2Th 2:13-17; The New Life; Beyond the Elements.

Class Outline:

Sunday September 24,2023

It seems quite strange that a person possessing eternal life and heaven itself would be unhappy or bored because they lacked some earthly thing. Yet this is precisely the condition of many Christians.

 

Theme: Every believer is elected to a fulfilled, heavenly life in Christ. We are no longer a part of the world of this age, the kingdom of the earth.

 

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.

 

“But” … Now that the business of antichrist and the day of the Lord to come has been cleared up, let’s get back to you and the spiritual life today.

 

Paul turns from warning of Satan’s activity to thanksgiving for God’s activity.

 

Paul repeats the same clause in 1:3.

 

2TH 1:3

We ought (same Greek word translated “should” 2:13) always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting …

 

Paul understands that he has an obligation to give thanks to God for them.

 

When he writes the second time that he ought to give thanks for them, the reason is more fundamental and applies to all believers.

 

Paul is grateful for them. He has said so more of them than any other church. Still, Paul is grateful that they are chosen by God as first-fruits for salvation

 

But we ought always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you as first-fruits for salvation by sanctification of the Spirit and faith of the truth (2TH 2:13).

 

2TH 2:13

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning [first-fruits] for [eis] salvation through [en - by] sanctification by [of] the Spirit and faith in [of] the truth.

 

Aparche - firstfruits

 

ROM 8:18-25

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

 

Elected as first-fruits for salvation by sanctification of the Spirit and faith of truth to gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2TH 2:13-14).

 

There are sufferings in this time, but they are of no comparison to the glory of the new creation, which will be revealed to some extent to you in this life if you are willing to submit to it.

 

If we do not submit to the ways of the new life as its first-fruits, the elementary things of the world will be all we have - temporary joy based on situations, worry, fear, pursuit of lust because of lack of joy, pursuit of money for lack of fulfillment, pursuit of distraction for lack of purpose.

 

We are daily looking with eagerness to our adoption into our new world and new bodies. We have confident and joyful hope in it.

 

JAM 1:12-18

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

 

The sufferings of this present world are the trials that come from the fallen world. By far the majority of those trials are from people who do not see nor hear of the new life in Christ.  

 

If the slaves persecute the eternally free, should the free lose their love, joy, and peace?

 

In both of these passages, the first-fruits, the elect from the foundation of the world, are seen as looking forward to our fulfillment.

 

In the gospels, Jesus often spoke of His mission as one of fulfillment. Paul picks up this same theme.

 

EPH 1:9-10 - the church is the fullness of times.

EPH 1:23 - the church is the fullness of Him.

EPH 2:6 - the church is seated with Him in heaven.  

 

Far above the elementary things of the world.

 

In 2Th 2, Paul has moved from the false and failing activity of Satan to the sanctified believer who has obtained the glory of Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Our birth is immediately our fulfillment. What on earth is born in this way?

 

EZE 36:24-28

“For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. 28 You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.”

 

We know who we are and that He is in us and by virtue of what the Trinity has done to give us new life we are careful to observe all of its ordinances. We are already complete and fulfilled.

 

JOH 3:5

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

 

COL 2:10

in Him you have been made complete,

 

The firstfruits represent the entire crop. They are offered to God in thanksgiving and acknowledgment that God gave them.

 

The teaching of the Lord and the writers of the New Testament is that although the final age is not yet fully manifested, believers have already begun to enjoy it.

 

What if the believer does not love the Lord and keep His commandments? A life overly influenced by the elementary principles of the world.

 

What if you do?

 

I’ll let Paul close with our application:

 

COL 2:8-10

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

 

COL 3:1-4

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.