WEBVTT 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:10.560 Do you guys um do you you guys remember, I'm sure most of us do, um tuning in your TV or your radio? 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:11.839 This is a bygone thing. 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:12.800 I don't know if you realize that. 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:14.480 We haven't done this for a good while. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:15.599 But this was a thing, right? 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:28.640 You'd you get to the TV antenna and you'd have to like kind of tune it in so the channel would come in clear and maybe get like a little bit of foil on that thing to get a little extra reach, and whoever was holding the antenna, that the screen would come in and they'd like freeze, don't move, you know? 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:29.600 You just stay there. 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:31.519 So this is a thing that we did culturally. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:36.159 It's kind of again, some sometimes you have a radio you might be able to tune in, but that's about it. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:38.640 But the goal is to get a clear picture. 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:44.799 And as we're in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, we're gonna go through chapter 2 this morning, looking for a clear picture. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:47.600 It's kind of a complex text. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:49.679 There's several things going on. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:53.039 We want to hopefully be clear with what's going on there. 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:58.799 And the three pictures, the three clear pictures we want to see is a picture of the lawless man. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:02.719 The text has a lot to say about the man of lawlessness. 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:04.879 So we have a clear picture on that. 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:09.840 A clear picture for those who refuse to love the truth. 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:14.560 And then a clear picture of the triumph of Christ and his people. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:19.439 In chapter one, we see that God will he'll vindicate his people, right? 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:21.040 He's gonna deliver his people. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:26.400 Uh and for the Christian, that is our great hope that Christ will vindicate, he will deliver us. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:32.239 We're still in a broken world, we're still waiting for that, we're still waiting for Christ's return. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:35.280 And Paul deals with Christ's return. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:45.840 He dealed with it, he dealt with it in his first letter, he dealt with it when he was with them in person, and here in the next letter and in chapter two, he's addressing the same issue again that Christ will come. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:50.400 And we must know, we must have a clear picture of what is going to happen. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:53.599 And we're just gonna kind of take this chunk by chunk. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:02:21.759 So, beginning in verse one of chapter two, it says, now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word or a letter seeming to come from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:50.319 Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself every and exalts himself against every so-called God or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:56.240 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:02.800 And you know what is restraining him now, so that he may be revealed in his time. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:10.400 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:11.599 Verse 8. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:20.000 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:34.319 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refuse to love the truth and be saved. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:47.680 Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion, so they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 00:03:48.560 --> 00:04:01.759 But we are we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit, a belief in the truth. 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:09.360 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:17.199 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the tradition that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:32.240 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:33.199 Amen. 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:35.199 This is the word of the Lord. 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:39.360 So we see in this passage, beginning by this man of lawlessness. 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:42.079 And what is this man of lawlessness? 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:51.360 Well, Paul is writing and he's encouraging the Christians, listen, don't be quick to or shaken with all these kind of different messages you're hearing. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:56.879 When I was with you, I told you what these things were, and he's getting ready to remind them. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:59.439 And he says something interesting. 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:07.519 He says, Don't be shaken quickly in mind or alarmed when you get a message either by a spirit or a spoken word or a letter. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:12.319 So what Paul's saying, and he reiterates this at the end of the chapter, is what you heard from us. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.399 And Paul's not saying me only, he's talking about himself and Timothy and Silas. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:20.800 He's saying the message you heard, believe that message. 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:26.480 Even if you hear a different message from another person or even a spirit, don't listen to that. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:28.959 Listen to what we have taught you. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:30.399 So don't freak out. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:33.199 Don't be quick, just be shaken. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:36.000 Trust the words we have left you with. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:41.279 Now remember, last week we were talking about all the confusion, is about when Jesus is coming back. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:44.240 That's all the hubbub, all the talk, when is he coming back? 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:48.560 And remember what we said was it's not really about when, it's about what. 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:50.959 It's about the what of Christ's return. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:52.560 We know he's coming back. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:55.360 We know that we don't know when that is, but we trust. 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:58.560 And last week I said, listen, nobody knows. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:05.279 So people out here telling you it's gonna be this year, it's gonna be in ten years, it's gonna be in five months, nobody knows. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:07.759 But it could be today. 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:10.319 It could very well be today. 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:11.600 So we trust. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:13.600 So it's not about the when, it's about the what. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:16.639 And the what is what does it mean that Christ is coming back? 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:18.160 What's it mean for my life? 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:21.680 What's it mean for my family, for eternity, for our church? 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:25.199 What does it mean that Christ is going to come again? 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:30.079 And these are the questions that the church was asking in Thessalonica. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:31.759 What's gonna happen? 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:33.439 How's this gonna go down? 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:41.040 And so Paul writes them and then talks about this man of lawlessness, and he gets in this passage, it's kind of confusing, and there's all these different things. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:47.519 And I just want to kind of make it clear, and I want to point out seven things we know about the man of lawlessness. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:50.959 We're gonna kind of jump through a few different verses, so stick with me. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:56.800 But first thing is we know that the man of lawlessness comes and he precedes the return of Christ. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:59.439 So he's before Christ's coming. 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:01.680 We know that that's verse three. 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:05.040 And also in verse three, the second thing, he is the son of destruction. 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:08.319 He's given the title son of destruction. 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:14.720 The other thing we see in verse four is that he's opposing all gods. 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:22.879 Verse 4, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called God or object of worship. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:26.800 Takes his seat in the temple of God. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:32.879 Now, there's a lot of things in this text that as Christians, we're missing some of the context. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:37.680 We weren't there when Paul was talking to the church, so we don't know when he says, Didn't I share this with you? 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:38.800 We don't know what he shared. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:40.000 And so we're kind of missing that. 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:41.040 We feel that, right? 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:42.959 So there's some gaps here for us. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:50.800 And so there's a few areas where we can make some guesses, we can say, uh, this is what I think, but we really have to be honest and say we just don't know. 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:52.000 We just don't know. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:57.600 So we know that he's gonna oppose all gods and everything that's worshipped, every object of worship. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:05.920 So when this man of lawlessness comes, he is not gonna be someone who gives you the option to worship what you whatever you want. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:08.959 He is going to demand worship of himself. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:12.720 See, the thing about the world right now is it's kind of free reign. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:18.480 You want to worship Jesus, worship, you want to worship Muhammad, whatever, you want to worship YouTube, whatever you want to do, your money, your job, just worship it. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:19.439 That's fine. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:22.800 The man of lawlessness, he's not going to be that way. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:27.680 He's going to demand worship from everything, every person. 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:34.159 And then he's going to take a seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:38.879 Now, again, this is a section where we're like, we don't really know. 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:43.600 Some people think that that's a literal, gonna be a literal temple rebuilt in Jerusalem. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:46.480 He's gonna go into Jerusalem and sit in that temple. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:56.639 Some people think it's um meaning that he's going to take a seat in some kind of more metaphorical throne in the world, kind of have supremacy in the world. 00:08:56.960 --> 00:09:01.919 We don't know, but he is clearly declaring himself to be God, right? 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:04.960 So that's an he's opposing all other gods. 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:10.960 The fourth thing we see, we see this in verses six and seven, he's currently being restrained. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:12.639 He's being restrained. 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:16.240 And this is another section where we say we don't know by who. 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:21.440 We don't know who's restraining, if it's an angel or if it's angels, it's the Holy Spirit. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:27.360 But he's being restrained at this moment, currently, presently, right now. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:30.399 And there will be a time when he is revealed. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:36.159 The fifth thing we see in verse 9, he's acting as an agent of Satan. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:39.759 Right, so this isn't like kind of an offshoot of Satan, he's not rebelling. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:46.480 This is within Satan's working for the end times and how he's going to deceive the nations. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:51.759 Again, he's a son of destruction, acting as an agent of Satan. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:57.840 We see this again, he has power, has all power for false signs and wonders. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:05.600 And this is where this isn't like the the false signs are in themselves false. 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:07.759 Like it's just a mirage or something. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:09.279 These are actual signs. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:17.600 These are actual we would we would say, like, if God's doing these things, these are miracles, but they aren't miracles because they're not from the Lord. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:24.080 But these are false signs from Satan with power, power to deceive, and bringing wonders. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:28.240 So Paul's thinking of the church, and they're they're they're trying to figure out when is Christ coming. 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:39.360 And he's like, listen, when he comes, there's gonna be signs, there's gonna be messages, people are gonna be following, they'll be like, listen, no, I saw this thing happen, I saw this thing this crazy thing happen. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.000 You're gonna hear that kind of language. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:45.600 Lots of deception, lots of wonder. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:47.759 Real things. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:55.120 And the seventh thing we see is he brings the wicked deception. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:59.279 He deceives those who are perishing in verse 10. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:06.159 Now it's interesting when you think about deception, people who are being deceived. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:09.519 Nobody knows when they're being deceived. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:11.440 Right? 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.759 How many of you guys are being deceived? 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:15.120 Right? 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:17.519 You don't know it when you're being deceived. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:18.480 That's the deception. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:20.000 That's the crazy part. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:21.840 You do not know it. 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.600 You think you gotta figure it out. 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:26.159 You think I know what, you know, I've read all these things, I gotta figure out. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:31.679 Or you just think, yeah, I'm a smart person, I have some common sense, I got some street smarts, I've been around the block, I know. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:33.600 Deception. 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:36.159 You don't know when you're being deceived. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:40.799 And this is kind of a it kind of should jolt you a little bit. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:43.519 Are you being deceived? 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:46.960 Are you being deceived by the things of the world? 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:56.320 Are you being deceived by thinking that you're you're a follower of Christ because man, you appreciate Jesus, but man, he doesn't rule your life. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:12:00.799 You don't really, you don't care to read the Bible, you don't care to obey his commands. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:06.159 This is why we need the Holy Spirit as believers. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:13.679 We can be deceived without something outside of us who telling us the truth. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:15.279 We're up for deception. 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:22.960 This is why you you need the local church, you need brothers and sisters around you to to remind you what the word says, what is true. 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:33.039 See that the man of lawlessness, he brings wicked deception for those who are perishing, for those who are perishing. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:38.080 And so we have this kind of picture of this man of lawlessness. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:43.360 He's gonna come before Christ comes, he's gonna be kind of heralding his own thing. 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:53.279 He's gonna want everything to worship him, he's gonna oppose all other gods, he's gonna be acting in the power of Satan, performing signs and wonders, false signs and wonders. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:58.080 He's going to be deceiving those who are perishing. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.240 It's important that we understand that. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:02.559 That's the man of lawlessness. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:04.960 That's the what. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:06.879 That's what's gonna happen. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:09.360 So, what about those who are perishing? 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:13.519 Let's get a clear picture, an image of those who are perishing. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.159 Well, they are deceived, right? 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:17.759 We see that in verse 10 again. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:22.080 They're deceived because the second part of verse 10. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:26.480 They refuse to love the truth and be saved. 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:30.720 They refuse to love the truth and be saved, so they're deceived. 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:37.679 So then what happens to them, the third thing, is God gives them a strong delusion, so they believe what is false. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:39.919 So you see kind of a pattern here, right? 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:42.080 They're they're rejecting the truth. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:55.200 And this isn't just they're it's not just they're rejecting like the message of Jesus as the Lord and Savior, they're rejecting God, they're rejecting all truth, and therefore rejecting Jesus as well. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:14:04.080 But they're rejecting the truth, they don't love the truth, they make no room in their heart for truth, they have no desire to be saved. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:08.159 So God gives them a strong delusion. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.080 So they believe what is false. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:17.039 It starts as I'm not, they're not out there looking to believe what's false and to be deceived, but they are rejecting the truth. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:20.639 They're rejecting the way of salvation, they're rejecting the Lord. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:30.720 And when you do those things and when you push truth away, the only other option you have is falsehood, lies, untruth. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:38.720 They weren't picking willingly untruth, but by rejecting truth, by having no love for truth, by not desiring truth. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.720 That's what they were selecting. 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:47.039 So God gave them what they wanted to be delusioned in the falsehoods. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:50.960 Therefore, the fourth thing we see is that they are condemned. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:54.480 They're condemned because they rejected the truth. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:58.879 And when you reject truth, you have to accept what is false. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:05.600 John Calvin puts it this way: those who were perishing were deserving of it. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:09.759 Nay, more did of their own accord choose death. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:15.679 Those who were perishing were choosing death because they were choosing to reject truth. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:22.960 So often we we want to view this as, well, they didn't choose God, but did they really deserve hell? 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.879 They chose it. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.159 They chose to be away from God. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:35.840 And so God gives them their desire, which is to be separated from Him, and He gives it to them for eternity. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:37.759 C.S. 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:48.320 Lewis has this famous quote, and I'll probably mess it up, but essentially it's saying, if God were to open up the gates of hell and say, All right, come into heaven, no one would come. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:51.919 They hate God, they hate him. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:16:05.519 And so were we, hating God, enemies of God, wanting nothing to do with God until Christ came for us, delivered us. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:08.639 But for those who are perishing, they're condemned. 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:11.200 And they take pleasure in unrighteousness. 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:14.559 This is the last thing we see, this picture of those who are perishing. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:20.080 They take pleasure in unrighteousness, as verse 11 points out. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:34.480 Not only are they rejecting the truth, they're beginning to take pleasure in the things that are against God, the things that oppose him, the things that Christ died for. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:44.480 We say this a lot, but we often want, or the world often wants, the kingdom without the king. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:54.080 They want all the good things that God can give them: happiness, satisfaction, meaning, purpose, security, good things. 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:55.919 But they don't want God. 00:16:56.320 --> 00:17:04.160 They want to practice the unrighteousness without any kind of conviction that the righteous one is going to judge them for that. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:14.400 And in their view of the righteous one is this just as God who kind of doesn't care about them and is up there just kind of angry at the world. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:25.039 If you read any of the gospels, Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, came to earth. 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.960 He came to us. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:38.640 How dare anyone level a charge against God that he is unloving or unkind when he had no need, he had no uh nothing compelling him. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:41.119 He chose to come to us. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:43.279 We don't deserve that. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:47.440 He didn't do that to kind of even out the scales. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:54.799 He came to us showing love, showing mercy, showing grace, offering salvation. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:03.920 They took pleasure in unrighteousness, they took pleasure in rebelling against God. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.039 So they are perishing. 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:14.880 They are a perishing people, those who reject the truth, who have no love for truth, and to be saved. 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:19.359 So we see the man of lawlessness and his deception. 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:30.079 We see those who are perishing, who have rejected Christ, and now are and now fall under this lie and deception of the world and are given over to their desires. 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:35.599 The third thing we want to see clearly is the triumph of Jesus Christ. 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:38.640 And because of his triumph, his people. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.599 Verse 8. 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:45.759 This is this is all this stuff, this is what Jesus, this is how he deals with it. 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:52.319 Verse 8, then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.079 That's it. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:19:04.240 All these things, Jesus kills them with the breath of his mouth and brings to nothing by Christ's coming. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:08.640 All the work, all the things, all the deception, all the power. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:22.160 I mean, as Christians, if we live to see this day, there will be trembling in our hearts for this being, this man of lawlessness, who comes in and just kind of has full reign over the earth and sets himself up as God. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:28.880 And when Christ appears, it will be if the man of lawlessness was as nothing, as nothing. 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:31.519 And Christ will kill him with a breath. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.599 With a breath. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.039 That's all he gives him. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:49.119 And Christ has come for us, he's coming for his people, bringing justice, bringing mercy, setting all things right. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:54.960 Brings to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:58.880 This is what Christ triumphs for his people. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:06.079 He shows his supremacy, he shows his superiority over all things. 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:16.640 So even in the moments when the man of lawlessness is having his way, and even today when the world is in chaos, and we just think, God, where are you? 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.839 God, what are you doing? 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:19.039 And what's going on? 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:22.000 And can't you know, can he do anything? 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:30.000 This is not, we do not serve a God whose hands are tied, or a God who just he wants to help, but he can't, or he just wishes he could do more. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:34.640 He shows up and he destroys the man of lawlessness with a breath. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.319 That's it. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.680 He's gone. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:42.720 This is the God we serve, supreme over all things. 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:46.559 This is our God, and we are his people. 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:50.480 Read with me verses 13 through 15. 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:54.079 Paul is encouraging the brothers. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:21:09.039 He says we ought to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:16.720 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:27.200 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:36.400 So again, Paul's saying the same thing he began the letter with in chapter one, encouraging, thanking God for his brother, these brothers and for what the Lord has done in them. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:42.319 We have kind of four things I want us to notice here about this picture of God's people. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:45.359 One, they're chosen by God. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:50.960 God has chosen them, they're his people, he has redeemed them, he's gone out for them, they're his. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.359 And by truth. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:06.799 This is so important that we have a right understanding of salvation and sanctification. 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:08.160 We are saved. 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.359 God saves us. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.799 He redeems us. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.279 Right? 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:16.160 He died for our sin on the cross, paying the price for our sin. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:19.279 We then are right with God the Father. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:20.079 We're right with him. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:22.799 There's no more barrier between us. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:30.160 Then Christ defeats death by raising from the dead, giving us eternal life, because we are with him. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.400 We're saved. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.119 We belong to him. 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.559 We're adopted into the family. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.279 We're his. 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:39.519 Nothing, nothing, nothing can change that. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:43.759 When God has saved you, there is nothing bigger than God. 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:46.720 Nothing can undo what he has done. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.440 Can I get an amen? 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:55.440 Then he begins the work of sanctification. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:58.000 This is the maturing. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:01.680 This is the slow, hard process. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.920 We don't put any effort in our salvation. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:06.640 The Lord saves us, he regenerates us. 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:10.480 But he begins with us the work of our sanctification. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:16.720 Us learning to follow him, to die to sin, to die to ourselves, to choose Christ. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:20.000 He begins to make us more like him. 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:22.799 Sanctification really means two things. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:27.759 It means separated from the things of the world and separated to God. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.960 From the things of the world to God. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:36.960 And this is what he's doing in us through his spirit and his word, the truth. 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:48.240 So I just want to encourage you, brother, sister, if you're struggling, if you feel weary, like man, I'm just not growing in my faith, or I'm still struggling with this thing I've been struggling with for years, or just what's going on there. 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:50.559 I just want to encourage you. 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:52.960 Be praying. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:57.359 Asking God's spirit that dwells you as a believer, dwells in you. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:59.440 And be in God's word. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:07.279 God sanctifies his people through his word and his spirit and his church. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.960 So be encouraged. 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.079 Be in the word. 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:14.559 We all struggle at times with being in the word consistently. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:19.920 Being in the word, memorizing scripture, praying, reading the scriptures, praying the scriptures. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:23.839 But this is God's method for making his people holy. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:26.960 And God is making his people holy. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:31.599 The third thing that we see for those who are part of God's people. 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:37.039 Obtain the glory of Christ. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:41.440 Not that we become or we take his Christ, but we become partakers. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:45.359 Now, again, think about this for a moment. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:54.400 This is the Creator God, made all things, supreme over all things, killed the man of all thisness with a breath. 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:59.920 And he invites his people to be partakers of his glory. 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:12.880 We're so often we're chasing the things of the world, a little bit more success, just a little bit more money, a little bit more recognition, lose a little bit more weight, feel a little bit more better about myself. 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:17.680 Just a little bit of this, a little bit of that, because we're wanting a little bit of the glory of the world. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:26.799 And here, Jesus Christ is inviting us in to be partakers of his glory, which is better than anything the world can offer. 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:34.000 So we must remember who we are as God's people, partakers of the glory of Christ. 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:41.599 The last thing what it means to be part of God's people, this encouragement that Paul gives. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.839 Stand firm. 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:54.240 Stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 00:25:54.480 --> 00:26:02.160 This idea of stand firm and hold, hold fast to what was taught, what you were given, the tradition that we gave you. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:04.640 Hold fast to these things. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:10.640 Remember, he just gets done telling them about this man of lawlessness that's gonna set the world on fire. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:12.720 Everyone's gonna have to try to worship him. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:15.119 He's gonna worship from every single person. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:17.519 He's gonna have the power of Satan. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.920 Bad things going down. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.920 What's God's encouragement? 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:23.039 Hold fast. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.119 Stand firm. 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:28.559 Stand firm to the truth. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:34.480 He doesn't say, stand firm to the denominational tradition you're a part of. 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:45.200 Stand firm to what your parents told you to believe, or what what kind of your political affiliation tells you to believe, or the tradition of your nation or your people group. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:47.119 He doesn't say those things. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:52.079 He's speaking to Christians who their identity is Christian. 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.920 They belong to Christ. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:27:01.759 To that tradition, to that message, hold fast and stand firm. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:08.000 So we as believers, this is our mission, this is our work. 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:13.279 As God's people, triumphing because Christ has triumphed. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:16.880 Only because of Christ do we triumph with him. 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:19.920 Now you you may be hearing all these things. 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:22.880 You may be hearing all this stuff, and it's still not clear. 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:24.720 The picture is still not clear. 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:27.759 And maybe this will help clarify some things. 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:31.359 But we as Christians, we believe the Bible. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:33.200 We follow Jesus. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:41.119 We genuinely believe that there is good that comes from God, and there is evil that comes from Satan. 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:45.920 We believe that in our hearts there are evil desires. 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:49.279 We believe that mankind has evil desires in their heart. 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:52.240 And what I mean by evil, I mean against God. 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:57.680 Anything that opposes God is evil. 00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:02.400 So there's evil in the world, there's evil in the hearts of mankind. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:07.359 And this evil, because of this evil, we're naturally pushing against God. 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:10.559 We're naturally rebelling against God. 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:26.640 And if we stay in our rebellion, if we stay kind of against God, and we might not even think we're being that rebellious, but the patterns of our life, the motives of our heart are against God, then you're against God. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:33.039 You stay in that place against the Lord. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.960 And he will allow that. 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:37.920 You will be separated from God for eternity. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:41.119 For eternity. 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:48.480 And you will suffer the punishment for your rebellion, and that is eternity in hell. 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:56.400 But God did not leave us hopeless, He provided a Savior, Jesus Christ, for us. 00:28:56.799 --> 00:29:11.920 For those who desire to be saved, for those who want to stop rebelling against God, who are sick and tired of their sin, who feel the weight of their sin, who desire to live and not be a slave to sin. 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:14.559 There is salvation. 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:17.359 There is hope. 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:26.079 We're called to turn from our sin, to acknowledge it, repent, turn from our sin, and follow Jesus. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:30.079 Following him literally means to follow him. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:34.240 We strive to obey it. 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:35.519 He's told us how to live. 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:37.440 We seek to live that way. 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:45.039 And to enjoy and to know the love and the mercy of Jesus Christ. 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:53.920 See, God's wrath and God's judgment, these aren't God's prominent attributes. 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:59.200 These aren't the attributes he loves to display most. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:10.640 But because he is loving and because he is truth, he will and he must display wrath and judgment. 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:15.519 If there is no wrath and judgment, then God is not loving and he's not truthful. 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:22.000 Those who go against God must suffer for the consequences of rejecting truth. 00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:30.480 If God is to display and show love, he must uphold what is true, what is loving. 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:40.240 So for those who turn to Jesus, there is salvation and love and mercy and acceptance and adoption into his family. 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:43.839 If they follow Jesus, they will be saved. 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:48.240 But if you reject Jesus, you'll be condemned. 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:51.039 I hope that's clear this morning. 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:55.200 For those who are followers of Christ, there is great comfort and encouragement in Christ. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:59.599 For we have been saved for God for eternity. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.880 And he loves us. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:03.920 And this is the last kind of portion of this text. 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:05.200 That's what Paul says. 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:21.359 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort in good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:27.680 If you are a follower of Jesus, brother, sister, be greatly encouraged. 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.880 Be encouraged. 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:32.240 The man of lawlessness will come and he will be destroyed. 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:37.599 And you will spend eternity with God who loves you and who's making you holy. 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:41.839 And we're commanded to evangelize, to share that message. 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:49.440 Not just celebrate it as God's people, and that's it, but to share with those around us the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:53.440 This is our hope, or to be encouraged by these things. 00:31:54.799 --> 00:32:25.359 If you're not a follower of Jesus Christ, if you are rejecting the only way of being saved, and if you're rejecting the only person your heart truly longs for, and if you're rejecting the relationship with the person you are created for, you're rejecting life, you're rejecting salvation, and there's nothing, nothing that will satisfy you, and nothing in this world that will bring you peace. 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:27.599 Only Jesus Christ can do that. 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:40.960 I pray that you would see your need for Christ, that you would turn from rebelling against him and follow after him and enjoy his mercy and his grace day after day. 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:42.079 Let's pray.