:13-17

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. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 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.

 

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

 

It is a life of Jesus Himself. His name glorified in you. We may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. That is a life!

 

I’m afraid that many in Christianity have gotten so used to hearing it that they yawn in response.

 

God is bringing history forward to the perfect time in which He will establish His reign on earth. It is for that kingdom that the Thessalonians suffer, and therefore, their suffering is an honor.

 

We have been shown the King and the kingdom before it comes. Our eyes have been opened. Our lives made new. Our hearts made again, or born again, in the gospel, in eternal life, and the love of God it possesses.

 

ROM 5:20-21

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

God longs for you to reign in eternal life while you live in this world and in that body that are of the old life. Both are easily mastered by the power of eternal life. It is there for all of us to grab hold of.

 

We must remain focused and diligent and we will accomplish it. “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.”

 

For those who are still in love with aspects of the world and flesh… I greatly sympathize, but ask yourself what you are gaining from them. Examine your life and see where lies the selfishness, the laziness, the fear in light of the new life eternal that Christ has given us. Examine yourself in prayer, asking your Father who sees all, to show you the true intensions of your heart to the deepest part. We all need to continually do this. We will be surprised at what we will find and hopefully joyful in our discovery - not because it is good, but because knowing will mean change and that will lead to good.