Lesson for November 22, 2020
The Book of II Thessalonians
Chapter 3:7-18
Verses 7-12
“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.” Paul and his team had every right to be supported by the local churches where they ministered. But Paul never wanted to be a financial burden on these churches, so he often worked to support himself. This example of selflessness was one that he asked these believers to follow. The undisciplined life among these believers had led to some not working but mooching off others. Paul solution was that if you don’t work, you don’t eat, which would be a good motivation to work. There is no place for moochers in the ministry, there is no place for moochers in Christianity.
The background for this passage was that someone had sold believers on the story that the Rapture was going to occur at any moment, so they quit their jobs. Some believers had believed false doctrine or had misapplied and distorted the doctrine of the Rapture. Leading an undisciplined life (like not working) means a manner of life which is contrary to the Word of God. Acting like busybodies means they too much time on their hands because of not working and running around getting into other believers’ business and causing problems. Paul had straightened them out on the doctrine of the Rapture, now he commanded them to get back to work, provide for their own food and stop being moochers.
Verse 13
“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.” Do not grow weary means do not be discouraged or despondent by the discipled routine of life. It indicates the fact that to have a routine in life is good, not bad. The mental attitude of despondency leads to other mental attitudes. God regards what you do for a living as noble function. The royal priesthood is designed to work for a living and to grow spiritually. Both can be accomplished if a believer has a discipled lifestyle. The very principle of being bored means that you are like a bomb ready to go off. Boredom is the basis for detonating that bomb. One of the occupational hazards on the way to spiritual maturity is weariness. If you are going to dedicate yourself to reaching the objective of spiritual maturity there is going to have to be a lot of repetition, a lot of things that you will not necessarily want to do at first, but the reward waiting for you is fantastic. These Thessalonian believers were members of the royal family and with the authority of an apostle, he tells them not to be weary in their pursuit of spiritual maturity.
Verses 14-15
“If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother.” Not obey means to reject the authority of someone who is over you. Our instruction was the teaching of Bible doctrine. This verse clearly states the danger of associating with a person who has rejected the accurate teaching of the Word of God and is unstable spiritually as a result. Disassociating with this type of believer should give them a wake-up call. Put to shame means turn on oneself so as to produce a feeling of shame which leads to a change of conduct.
Do not associate is the Greek word “sunanamignumi.” When a word this long was used, Paul usually had something very important in mind. This is a triple-compound verb: sun means with; ana means again; mignumi means to mix. With the negative it means “do not with again mix with that person.” It means to mix again and again with. In other words, it indicates a very close relationship. It means to have your social life with those who are on the road to reversionism. You cannot have social life with believers on the road to reversionism without the danger of getting on the same road. If Bible doctrine is your guide for life, associating with someone on a regular basis who has a different guide for life endangers your relationship with God. That was what is wrong with the Thessalonians and why it is still wrong today.
The believer who has rejected God and His Word is normally seeking happiness by means of earthly pleasures. When a person in reversionism finds himself cut off from someone whom he loves and who is seeking happiness apart from God and His Word, it will be a source of shame for them. Our responsibility is to be wise with regard to our friends and associates and do allow them to sidetrack us into joining them on to the road of reversionism and the destruction of our spiritual life.
Yet do not regard him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother. Admonishing is a form of teaching. The Word of God tells us to speak the truth in love and sometimes it is “tough-love.” This does not mean that we are to run around and try to “straighten out” all our friends and associates. But if they are obviously not living their spiritual lives, our exposure to them should be limited. When they begin to wonder why you have been steering clear of them, you’ll have a teaching moment and perhaps share some of the doctrine you’ve learned. These friends and associate are not our enemies, they are brother/sisters in Christ and members of the Royal Family of God. And we should all want our spiritual family members to be as committed as we are to learning and applying the Word of God.
Verses 16-18
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” Peace is the Greek word “eirene,” which means spiritual prosperity. Peace with God begins at salvation when we are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ, which is the doctrine of reconciliation. After salvation we each have the potential of having the peace of God, which is the peace that Paul refers to here. These people to whom he was writing were believers, so they had peace with God. Paul prayer for them was that God would continually grant them the peace of God, which comes exclusively through the study and application of accurate Bible doctrine.
Notice that Paul gives a clarification of how he greets the church when he writes in his own hand and therefore, they should be not be duped by letters attributed to him from the false teachers. He calls it a “distinguishing mark,” which is authentication of the validity of the letter.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ refers to God’s policy of grace. Everything that God does for the unbeliever and the believer is based on His grace. Grace is all that God is free to do for mankind, on the basis, of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Grace is undeserved mercy and unmerited favor. Grace is the title of God’s plan and His policy for mankind. Orientation is defined as familiarization with a particular person, thing, or field of knowledge. To orient means to set right by adjusting to facts or principles; to put oneself into correct position or relation or to acquaint oneself with the existing situation. Grace orientation, therefore, means to become familiar with God’s grace plan and grace policies by adjusting to the facts and principles found in the Word of God, which puts you in correct relation to God and others. You will never be grace-oriented until you understand that your personal sins don’t condemn you. Adam’s original sin, which was imputed to you at birth, is what condemns you (spiritual death). This means that God’s grace was operational when He imputed Adam’s original sin to you, because condemnation must precede salvation. This is just another part of God’s ingenious grace plan of salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
The maximum expression of God’s grace is the Cross. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all sin. Therefore, sin is not an issue in salvation. (I Peter 2:24) We are free to accept or reject God’s free gift of eternal life. The plan of God is for all of mankind to come to know His Son, Jesus Christ. (II Peter 3:9) Because Jesus Christ completely satisfied the righteousness and justice of God, God is now free to give eternal life and the other 40+ spiritual assets at salvation. (John 2:1-2) Our salvation brings glory to God. (Hebrews 2:9) When we trust Christ as our personal Savior we are adjusting to God’s grace. (Romans 3:24)
God’s grace has always been operational in relation to mankind. Even under the Law, God’s grace was at work in the lives of believers and unbelievers alike. God, in His grace, has revealed Himself to the entire human race beginning with Adam. Salvation for mankind has always been on the basis of God’s grace by faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ. Even the Mosaic Law was a grace gift from God, to show the unbeliever his need for a Savior and to guide him to the Cross. The Levitical offerings pointed to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:20, 4:3; Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:24)
In the Christian life, when allowed to do so, God the Holy Spirit does all the work of producing the character of Jesus Christ in a believer. (Romans 8:29, Galatians 5:22-23) We should be truly thankful that God’s plan does not depend upon us, but upon Him. If you have your eyes on what you are doing for God, or even what someone else is doing for God (even the pastor), you will never be grace oriented. Our focus should always be on what God is doing. God treats us in grace because of His character. Therefore, we are able to treat others with grace by using Divine Viewpoint Thinking. (James 4:6)
God has a perfect plan for each one of us, but it is up to us to discover that plan. The filling of the Holy Spirit, which means we are being controlled and guided by Him, is a grace provision from God. This gives every believer the potential to understand His Word, regardless of education or IQ. Therefore, we are commanded to be strong in grace. (II Timothy 2:1) We are to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. (II Peter 3:8) We find grace in our prayer life. (Hebrews 4:16) There is stability in grace.
(I Peter 5:2) God gives us grace to become the person He wants us to be. (I Corinthians 15:10) God’s grace is always sufficient in our time of suffering. (II Corinthians 12:9) God is waiting to show His grace to every believer. (Isaiah 30:18-19) The Christian life, under grace, is a system of thinking. (Romans 12:1-2)
Doctrinal translation of II Thessalonians 3:7-18, “ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way like not working among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the authority of God to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a role model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies running around and getting in other believers’ business. Now we command and encourage such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to work peacefully (not causing problems) and eat their own bread and not mooching from others. But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not be discouraged or despondent by the routine of life while working for a living and in the pursuit of spiritual maturity. If anyone does not obey our doctrinal instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with someone on a regular basis who has a different guide for life than you do, which endangers your relationship with God, so that the shame of not living their spiritual life will be a wake-up call for them and they will have a change of conduct. And yet do not regard that person as an enemy since they are Royal Family of God but use the opportunity to teach that brother or sister in Christ. Now may the Lord of spiritual prosperity Himself continually grant you the peace of God through the application of Bible doctrine in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark of authenticity in every letter; this is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”